Furniture Assembly in Sutton

Rules of thumb from professional assemblers: small bookcase or side table 20-40 minutes; chest of drawers 45-90 minutes; standard bed frame 40-60 minutes; sofa-bed 60-90 minutes; a 2-3 door wardrobe 1.5-2.5 hours; a large sliding-door PAX-style wardrobe 3-5 hours. DIY typically takes 2-3x longer.

Most items are one-person jobs, but large sliding-door wardrobes, tall units in rooms with low ceilings, and heavy sofa-beds realistically need two people for safe lifting of assembled sections. Two-person crews cost 60-90% more per hour but finish faster; for a full-apartment setup they are usually the cheaper total.

Most do, and for tall items you should insist on it: wardrobes, bookcases, and chests of drawers come with anti-tip straps or brackets that manufacturers require attaching to the wall. Confirm wall-anchoring is included in the quote and that the assembler checks wall type (drywall vs masonry vs concrete) — anchoring into concrete or tile may carry a drilling surcharge.

A pro brings everything: cordless drill with torque control, full hex/pozi bit set, rubber mallet, level, stud/cable detector for wall anchoring, and appropriate wall plugs. If someone asks to borrow your tools or arrives without a cable detector but plans to drill, stop the wall-mounting part of the job.

Via IKEA's Taskrabbit service, prices start around £33 per item and most standard items land at £38-£81. Independent assemblers charge £25-£45 per hour; typical fixed prices are £45-£90 for a chest of drawers or bed and £120-£200+ for large wardrobes. London runs 20-30% above the national rates.

Tenancy agreements commonly require consent for drilling. Ask in writing and cite the manufacturer's instruction that tall units must be wall-fixed — most landlords consent, since a tip-over injury is a worse liability. Make good with filler at move-out; the invoice from a professional assembler helps at deposit time.