Issue a comparable brief
Provide dimensions or drawings, intended use, substrate and finish preferences, appliance or hardware schedules, installation responsibility and the required programme. Ask what will be site-measured and what tolerance the surrounding construction must achieve.
- Shop drawings and approval stages
- Board, veneer, solid timber or aluminium specification
- Hardware brands and finish systems
- Delivery, protection and installation
- Service penetrations and trade coordination
Inspect the evidence
Review recent work with similar materials and complexity. Ask to see edge details, drawer and door alignment, scribes to existing walls, finish consistency and how the team resolved services and out-of-square conditions.
For exterior joinery, clarify performance documentation, glazing, flashings and who owns the interface with the building envelope.
Protect the programme
Joinery often has long design and manufacturing lead times. Confirm the measure date, shop-drawing turnaround, approval deadline, manufacturing slot, installation sequence and the process for damaged or missing items.
Shortlist questions
Ask before you appoint
- Which joinery category is your workshop set up to deliver best?
- What must be final before manufacture starts?
- Who coordinates services and building interfaces?
- What is the rectification process after installation?