Made to measure
Alcove units, shelving and storage
Alcove units are cupboards and shelving built into the recesses either side of a chimney breast. A matched pair usually costs £900 to £2,500, and the price turns on whether the doors are shop-bought or made to fit.
What this covers
Typical price. £900 to £2,500 per alcove pair
What the job covers
- Alcove cupboards either side of a chimney breast
- Built-in bookcases
- Floating and bracketed shelving
- Under-stairs storage
- Home office desks and storage
What is involved
The two alcoves in a room are almost never the same width, and neither is square, so the units are made to two sets of measurements and scribed in. A typical build is a cupboard to picture-rail height or to around 900mm, with open shelving above it. Shelves are usually fixed rather than adjustable, because a fixed shelf can be scribed to the wall on three sides and looks built-in, whereas an adjustable one on pegs shows a gap.
Materials follow the finish. Painted work is MDF, which takes a spray or brush finish without the grain showing through. Anything stained or oiled is veneered ply or solid timber. Where the units sit against a chimney breast that still has a live flue, the carpenter needs to know, because the masonry can run warm and fixings and finishes have to allow for it.
Alcove cupboards either side of a chimney breast, one of the jobs under alcove units.
Choosing someone for the job
Ask whether shelves will be scribed to the wall or cut square and filled. Ask who does the painting, since spraying gives a better finish than brushing and is usually a separate trade. Ask how they handle skirting: cutting round it looks better than sitting the unit on top of it.
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Common questions
Are alcove units cheaper than fitted wardrobes?
Usually, because they are smaller and simpler. A pair of alcove cupboards with shelving over is typically a third to a half of a bedroom wardrobe wall.
Can alcove units be removed later?
They are scribed and fixed to the wall, so removing them leaves marks that need making good. They are generally treated as part of the room.