What custom Millwork covers
Custom millwork is joinery designed and made for a particular space rather than bought off a shelf. In older New York buildings, where walls are out of square and ceiling heights are non standard, it is frequently the only approach that produces a proper fit.
Custom millwork is joinery designed and made for a particular space rather than bought off a shelf. In older New York buildings, where walls are out of square and ceiling heights are non standard, it is frequently the only approach that produces a proper fit.
Joinery made to fit a specific space, which in older buildings is often the only thing that will.
Waystar carries out this work on residential and commercial property in Brooklyn and across New York City. Every project starts with a look at the building, and the scope, the materials and the figures are written down before anything begins.
When might you need it?
These are the signs owners usually notice first.
- An alcove or recess that no stock unit fits
- Wasted space around a chimney breast or under a stair
- A need for storage designed around specific items
- Original joinery that needs matching or extending
- Ceiling heights that stock cabinetry cannot reach
What the work involves
- Discussion of what the piece has to hold and do
- Site survey with measurements taken at several points
- Design developed with materials and finish agreed
- Components made to the survey dimensions
- Installation scribed to the actual walls and floor
- Finishing, adjustment and hardware set on site
How the process works
Establish the purpose
What goes inside decides the internal layout more than the external look does.
Survey properly
Measurements taken at several heights, because openings are rarely parallel.
Design and make
Materials, finish and detail agreed, then components made to the survey.
Install and scribe
Fitted and scribed to the actual surfaces, then adjusted and finished on site.
What you get
- A piece that fills the space completely
- Storage designed around what actually goes in it
- Detail matched to the period of the building
What affects the scope
- Size and complexity of the piece
- Material and finish specified
- How far out of square the space is
- Access for getting finished components into the room
This is a preliminary planning range, not a quote. A property visit is required before any price is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Is custom worth it over stock?
Where the space is not standard, yes, because stock leaves gaps and filler panels. In a standard opening, stock is often the sensible choice and we will say so.
How long does it take?
Making time is the main factor, and it is set out before commitment. Survey and design come first, then manufacture, then installation.
Can you match existing joinery?
Usually. Profiles are taken from the existing work and reproduced so the new piece reads as part of the original.
Services often needed alongside this
This service is part of Carpentry and Interior Finishes.