New doors, crap fitting

[johnny2007]

Even without making a jig, I always use a router freehand for most of the work, then razor sharp chisels, so to have nice flush hardware.
Said that, you would think that someone who is in howdens recommended list, would've cut themselves a jig, at least for the most popular hinges.

 

[10monty]

Few pics of work on the frames too. Tbf he can't do anything with the cut outs for the old catches but surely he could make the new ones straight and flush.
Also he's done what I think is a decent job of cutting the hinges into the door which makes me wonder why he couldn't do the same with the latches.
Anyway my missus is gunning for him when he comes back so he won't know what's hit him!!!

 

[johnny2007]

OMG!
Question: are you keeping the frames in white?
If so, you can remove the old hardware and fill the holes, then repaint them to a good standard.
But those doors...
OMG!!!

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Even without making a jig, I always use a router freehand for most of the work, then razor sharp chisels, so to have nice flush hardware.

Agreed. Even for a one off it is still worth using a router to guarantee that your face plates are flush to the surface. If the lock side is this bad I can't see the hinges being any better

I'm not sure what to recommend about the doors. It may be possible to save the day by slicing 4 or 5mm off both edges of the doors, filling the latch body drillings with wood, relipping the doors with solid wood and then half redoing the job, but I think that requires a level of skill that this chap doesn't have

As to the casings, the way you deal with those is to rout away a section where the old keep was glue in a snug fitting repair patch (called a "Dutchman"), hand plane it back snd finally chop-in the ironmongery. Looks a lot neater than filling and makes the job of getting the new stuff in easier. Hinges can be dealt with in the same way. This guy has delivered very poor workmanship and he's made a right old mess of it

 

[Diver Fred]

Please complete our day - pictures of the Hinge fitting both inside and outside.

TBH - I'd (at least, would have tried to) use the existing striker plates rather than fitting new. The chap I'm helping (a bricky/general builder, BTW) does a better job than what you have here.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I will be visiting howdens to show them the standard of work they are recommending . I'm hoping it was a genuine recommendation and not a mate who needed the work. Obviously I don't hold howdens responsible but they need to know imo

You have only really shown photos of the poor latch fitting. If those are bad, I would expect the fitting of door into frame and hinges to be equally badly done.

[EDIT] I have just spotted the extra photos you have added. Which confirms what I said before - he is a wood butcher, not a tradesman. He has zero skill.

 

[Diver Fred]

I'm not sure what to recommend about the doors. It may be possible to save the day by slicing 4 or 5mm off both edges of the doors, filling the latch body drillings with wood, relipping the doors with solid wood and then half redoing the job, but I think that requires a level of skill that this chap doesn't have

That work I'd want to do in the workshop - I agree with J&K it may be the only way to save the doors but then you have to get matching timber for the lipping - unless you are happy with a contrasting timber.
Are the doors composite? i.e. Laminated up from many pieces of timber. If they are then could help disguise the new clippings.

 

[johnny2007]

As to the casings, the way you deal with those is to rout away a section where the old keep was glue in a snug fitting repair patch (called a "Dutchman"), hand plane it back snd finally chop-in the ironmongery.

That's what I meant with "filling".
Comes natural for chippies to fill those with the Dutchman

 

[Deleted member 174758]

And all this from the guy who is Howden's showroom fitter...... "allegedly". Having thought about it, I think the OP should print the photos off and go in to Howdens and have a quiet word with the branch manager. His staff shouldn't be recommending utter cowboys like this one, so maybe he'll shame the individual who made the recommendation and the OP might at least get a heavy discount off some new doors (and this time a proper recommendation)

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

His fb page is pretty impressive and all his reviews are decent but now I just don't know.

FB is not comprised of a critical audience, to be fair - they are not a good judges of skill, with often the reviews coming from other FB friends and photos of work done, stolen from genuine skilled traders web sites.

 

[10monty]

OMG!
Question: are you keeping the frames in white?
If so, you can remove the old hardware and fill the holes, then repaint them to a good standard.
But those doors...
OMG!!!

Yh frames are staying white. I'd said i will do any filling and making good where the old fittings were

That work I'd want to do in the workshop - I agree with J&K it may be the only way to save the doors but then you have to get matching timber for the lipping - unless you are happy with a contrasting timber.
Are the doors composite? i.e. Laminated up from many pieces of timber. If they are then could help disguise the new clippings.

https://www.howdens.com/joinery/doors/howdens-dordogne-oak-pre-finished-door-obj-sku-family-die7060

these are the doors

And all this from the guy who is Howden's showroom fitter...... "allegedly". Having thought about it, I think the OP should print the photos off and go in to Howdens and have a quiet word with the branch manager. His staff shouldn't be recommending utter cowboys like this one, so maybe he'll shame the individual who made the recommendation and the OP might at least get a heavy discount off some new doors (and this time a proper recommendation)

I will be visiting howdens next week. I'm assuming the manager probably doesn't do Saturdays so not gonna make the effort today. In some ways I'm hoping the guy who recommended him is a friend/family member as it may give us more leeway on new doors. On the other hand I will be absolutely raging that this wasn't disclosed by either party. As it is I'm still fuming now and they were fitted 5 days ago!!!!

 

[10monty]

Please complete our day - pictures of the Hinge fitting both inside and outside.

TBH - I'd (at least, would have tried to) use the existing striker plates rather than fitting new. The chap I'm helping (a bricky/general builder, BTW) does a better job than what you have here.

Pics attached. I'm no expert but on the face of it and in comparison to his other work I don't really have an issue with hinges. You may disagree?

FB is not comprised of a critical audience, to be fair - they are not a good judges of skill, with often the reviews coming from other FB friends and photos of work done, stolen from genuine skilled traders web sites.

I appreciate that but combined with what I thought was a genuine recommendation it's all I had to go on

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Pics attached. I'm no expert but on the face of it and in comparison to his other work I don't really have an issue with hinges. You may disagree?

Much, much better than his other work.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Much, much better than his other work.

Probably done with a router and a (bought-in) jig...

In which case why didn't he make up a jig for the faceplates and even the keeps? Unless...

 

[jj4091]

I think the legal position is that you cannot refuse to pay him, but must give him the opportunity to rectify the problems then sue him through small claims court for damages ( presumably new doors & fitting) if you are still not happy. That is how it used to be anyway but perhaps things have changed lately. You at least need to give him the opportunity to explain how he is going to give you satisfaction.