How big is market for replacement doors

[Guest]

Do you expect people to buy doors off you to fit themselves?
I hope not.

The MO of the business is supply and fit.

That raises the questions who will drill the doors, fit the hinges and handles and do you have the skill and tools/machinery?

I have the skills. I don't have the necessary drill stand but that is a tiny extra expense (compared e.g to my not having a van)

If not you then one must ask is the profit in the sales of doors or the fitting of doors?

Profit is in the fitting and whatever markup is available between wholesale and retail prices. As this is a franchise where you are locked into a wholesaler, this latter part could be minimal. Obviously this markup is crucial to making a certain number of sales work.

Do you imagine that all hinge spacings are standard?

No. But this is the bit that makes fit and supply work. Sales for DIY fit charge up to 2 pounds per hole drilled, with the customer taking the risk of incorrect measurement. Getting them fitted puts the risk of mistakes with the fitter, plus a side by side comparison check will lessen that risk (hopefully to zero!).

Do you hope that hinges and base plates will be interchangeable between carcasses?

The theory is that the fitting of the hinge onto the door is always the same type and that the old hinges will be reused. I've yet to find a seller of doors for DIY fit who offer replacement hinges.

Do you suspect that all carcasses will be suitable for rehanging, either in terms of their quality or their state of fit, level and squareness?

No and this is, in essence, much of my concern. How often will this occur? Is there a viable business if you walk away from these customers, or is it necessary to convert them to full replacement? I really don't want this level of "sales" aggro.

[andy5405]

I can't see it being a job for DIYers, Changing doors to a kitchen fitter is easy but there are a lot of hinge systems out there. The one I did was easy as the original hinges were Blum so I left the plates on the cabinet and replaced the hinge part that attaches to the door.

Anyway, that's the easy bit. You will have to replace end panels, cornice, pelmet, plinth, corner posts, filler panels and any other odd jobs they might want.

There's a couple of vans that I always see out and about in my neck of the woods that advertise the service. I don't know if they are actually busy but there out there doing something.

I would also steer clear of a franchise if you could. It might be a way to get started but if you want to go out on your own they will almost certainly have a clause trying to restrict you operating in the same area if you want to leave. Get hold of the door manufacturers, there are loads to choose from and sub the fitting to a local kitchen fitter to get started and then take over when you feel the desire.

Spend the franchise money on a website.

All sorted now, when are you starting?

Simples!

[jonny round boy]

I would say that 9 times out of 10 the existing carcases are utter shit, and cannot be re-used.

If you're going to invest money in a business, supplying & fitting replacement doors, why not go the whole hog & supply & fit whole kitchens? Seems like a bad idea to spend good money on a franchise, when all that gets you is being tied to one supplier.

Just my opinion, like...

[ginsters]

I've done about 2 a year up untill this year and I've done 6 4 of which were kitchens I put in around 10-8 years ago

There are a lot of dogy units out there but most are now getting to par unless they are shed ones I've done loads of site fits in the last few years and the quality was exellent pws doors etc and carcases made to order so before long the life of a kitchen structualy will increase also designs of kitchens in new houses are more thought through so there should be a market for face lifts,but why comit to that when you buy doors from many places?try a ad run in the local paper get some samples of people like east coast fittings etc

[petemaisey]

My opinion is that it is a crap business. I have done one fronts only job and decided it was harder work that if starting from scratch. I will not do any more.
You will need to change about 80% of the original kitchen.
Therefore the only saving to the customer is on carcases. I reckon that the saving is 1/3 of the whole unit cost, multiplied by the number of cabinets (the average no. of units in a kitchen is 11).

Pete

[big-all]

ask the right questions to debunk there claims
they will say earning up to xxx ask what the average person earns and what the average hours are
you will find the earning are possible iff you work 7 days a week and 14 to 16 hrs a day
they will give woolly answers as you will not make a living wage from 9to 5 with holidays and sickness taken off

[PJK]

Hi Everyone,

First post so take it easy on me

Been a kitchen fitter for over 25 years now and just started my second company ( I say just been 3 years now)

I think to dimiss the door replacement Market is an error many companies have made over the years and there just starting to realise that mistake.

I've been doing door replacements for....well as soon as I started in the trade at 15 years old.

It is a lot harder work than stripping out and starting again but if that's what the customer wants then who's going to turn it down in this economy?

I assume the OP is talking about "Dream Doors" as the franchise?

The only advise I can give is the Dream Doors locally to me opened up about the same time as I started my new company. There not there anymore....phew...but I'm still here just ;)