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Frequently Asked Questions....
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This page shows you over 50 of the most commonly asked questions from our customers (and the answers!)
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- General FAQ
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Are your cabinets painted?
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No, we supply them unfinished so that you can paint, wax, oil,stain or varnish them.
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What are your cabinets made of?
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Either from solid wood, or a mix of solid wood and real wood veneer. You can see the various specifications on our Downloads page.
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Do you install the kitchen?
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No, we are supply only.
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Are your cabinets supplied flat-pack?
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No, they are supplied fully built
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Do you have a showroom?
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Yes, we have 2 showrooms. Please see our contact us page for details.
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Do you provide a design service?
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We can help you with your design in an number of ways. Please see our Designing Your Kitchen page.
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Are your cabinets made to measure?
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Yes we have over 100 different cabinets and you can have most of them in any height, width and depth
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Do you deliver?
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Yes, we deliver to the whole of the mainland UK. See our Delivery FAQ for more details.
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What is an in-frame kitchen?
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All of our kitchens are all "in-frame", that is the doors and drawers sit in a frame. The other common type is the overlay kitchen, where the doors and drawer fronts sit on the front of the carcass, and you can't see any frame.
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Can I have a cutlery insert in a drawer?
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Yes, we can make an insert with 4 verical (running front to back) and 1 horizontal (running side to side) division, or 3 equal vertical (running front to back) sections.
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Do I need to order side panels at the end of each run?
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Not usually. We make proper cabinets so the sides are finished properly, either left plain or v grooved to simulate a T&G effect. The only time you need an end panel is if you have a freestanding appliance on the end of a run.
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What door catch options do you offer?
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We offer 2 door catch options:
1. Magnetic
2. Roller.
You can see pictures on our Door Style page.
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Can I box in my boiler?
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Yes, but the best solution depends on the location of your boiler. We can provide a door in a front frame, so that you can cover the front of the boiler, from a wall to another cupboard, or between 2 cupboards. we can supply a door in a front frame together with 1 or 2 cupboard sides to go around your boiler. The top and bottom of the cupboard are not usually supplied because of the need for ventilation.
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What plinth styles do you offer?
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We offer 4 plinth styles, P1, P2,P3 P4.You can see pictures on our Door Styles page.
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How can I make my cabinets fit against uneven walls?
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We can extend a side or both sides, so that you can scribe the back edge of the sides to the contour of the wall
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How are your doors made?
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Our doors are 5 piece doors made in the traditional way using mortise and tenon joints. Our
doors are also 25mm thick, compared to the usual 18mm, this helps prevent them warping.
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What cornice styles do you offer?
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We offer 2 cornice styles: C1 and C2. You can see pictures on our Door Styles page.
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What drawer styles do you offer?
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We offer 3 drawer styles, DR1, DR2, DR3. You can see pictures on our door styles page.
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What hinge options do you offer?
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We offer 5 hinge options:
1. Chromed
2. Bronzed
3. Bronzed with finials
4. Brassed
5. Brassed with finials
You can see pictures on our Door Styles page.
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What door styles do you offer?
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We have 4 door styles, D1, D2, D3, D4. You can see pictures on our Door Styles page.
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- Design
- Quotes
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I have a plan from another kitchen company, can you use it to quote?
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Yes, please use any of these to send it to us:
email: quotes@handmadekitchens-direct.co.uk
fax: 01202 802550/01202 419000
post: Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch Ltd
91 Bargates
Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 1QQ
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- Payments
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When do I have to pay?
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50% deposit is due with the order, and the 50% balance is due on delivery of the kitchen.
The deposit can be paid by cash, cheque, credit card, debit card or bank transfer.
The balance must be paid to our delivery driver once you have checked the kitchen and must be in the form of a bank draft. No items will be delivered without cleared funds.You are welcome to pay the balance in advance by credit or debit card, but this must be during our normal office hours Mon- Fri. We often deliver at weekends and outside office hours and so calling to pay by card at the time of the delivery is not possible.
Payments by credit card are subject to a 1.5% charge.
If we have a long lead time, it is possible for you to pay a non-refundable deposit of 250 pounds to secure a manufacturing and delivery slot. The rest of the 50% deposit will be due 6 weeks before delivery.
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Do you accept American Express?
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No.
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- Base Cabinets
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Do your drawers have runners?
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Yes, we use BLUM runners hidden underneath the drawer. These are top quality, and have a quick release catch for removing the drawer for cleaning. You can also opt for soft closing runners.
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Do your base cabinets have adjustable feet?
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Yes.
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Do your base cabinets have a service recess at the back?
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Yes, normally 50mm, but as your cabinets are made to measure you can have any service recess you need, and the service recess can vary from cabinet to cabinet.
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What height are your base cabinets?
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Our standard is 870mm, but you have 20mm adjustment on the feet, and base cabinets without drawers can be made higher.
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What depth are your base cabinets?
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Standard is 600mm, but as your cabinets are made to measure you can have any depth.
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Can you accommodate cut outs for pillars/pipes/etc?
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Yes, just let us have the dimensions of the cut out required.
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Do your base cabinets come with a shelf?
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Yes, base cabinets with doors come with 1 shelf and 2 battens so that you can fix the shelf wherever you want it.
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What height is a P1 plinth?
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Example of P1 plinth
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Can I have any height base cabinets?
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Yes, up to 900mm if they are "highline" base cabinets (cabinets that just have doors, no drawers). Base cabinets with drawers are 870mm, however, you can use the adjustable feet to increase the height to 890mm.
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How are your drawers made?
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Our drawers are made of 6 separate pieces. 4 pieces make up the drawer box, these are made of solid wood, and the drawer box is made by using traditional dovetail joints. Then there is the drawer base, this is made of solid wood veneer, and the drawer front, this is made from solid wood.
The drawers are mounted on top quality BLUM runners, and these runners are hidden underneath the drawer. The runners have quick release clips so the drawer can be removed for cleaning etc. You can also choose the soft close runner option.
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- Wall Cupboards
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Do your cupboards have a recess underneath for lighting?
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Yes, there is a 20mm recess underneath for lighting. We can also supply separate 40mm light pelmet if needed.
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Do your spice drawers have runners?
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No.
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What height are your wall cupboards?
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Any height you need. As a guide, small cupboards are 575mm, medium height cupboards are 720mm, and big cupboards are 900mm
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Why do your cupboards have a 20mm recess at the back?
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So that the edges can be scribed to an uneven wall.
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What depth are your wall cupboards?
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Our standard is 350mm, but as you cupboards are made to measure, you can have any depth you need.
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- Appliances
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How does your door fit onto my dishwasher door?
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Your dishwasher will come with a fixing kit.
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Do you make a housing for an integrated dishwasher?
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Yes. We can make a housing for any make of slimline or full size integrated
dishwasher including drawer dishwashers.
You can do this in 2 ways, with a full housing or just a door.
If you choose a full housing you need to allow 530mm width for a slimline (AH7)or 680mm width for a full size dishwasher (AH8). This comprises a door and 2 x 40mm wide side panels. When fitted this, together with the plinth forms the housing for the dishwasher. NOTE: the dishwashers sit on the floor, not "in" a housing.
Full Housing Door in Frame
If you are tight for space, you could consider just having a "door in frame". In
this case you only need to allow 450mm width for the slimline (AH1) or
600mm for the full width dishwasher (AH3). This will work as long as you have
a cabinet each side of the dishwasher (not a Belfast sink base).
Finally you can choose any of the above options with a dummy drawer as part of the door (AH2, AH4, AH9, AH10)
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Can you "hide" or box in a freestanding dishwasher?
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Yes, we can, but you need to be aware of the following:
1. Freestanding dishwashers tend to be deeper than integrated dishwashers,
so when you add our 25mm thick door, you are probably looking at a cabinet
depth of 650mm for the whole run of cabinets. This may push you into a
bigger size (and so more expensive) worktop. It may be cheaper to buy an
integrated dishwasher instead!
2. You need to allow slightly more width for the freestanding housing, so
approx 700mm width is needed, rather than 600mm or 680mm for an
integrated dishwasher (see our question about integrated dishwashers).
3. You will have to open and close 2 doors everytime you go to the
dishwasher.
The items codes are the same as those for the integrated dishwashers
housings. (AH1, etc).
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Do you supply a housing for a semi integrated dishwasher?
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Yes. We can make a housing for any make of semi integrated dishwasher
You can do this in 2 ways, with a full housing or just a door.
If you choose a full housing you need to allow 680mm width for a full size dishwasher (AH8). This comprises a door and 2 x 40mm wide side panels. When fitted this, together with the plinth forms the housing for the dishwasher.
NOTE: the dishwashers sit on the floor, not "in" a housing.
Full Housing Door in Frame
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Can you build around my US style fridge freezer?
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Yes. Please see our gallery for some examples.
For the sides you have a choice of tall end panels (BM8) at 40mm wide, tall posts (BM21) at
90mm wide, or tall larders with either chrome pull out mechanisms or adjustable shelves.
The narrowest pull-out larder is 400mm wide.
Another alternative is a single column width wine rack.
To go between whatever you choose for the sides, and above the fridge freezer, you can choose from fridge top boxes (WM2) with 1 or 2 doors, side or top hinged.
The minimum height for a fridge top box is 350mm, top hinged is best for smaller doors.
Alternatively, you can have a wine rack (WM4), or an open shelf unit (WCOS1).
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Can I put a fridge freezer against a wall?
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Be careful that you leave enough space to open the door fully as the US style fridge freezer
doors can be quite thick, and if you don't leave enough room to open the door fully you may
not be able to remove shelves and drawers for cleaning, etc.
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Can you make a housing for an integrated fridge freezer?
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Yes. We can make a housing for any make and model of integrated fridge freezer.
The minimum height for a fridge freezer housing is 2005mm including plinth and cornice. You can have it higher if you have the ceiling height to stand it up. We make use of the extra height by putting a shelf above the fridge freezer (behind our top door.)
You will need to allow 680mm width, even if your model is narrower.
The item code is FH2.
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Can you "hide" or box in a freestanding fridge freezer?
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We don't recommend it as you will have to open 2 doors independently each time you go to the fridge. You may also have problems providing sufficient airflow to keep the fridge freezer operating correctly.
The cabinet would also have to be deeper than that for an integrated fridge freezer.
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Can you "hide" a freestanding microwave?
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Yes. We can make a larder top without a base (WCL3, WCL6, WCL9) so that when you open
the doors the microwave is sitting on the worktop ready to be used, but you can close the
larder doors when its not in use. You need to check your Microwaves instructions regarding air circulation, etc
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Can you make an oven housing?
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Yes, you can have a single oven under the worktop, this is an OH1.
For a double oven under the worktop, you don't need a housing as the larger ones sit on the floor, and the smaller ones sit on brackets attached to the cabinet each side.
You can also have mid height oven housings for a single built in oven, a microwave, coffee machine or steam oven.
We can supply tall oven housings for just about any combination of oven, microwave, coffee machine, etc. You can change the 2 doors over and below the oven to 1 door, and you can swap the door/s under the oven for Pan drawers.
The oven housings can be supplied at 600mm wide or 680mm wide. At 600mm the oven front will sit proud of the cabinet across the front of the 40mm cabinet front frames.
At 680mm wide the whole oven can sit flush inside the frame, so this is a better option of you have the room. The same applies to microwaves, etc.
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Can I have my microwave in a wall unit?
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Yes, if its an integrated microwave built specifically to go into a wall cupboard. They tend to be less deep so that they fit into a standard 300mm deep kitchen wall unit. This makes them smaller overall, and mostly, fairly basic.
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Can my tall oven housing go right up to the ceiling?
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No, because you won't be able to stand the cabinet up in the kitchen. (the diagonal measurement as you stand it up corner to
corner is more than the actual height).
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What make of oven do I have to buy to fit your housing?
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We work the other way round. Just tell us the make and model of oven, micro, etc and we will build the housing to fit.
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Can I have a mid-height oven cabinet?
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You can have a mid height oven housings for a single built in oven, a microwave, coffee machine or steam oven.
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Can I have a drawer under the oven in my single oven housing?
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Yes, if there is room, otheriwise we can usually fit a drop down tray space.
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- Delivery
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How much does delivery cost?
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Delivery is usually by our own truck, with our own 2 man delivery team. We offer a choice of 2 types of delivery:
Standard Delivery. This is £290 to yellow areas of the map. For other destinations a quote will be provided. You will be given an approx date when we confirm the order. To enable us to charge these low amounts we need to deliver 2 or 3 kitchens at a time. Because we are combining 2 or 3 deliveries you cannot choose the day or time of delivery. If you need this facility please see our enhanced delivery below. If your kitchen needs to be delivered on its own because of site access restrictions, (ie; our usual truck is too big to get to your property to unload) you will be charged as per the enhanced delivery service below.
Enhanced Delivery. This is £450 to the yellow areas of the map. For other destinations a quote will be provided. You will be given an approx date when we confirm the order. We will then call you before delivery to agree a date and an am/pm slot. This option gives you more flexibility to decide the delivery date and an AM/PM time slot (subject to availability).
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Do you deliver to my area?
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We deliver to the whole of the mainland UK
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Will I have to help unload?
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No, we always have our own experienced 2 man delivery team.
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Will your truck get down my narrow lane?
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As a guide, our normal delivery truck is about refuse truck size, if you need a smaller truck/van, then our enhanced delivery terms will apply.
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Do you deliver to my second floor flat?
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Due to insurance restrictions we are only able to deliver to the ground floor.
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