Inspect a bespoke cabinet before China shipping

Identify the cabinet and its approved design

Send the inspector this brief: ‘Inspect my identified cabinet against the attached approved drawing revision, material list, finish sample and hardware list. Photograph its order label and overall appearance. Record actual results and ask me before accepting any change.’ Include the room location, door opening direction, visible faces, supplied accessories and whether it will arrive assembled or in parts. Use our measuring and approval guide to settle the design before inspection.

Ask for access to the finished cabinet before final packing, followed by a packing check. Our small-orders service is relevant to arranging the purchase; factory verification checks the supplier's capability. Neither replaces examining the cabinet made for your home.

Record dimensions against the drawing

Specify: ‘Record overall width, height and depth, including any projecting handles, top or base. Measure shelf positions, drawer openings, fixing holes and the drawn clearances for skirting boards or services. Show the measurement points in photographs and record the drawing target, agreed tolerance and actual reading.’ Agree acceptable variation with the factory and your installer before inspection; do not let the inspector invent it.

Ask the inspector to check for a twisted frame, unequal diagonals, bowed panels and uneven door gaps on a level surface. Identify which dimensions affect fitting and which affect appearance. For this cabinet, request checks on every supplied door, drawer and panel where accessible. Our full inspection or sampling guide explains why checking the item does not mean every characteristic has been checked.

Compare materials and finish

Specify: ‘Compare the finish with my approved physical sample under agreed lighting. Examine the front, sides, top, interior, edges and underside. Photograph scratches, chips, glue marks, rough edges, uneven colour, exposed board and peeling edge strips.’ Mark which surfaces will be visible after installation. Agree what natural grain variation is acceptable rather than expecting every timber surface to look identical.

Ask for available evidence of the specified board, timber, veneer and coating used. Inspect accessible edges and construction details, but record any material that cannot be confirmed without damage. Photographs alone are unreliable for final colour approval, and a visual inspection cannot establish hidden material composition or chemical safety. Request separate specialist evidence where that matters.

Test hardware and trial assembly

Specify: ‘Check the supplied hinges, drawer runners, handles, shelf supports, feet and brackets against my approved list. Open and close every door and drawer, operate the soft-close mechanism if specified, and check for rubbing, sticking, loose screws and insecure shelves.’ Record hardware markings where available. Use only agreed loads and test methods; an improvised strength test could damage your cabinet.

Have the actual parts trial assembled using the supplied instructions and fittings. Confirm that joints meet, holes align, removable shelves seat properly and the cabinet stands without rocking on a level surface. If it will be dismantled for shipping, photograph the assembly, label matching parts and check them again after dismantling for damage. Our flat-pack inspection guide covers the wider parts and instructions checklist.

Inspect the protective packing

Specify: ‘Photograph the cabinet before wrapping, each protective layer and the closed package. Check protection around corners, finished faces and glass, where fitted. Secure moving parts without marking the finish, separate metal fittings from finished surfaces, and prevent parts moving inside the package.’ Agree materials that will not stick to or stain the coating. Include protection from moisture appropriate to the shipping route.

Check that labelled fittings, instructions and accessories are packed with the correct cabinet. Record package dimensions for your delivery access check and identify where the package can be lifted safely. Ask the packer to explain the lifting method and how you can open the packaging without cutting into the cabinet. Photographs show the packing used; they do not prove that it will withstand every transport event.

Solid wood crates, pallets or bracing used to import goods into Great Britain must meet ISPM15 international plant health standards. Tell the packer about this before packing and ask the inspector to photograph any treatment marks for review. Check the packing timber separately from the cabinet's own timber.

Keep home installation checks separate

China checks can establish whether the cabinet matches the agreed design under factory conditions. Your installer still needs to confirm the real opening, uneven walls and floors, skirting boards, door swing, delivery route and access for assembly. They should choose wall fixings suitable for the actual wall and cabinet, check for concealed services before drilling, and complete any specified wall restraint before use. Supplied fixings alone do not establish suitability for your home.

Ask the report to identify the cabinet, list completed and blocked checks, show actual measurements and connect each defect to a photograph. Request correction and another check of affected areas before approving dispatch. Use our inspection report guide to review the evidence. On arrival, photograph packaging and damage before assembly, then have your installer check alignment, operation and secure fixing in the final position.