How to Choose a Wardrobe Builder in Queensland

Please note: The images displayed in this blog post are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect the REGAL Shower Screens range. Please visit the Product pages of our website for a true representation of our products.

A built-in wardrobe is made to fit one wall in one room of your home. You can’t swap it for a different size or return it once it’s in, so knowing how to choose a wardrobe builder matters as much as getting the layout right. When a wardrobe job goes wrong, the board and doors are rarely the problem. The trouble usually traces back to who measured it, who made it and who turned up to fit it.

I’ve worked in this industry for more than 30 years, and my advice to anyone comparing wardrobe builders is simple. Ring around, ask every business the same questions, and write the answers down. It’s the only fair way to compare like with like.

This guide gives you that list of questions and the checks behind them. We’ll cover who actually builds wardrobes, how to check a QBCC licence in Queensland, what a good measure and quote look like, the red flags worth walking away from, and how to get your room ready for install day.

Cabinet Maker, Carpenter or Wardrobe Specialist

Some people call it a wardrobe builder, others say wardrobe maker or cabinet maker. The name on the van matters less than what the business actually does from measure to install. The cabinet maker vs carpenter question comes up a lot, so here’s how the main options compare for a built-in wardrobe.

Trade	What they usually do	Fit for a built-in wardrobe
Cabinet maker or joiner	Makes fitted cabinetry, then installs it	Good if wardrobes are regular work, not just kitchens
Carpenter	On-site timber work like framing, doors and trim	Can fit a robe during a build, but internals aren’t always their focus
Wardrobe specialist	Measures, makes and installs wardrobe internals and doors	Strongest fit, with one business responsible throughout
Hardware-store kit	Standard-size modules you assemble or pay someone to fit	Lowest upfront cost, but the fit depends on your room and installer

In Queensland, cabinet making is a licensed trade with its own QBCC licence class, and joiner is often used for the same work. If you’re weighing up a kit, we’ve put together a guide on custom built-in wardrobes versus pre-fabricated options.

My recommendation is to find one business that measures, makes and installs your wardrobe. When one team owns the whole job, nobody can point the finger at someone else if the fit is off.

Check the Builder’s QBCC Licence

Before you compare designs or prices, check the licence. It takes a couple of minutes and rules out the riskiest operators straight away.

In Queensland, anyone doing building work valued at more than $3,300, including labour and materials, must hold a QBCC licence. Plenty of built-in wardrobe jobs pass that figure once everything is added up, so treat the licence as a must-have rather than a nice extra.

Here’s what I’d check:

• Ask for the licence number and look it up on the QBCC licence register.
• Make sure the name on the licence matches the business on your quote.
• Ask to see the physical card or digital licence before you sign anything or pay a deposit.

Our QBCC licence is 15201724, and it sits in the footer of our website. Any wardrobe builder worth hiring will share theirs without a second thought.

If you’re across the border in Tweed Heads, NSW has its own licensing rules, so check your builder through the NSW Government’s licence check instead.

Questions to Ask a Wardrobe Builder

This is the list I’d keep next to the phone. Ask every business the same questions, jot down the answers, and the differences show up fast.

1. What’s your QBCC licence number? Check it before anything else.
2. Who does the install, your own team or subcontractors? It tells you who will actually be in your home.
3. Is the measure free, and is the quote a fixed price or an estimate? An estimate can move after you’ve said yes.
4. What’s standard and what’s an upgrade? Drawers, soft-close and door styles are where quotes often differ.
5. How long from accepting the quote to install, and how long on site? You need both numbers to plan around.
6. What warranty do you give, and how do claims work? A warranty only helps if you know how to use it.
7. Can I see recent work, reviews or product in a showroom? A builder with a steady track record will have plenty to show you.

What a Good Wardrobe Builder Checks at the Measure

The measure tells you more about a builder than any brochure. It’s where the most common wardrobe design mistakes get caught, or missed. Our sales team measures every job, and here’s what a good builder should check.

How you use your wardrobe. Some people need plenty of long hanging, others are better off with double hanging and a drawer or shelf tower. Before the measure, look at your current wardrobe and sketch what you’d change. It’s a head start on planning your wardrobe configuration.

Depth. Hanging sections need around 600mm internal depth so standard hangers clear the doors. Shelf and drawer-only sections can be as shallow as 400mm.

Floors. Flooring should be finished before the measure, because new carpet changes the door sizes. Bec from Homes by Holmes, a local custom home builder, puts a lot of install problems down to uneven floors and poorly prepared surfaces. A good builder picks this up early.

Doors and internals together. We make all eight of our door types alongside the wardrobe, so the dimensions, hardware and finishes line up.

A locked-in design. The board is cut to the approved design. The hardest part of any install, in my experience, is a change of mind on the day. It can mean a return visit and a wait of weeks.

What a Wardrobe Quote Should Include

Two quotes for the same wardrobe can look completely different on paper. One lists every shelf, while the other gives you a single line and a total. Price alone won’t tell you which is better value, so here’s what a clear built-in wardrobe quote should spell out.

Item	What to look for
Internal layout	Hanging zones, shelves and drawers, section by section
Material	The board being used
Drawers	Whether soft-close is included or listed as an upgrade
Doors	Door type, finish and track system
Installation	Included in the price or charged separately
Timing	Lead time from acceptance and days on site
Warranty	How long it runs and what it covers
Licence	The builder’s QBCC licence number

Once you have two or three quotes, line them up item by item. The gaps usually hide in three places: the drawers, the doors, and whether installation is in the price. A cheaper quote that treats soft-close or the install as extras can end up costing you more. For a sense of the numbers, we’ve covered what built-in wardrobes typically cost in a separate guide.

Our quotes are fixed prices, given on the same day as the free on-site measure. They cover supply and install with no separate installation fee, and built-ins are covered by our 2-year workmanship warranty.

Whichever builder you choose, get the lot in writing before you pay a cent.

Red Flags When Choosing a Wardrobe Builder

Most problems with a wardrobe job show up early, if you know where to look. These are the signs I’d take seriously:

• A firm price over the phone before anyone has measured your room
• A quote with no itemised inclusions, or a warranty that’s only mentioned verbally
• No licence number, or a pause when you ask for it
• Vague answers about who will actually do the install
• A large deposit with no clear schedule attached
• No recent work or reviews you can check for yourself

One red flag isn’t always a deal-breaker, but two or three together usually tell you everything you need to know. This is where your notes earn their keep. If one business’s answers keep sounding different from the rest, there’s normally a reason.

Preparing Your Room and How Long Installation Takes

On a renovation, we’re often one of the last trades through the door, so we work with the room as it’s left for us. A little preparation on your side keeps the job moving.

• Get your flooring finished before the measure, not after.
• Lock in your design before you sign, so nothing changes on install day.
• Clear the room and make sure the installers have easy access.

So, how long does it take to install built-in wardrobes? Our own team generally finishes on site in 1 to 2 days. The longer wait is manufacturing. From quote acceptance, manufacture and installation typically run 4 to 8 weeks, depending on size and door selection. The measure itself is usually booked within a week of your first call.

We give you a rough lead time at the measure, confirm your install date once the order is in, and call two days beforehand to check everything’s on track.

Frequently Asked Questions

Making Your Shortlist

By this point, you should be able to narrow your options to two or three licensed businesses. Ask each one the same questions, compare their quotes line by line, and pay attention to any red flags rather than choosing on price alone.

REGAL is a Gold Coast family business established in 2016, backed by more than 50 years of family experience in the industry. We’ve built wardrobes for hundreds of homeowners, and we still believe a proper measure is the best place to start.

If you’re considering built-in wardrobes on the Gold Coast or built-in wardrobes in Brisbane, we offer a free on-site measure so you can talk through the layout, get the room measured properly and receive a fixed quote before making a decision.