What can I do about these poorly fitted cupboard doors?

[Tinfoyle]

I had some bespoke alcove cupboards made recently. They have those internal kitchen cupboard hinges so nothing shows on the outside. Whilst the carpenter has done a beautiful job with all the mouldings I asked for & created a beautifully neat carcass, the doors have a 7mm gap around all edges. The chippy told me that these hinges need this gap in order for the door to open & not catch but I'm not buying it. The doors are lovely, the frame is lovely but the two do not fit. In the end I had to let him go (when the job was 'finished') because I realised he wasn't able to do any better. despite him being professional Short of making two new doors myself which do perfectly fit the opening, is there anything I can do about this to remedy it? It's going to be really tricky to add a mil' or two extra around the edge.

Are the doors the right size but just hung so there is a gap? Do they gap in the middle but overhang at the outside?

I see you’ve said every edge. That’s really odd. So they’re too small? Are you asking for suggestions to add trim around the outside?

pics

Trouble with adding a bit on is that the gap is very slightly uneven so I'll have to sand/fill to get it perfect if I bring it closer. I can't seem to find out what is the recommended gap around a door like this?

Should be a 2mm gap if that all round.
the wood on the top left is also a bad cut, sorry
you will need to get them re made really

This is the picture I told him to copy. I'm very happy with it all - apart from the gap.

Yes I see what you're talking about but I'm not bothered about a bit of extra filling around the carcass body - that won't be noticable when it's all painted. It's just this unnecessary gap that's bothering me.

A man has spoken ( qualifications carpenter ), should be the thickness of a two pence piece😀

Two pence piece sounds great! I wish.. At least I know now for future reference. The chap who built this has been a professional carpenter all his life..sigh & is well regarded for the quality of his work locally. I knew it wasn't right but it was my word against his & I realised he either wasn't able or just not interested in doing anything to fix it.

If anyone new reads this thread, can I add that I've just looked closely at these doors as they open & as the door turns, the space between the frame & the door edge closes down to only 2mm. So it seems it's not possible for me to 'pack out' the sides because the door then wouldn't open fully?

The above pic is when the door is open half way

Is the edge of the door ,square ? It should be chamfered ( at a slight angle, i.e if you look down from the top of the door the edge is angled slightly to allow for the arc of the door as it opens. (DH taking over the typing ))

Yes it is chamfered.

I would find this unacceptable. Have you paid him?

No I haven't paid him yet. The thing is I don't know if there's anything I can say now. I've already pointed the gaps out & when the doors turn the gap reduces to 2mm. Nothing can be done to make the doors bigger or the frame smaller as a gap less than 2mm when half open will probably mean the door will stick.

Don’t pay him. This is unsatisfactory and not what you asked for. I would expect him to remake the doors slightly larger so they fit properly. If he says no then withhold payment. Get quotes for new doors from another chippy or two. Big girl pants on - ask him to redo them or you will get someone else to do it and charge him

The original door as the one its modeled on would be machine made which would result in much tighter tolerances etc but even handmade should be better thnn what he's done there., A sightly wider gap where the door opens might be necessary for clearance the the gap at the top and bottom ought be less that whats been done.

Might be able to save it with a very fine moulding around the outside edge might possibley make it look a bit less plain too but thats a metter of opinion!

I’m wondering if he has used the wrong type of hinges, the kind that are used for a kitchen cupboard where the door sits in front of the frame.

Your doors are in frame . The hinges should be like the ones in my first two photos ( inside and out ).

Not like the silver / white ones

You showed him a picture of what you wanted. The picture doesn’t have gaps around the doors. Don’t accept this work, apart from the doors having a large gap, the left vertical piece of wood has been cut too short.
Withhold payment until you’re satisfied.

I think it's a hinge problem too OP.
I have just studied my joiner-made built in wardrobes - will try to upload a photo if possible, and, though I have the 2p gap around the edges, it's not as noticable as yours, but the hinges are visible.
To be fair, I never notice them though as decorator painted over them in same colour as doors.