Materials & Finishes
Commercial Millwork Specification Guide
Updated 2 min read
The short answer
Commercial millwork differs from residential cabinetry in specification, documentation and schedule. It is built to withstand public rather than family use, fabricated from architectural drawings with shop drawings submitted for review, and delivered against a construction programme where millwork usually sits on the critical path to opening.
Specification differences
| Element | Residential typical | Commercial typical |
|---|---|---|
| Substrate | 18mm plywood or MDF | Commercial-grade panel, often thicker |
| Surfacing | Paint or stain | High-pressure laminate, thermofoil or catalysed finish |
| Edges | Wood band or face frame | Impact-resistant edge banding |
| Hardware | Residential soft-close | Commercial-rated, higher cycle count |
| Finish durability | Domestic cleaning products | Commercial cleaning chemicals |
| Documentation | Elevation drawings | Shop drawings submitted for review |
| Accessibility | Not usually applicable | Code-governed at service counters |
| Install window | Business hours | Often evenings, weekends or phased |
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The shop drawing process
- Review the contract documentsArchitectural drawings, millwork specification section, finish schedule and any brand standards package.
- Site verificationField measurements taken once the substrate is ready, since drawn dimensions and built dimensions rarely match exactly.
- Produce shop drawingsFabrication-level detail: every component, joint, fixing, service provision and finish, drawn to be built from.
- Submit for reviewDrawings issued to the consultant team, comments returned, revisions made and re-issued until approved.
- Fabricate to the approved setNothing is cut before approval. Changes after this point are handled as documented variations.
- Deliver and installCoordinated with the general contractor and other trades, frequently within a restricted access window.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between casework and millwork?
- In common usage, casework refers to standardised box-based units — cabinets, storage walls, workstations — while millwork covers custom-fabricated architectural elements such as reception desks, wall panelling and feature fixtures. Most commercial projects include both, and a single package usually covers them together.
- Do you provide shop drawings?
- Yes. We produce fabrication-level shop drawings for review and approval before anything is cut. Where the design intent is established but millwork detail is unresolved, we can develop that detail and submit it for the consultant team’s approval.
- What accessibility requirements apply to commercial millwork?
- Service and reception counters generally require an accessible position with adequate knee clearance and approach space, with dimensions set by the applicable building code and project specification. These are resolved at shop drawing stage rather than discovered at installation.
- Can you work to a brand standards package?
- Yes. Where a retailer, restaurant group or franchise has a fixture standards package, we fabricate to it. Where the standard describes intent without full millwork detail, we develop shop drawings that meet the standard and submit them for approval.
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