A little care for the journey.

Agree the journey before you pack

We need to agree which original is useful, whether it can safely travel, what the assessment costs, who pays each delivery and how and when your original will be returned. This also applies if a matching replacement cannot be made.

A suitable original helps us assess dimensions, shape, sheen and colour. An exact match to an old or faded finish cannot be promised before inspection.

01. Prepare the bare sample

Follow the removal guide for your identified hinge. Normally, hinges, handles and screws stay at home. Take photographs of the sample’s front, back, edges and existing damage before packing it. Mark its top and project reference on a removable label, without writing on the finish.

Do not post glass, a dangerously broken part or a very large/heavy door without separate arrangements. Remove loose dirt gently and make sure the part is dry.

02. Protect both faces and all four corners

Choose a strong double-wall corrugated carton large enough for cushioning. Protect the finish with a clean, non-abrasive layer, then protect the faces, edges and corners. Rigid corner protectors and cushioning prevent the door reaching the outside of the box.

For this packing method, allow at least 6 cm of cushioning between the item and the outer walls and corners, following DHL’s general guidance. Check the chosen carrier’s requirements too. A protected inner carton inside a strong outer carton can help when additional protection is needed.

Fill the empty spaces so the door cannot slide or knock against the carton. Add protection above and below it, not just around the edges. Do not let fittings sit loose against the finish, and do not stick packing tape directly to the door.

03. Add the reference and close the box

Put a short note inside with your approved sample reference, name and one contact method. Keep a copy for yourself. You do not need to include identity documents, payment-card details or unrelated paperwork.

Close the carton using strong parcel tape in an H pattern: seal the centre seam, then the two edge seams, on the top and bottom. Remove obsolete shipping labels and place the new address label on a clean, flat outer face.

A “Fragile” label can alert a person, but it does not protect the contents or tell an automated sorting machine to handle it differently.

04. Check the service, then send

Measure and weigh the fully packed parcel. Make sure the agreed carrier accepts its dimensions, weight and contents. Check loss and damage cover for this particular item — a tracked service is not automatically insured for every kind of damage.

Photograph the completed packaging. Use the agreed tracked service, keep the receipt and tracking reference, and share the tracking details with the consultant through your enquiry. Keep the original-door photographs until the whole project is complete.

Final packing checklist

• □ Written approval, reference and receiving address received
• □ Assessment, delivery and original-return arrangements agreed
• □ Bare sample photographed; hinges and handles kept at home
• □ Both faces, edges and corners protected; no movement inside
• □ Reference note inside; carton H-sealed; correct label outside
• □ Packed size and weight accepted; carrier damage cover checked
• □ Packaging photographs, receipt and tracking reference kept

FURTHER READING

Our illustrations are original, simplified guides. Follow the exact hardware manufacturer’s instructions and the selected carrier’s conditions when they differ.

• DHL UK: general packaging and cushioning guidance ↗
• DHL eCommerce UK: fragile items and corner protection ↗