nosaJ

Skirting should be done first, then carpentry. This is norm. But it is easier to do carpentry then skirting because they will not need to cut the wood to fit the skirting. I think your contractor is taking an easy way out, but you discoverd it, and they are now trying to convince you to accept it. Insist that they change.

You can adjust a screw or something on top of the mechanism. Try tightening and loosening to experiment what effect it gives. Then you should be able to adjust to an optimum point where the closing is to your liking.

You can go to the market and buy ants poison, not the branded type. They come in grains and are packed in a plastic see through "container". The grains are about size of sugar grains. Just pour some in the path of the ants and you will not see the ants very soon. I have used it in my office and at home and they always works.

If your leather sofa is synthetic leather, try not to use water to clean it too often alelse it will spoil easily. that's what the sales people told me when I bought my new sofa. I had real leather sofa last time and to maintain it, my wife use soft cloth and water to wipe it weekly. Every year I apply leather lotion or when i see signs of it drying. After 6 years, its condition was still very good.

I asked for a quote from an ID and was told it would be $100 to $150 per door if it is standard laminate. If aluminium and glass, it will be $150 to $200. Then I went to Ikea and the salesman said Ikea doors allow you to change anytime cos they are same size. But I do not know how much their door cost.