Kitchens

[Sidewinder]

Not something I get involved in, but, Daughters boyfriends parents are looking for a kitchen.

Asked me to do the electrics, said no, not enough time, but now it seems I'm going to have to get involved anyway!

More on that later.

Those of you that do get involved in domestic works, what do you think of the kitchens from the DIY "sheds" notably B&Q & Wickes which is what they have been looking at.

Other useful comments or suggestions welcome.

I think they have signed up, but hopefully the cooling off period has not yet finished.

The "shed", "spark", came around and said that they had to have another earth rod at the back of the house for the water, and that the CU had to be changed.  IIRC, it is what is colloquially known as a 16th board, though I would have to check, I think the whole house is on a single RCD, so no "real" drama.

 

[Andy™]

earth rod for the water?! and CU doesnt always need changed. if its a 16th, then the sockets should be on an RCD. the cooker may not be, but could probably be moved to the RCD side. and if everything is on an RCD, then no problems with that. sound like spark trying to get more work

kitchens are fairly straight forward, especially if you get in there between ripping out and new kitchen fitted

the actual units etc are not too bad. last one i done was fairly decent stuff. finished result just as good as from howdens etc. although that also depends on who fits it

 

[ProDave]

Go to B&Q or Wickes to get the kitchen planned.

Then go to Howdens to buy it.

you need a trade account with Howdens but they will open that on the spot and don't ask for references.

Pretty good kitchens at trade prices.

I fitted a Howdens kitchen in one of our rental properties and was sufficiently pleased with it to decide that's what I will use in our next house.  They also sell pretty good value appliances, ovens cooker hoods etc.

And no phart pee for you to worry about now either.

 

[kerching]

I got a buy and queue kitchen....google Chillingham kitchen.  Absolutely top quality. Saved a fortune by machinig upmthe Oak infill panels ( i just ripped down somw Oak, planed it up and planted it on some 2 x 1) you cannot tell the difference.  Made up the pillasters from scratch, faced in solid Oak.   Their price.......£900' for 5 pillasters.....my price?      £74 for the Oak ( this included the infil pieces!!!). And a bit of time......cannot tell the difference!

watch BnQ for the extras and add ons.  The last item on the invoice is usually for a stainless stell cleaning cloth EVEN if you didnt buy a sink!

Howdens stuff is good, but as said before you need an account.  Appliances are cheap,as well......advantage with Howdens is that the units come assembled.....saves time

 

[Sidewinder]

Go to B&Q or Wickes to get the kitchen planned.

Then go to Howdens to buy it.

you need a trade account with Howdens but they will open that on the spot and don't ask for references.

Pretty good kitchens at trade prices.

I fitted a Howdens kitchen in one of our rental properties and was sufficiently pleased with it to decide that's what I will use in our next house.  They also sell pretty good value appliances, ovens cooker hoods etc.

And no phart pee for you to worry about now either.

Wrong Dave, Part P has not changed AFAIAC!

Remember it is not present in Scotland, has been changed in England, I have no idea about Northern Ireland, but no changes in Wales.

Not an issue for me anyway, as we are an NICEIC AC.

 

[ProDave]

Ah sorry, I thought you were in England :coat

 

[NozSpark]

Kitchens are a piece of P TBH....

Rip out the old, 1st fix electrical and plumbing alterations, fit Howdens units and then get someone in to cut and scribe the worktop (or get granite)

 

[Sidewinder]

Noz,

I don't have the time to do the work, I would have no worries about fitting the kitchen, and getting the worktops scribed is not an issue either, I can even lay my hands on a jointing jig & the routers to do that.

I have enough customers with panel saws to get things sorted as far as the fitting goes, even getting a bespoke kitchen made by one of my customers.

Trouble is they have started down the road, and daughter was having a conversation with her BF's mum last night and some of the things being talked about were just ridiculous!

Also they want it on finance, so they'll have to go to someone reasonably large probably.

 

[ProDave]

Finance is the slippery slope. I would argue if they can't afford it, they should wait and save up.

Anywhere that does finance will without a doubt be charging more for the kitchen than the likes of Howdens, so as well as paying interest they pay more for the kitchen.

I would suggest if they must borrow, get a 0% credit card, then go and buy it a howdens, and pay it off within the 18 month interest free period (or whatever period you can find)

But I always was a tight git not wanting to waste any precious income on paying interest to anyone.

 

[pewter]

I have always found and been told Ikea are complete rubbish.

Benchmark are competitive at the moment as they are trying to get howdens customers. As others have said howdens are good for trade.

I don't think B&Q are too bad, ok for civilians.

As mentioned watch the extras. They charge a fortune for the little bits. Things like end panels , they will sell you as many as possible but if fitted between units beside appliance etc you can cut one in half to do the job of 2. Sometimes buying the 'sheet material' and cutting your own panels can be a lot cheaper.

A good fitter is worth consulting, but no one hardly ever does as they think they know best. Designer of the kitchen is usually incompitant. If you can't fit a Worktop your not a kitchen fitter.

Fitting a kitchen to look correct at the end is a skill, though most think they can do it just like the unskilled think they can change a consumer unit and can not see what looks bad or why testing is needed.

I am bias as I come from family of a few joiners and when I was 18-24 ish used to fit them. Then I realised electricians did less work and earnt more money. I got taken on by a spark and did my apprentisship.

 

[NozSpark]

If they need finance then I'd keep clear and leave them too it,,, although B&Q type stuff is ok especially if you get the worktops scribed

IF they could do most of the work themselves then they could probably reduce what B&Q would charge them by knocking on for 50% and then they mightn't need the finance and save themselves a small fortune in interest charges.

If they do need finance then as Dave says,,, interest free period on a credit card or a bank loan would probably work out cheaper than using the stores credit overall

 

[ProDave]

I have always found and been told Ikea are complete rubbish.

My neighbour fitted an Ikea kitchen. He had to remove the top cover from his washing machine before it would slide under the worktop.  Built to non UK standard sizes.

 

[Evans Electric]

In my experience , Ikea is carp ,  no gap between back of units and the wall for services for a start.  

I'd say Howdens too ...  thought they were local to the midlands..... I didn't know they were nationwide ,  builder I work with has fitted them for years , good stuff.

You can pay the earth for some kitchens and its no different to Howdens.

 

[pewter]

My neighbour fitted an Ikea kitchen. He had to remove the top cover from his washing machine before it would slide under the worktop. Built to non UK standard sizes.

Starting point of fitting I'd to find highest point of floor then measure up 880mm to top of unit ( bottom of work top).

Most people just start and then discover where the appliance is the floor is higher, and it will not fit.

Kitchen has lots of components, to get it to look right at the end is a skill.

I would find a good fitter to go the job and consult them. B&Q will just be taking a cut of any fitters, sparks, plumbers . Cheaper to employ them direct.

Every kitchen fitted by an amateur I have seen looks awful, to them it looks fine which is all that matters. ( though deep down I think they know it looks rubbish)

 

[kerching]

If b and q look at their trade point....it is nearly always cheaper for the same stuff, you just leave via adifferent door!

they often do interest free, i managed an interest free ofer ANd and extra discount on top of the normal trade point discount.  Suddenly the kitchen we could not afford became a no brainer!........as said before i saved a few grand by making the twiddly bits.

ill post a pic when i get time if anyone is interested

 

[OnOff]

Unless you're a dab hand with a router and a jig then think about hiring a fitter to do the joints in any laminate worktops. It is quite possible to do your own - I did mine as I was taught by a mate who's a cabinet maker. BUT buying QUALITY 1/2" router bits IS NOT CHEAP if you have lots to do. I've moved on to designing my own jigs since:





Avoid cheap routers and bits like the plague!





As you can see a mottled pattern is more "forgiving"! We got ours from Homebase. It was 50% off with another 15% off. The wife said "It's a bit more than we wanted to pay!". They knocked another 15% off! We just got the units and worktops from them. I also got matching maple Contiboard from Homebase's timber section for boxing in the oven etc.

 

[MeFil]

I always buy my kitchens from trend joinery. Massive range of carcass sizes...top quality build. (They are the same kitchens as a large department store who are never knowingly undersold, just different doors) built to order...10 day lead. Just pop the legs on.... price on a par with howdens. No comparison on quality...streets ahead

Www.trendjoinery.co.uk

 

[Nicky Tesla]

it always surprises me how much fits in a kitchen you find in a modern static caravan.  Why dont pokey one bedroom flats have kitchens as nice as these?

 

[kme]

My kitchen came from Wickes - but I fitted it, not them.

I preferred the quality of their stuff, over B&Q and MFI (aka howdens)

Leekes if they`ve got money to throw away - oh, and get worktops from a specialist, such as Bassetts - better quality, for not much price difference - but they last.

 

[batty]

I am not over keen on wickes stuff. Our bathroom came from there and I don't think the quality is brilliant. It wasn't a cheap one either. That is not to say all there stuff isn't good.