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westhamtim
Original Poster
90 posts
68 months
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Afternoon all
I'm looking at having the kitchen re-fitted. It's a decentish job (approx 15 cupboards, quartz worktop....) although we have all the appliances already. We've spoken to the usual big-name suspects (B&Q, Wickes, Magnet.....) and have a quote of around £15k from Wickes that the Mrs is ready to go for but I can't help feeling that there must be some end-of-line bargains or suchlike to be had somewhere. Also I've not been enitrely happy with the big boys in the past and may feel more comfortable with a local specialist. Does anybody have any tips or recommendations? Or could offer their services to supply / install / both? We are based near Epping in Essex.
Cheers
Tim
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Gingerbread Man
5,883 posts
82 months
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People always mention Howdens as a good buy. Find someone who can get it trade price and ypu're laughing...do I hear
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Jasandjules
45,446 posts
98 months
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I would find a nice small local place - that's what we did with our last house.. Much better service and even slightly cheaper prices.
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allegro
650 posts
73 months
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when you say refitted do you mean something totally different? If you just want to freshen it up just replace the doors and drawer fronts. 
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steve1
1,088 posts
113 months
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Post some pics up of the offending kitchen, 15K seems a lot to be paying.
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hedgefinder
1,429 posts
39 months
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steve1 said: Post some pics up of the offending kitchen, 15K seems a lot to be paying. lol, from wickes it possibly is, but its about average for an average sized decent kitchen with manmade stone tops. - *edit - didnt notice that the OP said it was without appliances!! - In that case yes its fkn expensive. they will be shoving the quartz tops right up you sideways..
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Daz68
1,330 posts
79 months
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westhamtim said: Afternoon all
I'm looking at having the kitchen re-fitted. It's a decentish job (approx 15 cupboards, quartz worktop....) although we have all the appliances already. We've spoken to the usual big-name suspects (B&Q, Wickes, Magnet.....) and have a quote of around £15k from Wickes that the Mrs is ready to go for but I can't help feeling that there must be some end-of-line bargains or suchlike to be had somewhere. Also I've not been enitrely happy with the big boys in the past and may feel more comfortable with a local specialist. Does anybody have any tips or recommendations? Or could offer their services to supply / install / both? We are based near Epping in Essex.
Cheers
Tim
15K without appliances!!!!! Dont do it. Find your local Howden Joinery and get them to give you a quote. They should be able to put in touch with some local joiners who can give you a price for supply and installation.
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singlecoil
14,942 posts
115 months
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Sounds like a lot to me too. Any idea how much the quartz tops on their own are? Have you considered granite as an alternative?
If I was in your area (I'm not, I'm afraid) I would definitely want to be quoting, as would, I imagine most other small kitchen firms. I personally can't support the Howdens recommendations, BTW.
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westhamtim
Original Poster
90 posts
68 months
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Thanks for the comments. I like the idea of replacing the fronts but apparently it's not a runner as a) I've been told it's not a runner and b) we're keen to have a bit of a re-shuffle space wise. I've taken a look at the quote and it roughly breaks down like this: Units = £7.5k Worktop = £2.5k Other = £1k (sink, taps, £500 for a dishwasher which is the one thing we do need but sure I will source from elsewhere). Labour = £3.5k. Sound any good? Some of the items on the quote seem a bit heavy but then I'm the first to admit that I'm no expert so this could well be ignorance. Photo of the offending kitchen attached, this is from the plans from Wickes. 
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DrC
483 posts
120 months
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singlecoil said: If I was in your area (I'm not, I'm afraid) I would definitely want to be quoting, as would, I imagine most other small kitchen firms. I personally can't support the Howdens recommendations, BTW. Is Amersham your area?
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singlecoil
14,942 posts
115 months
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DrC said: singlecoil said: If I was in your area (I'm not, I'm afraid) I would definitely want to be quoting, as would, I imagine most other small kitchen firms. I personally can't support the Howdens recommendations, BTW. Is Amersham your area? Yes it is, I don't reckon to go more than about 30 miles but Amersham is well inside that.
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allegro
650 posts
73 months
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If you are looking to have a move around, space wise, will the appliances, sink etc be staying put? Its relatively simple to convert a drawer lined base unit into a full drawer pack etc. You could even slide various units out from under the granite with a bit of effort and have a re-jig that way (would probably involve breaking the top straps in the units where the granite is bonded, but easily replaced) New fronts all round, save yourself a packet 
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hedgefinder
1,429 posts
39 months
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Howdens stuff is s  t BTW... As far as flat pack kitchens go Wickes used to be one of the bettre quality ones out there - going back 8 years ago anyway, but your quote for units is just plain mad, I am guessing that its the old ploy of selling you all the extra accessories that you see in the display (like MFI used to do) for exorbitant prices........
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westhamtim
Original Poster
90 posts
68 months
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Thanks all again for the replies. In the process of speaking to local specialists. Fingers crossed.....
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FlopperV60
16 posts
77 months
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The unit cost is very high, you can make some savings there and maintain quality or even improve on the Wickes offering. Also the labour is very high, the sheds typically work on a 100% mark up on installation. To install a kitchen to that plan into a prepared room I would anticipate a cost of approx £1500 plus VAT. Extras over and above would be for preparation ie ripping out, altering services, installing a new ceiling with lighting and plastering.
The quartz worktop price I would say is fair but it does vary massively in cost depending on the type of quartz.
I own an independent kitchen company in the westcountry, If you want to ask any specific questions by all means message me and I could point you in the right direction.
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The Leaper
1,716 posts
75 months
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We totally replaced our kitchen two years ago. Everything was thrown out: units, appliances, flooring, all lighting, all power points, curtains, tiles, even the kitchen door, and central heating radiator, the lot. We ended up with a bare shell. New ceiling and worktop lighting was installed, new and a lot more power points, it was then all replastered (ceiling and walls), the new kitchen door fittted, new radiator, all repainted, then all the new units were fitted, brand new built in appliances (all Neff, a double oven, fridge/freezer, dish washer, induction hob, extractor fan) then new work tops (reconstituted stone), new double sink and taps, new Amtico flooring, new curtains.
The main contract was with Magnet. They did absolutely the lot except the flooring and curtains. John Lewis did the flooring, Laura Ashley the curtains.
The total cost for absolutely all the above was just over £21,000. By comparison, before we began we had a quote from a bespoke kitchen/bathroom company that had done work before for us. I'll just say it was a whopping amount more. That company has since seen the new kitchen and they don't understand how it was done to the quality standard and price.
R.
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FLGirl
1,034 posts
60 months
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It's worth looking at Benchmarx if you liked the Wickes units. They are simply the trade arm of Wickes selling exactly the same products, but at roughly half the cost. Source all your appliances and sinks, taps etc online. Huge savings to be made. I got my quartz worktops from here: http://www.setinstoneuk.co.uk/ I paid under £2k for over 9m of quartz including installation. It is cut and templated in their special van outside, so no mess in the house either
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Boshly
1,734 posts
105 months
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westhamtim said: Thanks for the comments. I like the idea of replacing the fronts but apparently it's not a runner as a) I've been told it's not a runner and b) we're keen to have a bit of a re-shuffle space wise.
I've taken a look at the quote and it roughly breaks down like this:
Units = £7.5k
Worktop = £2.5k
Other = £1k (sink, taps, £500 for a dishwasher which is the one thing we do need but sure I will source from elsewhere).
Labour = £3.5k.
Sound any good? Some of the items on the quote seem a bit heavy but then I'm the first to admit that I'm no expert so this could well be ignorance.
Photo of the offending kitchen attached, this is from the plans from Wickes. No one else concerned with the labour cost? £3.5k = 17.5 man days @ £200/day!!! Two man team, two days for units, one day for work tops, half day snagging?
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singlecoil
14,942 posts
115 months
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Boshly said: No one else concerned with the labour cost? £3.5k = 17.5 man days @ £200/day!!!
Two man team, two days for units, one day for work tops, half day snagging? To be fair, I expect the quote includes VAT and there hasn't been an awful lot of info about what exactly is involved. If they have to strip out the old kitchen, provide a skip, alter plumbing, remove tiles and make good, re-do the electrics to the new standards then that can pump the price up a bit. The guys I use figure on £250 plus VAT per man day, but I'm happy to pay it because they are fast, accurate, solve problems rather than casue them and they clean up after themselves. Even so unless there is a lot of tiling or plastering involved they generally reckon to get a kitchen in in four days including the stuff I listed, so c.£2.4K inc VAT.
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dave144
254 posts
39 months
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We have just bought a kitchen from Arnold Lavers timber merchants. We took a previous quote we had from Howdens and asked them to better it. They supply there own kitchen range called Accent Kitchens i believe. They have supplied the same kitchen with two extra units and built in appliances for the same price as Howdens.
We have bought from them before about 7 years ago and found the kitchen to be good quality. Not sure if they have them in your area but there maybe a timber merchant local doing a similar thing?
As for fitting we have just had a Joiner quote £475 cash to fit the kitchen and an extra £500 to lay 25sq metre of solid wood flooring. As previous guys have said £200 a day is about the norm for a fitter.
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