DIY Kitchens - Real World Expereinces
Discussion
XMT said:
I am currently in the same postion as you and I am looking to buy a kitchen within the next few weeks.
I have spent the best part of 6 months on and off looking at the usual kitcken suppliers such as Wren, JL, BQ, Wicks, Benchmarx and a few other online suppliers but doesnt matter where I look DIY kitchens comes out on top.
The most important part is if you do have an issue they seem to sort it in a timely manner regardless of whos fault it is.
Same as you I ordered the doors and even from them alone you can tell that there is quailty within the product compared to all the other doors I compared it too.
They obviously are not going to be the best but I am generally very fussy and from what I can gather so far in terms of bang for buck you just cant beat them. Good quality product that will last at a reasonable price.
How much are you looking to spend (roughly). If quality is important then possibly a local independent may offer a better product, this may work out out be better value. I have spent the best part of 6 months on and off looking at the usual kitcken suppliers such as Wren, JL, BQ, Wicks, Benchmarx and a few other online suppliers but doesnt matter where I look DIY kitchens comes out on top.
The most important part is if you do have an issue they seem to sort it in a timely manner regardless of whos fault it is.
Same as you I ordered the doors and even from them alone you can tell that there is quailty within the product compared to all the other doors I compared it too.
They obviously are not going to be the best but I am generally very fussy and from what I can gather so far in terms of bang for buck you just cant beat them. Good quality product that will last at a reasonable price.
Used them twice. Both times I needed replacement items for minor parts (trim panels, doors). Both times no quibble, photo sent, replacement within the week.
I'm ok with items being delivered broken / missed as long as they don't hold you up, it's how they deal with the problem, and both times have been handled well.
18 months in on the first kitchen and it still looks like new, just get a competent fitter.
I'm ok with items being delivered broken / missed as long as they don't hold you up, it's how they deal with the problem, and both times have been handled well.
18 months in on the first kitchen and it still looks like new, just get a competent fitter.
We're having ours delivered next week. All good so far - been to showroom twice and ate loads of their biscuits.
The online support has been superb up to now.
Their online planner is a bit buggy which they are aware of but it is getting better. Use it for planning only and to get a list of parts. Don't use it for pricing - it can be way out. Use the regular basket for pricing.
Be sure to read all of the FAQs and advice guides on their website - really useful stuff there that you may not have though of.
Ian
The online support has been superb up to now.
Their online planner is a bit buggy which they are aware of but it is getting better. Use it for planning only and to get a list of parts. Don't use it for pricing - it can be way out. Use the regular basket for pricing.
Be sure to read all of the FAQs and advice guides on their website - really useful stuff there that you may not have though of.
Ian
Thanks for everyone's replies. Even the wife feels more comfortable about DIY K.
We had a lengthy chat about it last night and laid out our sample cupboards. Also used a chopping board to replicate Oak Worktop
We prefer the Wicks colour, but DIY K has them beaten on price by quite a margin. We did consider Wren, but visit to their showroom are stressful enough!
Its logistically not possible for us all (pregnant wife and nearly 3yr old) to go up there before we order, but we decided that I will make the 6hr round trip (We live near Watford) and go and look at the showroom.
Also impressed with the prices of their appliances. Could be that we get everything from them, which would certainly save us on the hassle. Yes, some of their appliances are CDA, but we are not the usual PH powerfully built company directors and we have always had basic cheap appliances. We do have the odd issue, but overall they have been fine.
Might be going up tomorrow or Sunday. Watch this space!
We had a lengthy chat about it last night and laid out our sample cupboards. Also used a chopping board to replicate Oak Worktop
We prefer the Wicks colour, but DIY K has them beaten on price by quite a margin. We did consider Wren, but visit to their showroom are stressful enough! Its logistically not possible for us all (pregnant wife and nearly 3yr old) to go up there before we order, but we decided that I will make the 6hr round trip (We live near Watford) and go and look at the showroom.
Also impressed with the prices of their appliances. Could be that we get everything from them, which would certainly save us on the hassle. Yes, some of their appliances are CDA, but we are not the usual PH powerfully built company directors and we have always had basic cheap appliances. We do have the odd issue, but overall they have been fine.
Might be going up tomorrow or Sunday. Watch this space!
We've got an order arriving at the end of the month. Although we're planning on using them for a big kitchen next year this is actually a trial run as our first experience of them - the units are a simple setup of small sink, some drawers and cupboards for a utility room/overflow kitchen.
So far we've made one mistake which was spotted by the pre-build check, one set of drawers had different drawer heights to the other. Unfortunately their query about this wasn't actually seen until after the build cutoff. However, after a quick discussion they've altered the order anyway to reflect the proper drawer lines.
Pleased with the experience and customer service so far, and learning the design/ordering process with a relatively low cost set of units isn't too much of a risk. You can run a proposed configuration by them to see if there are any gotchas.
So far we've made one mistake which was spotted by the pre-build check, one set of drawers had different drawer heights to the other. Unfortunately their query about this wasn't actually seen until after the build cutoff. However, after a quick discussion they've altered the order anyway to reflect the proper drawer lines.
Pleased with the experience and customer service so far, and learning the design/ordering process with a relatively low cost set of units isn't too much of a risk. You can run a proposed configuration by them to see if there are any gotchas.
We're currently 90% through fitting one.
Picky criticisms:
Delivery is overpriced and the drivers are very anal about not walking more than 20m. They'll only take it to your front door. £50 EXTRA SURCHARGE for living down a narrow street. So delivery is £300.
We had one upper cabinet door delivered that is about 3mm taller than the rest. Looks ridiculous and pretty annoyed that it wasn't spotted in QC. How is this even be possible as you assume it runs through a fixed saw and router?
Corner cupboard shelves don't line up with with the normal flat ones. Stupid oversight but I am being very picky here.
2.1m tall unit didn't have it's blanking panel pre-fitted for some reason.
Good stuff:
Quality is great.
Pre assembled for the most part.
Paint finish is absolutely excellent.
Actual build and stuff is top of the line. Not really convinced any of the £50k German kitchens are any better tbh but only compared in store.
Only places that need to be drilled are drilled. Stainless wall bolt covers look excellent. Just neater by far than most.
Tea and biscuits for your fitters.
Well packaged.
Looks nice.
Picky criticisms:
Delivery is overpriced and the drivers are very anal about not walking more than 20m. They'll only take it to your front door. £50 EXTRA SURCHARGE for living down a narrow street. So delivery is £300.
We had one upper cabinet door delivered that is about 3mm taller than the rest. Looks ridiculous and pretty annoyed that it wasn't spotted in QC. How is this even be possible as you assume it runs through a fixed saw and router?
Corner cupboard shelves don't line up with with the normal flat ones. Stupid oversight but I am being very picky here.
2.1m tall unit didn't have it's blanking panel pre-fitted for some reason.
Good stuff:
Quality is great.
Pre assembled for the most part.
Paint finish is absolutely excellent.
Actual build and stuff is top of the line. Not really convinced any of the £50k German kitchens are any better tbh but only compared in store.
Only places that need to be drilled are drilled. Stainless wall bolt covers look excellent. Just neater by far than most.
Tea and biscuits for your fitters.
Well packaged.
Looks nice.
I didn't buy from DIY in the end, but was impressed by the quality of the samples and the level of advice they gave while I designed the kitchen.
An independent kitchen designer I spoke to, with extensive in-house experience in the industry, immediately explained when I mentioned I was considering DIY that their quality is in a complete different league to Howden's etc and that most of the industry is pissed off with Alf, the owner, because the bang for buck he's offering completely eclipses what the rest of them are doing at that price point.
Obviously, designers like him avoid DIY in favour of other suppliers who will give bigger trade discounts and incentives, but he admitted he wouldn't be able to match DIY on a cost / quality basis unless he could make margin on a bigger scope of work.
An independent kitchen designer I spoke to, with extensive in-house experience in the industry, immediately explained when I mentioned I was considering DIY that their quality is in a complete different league to Howden's etc and that most of the industry is pissed off with Alf, the owner, because the bang for buck he's offering completely eclipses what the rest of them are doing at that price point.
Obviously, designers like him avoid DIY in favour of other suppliers who will give bigger trade discounts and incentives, but he admitted he wouldn't be able to match DIY on a cost / quality basis unless he could make margin on a bigger scope of work.
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