Magnets or DIY kitchens?

[Zoobeef]

Whats the quality comparison like? Currently DIY kitchens is about £2.5k cheaper than magnets even with DIY having 3 extra small cupboards. (Worktops and appliances not included)

Thats comparing magnets middle range of cabinets (pre built) and DIY only have 1 range i think.

[Condi]

Cannot comment on Magent, but I and many others on here have been happy with DIY Kitchens offering. Really not much negative to say about them, arrived pre-built which saved a lot of time during installation, and are doing what you want from kitchen units.

[Skyedriver]

Three Magnet Kitchens so far, fitted two myself, excellent quality.

[Teebs]

How much is the DIY Kitchen coming out at?

[Greendubber]

Magnet are let down massively by their useless fitters and horrifically inflated prices.

We had no end of st with them, nearly ended up in court all over an incompetent fitter. Result was 8 months of hell followed by a blank cheque and competent fitter.

Edited by Greendubber on Sunday 27th September 17:33

[Catz]

No idea about comparison but I’ve just ordered from DIY kitchens on the back of online reviews. They have hundreds of great reviews and you can see real life kitchens on the website. My order was due mid Oct but they had a fire at their factory so delayed by a week or so.
I did get some samples sent, used their planning app and looked through many questions in the advice section of their website before finally ordering. Mine is a small kitchen (holiday house) so I’m fairly confident I got my measurements right.

They’ve got a fair range of different style kitchens. My main kitchen is Stanbury but I’ve also ordered slimline units from the Luca handleless range which are going to be used as part of a bathroom vanity and hide new plumbing which was needed.

[Rollin]

We went to see both at the weekend and couldn't see much difference to be honest.
We then went to Martin Moore and Neptune and they seemed miles better, but unfortunately miles more expensive

[Zoobeef]

I get about 55% off at magnets which brings ~18 units down to about £8k +vat and DIY having 21 units about £6k +vat.

Roughly what it'll look like, there's a few changes since then. And ignore the non accurate sofa.


Got an appointment booked at DIY for this week to go have another look.

[ChevronB19]

Had to threaten a Magnet rep with the police unless he left my home.

[MJNewton]

I took delivery of a DIY KItchens order recently and unfortunately there were a few issues - quite a few missing items, damaged doors (pre packaging and delivery) and some units not to spec (e.g. asked for dry assembly but got them stapled and glued). Everyone I've spoken to there has said how busy they are so I think the quality control may have taken a dive unfortunately. Hopefully just a temporary thing with the current situation.

As frustrating as theses problems have been I've got to say they've been great sorting them out. It's been a rather complicated and convoluted dialogue having to deal with item codes, me not using the right lingo when referring to components etc but they've stuck with it and never once has it felt like I'm fighting a battle - it's all been very constructive.

Luckily this is a DIY install into a new room (old kitchen still around and usable) as we're four weeks into the remedial action and still not quite there.

[RichB]

Rollin said:

<clip> went to Martin Moore and Neptune and they seemed miles better, but unfortunately miles more expensive

Neptune don't seem to be well regarded on here, apparently their units are now constructed in China?

[V8RX7]

It's all been covered before - DIY are much better even than the best Magnet stuff

Internal colour choices, thick edge banding (which is where kitchens break first), far more choice, better built carcasses and better doors (obviously depends exactly what you pick) plus they're cheaper !

Base of feet fitted to units as are the doors - that saves £200+ labour straight away !

I've fitted / lived with all their rivals and now only use DIY

[LocoBlade]

Another one to possibly consider would be https://www.betterkitchens.co.uk

No personal experience but I added them to my list of potential suppliers after someone on here recommended them a few weeks back. They seem to have a very similar business model to DIY Kitchens and look comparable quality at least from what you can tell from the website etc. I did a quick like for like list of cabinets added to the cart and they seemed to be about 10% cheaper than DIY at current prices, and being in Somerset they may or may not be more convenient for a showroom visit compared to Pontefract where DIY Kitchens are.

[Alucidnation]

Hand built.

Make sure the doors match though.

[fuzzyyo]

Had two Diy Kitchens. Both been great. Their Worktops are expensive though. Both times been to local places which have been much cheaper.

[MJNewton]

fuzzyyo said:

Had two Diy Kitchens. Both been great. Their Worktops are expensive though. Both times been to local places which have been much cheaper.

..whereas I found the opposite. Might depend on material perhaps(?) and location but shopping around for Silestone quartz worktops I couldn't find anywhere - local or online - that could do them cheaper than DIY Kitchens. There wasn't a massive difference but a difference nevertheless.

I happened to ask for a quote from DIY KItchen's supplier (Natural Stone Surfaces) and when they spotted the DIY Kitchens URL on the layout plan they advised me to go via DIY Kitchens as they pass on the big discount that NSS give to them as sole supplier. I guess there are some significant volumes involved which made me think this was how DIY Kitchens were so competitive.

[Teebs]

MJNewton said:

..whereas I found the opposite. Might depend on material perhaps(?) and location but shopping around for Silestone quartz worktops I couldn't find anywhere - local or online - that could do them cheaper than DIY Kitchens. There wasn't a massive difference but a difference nevertheless.

I happened to ask for a quote from DIY KItchen's supplier (Natural Stone Surfaces) and when they spotted the DIY Kitchens URL on the layout plan they advised me to go via DIY Kitchens as they pass on the big discount that NSS give to them as sole supplier. I guess there are some significant volumes involved which made me think this was how DIY Kitchens were so competitive.

I would imagine it's more about not stepping on toes than it is about price and discounts in reference to NSS and DIY Kitchens.

[fourstardan]

LocoBlade said:

Another one to possibly consider would be https://www.betterkitchens.co.uk

No personal experience but I added them to my list of potential suppliers after someone on here recommended them a few weeks back. They seem to have a very similar business model to DIY Kitchens and look comparable quality at least from what you can tell from the website etc. I did a quick like for like list of cabinets added to the cart and they seemed to be about 10% cheaper than DIY at current prices, and being in Somerset they may or may not be more convenient for a showroom visit compared to Pontefract where DIY Kitchens are.

I've done my kitchen with Better kitchens and cannot fault them. DIY kitchens are in Leeds and im on the SW coast so Better Kitchens in Weston Super Mare so made better sense.

I'd recommend going to look at the doors or getting samples as they do a lot of different finishes, for us it was a first new kitchen fit so wanted to get it right and a day trip down didn't seem that bad of an option, thinking it would be like some Wren showroom it was just on a small business unit lol.

We had some niggles which were all resolved, I actually fooked up a few things on the process and they were very helpful during the stress of the unit. My integrated fridge/freezer height was ordered as tall not medium, which was resolved by cutting it down but meant I had ordered a wrong side panel and the doors were wrong so they kindly did the side panel (from memory) for free.

I'd recommend going to look at the doors or getting samples.

All stuff came prebuilt.

Only other thing is delivery charge is rather mahusive, so I drove down and had a day at the seaside again.

[DavidY]

Fitted a DIY kitchens about a year ago, very pleased with it (worktop sourced locally), yes I did have a number of damaged doors, but they were very quick to replace, never quibbled even over almost indistinguishable marks. To me any company can have the odd QC issue but how they resolve the issue is the key.

[V8RX7]

DavidY said:

Fitted a DIY kitchens about a year ago, very pleased with it (worktop sourced locally), yes I did have a number of damaged doors, but they were very quick to replace, never quibbled even over almost indistinguishable marks. To me any company can have the odd QC issue but how they resolve the issue is the key.

Agreed - I've had a few minor issues, quickly and painlessly dealt with and unlike Wren you won't be waiting over two weeks as they make the stuff, in the UK, themselves.

Admittedly Magnet / Howdens can swap stuff instantly IF they have it in stock - because they have such a limited range.