Kitchens - cheap vs expensive
Discussion
KTMsm said:
I'm sure they gave a time period to report damage - I thought it was 48 hours
I had units for a large kitchen and utility room all delivered together from DIY kitchens, started on the kitchen install and found the first damage. Reported it and informed them I'll be a couple of weeks before I inspect all the units as I won't be opening them all due to storage space. Continued to report various bits of damage (far to much really, due to poor quality control) as I found them over the next couple of weeks. They were fine with it and everything was replaced without issue. jfdi said:
I had units for a large kitchen and utility room all delivered together from DIY kitchens, started on the kitchen install and found the first damage. Reported it and informed them I'll be a couple of weeks before I inspect all the units as I won't be opening them all due to storage space. Continued to report various bits of damage (far to much really, due to poor quality control) as I found them over the next couple of weeks. They were fine with it and everything was replaced without issue.
It took us months (like, 8 months or so) to finally getting round to fitting some end panels and only then spotting the poor paint finish on them. DIY Kitchens did replace them free of charge, although I must admit it did feel like I only just got away with it, perhaps due to a lucky combination of piling on the pleasantries and catching their customer service assistant on the right day! I wouldn't want to depend on that again though.Zoon said:
Minsky said:
. Main thing for me is workflow. Thinking about how I do everything, from making my espresso in the morning to having a bowl of soup for lunch.
Put cup under expresso machine.Tip soup into bowl and microwave.
Does it get any more complex?
tux850 said:
It took us months (like, 8 months or so) to finally getting round to fitting some end panels and only then spotting the poor paint finish on them. DIY Kitchens did replace them free of charge, although I must admit it did feel like I only just got away with it, perhaps due to a lucky combination of piling on the pleasantries and catching their customer service assistant on the right day! I wouldn't want to depend on that again though.
A manufacturing flaw is one thing, damage such as scuffed or broken parts is another IMOKTMsm said:
rossyl said:
DIY Kitchens - Notifying Damage after a few weeks - does anyone have any experience?
I'm sure they gave a time period to report damage - I thought it was 48 hours Here's the current state of ours - the plumber will be connecting the hot tap and hob this week. There are more units and a fridge freezer out of shot, and yes we've not followed the 'work triangle' design. Spend will be under £16k including appliances, worktop and fitting, but not the flooring - the whole house is being renovated.
tux850 said:
jfdi said:
I had units for a large kitchen and utility room all delivered together from DIY kitchens, started on the kitchen install and found the first damage. Reported it and informed them I'll be a couple of weeks before I inspect all the units as I won't be opening them all due to storage space. Continued to report various bits of damage (far to much really, due to poor quality control) as I found them over the next couple of weeks. They were fine with it and everything was replaced without issue.
It took us months (like, 8 months or so) to finally getting round to fitting some end panels and only then spotting the poor paint finish on them. DIY Kitchens did replace them free of charge, although I must admit it did feel like I only just got away with it, perhaps due to a lucky combination of piling on the pleasantries and catching their customer service assistant on the right day! I wouldn't want to depend on that again though.Ranger 6 said:
We're just putting one of theirs in - the reporting time we were told was 10 working days from delivery. I suggest you call them and explain the situation if it's not going in before January.
Many thanks all. Really appreciate that. Will try and keep them notified and also make it clear the issue with getting it in with the weather/Christmas etc. Hopefully they're understanding. Joe M said:
After putting it off for a long time, 2023 will hopefully be new kitchen time for me.
I've just read this complete thread and clicked on everyone of the PH kitchen builders names... All South of the Border...
Any recommendations for Glasgow /Central Scotland?
I've just read this complete thread and clicked on everyone of the PH kitchen builders names... All South of the Border...
Any recommendations for Glasgow /Central Scotland?
We used units from Howdens at Anniesland. Process was simple.
After horrendous quotes elsewhere over £20k we started with a recommended fitter. Discussed options. He only fits Howdens.
He put us in touch with a Howdens designer Nikki Hartley who came out and measured up
After she had drawn in up on the computer we visited Howdens viewed door/floor/counter samples. Tweaked the design.
We mixed and matched appliances as ordering via Howdens if they could match best price elsewhere.
Our kitchen was 30 years old so any new kitchen was going to be a big improvement.
Features we like
My wife didn't want under hob over due to sore back. So double oven in housing unit with matching microwave stacked above. Saves counter space in small kitchen by not using it for microwave.
Cupboard to left of ovens is full height pull out larder.
Cost for full kitchen - new wall and ceiling lights. Rewiring sockets etc. Flooring. Tiling. All units and appliances was about £12k or £13
Fitter made nice job. Things like cutting unit carcasses to fit round pipes in two corners. He included the lighting and arranging gas fitter to move pipe for hob in his fee. He did the flooring and wiring as well.
As said in previous comments I would suggest starting with fitter and go from there.
Our fitter was good and not expensive. Not a fast job but we were ok with that as it was a fixed price not a daily rate we were paying. He just doesn't do 9am starts etc.
Joe M said:
After putting it off for a long time, 2023 will hopefully be new kitchen time for me.
I've just read this complete thread and clicked on everyone of the PH kitchen builders names... All South of the Border...
Any recommendations for Glasgow /Central Scotland?
Kitchens International. We used their Aberdeen branch and they were decent.I've just read this complete thread and clicked on everyone of the PH kitchen builders names... All South of the Border...
Any recommendations for Glasgow /Central Scotland?
Leicht kitchen was lovely and not much more than a Howdens one!
We did only get the units from them as we found ex-display bargains for the ovens and bought Leibherr Integrated Fridge and Freezer combo from one of the London home shows where there were proper discounts (Cooks and Company).
Howdens are ok, but nothing more than that. Prices can also be a bit of a fun game with their "trade" discount malarky.
irc said:
We used units from Howdens at Anniesland. Process was simple.
After horrendous quotes elsewhere over £20k we started with a recommended fitter. Discussed options. He only fits Howdens.
He put us in touch with a Howdens designer Nikki Hartley who came out and measured up
After she had drawn in up on the computer we visited Howdens viewed door/floor/counter samples. Tweaked the design.
We mixed and matched appliances as ordering via Howdens if they could match best price elsewhere.
Our kitchen was 30 years old so any new kitchen was going to be a big improvement.
Features we like
My wife didn't want under hob over due to sore back. So double oven in housing unit with matching microwave stacked above. Saves counter space in small kitchen by not using it for microwave.
Cupboard to left of ovens is full height pull out larder.
Cost for full kitchen - new wall and ceiling lights. Rewiring sockets etc. Flooring. Tiling. All units and appliances was about £12k or £13
Fitter made nice job. Things like cutting unit carcasses to fit round pipes in two corners. He included the lighting and arranging gas fitter to move pipe for hob in his fee. He did the flooring and wiring as well.
As said in previous comments I would suggest starting with fitter and go from there.
Our fitter was good and not expensive. Not a fast job but we were ok with that as it was a fixed price not a daily rate we were paying. He just doesn't do 9am starts etc.
-Ad- said:
Kitchens International. We used their Aberdeen branch and they were decent.
Leicht kitchen was lovely and not much more than a Howdens one!
We did only get the units from them as we found ex-display bargains for the ovens and bought Leibherr Integrated Fridge and Freezer combo from one of the London home shows where there were proper discounts (Cooks and Company).
Howdens are ok, but nothing more than that. Prices can also be a bit of a fun game with their "trade" discount malarky.
They look good, and going by the website I would probably have assumed too expensive and skipped over it. Leicht kitchen was lovely and not much more than a Howdens one!
We did only get the units from them as we found ex-display bargains for the ovens and bought Leibherr Integrated Fridge and Freezer combo from one of the London home shows where there were proper discounts (Cooks and Company).
Howdens are ok, but nothing more than that. Prices can also be a bit of a fun game with their "trade" discount malarky.
Did they do the fitting for you?
Minsky said:
Not sure if that is useful to anyone looking for inspiration. Main thing for me is workflow. Thinking about how I do everything, from making my espresso in the morning to having a bowl of soup for lunch. It means that before I got to the design I roughly knew where everything would need to go. From that the design was pretty easy.
Remember - it is you that has to live with it, not the designer.
To give another perspective. We have an odd shaped kitchen with a taper and windows on two walls, in a self build.Remember - it is you that has to live with it, not the designer.
I struggled for some time with design and 'working triangle'.
In the end I couldn't get there so we fitted a free take out kitchen to see how it worked. The fridge ended up the other end of the kitchen to the coffee maker/tea pot.
It struck me that most people need additional exercise in addition to their work. Taking a few more spaces within a warm environment and being rewarded with a cup of tea or coffee is not an issue. In reality you're waiting for the coffee to make or tea to brew.
Location of spices is the one thing that has bugged me!
We've just ordered a midnight blue shaker kitchen from magnet, was very happy with the design and pricing service, all timber doors etc. We originally went to Howdens and the Mrs was adamant she wanted to try magnet, I was convinced it would be dearer but they managed to beat Howdens by a decent margin for the same spec.
Yazza54 said:
We've just ordered a midnight blue shaker kitchen from magnet, was very happy with the design and pricing service, all timber doors etc. We originally went to Howdens and the Mrs was adamant she wanted to try magnet, I was convinced it would be dearer but they managed to beat Howdens by a decent margin for the same spec.
And if you had gone back to Howdens they would have beaten that again. Best to choose what you like, then haggle.Road2Ruin said:
Yazza54 said:
We've just ordered a midnight blue shaker kitchen from magnet, was very happy with the design and pricing service, all timber doors etc. We originally went to Howdens and the Mrs was adamant she wanted to try magnet, I was convinced it would be dearer but they managed to beat Howdens by a decent margin for the same spec.
And if you had gone back to Howdens they would have beaten that again. Best to choose what you like, then haggle.Road2Ruin said:
Yazza54 said:
We've just ordered a midnight blue shaker kitchen from magnet, was very happy with the design and pricing service, all timber doors etc. We originally went to Howdens and the Mrs was adamant she wanted to try magnet, I was convinced it would be dearer but they managed to beat Howdens by a decent margin for the same spec.
And if you had gone back to Howdens they would have beaten that again. Best to choose what you like, then haggle.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff