New Kitchen

pepp77

pepp77

pepp77

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Joined
13 Oct 2008
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SE London Born and Bred
I am currently in the process of getting some quotes to redo my kitchen, but I am still struggling to decide on worktops and floor.

Units I know I want a Grey Shaker style.

Worktops I cannot decide between real wood and laminate ie, something like these two

real - https://www.howdens.com/kitchen-col...d-wood-block-worktops/oak-block-27mm-worktop/

laminate - https://www.howdens.com/kitchen-col...-38mm-worktops/grey-oak-block-effect-worktop/

Then for the floor I am not sure whether to go engineered wood to match the worktop or go for a laminate in say a slate/limestone look to contrast.

The basic kitchen layout will be

sink20view_zpssqohr0cq.jpg


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Main20view_zpsddlybyb5.jpg


After any thoughts :)
 
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Have you tried Benchmarx? All of these trade type places come down to the individual branch but our Benchmarx were far better than our Howdens.

We went for real wood from Chippy Shop which was recommended here. Worktops are fantastic and were a great price really, cheaper than any laminate we got quoted.
 
I have Wren and Howdens doing quotes. I also have another builder who is quoting based on Benchmarx.

Currently they are all quoting for the same style cupboards with solid wood worktops and engineered floorings.

Am also going to ask them all to quote for laminate worktops and flooring.
 
Those "real wood" engineered work tops are ok but like said above if you go to a local carpentry shop they would probably do you bespoke work tops for a better price and your'll get a better product.

I see you're after wooden tops but as an option I've recently fitted Mirostone work tops for a customer and it looks great.
Solid resin slabs in a choice of stone patterns, you'd be hard pushed to tell the difference between it and real stone. can be cut and polished with power tools (routers, sanders etc) ~Might be worth checking out.

As for flooring the engineered hard woods 4-6mm on a 18mm birch ply base are some of the best i've seen.

Try to avoid the cheaper hard woods onto b grade bases and definitely avoid hard wood onto soft wood base they have the most potential for warping and cracking.
 
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So more than a month later and after getting quotes from Wren (came in at £5200), Howdens (£4300), Benchmarx (£4900) I have finally given my builder the go ahead to go with one of the quotes.

Of the 3 my favourite was the Benchmarx units so I spoke to them this morning and got them to beat the Howdens quote by £50 :)

For that I am getting the following

Sherwood Grey Shaker units with Cinnamon Grain Square edge worktops and upstands. I am getting a total of 16 units to inlcude built in Oven, 50/50 Fridge Freezer, Washing Machine and Slimline Dishwasher. Also getting a fitted 20l bin for recycling and a simple fitted cutlery tray.

Kitchen%20Overhead_zpsnhbl0xk0.png


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bit late now but for anyone that might find this in the future please consider DIYKitchens.

after looking at all of the local companies doing kitchens i went with DIYKitchens and the quality is superb.

I know others on here have used them too.
 
I have been looking at kitchens and everybody seems to recommend DIYKitchens. Unfortunately someone in my team at work has had an absolute nightmare with then with her kitchen over the past few months so I don't feel like I could order from them now. She's said the quality is great, however it was originally delivered over 2 months ago now and she still hasn't got everything she ordered. So many of the parts arrived damaged, have been returned and new ones sent out that arrived damaged.

Do your prices £4300 include removing the old kitchen and anything else (plug points, lighting, tiles etc...)?
 
Peerzy said:
I have been looking at kitchens and everybody seems to recommend DIYKitchens. Unfortunately someone in my team at work has had an absolute nightmare with then with her kitchen over the past few months so I don't feel like I could order from them now.
Click to expand...

There's a story like that for all kitchen suppliers! Go with the one which has the least!
 
Roughly what are you paying the builder for his work (removing old kitchen, installing etc...) and how much time does he reckon it'll take?

I have in my head that looking like about 5 days work but I might be way out?
 
Builder is costing £2500. This includes

Removal of all old units and appliances.
Removal of tiles and walls to be made good.
New plumbing and electrics for washing machine, oven hood and extraction fan
Painting of all walls and ceiling.
Removal of old floor and installation of new
Installation of units, worktops etc
Installation of all appliances
New sockets all round

About 5 or so days, the units are to be delivered on day 3.

I had 4 quotes in total, £2500, £2400, £2800 and £3200

The one I picked was almost cheapest but was also a recommendation rather than through mybuilder.com or trustatrader.
 
Wow is it going to be that much!? I was at least planning on getting rid of all the units, tiles and making the walls good myself with a mate before getting the fitter in. The existing kitchen is empty.

This is my latest design, done with a mate who works for Howdens:

https://my-kitchen.howdens.com/plan/FAA1516260001wL9

I'm slightly concerned about the cupboards near the window, which I reckon could do with another measure up. That window also has a lower cill height with a radiator and associated plumbing below. The lone high mounted cupboard is to cover up the boiler. I'm not yet set on colour, which the room could do with more of so the splashback could change too.
 
If you're planning on doing most of the hard work yourself you may as well just fit the kitchen. Putting units in isn't a difficult job at all, and doesn't need specific tools (spirit level and screwdriver mostly, and perhaps a jigsaw if you have any bits to cut out the edges and back). Putting the countertop on takes a few more tools however.
 
The thing that confuses me is that you can hire a builder per day for £150-£200. So why does 5 days of 'kitchen fitting' for a builder work out at £500 per day?
 
We got our kitchen fitter for £1400 which took 5 days plus a return visit to fit another fly over, fit the cooker hood and range cooker splashback.

To be fair, he did a brilliant job and it was well worth the money.

Still got to get the floor laid, find under cabinet lighting (which is proving harder than expected) & decorate but at least it's in a working condition now. There really is only so much take-away and eating out a family can stand/afford.

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I have lived in 3 houses with wood worktops and unless it's a sealed product or you are super OCD it is a massive pain in the posterior, I would never consider it personally.

In the last house we ended up using cabinet makers varnish to seal the surface which limited the deterioration to the joins between the sink and worktop. First house the surface just rotted away from the splashed water even with re-oiling and being careful.
 
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