Four questions to ask kitchen fitters to get the best Job done
Once you’ve bought a kitchen, it has to be fitted. This can be as crucial as the units, worktops and appliances in determining whether you end up with a great new kitchen or a disaster.
Here are a few things to find out from any kitchen fitters you might be considering.
What will it cost?
The cheapest kitchen fitters aren’t always the best, but at the same time a high price isn’t a guarantee of quality. The major chains, such as Wickes, Magnet and Wren, generally charge substantially more than a local kitchen showroom for a service which, at most, is no better.
A good average is around £2,000 for a kitchen installation, but that may fluctuate by a couple of hundred pounds. This will depend on the size of your kitchen and the area you live in.
How long will the kitchen fitters take?
You don’t want your home disrupted longer than necessary, and one mark of experienced kitchen fitters is they can get in and out quickly. Again, the time will depend on the kitchen.
A good guideline is that a kitchen with laminate worktops shouldn’t take much above a week to fit. If you’re having quartz, granite or solid surface/Corian worktops, it’s reasonable to allow for two weeks.
What experience do they have of fitting the brand of kitchen you are buying?
No two kitchen brands are alike, and kitchen fitters who are experienced with one brand may struggle with another. This is particularly true of builders, who might have fitted trade kitchens from suppliers like Howdens or Benchmarx, but probably have little or no experience of installing more up-market kitchen brands.
At best, this could lead to the process stretching far beyond the week or two it should take. At worst, inexperienced kitchen fitters could botch the job, even damaging the units and worktops in the process.
Do they guarantee to sort out any problems?
Even with experts fitting your kitchen things can go wrong. Reputable kitchen fitters will offer a cast-iron guarantee to come back and put right any problems without fuss or extra expense. They won’t leave you high and dry while supplier and fitter argue over whose responsibility it is.
The best solution is to use a good local kitchen showroom for both supply and fitting. Not only will they take full responsibility for faults, but they’ll also have plenty of experience with the kitchen brand they supply.
Not all local kitchen showrooms are equal, of course. My long experience in the industry allows me to identify the best value ones in your area.
Our free service recommends the best value kitchen suppliers in your area.
Their kitchens cost similar to places like Howdens, Magnet and Wren, but are higher quality and will last longer.
Showrooms offer free, no-obligation quotes and are within 30 minutes drive.
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