How to tell the quality of a modern matt kitchen
If you’re looking for a new kitchen, you might be thinking about a modern matt kitchen. It’s a great, stylish look — but how can you be sure you’re getting a high-quality kitchen?
There’s a wide choice of suppliers selling modern matt kitchens from large high-street chains and trade-only suppliers, to smaller independent kitchen showrooms. The problem is, they vary substantially in both price and quality.
Below are a few things to look out for which should give you an idea of the quality of the kitchen you’re buying.
Check the door material used in modern matt kitchens
The door materials used on modern matt kitchens differ. Lower-quality kitchens usually come with wrapped doors. These will either be foil wrapped, vinyl wrapped or PVC wrapped. The problem with wrapped doors is they peel. Unfortunately, once a wrapped door starts peeling, the only option is to replace it, which is usually costly.
Higher-quality matt kitchens usually come with laminate, lacquered laminate or lacquered/painted doors. These will never peel and should continue to look great for many years.
Places like Wren, Howdens and Magnet mostly supply low-quality wrapped type doors. Independent kitchen showrooms typically supply low-quality wrapped type doors and high-quality laminate, lacquered laminate and lacquered/painted type doors.
Check the thickness of the backs used in modern matt kitchens
The thickness of the backs in a modern matt kitchen determines if the units are likely to bow in the future. This is especially important for UK made kitchens.
Lower-quality kitchens typically have 6-8mm thick backs. The problem with these is that they usually bow under the weight of the worktops and appliances. Higher-quality kitchens, on the other hand, will have 18mm thick backs that will never bow.
Places like Wren, Howdens and Magnet mostly sell kitchens with 6-8mm backs. In contrast, independent kitchen showrooms mostly sell kitchens with 18mm backs.
Check the carcass edging used in modern matt kitchens
Another difference between lower and higher-quality modern matt kitchens is the material that manufacturers use to edge the carcasses. This is important as it protects the delicate front edges from chips and prevents any water ingress.
Lower-quality kitchens use a thin melamine edging that provides little or no protection. In contrast, higher-quality kitchens come with a thick, durable ABS or PVC edging for maximum protection.
Check how your modern matt kitchen is assembled
The materials used for your modern matt kitchen are important, but so is the way it’s assembled. As a general rule, flat-pack kitchens tend to be lower-quality than rigid, factory-assembled kitchens.
Our free service recommends the best value kitchen showrooms in your area. Their kitchens start at similar prices to places like Howdens, Wren and Magnet, but are higher-quality.
All showrooms offer free, no-obligation quotes.
Read what our customers say about our service below:
“Kitchenfindr recommended a showroom who were much better value than most of the other showrooms I’d previously looked at”
Hannah Malone, Esher, Surrey
“No-one should buy a kitchen without speaking to Kitchenfindr first. The worrying bit is that if you don’t get his advice, you could easily end up spending £15k upwards more”
Bal Pabla, Romford, Essex
“The kitchen your guys came up with is far more competitive than anything I have had quoted so far”
Samantha Michaels, Watford, Herts
“Lloyd was able to point me to local independent kitchen retailers offering greater quality and value compared to the high street chains”
Mohammed Hashi, Northolt, Middx
“If you’re looking for a good value kitchen supplier, these are the people to speak to first!”
Natalie D R, Stanmore, Middx
