I have a modern, 1 bedroomed house, which I let out and it has the original kitchen, from when it was buit at the end of 1988 early 1989.
It really needs updating. Most of the cupboards simply need new doors, a drawer needs replacing and 2 cupboard cases/units need replacing, as they are a bit tattered and rough, mainly through steam and mousture.
The sink/draining board, hob, oven, washing machine and stand alone fridge freezer are remaining and drab looking tiles will be covered. The vinyl floor needs updating and the fitter has recommended Kardean, which I have in my main house, which I live in. I may get a less expensive floor. Worktop will be replaced.
The fitter has some good recommendations, for a decent, long lasting, but not over-the-top kitchen, but the price is just over £6,100 for a small kitchen/diner, taking 3 days.
This is a franchise of Dream Doors, which I know have a very good reputation.
In your experiences, how to companies like B&Q, Wickes, Homebase fare for quality, fitting and price? I would find it far easier to get the company to provide fitters, as long as they are good.
I would never be confident using the big sheds (b & Q, wickes etc) for fitting. I’ve heard bad reports, and personally would prefer to use a local independant installer, who came with personal recomendations from friends / family where / if possible. Years ago, I had a kitchen installed by DFS & wasn’t impressed, so put off since.
Obviously, I dont know the size of kitchen / number of units etc, but £6,100 sounds a high price in my experience for what appears to just be covering tiles (curious what with), and fitting new cabinet doors and two cabinets. My last whole rental kitchen costs less than this bought from Howdens (get trade membership as Landlord), and installed by installer over 3 days.
That said Kardean is great, and I have used similar for some rental properties, but can be expensive if its a big area.
I fitted a kitchen in March from howdens
c £1500 ( I did reuse old appliances but chimney hood was new)
Labour £360 for two days
Tiling £160 labour £40 tiles
It was a full rewire and new heating system
I paid less than that to include sand and cement render
Shop around
You can get trade at howdens
But find a joiner with a trade discount too
Go to his branch and make your branch price match that saved me about £500 and I got better fittings
Ask your trades for a joiner
Kitchen fitters are more expensive than joiners
A lot use flat pack so they bleed you dry on the labour
Get it prefab it’s a lot quicker to install and more sturdy
You can do a huge amount yourself with flat pack stuff. I’m no expert, but I’ve done B&Q and IKEA complete kitchens myself with sparks and plumbers doing the services. It’s really not that difficult. I found IKEA stuff really easy actually. The only bit you might want to get a joiner in for is the worktops if you have awkward walls or aren’t confident or don’t have tools to cut out the sink/tap/hob holes. But if it’s a galley kitchen or L-shape, you can even do worktops yourself pretty easily. I’ve also successfully painted tiles with tile paint and the results were really good. Get good quality paint and follow instructions to the letter. Not hard at all.
exactly so the worktops are the hardest. Can use aluminium jointing strips tho . But not as good looking as an end result. Router and jig for seamless joints , but do not slip with it as that is the top ruined.
I am sticking with Dream Doors and choosing a different flooring.
I phoned my usual carpenter, who has a Howdens account and he is not prepared to look at my kitchen, suggest Howdens upgrades and price the fitting, as he says ot is not worth his while, as he has priced jobs up for too many people who have not had work done.
He only works on jobs where customers definitely know what they want and are sure he is going to do the job.
You can visit Howdens, they will design the kitchen with you, and may even come & measure for you, but personally, I’d email them a plan of the dimensions & photos of the existing kitchen, and then arrange a design appointment.
Once you have plans, you then approach your fitter for a quote to carry out the works.
Don’t expect the fitter to do all the design for you. That is either going to cost you,. or not be worth their while.