B&Q IT versus Wickes Takeaway Kitchens

wildmandy

I'm buying a new kitchen and I've narrowed my search down to B&Q IT and Wickes Takeaway Kitchen ranges and would like to hear opinions on the quality of these two kitchen ranges. I'm simply asking about the quality and build of the carcases, not about anything else such as value for money (I can get both for the same price) or how wide the range is.

TIA,
Mandy

PS. I've got a 2metre wall to fill, do I go for 2 x 1000mm wall units or 1 x 1000mm ad 2 x 500mm units? If the latter, which way do I put the doors on the two 500mm end units?

Chloe5

Neither in my opinion

Although on second thoughts it depends on how hard working your kitchen needs to be.

I have a b&q kitchen cos I was short of cash at the time. When it was delivered I asked the chap who'd measured up what the life span was and he said average 8 years. Well, it's done 5 and it shows. The edges of the units wear very fast easily within the first year.

The doors in certain lights are not looking good.

A friend of mine got 10 years out her b&q kitchen and believe me it was in a state.

Wickes probably the same if you're lucky.

If you want to save money, buy something decent that will last.

john-306

I went for the Wickes about 3 years ago as the carcases were said to be stronger/thicker, still looking as good as new and well pleased with the cost at the time, of course paying loads more should result in a longer life but I payed what I could afford at the time and if I get 8 years out of them I'll still be pleased , but looking at a lot more years;)

wildmandy

john-306 wrote: »

as the carcases were said to be stronger/thicker

Who said that? As far as I can tell both are 15mm thick. I guess the key question is the relative strength of the two.

Mandy

Locoblade

The more expensive B&Q ones (Select range I think) have better carcasses but they're about 2.5x the price, most though have the cheap/flimsy ones which do seem rather poor quality judging by how quickly they look tatty on the B&Q shop floor.

I'll put it this way, my missus works for B&Q so we get 20% discount, but we still probably won't buy our new kitchen from there unless one of the Select range comes in under budget.

Lally

I need a new kitchen too, what about MFI are they any good?

I replaced my door fronts about 3 years ago with ones from B&Q and the ones at either side of the over (also brand new at the time) are beginning to bubble and the 'veneer' if you can call it that has come off in a few chunks.

BillScarab

Well my Wickes kitchen is about 18 years old and still going strong. The doors are staring to look at bit shabby now and the worktop could probably do with replacing but the carcasses are still solid. So realistically it will need refershing or replacing soon. The one I bought did have solid Oak doors and I'm pretty sure the carcasses were 18mm thick.