Kitchen price - they taking the mickey?

shays_mum

Benchmark supply Wickes right?, got a trade account there as well & they quoted me £5k supply only :eek:

Meepster

HarrowMarrow wrote: »

MW/Blacktaxi/whomsoever knows, what is the situation with build quality? When I mentioned Homebase to Howdens they rubbished them talking about chipboard when they have MDF etc. Double-dutch to me, can you explain in English?

The carcases (the bit behind the doors, i.e. the actual cabinet) are made from Melamine Faced Chipboard (MFC). The industry standard for this is 18mm thick. Both Howdens and Homebase use this (as do all of the sheds), so I'm not sure why Howdens are going on about Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF).

Howdens do use MDF for side panels, whereas Homebase use MFC ones, but TBQH, there is no real benefit to using MDF unless the kitchen doors are gloss, as you can't get a gloss surface onto a MFC panel and then everything wont match.

The doors are made from various different materials, cheaper doors are made from MFC and they go up to solid acrylic for the most expensive ones. Inbetween you have paper wrapped, foil wrapped, laquered, veneered, solid wood veneer and solid wood.

Does that make sense?

Meepster

shays_mum wrote: »

Benchmark supply Wickes right?, got a trade account there as well & they quoted me £5k supply only :eek:

Nope, Benchmarx don't supply Wickes. Benchmarx is part of Travis Perkins, just as Wickes is.

Both Wickes and Benchmarx get their kitchens from Gower, who are based in Yorkshire, who are in turn part of the Nobia group (who own Magnet)

The only difference between Benchmarx and Wickes is that the Benchmarx units are rigid built and they have one or two different doors...

HarrowMarrow

Ah, MW thank you so much !!!! :TYes, I reckon they mentioned MDF about the doors only, but naturally made a huge deal about it!

I can understand practical matters when explained clearly like this (and not rushed as per shed's talk)

We were going for the homebase "Milano" range gloss finish. You saying this gonna be bit naff on MFC ?

Meepster

HarrowMarrow wrote: »

We were going for the homebase "Milano" range gloss finish. You saying this gonna a bit naff on MFC ?

Just had a quick peak at the Milano... The doors and matchings are more than likely a vinyl wrapped MDF.

Looks like Homebase have brought some gloss panels into their ranges. Last time I looked they only used matt panels with the gloss doors.

Quality wise, they are very similar to what Howdens are selling, and with their current sale should be a bit cheaper...

HarrowMarrow

mwilletts wrote: »

Just had a quick peak at the Milano... The doors and matchings are more than likely a vinyl wrapped MDF.

Looks like Homebase have brought some gloss panels into their ranges. Last time I looked they only used matt panels with the gloss doors.

Quality wise, they are very similar to what Howdens are selling, and with their current sale should be a bit cheaper...

You are a god-send !:T

Ionkontrol

Have look at http://www.diy-kitchens.com/

Better quality than all the sheds and Howdens.

Meepster

HarrowMarrow wrote: »

You are a god-send !:T

That's not what my OH calls me lol

If you need anymore advice, just send me a PM.

Happy to help...

HarrowMarrow

Ionkontrol wrote: »

Have look at http://www.diy-kitchens.com/

Better quality than all the sheds and Howdens.

Unfortunately, with my non-DIY kknowledge, I'd be lost without a salesperson/designer to help pick out everything I needed. And I'm london-based, west yorks a bit of a trek. Looks great though.

Meepster

Ionkontrol wrote: »

Have look at http://www.diy-kitchens.com/

Better quality than all the sheds and Howdens.

How are they? They are a standard 18mm MFC carcase that everyone else uses. The fact they are glue and doweled has very little impact over the stability of the unit. Salesmen just use it as a "our kitchens are better than your kitchens" type arguement.

The doors that DIY kitchens sell are again, just average doors, from PWS and Burbidge. Some of them are good doors (lansdowne, broadoak, eden, bede, avant etc) other are quite poor doors (fresco, scope, buttermilk ivory etc)

So how are they better?