new kitchenproject management

MsAnderson

I have project managed many a kitchen revamp, my OH is a builder and I get drafted in to speak to the lady of the house (the decision maker) to chat in laymens terms..! The benefit of Howdens kitchens, and Magnet, etc is the carcasses come built. When the kitchen is ready, they can be put in very quickly. If its flat packed, you need to work out the construction time that you will pay your fitter for. It can work out much the same but ask your fitter, he will have his own opionion on what is a good kitchen. Its the same in most trades, a good tradesman can make a cheap kitchen look a million dollars. A rubbish fitter can make a really expensive kitchen look like tat.

Just look at any forum on Moben kitchens, v expensive but sometime fitted by local, rubbish sub contractors - what's the point!

davey_005

One more piece of advice re Ikea units. I have never fitted any but be aware that they have no service void behind the cabinets (i.e the backs fit tight to the wall) Almost all other kitchen units have a 50mm service void to allow for pipes and cables. All services will need to be located below plinth height (approx 150mm) on an Ikea kitchen which could add to the cost and complexity of an install. The alternative is to cut out the back of the units which looks ugly.

This may also cause a problem with worktop overhang on a long run on a wall that is not true. I'm not sure how far Ikea worktops overhang the units but the service void on other units also enables a fitter to reduce the depth of some units to overcome this and then scribe the worktop to fit. You could possibly end up with a gap between the worktop and the wall without this option being available. Increased depth worktops (typically 650mm) would overcome this. It's worth checking before you go ahead.

kmmr

Hi, Can anyone vouch for (or against) the homebase kitchens?

foxgloves

Really interesting thread as we have found a kitchen we like in the Homebase range and we are hoping to go to our local branch tomorrow to see if we can arrange for a quote. They seem to have some pretty good deals on at the moment but I have no idea what they are likely to charge for fitting. I do like the idea of getting them to manage the whole instalation though because I know we will need the plumbing under the sink looked at (unfortunately our 1930s house has at some point been owned by someone who made a pig's breakfast of all DIY jobs!) and our sockets will defintely need changing for the proper ones with the on/off switches. Like the last post, I'd be interested to know, particularly from the knowledegeable fitters who have posted on here, if Homebase are generally reasonable quality. I do agree with an earlier post that a poor fitting can make an expensive kitchen look rubbish and good fitting make a cheap one look great. Our current kitchen is kind of a fairly rubbish one fitted pretty badly by the aforementioned previous owner probably without reference even to his Boy's Own Woodwork Annual, so I'm thinking anything's got to be an improvement on that!! Any comments on Homebase kitchen fitting experience welcome. Thanks x

aah

Thanks everyone. I did some workings on bq and ikea planner sites today - although there is no way I would go by my own measurements and would look for a professional to re-do. Cost inc appliances (ff, dw and hood, keeping own cooker, we do our washing in garage) is c £2250 so not too bad. If I get away with double this inc installation and floor I'd be delighted.

What do you think, might this be possible?

Best wishes fo4r happy new year all

Anne

Steve_the_fitter

It does depend on how much eletrical, plumbing and plastering work is needed but I reckon youll get it all done 4.5k I wish they did but not many of my fits come to £2250

aah wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I did some workings on bq and ikea planner sites today - although there is no way I would go by my own measurements and would look for a professional to re-do. Cost inc appliances (ff, dw and hood, keeping own cooker, we do our washing in garage) is c £2250 so not too bad. If I get away with double this inc installation and floor I'd be delighted.

What do you think, might this be possible?

Best wishes fo4r happy new year all

Anne