Yet another kitchen question! Finding the right independant.

cddc

There are quite significant varaiations in carcasse quailty and construction in the shed sector though. Without writing war and peace in descending order in my opinion:

Wickes to order range/Benchmarx (Same Kitchens)
B&Q Cooke and Lewis
Howdens
Ikea
Homebase
B&Q IT
Wickes Takeaway.

The top three are all pretty decently constructed carcasses whether supplied rigid (Howdens and Benchmarx) or flatpack.
The bottom three are all of cheaper construction and probably wont last as long.
Ikea are an oddity in that all other suppliers have units with service gaps that allow pipework and wiring to go in behind the unit but Ikea's cupboards go back full depth so all pipework and wiring have to be cut into them and will be visible inside the cupboard. Having said that they give the longest warranty of any of the cheaper mainstream suppliers!

All the Gloss slab doors in dark colours will be vinyl wrapped and of pretty much similar quality. Wickes t/o and Cooke and Lewis both do one or two lacqured doors but not in dark colours.

Have bought from Wickes, Ikea, Moben and Jewsons(don't) in the past and would add that the real key to a long lasting kitchen is the fitting. A cheap well fitted kitchen will last longer than a poorly fitted expensive one.

CyCo_2

But Howdens and Benchmarx aren't sheds. They are trade only.

Oh and Wickes take-away kitchens now use exactly the same quality carcase as their to-order range. The reason they are a lot cheaper is the quality of the doors they use and that they are produced on a much greater scale.

Meepster

CyCo wrote: »

Oh and Wickes take-away kitchens now use exactly the same quality carcase as their to-order range. The reason they are a lot cheaper is the quality of the doors they use and that they are produced on a much greater scale.

Not quite right. All the carcases are made in the same factory, but their take away range only uses standard chipboard. The to order kitchen carcases are made form furniture grade chipboard, hence the difference in cost. (I agree about the quality of the fascias though, they are like chalk and cheese)

cddc

Wickes takeaways are 15mm standard chipboard with a bracing in chipboard at the back but a hardboard back panel.
The to order range is 18mm furniture grade chipboard and a solid back panel which none of the other sheds offer.
Yes Benchmarx and Howdens are trade only but they operate at the same sort of price points as the sheds and their products are of similar quality.
HTH

Would just add that we have an Ikea gloss red door in a rental property and so far it hasn't scratched (been in for 3 years). Gloss laminate worktops are another matter though. Avoid like the plague.