New kitchens - howdens, wren or benchmarx?

Jaynne

Kitchen_DesignR wrote: »

Bear in mind dhowell8 had granite worktops fitted and their kitchen might of been 20 units...5 days maybe reasonable.

Maybe, ours was 15 units total and I probably left out a day of fixing things like plinths and snags. We had quartz worktops fitted but that was pretty quick once they were templated, I'm not sure that laminate or wood would have been quicker besides the poster said 5 days just for units after first fix.

As you say though you get more negative posts on forums than positives and I wanted to put forward the case for benchmarx. We went to many kitchen companies both chains and independents and the only one we got a good feeling from was benchmarx - the quality elsewhere was as good or better but then those places where it was better wanted 2x or 3x the price and the kitchens in no way looked worth it.

cddc

Getting the right designer who knows what he is doing and the right fitter is key. Dhowell8, unfortunately it sounds like you got both wrong. If the units were properly fitted they certainly would not be sagging under the weight of the granite, and if the designer had known what he was doing he would have ordered the fixed frame doors for the appliances and not the standard ones....

The wine cooler is CDA and carp by the way. Do not buy anything made by them....equivalent in quality to Howdens Lamona and just as poor.

DHLdriver

You may wish to read this before placing any orders with Howdens at the moment

From the Unite website

"Customers of the kitchen maker Howdens Joinery could face disruption to the delivery of their bespoke kitchens as a potential dispute is brewing because hardworking drivers face the sack.

Unite, Britain's biggest union, is preparing an industrial action ballot for DHL workers operating the Howdens Joinery contract, in a dispute over the company's decision to relocate the Widnes (Merseyside) transport operation to Howden in East Yorkshire with the loss of 64 jobs.

No sound or tangible business rationale has been offered for the relocation of Howdens’ transport operation. Unite believes the company's decision is an attack on the strongly unionised workers by an anti-union employer.

Unite regional officer Neil Clarke said: "The Widnes transport operation is the most heavily used in Howdens' entire network but the company has failed to give the union any meaningful reason for the proposed shift. We believe this is a blatant attack on a strongly unionised workforce.

"Unite is determined to protect its members' jobs and, if necessary, we will fight the decision but we still remain committed to trying to resolve this issue through meaningful dialogue. We believe that both Howdens and DHL have a moral duty to support and protect the long serving and loyal workforce."

On Thursday 3 January 2013 DHL informed employees working at the Widnes transport operation for the Howdens Joinery contract that Howdens is proposing to terminate its transport operations at Widnes on 4 February 2013 and relocate to a transport hub in Howden (North East) that is not yet in existence. "

muskoka

.sorry error

missesther

J.M.S wrote: »

Two deliveries is a bit strange, but as long as it comes in the end can't really complain. Thanks for the info though guys, very useful. Scared to say this, but I think I have made my decision!! :eek:

Guessing everything went well missesther?

My apologies at the late reply, I rarely have a chance to come online these days. The kitchen looks fantastic. Thankfully I used a fitter who has done regular work for my family going back more than ten years and so I knew he'd do a great job. I think that's often key, having a cheap kitchen fitted well is going to be much better than an expensive kitchen fitted badly.

Hope your kitchen all went well also!

rabthejab

I tried Hewdons found that they cant measure properly and prices are just a lottery, I was quoted £5200 and got my list I noticed I had 6 unreqired decore panesl so I called them and they issued me with a new price they had added another six panels and £1000 to the price I didnt give them the order, it took about 4 weeks to get my price through a joiner.
I believe that Howdens are owened by B&Q

gazfocus

rabthejab wrote: »

I tried Hewdons found that they cant measure properly and prices are just a lottery, I was quoted £5200 and got my list I noticed I had 6 unreqired decore panesl so I called them and they issued me with a new price they had added another six panels and £1000 to the price I didnt give them the order, it took about 4 weeks to get my price through a joiner.
I believe that Howdens are owened by B&Q

Howdens aren't owned by B&Q, Howdens used to own MFI.

I agree with the pricing though but I do think all kitchen companies can be guilty of adding things that you don't require. We bought our kitchen from Wickes and when we saw the kitchen designer he told us that they didn't do worktop support panels so told us we had to buy 4 tall larder unit side panels at £165 each...needless to say, we didn't bother and we're instead buying some tall end panels from B&Q for £70 for a pair.

Steve_the_fitter

Sounds like your buying replacement larder panels from b&Q. They wont work very well as worktop support panels are they will finish at the cabinet not the door, and are white on the inside with shelf holes.

gazfocus wrote: »

. We bought our kitchen from Wickes and when we saw the kitchen designer he told us that they didn't do worktop support panels so told us we had to buy 4 tall larder unit side panels at £165 each...needless to say, we didn't bother and we're instead buying some tall end panels from B&Q for £70 for a pair.

gazfocus

Steve_the_fitter wrote: »

Sounds like your buying replacement larder panels from b&Q. They wont work very well as worktop support panels are they will finish at the cabinet not the door, and are white on the inside with shelf holes.

Yeah, that's what we're getting but it doesn't really matter about the width because it's just to go between the dishwasher and washing machine so wouldn't need to go back all the way. I didn't think about it it being white on one side though...but it's still a hell of a lot better than Wickes ripping you off by charging £165 for a single piece of particleboard.

Steve_the_fitter

yeah larder panels are not cheap. Maybe by some 18mm edging and stick it on the white side at the front