New kitchens - howdens, wren or benchmarx?

LaFleur

redrabbit29 wrote: »

THREAD HIJACK...

What about other companies like Homebase, Wickes (I can guess they're probably not great), etc...

I'm considering getting a new kitchen, but not sure how much longer I want to stay in the house and if it's worth it.

When I got mine done homes base was almost triple the cost and wicks was double the cost - this included all the discount the staff member was adding on for me

roddydogs

How much spam & Ads (not allowed) on this thread.

Dan-Dan

A shout for howdens , we have had a burford cream kitchen , and we can feel the quality of the product everyday , and we have compared in advance to homebase and ikea kitchens , so we knew the quality was good
Added to that , we had a very experinced fitting team , so all went smoothly to be honest

Brideshead

p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; } Not being professionals in kitchen purchase and fitting procedure, we relied on Howdens providing a professional design service. The whole episode was a nightmare with various disputes as to what was requested and actually fitted.
We made representations to the highest company officials and we were totally disappointed with the response from the company. We are unable to recommend this company.

rmcmanus

Thought I'd chip in, its an old thread I know... inject some fresh blood.

Just taken delivery of a kitchen from Howdens, after much deliberation and shopping around.

In the end it was between them and diy-kitchens.com - and Howdens trumped as they could deliver at short notice, rather than wait four weeks for a custom order - but as I sit this morning, I wish I had waited.

1. Price - Quite a large kitchen, priced up at £6300 online, Howdens came down to £6400, but have to source my own pullouts for larders etc so difference about £1100 all in - was willing to swallow that for immediate delivery and local service. And the whole "having to go through your fitter" for a price is a bit ridiculous, but understandable, and easily dispensed with if you know the fitter.

2. Service - Never actually dealt with DIYK, but must admit, Howdens have actually been very good with me, as I changed the design about a million times. Maybe depends on your local branch.

3. Quality - again, can't directly comment on DIYK but they seem easily comparable on paper and in reviews, if not better. Major differences for me tho are:

DIYK - units built to order, so not universally drilled on all sides for doors like Howdens - aesthetic point, but worth noting if you are fussy and dont like hundreds of blanking caps.

DIYK - units are colour matched, so you don't need to to buy extra end panels to match the colour of your doors - as Howdens only do two carcass colours, we have had to buy 4 big bits of panel, adding to the cost and reducing the useable space by what could be a significant amount when door access etc is taken into account.

DIYK - units already have feet attached that you just fold out, Howdens need hammered on.

DIYK - extra tall larders are actually extra tall - Howdens (and this is the bit that REALLY annoys me most) are standard with a separate 200mm extension on the top that you have to bolt on yourself - so you either end up with a ridiculous cupboard at the top that you can't really use, or you literally break your brand new units to join the two bits together. And you then might have to cancel the larder unit pull outs that you have just ordered, as they are then the wrong size...


So - basically, not saying Howdens are awful, but beware the detail...

Regards.

Francesanne

redrabbit29 wrote: »

THREAD HIJACK...

What about other companies like Homebase, Wickes (I can guess they're probably not great), etc...

I'm considering getting a new kitchen, but not sure how much longer I want to stay in the house and if it's worth it.

We had a Wickes kitchen fitted in our old house and I loved it.
Was very good quality and whilst not cheap it was well worth the money. Even after 7 years it looked just as good.

Mojoted

We paid almost 9k for a kitchen and have had nothing but trouble from day one. Wrong doors were sent, doors started to blister and bubble after just a few months and the doors are now changing colour. Cannot get them to send replacements, they just don't want to know. The customer service is diabolical and the staff in the showrooms are rude. I would rather stick red hot pokers in my eyes than use this company again.

Furts

Mojoted wrote: »

We paid almost 9k for a kitchen and have had nothing but trouble from day one. Wrong doors were sent, doors started to blister and bubble after just a few months and the doors are now changing colour. Cannot get them to send replacements, they just don't want to know. The customer service is diabolical and the staff in the showrooms are rude. I would rather stick red hot pokers in my eyes than use this company again.

Wren seem to get a knocking for customer service, but here I wonder why your doors are blistering and bubbling. This suggests cheap, poor quality doors with a vinyl wrap, or poor coating, or poor veneer, and probably a poor core. Such doors also have to treated as fragile - all water splashes and drips should be carefully removed at all times. Plus the worktop should be correctly specified, sized and installed.

All this lies within the power of the consumer to remain alert and specify and install correctly. Then treat all items with care.

I am wondering if Wren regard some of the problems as being partly of your making?

Hope this helps.

Mojoted

Wren did say the damage was our fault which is ludicrous. I had a white highgloss kitchen in my last house and it was still brilliant white 10 years later. The new owners still have it 4 years later and it is still pristine. Shame I didn't use the same supplier. I have a quartz worktop which is what was recommended. One of the doors has gone to the labs for a full manufacturing analysis. Kitchens have to withstand heat, moisture and stress and compoents should be processed to be fit for purpose not just to look pretty in a twinkly showroom.

Furts

Mojoted wrote: »

Wren did say the damage was our fault which is ludicrous. I had a white highgloss kitchen in my last house and it was still brilliant white 10 years later. The new owners still have it 4 years later and it is still pristine. Shame I didn't use the same supplier. I have a quartz worktop which is what was recommended. One of the doors has gone to the labs for a full manufacturing analysis. Kitchens have to withstand heat, moisture and stress and compoents should be processed to be fit for purpose not just to look pretty in a twinkly showroom.

These are all good points, but you do not say what door and what finish you specified, nor your care of it, nor if you picked an appropriate colour with regards to fading. For example, is it a dark door receiving direct sunlight?

I know of a defective kitchen where the owner wants all the doors and drawers replaced. The reason is a colour variation. However,I also know that all sorts of inappropriate and aggresive cleaners have been used on these doors, including bleach. Hence there is stalemate.

If your quartz worktop has a non existent overhang, or an inadequate overhang then you should be looking at this. If these are what you specified then you are then responsible for the problems created by this - which will be water drip damage to door and drawer fronts.

Of course a kitchen should be fit for purpose. But the consumer has a duty of care to themselves to ensure that this concept has been checked out before purchasing.