Kitchen - B & Q Any good?

cr1mson

Have had quotes from Homebase who I didn't like as kept hassling me to sign up now so wasn't keen.

Had Howdens round and to be honest was planning to use their deisgn and get a local guy to put it in. However it took them two weeks to come up with the design and it is rubbish. Plus he completely ignored several of my requests (before anyone says they were not unreasonable ones but things like I want the sink with the draining board to the left as it is currently). I know it wouldn't be Howdens that would be doing the installing but it puts me off!

B & Q also came round and the price is similiar to Homebase, the design is fab and the people I have spoken to so far are all good. However obviously they wouldn't be doing the installing so just wondered what others experiences are?

Thanks in advance.

Crimson

clare64

B & Q kitchens and designs are good BUT to not let them install it for you. A local builder will be cheaper and will probably do a better job.
B&Q installed our kitchen and after 2 attempts to sort it out they paid for us to have a local builder to sort out their bad workmanship. It now looks lovely.
HTH

cr1mson

clare64 wrote: »

B & Q kitchens and designs are good BUT to not let them install it for you. A local builder will be cheaper and will probably do a better job.
B&Q installed our kitchen and after 2 attempts to sort it out they paid for us to have a local builder to sort out their bad workmanship. It now looks lovely.
HTH

Thanks hadn't thought of that as an option but that sounds perfect!

Crimson

Doozergirl

Howdens kitchens are better than B&Q kitchens. B&Q kitchens come flat pack, there is extra labour and flat pack kitchens are widely considered to be inferior.

Take the plan that you are happy with and the product list and get Howdens to beat the price. Just because you didn't like their design, doesn't make the kitchen bad.

You'll have it delivered within days and even if they do miss off a couple of items, or your fitter needs extra for whatever reason, it's very quick to get them.

B&Q have a reputation for part deliveries and you will be waiting weeks for an inferior product.

busiscoming2

Agree with the person that said get a local builder to do it for you. My OH has fitted a fair few in his time and is always amazed by how much B&Q want to charge for fitting.

cr1mson

Doozergirl wrote: »

Howdens kitchens are better than B&Q kitchens. B&Q kitchens come flat pack, there is extra labour and flat pack kitchens are widely considered to be inferior.

Take the plan that you are happy with and the product list and get Howdens to beat the price. Just because you didn't like their design, doesn't make the kitchen bad.

You'll have it delivered within days and even if they do miss off a couple of items, or your fitter needs extra for whatever reason, it's very quick to get them.

B&Q have a reputation for part deliveries and you will be waiting weeks for an inferior product.

It is not so much not liking the design as the fact that they didn't listen and took 2 weeks longer than they said it would - it doesn't bode well! The B & Q is huge near us and holds certain ranges in stock anyway so hopefully part deliveries wouldn't be an issue.

Crimson

john_white

cr1mson wrote: »

It is not so much not liking the design as the fact that they didn't listen and took 2 weeks longer than they said it would - it doesn't bode well! The B & Q is huge near us and holds certain ranges in stock anyway so hopefully part deliveries wouldn't be an issue.

Crimson

Seems you have made your mind up already. B&Q offer great service (from your experience so far) and you know your local store will have all the parts in stock when you order.

It's already been stated that Howdens are better kitchens, 18mm opposed to 15mm with better backing and all assembled. So I think you have your answer, B&Q kitchens are not as good as others but you don't want to deal with anyone else.

cr1mson

john_white wrote: »

Seems you have made your mind up already. B&Q offer great service (from your experience so far) and you know your local store will have all the parts in stock when you order.

It's already been stated that Howdens are better kitchens, 18mm opposed to 15mm with better backing and all assembled. So I think you have your answer, B&Q kitchens are not as good as others but you don't want to deal with anyone else.[/QUOT

Admit am keen on B&Q but happy to try Howdens but need better reasons than B&Q are rubbish with part deliveries. Need positive reasons for Howdens rather than negatives for B&Q if you see what I mean like your point about 15mm v 18mm.

Thanks.

Crimson

dave82_2

We had a good experiance https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3104790

But I understand many haven't been so lucky!

john_white

cr1mson wrote: »

Admit am keen on B&Q but happy to try Howdens but need better reasons than B&Q are rubbish with part deliveries. Need positive reasons for Howdens rather than negatives for B&Q if you see what I mean like your point about 15mm v 18mm.


Thanks.

Crimson

Well from memory the 3 main differences were

15mm vs 18mm
Flat pack vs fully assembled
Thin bit of flexible board that slots in to the back vs solid hardback backing.

HTH

shar46y

We had a B&Q kitchen installed in our previous flat a few years ago but got our mate the builder to do the actual fitting.

The units came flat-packed and the backs were thin flexible stuff, as john_white says. But otherwise we had absolutely no complaints about the kitchen or the service, as far as design, ordering and delivery were concerned. Out of all the millions of parts (maybe a slight exaggeration), only one thing was missing and a quick phone call later, a courier delivered it within a short time.

We were also very happy with the quality and useability of the finished kitchen. Can't say how long-lived it will be as we have moved house now.