Kitchen - B & Q Any good?

Meepster

Roob65 wrote: »

As for all the arguments about 15mm vs 18mm, pre-built carcasses etc....
You will not find any noticeable difference between 3mm when you're dealing with PVC coated particle board or MDF - if water penetrates it will swell and distort no matter what and that is going to be the only consideration with this type of kitchen.

The only part I agree with here is the fact they are both as vulnerable to water. 3mm may not seem like a big difference, but we are talking standard grade chipboard here. 15mm is fine if you are using laminate worktops, but you really don't want to be putting 30mm+ granite/quartz onto 15mm cabs. Unless it is a 15mm cab made out of furniture grade MFC...

Roob65 wrote: »

Flatpack vs 'solid' is a falacy in this type of kitchen - they are all pretty much flat pack its just the 'solid' are un-flatpacked in a factory.

Rubbish. A true rigid carcase is constructed differently to a flat packed carcase, specifically with regards to the fixings used to hold the thing together. This has a huge effect on it's rigidity and stability.

Roob65 wrote: »

A good builder (if you're not doing it yourself) will be able to make a standard flatpack just a 'high quality' as the solid.

I hope you mean a good kitchen fitter, or at least a good joiner. Most of the problems I have seen with kitchens is where "the builder" has fitted it. Ok, you mat find some builders who are good with kitchens, but they are in the minority...

john_white

Roob65 wrote: »

I bought and installed a B&Q kitchen and its absolutely fine. The only reason I went for B&Q versus homebase, ikea, wickes etc was due to one of their mega sale type things one January.

As for all the arguments about 15mm vs 18mm, pre-built carcasses etc....
You will not find any noticeable difference between 3mm when you're dealing with PVC coated particle board or MDF - if water penetrates it will swell and distort no matter what and that is going to be the only consideration with this type of kitchen.
Flatpack vs 'solid' is a falacy in this type of kitchen - they are all pretty much flat pack its just the 'solid' are un-flatpacked in a factory.
A good builder (if you're not doing it yourself) will be able to make a standard flatpack just a 'high quality' as the solid.

I would say just go for the design you like the most at a price you're willing to pay - the cheaper the better if we're talking particle board/MDF. Don't consider spending a fortune unless (like a previous poster mentioned) you are actually going for solid timber, and then I would certainly go bespoke - it will last a lifetime (and more) and never look of of date.

18mm is 20% larger than 15mm. Hardly insignificant.

Roob65

sorry guys you can argue 15mm vs 18mm and flat pack vs 'solid' all you want but at the end of the day if its put together and fitted properly it won't make the slightest difference given the loads involved in a kitchen (unless you have a fondness for iridium plates and osmium cutlery) - even with a granite worktop - I should know I have granite on 15mm b&q carcasses (weird i know but a chose where I was going to 'splash out' haha!).

OK I'll admit I'm a trained guitar builder and know my way around timber, stresses and joints but if I can do it I'd expect a builder/kitchen fitter to be able to do the same - saying that I very rarely let tradesmen into my property because its too much of a minefield.

I'd agree that if you can get 18mm 'solid' for the price of 15mm flatpack then go for it but I wouldn't use it as an excuse to spend more.

Anyway lets call a truce and all go for a nice bespoke solid elm kitchen instead?

terra_ferma

bigbangman wrote: »

Totally agree with CDDC. You won't find a better quality cabinet specification than Benchmarx.

Rigid cabinets, not flat packed, 18mm thick, 15mm solid backs, Soft close hinges, Soft close drawers,
Kitchens kept in stock locally, and a free survey and design service
....and good value

this is spamming