Ikea kitchen fitting

Alisha2008

Just suscribed to Which, and IKEA comes the 2nd best kitchen, just after John Lewis (survey done in the last 5 years asking 2000 people).

Not that bad...

gingin_2

I am looking at the Ikea abstract kitchen. We are looking for a reasonably priced white gloss, handleless kitchen and I wasn't impressed with magnet. A friend already has it and it looks lovely. Spoke to our carpenter who will be doing the fitting and he hasn't done one but knows those who have and it is difficult but is happy to do it.

keystone

londonTiger wrote: »

dont buy ikea crap,

Thank you for that well reasoned, clearly presented and objective contribution to the thread.

Cheers

kayl

I had my ikea kitchen fitted 2 years ago - this month is the last payment!
Although the fitting was not cheap, I was extremely impressed both with the quality of the workmanship and the service, and would definitely go down that route again.
When the kitchen was 15 months old, I discovered a tiny section where water from the sink had got into the seal between the worktop and the metal edging, and it had very slightly raised. It was such a tiny part that I actually thought twice about mentioning it, but did just in case it got any worst. The first thing they said was that it was a problem with the fitting, but when I pointed out that it had been their fitters, they immediately arranged for an entire new worktop and edging to be fitted. Well worth the money!

leveller2911

kayl wrote: »

I had my ikea kitchen fitted 2 years ago - this month is the last payment!
Although the fitting was not cheap, I was extremely impressed both with the quality of the workmanship and the service, and would definitely go down that route again.

A decent fitter can make a kitchen look good a bad one can make it look pants but standard kitchen fitting can be done by a DIYer its very basic work and requires little skill.


Just my opinion but having made handbuilt kitchens for years and having fitted all of the shed brands of kitchens IKEA are one of the poorest.

Its all very well people saying "which" magazine rate them but whats the benchmark?. The carcase materials are chipboard and most bog standard kitchens use the cheapest hinges.

I have bought 2 appliances that Which magazine rated as best on test and both didn't last 18 months.

leveller2911

keystone wrote: »

Requires a bit of planning and neat approach to plumbing. Pipes have to be visible at some point so afraid I can't agree with you.



Why do they have to be visible? When I make a kitchen you don't see any pipes you just see the taps.......When a unit has a service void you don't tend to have to alter the pipework much but with IKEA you do which adds to the cost.

If IKEA made their kitchen carcases with service voids at the back like normal companies do then there is no problem.You can have all the best planning in the world but what would you suggest fitters do when they strip out a kitchen and find there a 2" bow in the wall?. Hack off all the plaster and re-skim,re-design and then fit the kitchen.At least with a carcase with a service void you have some scope to scribe/adjust units.

What is the logic behind making carcases without a service void?.It must be a Scandanavian thing. You can tell I'm not a fan can't you......:D I even think B&Q are better ,shows how bad IKEA are IMO.

Just an observation but why is it you will see a cowboy roofer on Rogue Traders who charges £200 for replacing 2 tiles but you don't see the likes of IKEA,B&Q etc on their for charging rip off prices for their kitchen fitting?.

keystone

Why do they have to be visible? When I make a kitchen you don't see any pipes you just see the taps.......When a unit has a service void you don't tend to have to alter the pipework much but with IKEA you do which adds to the cost.

Surely that will depend where the taps are located vis a vis the positioning of the sink and I'm still intrigued as to how you manage to hide the waste? Yes you don't have to alter the pipework with a void but if you do so what - its only a bit of extra work which you cost for appropriately. Its not as if the sky has fallen in.

Yes you may not be a fan but when the client likes an Ikea kitchen and wants an Ikea kitchen who the hell am I to tell them that I won't fit it because the design isn't to my liking and means I have to do a bit of extra work. So what if its a bit of extra work? You price for it. Am now going to concede though that first off I shared your opinion. Now I've done a few I've changed my mind. It is doable - hint - one thing you do do is you throw away the stupid half height back that they supply with the standard sink unit and replace it with a full height 800 back - bit of blarney normally gets you one for free. I also don't particularly like the fact that the lack of a void at the back off wall cabs means you must use their rather nasty standard fixing bracketry rather than an adjustable one and woe betide you if the wall ain't flat but there are work arounds. Oh and as an added aside I tore into Bathstore once for supplying bathroom basin cabinets without a service void either.

I really do take exception too (and yes I know it wasn't you) to being told that due to the design of the stuff it automatically makes it a bad install. Thats a pile of horse doo if the so-called "fault" lies with the unit design and its particularly hysterical when the accuser decides to call a valve a switch.

Oh yes I'm with you 100% on the big guys fitting prices and the poor installer is always squeezed anyway so is almost forced into taking short cuts. I don't and won't work for any of them BTW.

Cheers

SUESMITH_2

i have just had my second ikea fitted, my joiner, elctrician and gas fitter had no problem with them, commentated on how easy the were to fit.

i got my quartzite composite worktops from a company called set in stone who were very reasonable and much cheaper that ikea.

got quotes off quite a few independents and also magnet, wickes and howdens - all of them were much more expensive than ikea and their designs were very dull and pedestrian.

leveller2911

keystone wrote: »

Surely that will depend where the taps are located vis a vis the positioning of the sink and I'm still intrigued as to how you manage to hide the waste?

I never mentioned hiding the waste in a sink unit.I was referring to pipe runs and the waste run.Common sense dictates you can't hide the waste trap.I tend to take the back out fit the pipework,trap etc and then fit a removable back in to cover as much as possible.

If I didn't have plenty of work on at the time I would bite the bullet and fit one, grumbling to myself as I work.:D



I also don't particularly like the fact that the lack of a void at the back off wall cabs means you must use their rather nasty standard fixing bracketry rather than an adjustable one and woe betide you if the wall ain't flat but there are work arounds. Oh and as an added aside I tore into Bathstore once for supplying bathroom basin cabinets without a service void either.

See, even you don't really like them....;)




I really do take exception too (and yes I know it wasn't you) to being told that due to the design of the stuff it automatically makes it a bad install. Thats a pile of horse doo if the so-called "fault" lies with the unit design and its particularly hysterical when the accuser decides to call a valve a switch.

I agree wholeheartedly


Oh yes I'm with you 100% on the big guys fitting prices and the poor installer is always squeezed anyway so is almost forced into taking short cuts. I don't and won't work for any of them BTW.

Me neither, they are truely shocking.


Cheers

:beer: Beer then? I'm currently drinking a dark Ruby Beer called "Dark Lord"..... I like a decent Shiraz too.

katejo

SUESMITH wrote: »

i have just had my second ikea fitted, my joiner, elctrician and gas fitter had no problem with them, commentated on how easy the were to fit.

i got my quartzite composite worktops from a company called set in stone who were very reasonable and much cheaper that ikea.

got quotes off quite a few independents and also magnet, wickes and howdens - all of them were much more expensive than ikea and their designs were very dull and pedestrian.

In what way did you find Howdens and Magnet dull? I am currently having a Magnet Trade Hamilton kitchen fitted and really liked the appearance. I also liked some of Howdens' kitchens