Kitchen cabinets and doors explained, please?

cat_claws

Hi

I'm currently looking at a new kitchen, and got a few quotes and still none the wiser as to the differences as everyone has "high" quality doors and cabinets (in terms of material and method of making).

I was wondering if anyone could let me know what type of doors and cabinets they went for and why (I'm not talking about colour, gloss, etc but actually whether cabinets have been foiled wrap, lacquered, etc).

Also, I live in a flat, and just wondered what's the maximum one should spend on a property (given it's leasehold). Should it be a % of the value of the property (but the new kitchen might add to the value if I sell at a later date)?

Thanks for any advice

LEJC

What ranges of kitchens have you looked at?

ive got solid wood cabinets and granite work tops...I'm a firm believer in buying whats good for you as an individual rather than worrying too much about what someone else would want or if it will hold its resale value!!!

Our kitchen cost 3x what an off the peg kitchen would cost...but I spend a lot of time there and its a very funtional part of the home in which we live...its been in 5 years and I love it as much now as I did when we bought it...and to be totally honest I am well aware we spent more than needed on it in order to "retain a resale value"...however it was never put in with the intention of adding value to the house....nor do I expect to be selling the house any time soon.

In terms of a leashold property unless its only a very short leashold I assume that the kitchen will have been changed a good few times before the lease next expires,so I can see that being much of a consideration you should worry about...

I'm never sure that a kitchen adds value to a house...more that it costs the potential buyer money to put in what they want to their specification...if you're lucky enough to find your ideal when viewing a house thats great...otherwiseyou live with what there is until you feel a change is needed!

We also own a rental property which has had a new kitchen in as part of a total refurb...in terms of what we bought...Howdens mid price...its functional and suits the purpose of the property....and I expect to be changing it somewhere between 5 and 10 years time.

There are plenty of ways to make a cheaper kitchen look more expensive,adding better quality taps for example or granite work surfaces in place of laminate...
Things like gloss kitchens do look lovely but sometimes they need a lot of wiping over to ensure they maintain the glossy look...especially if you've got children,I think you are best suited planning a kitchen that right for you and your lifestyle rather than trying to guess what the next buyer of your flat might like.

cddc

As far as cabinets go, as long as you go for minimum 18mm, preferably solid backed (not hardboard), you should get 20 years plus out of the units themselves if properly fitted.

I guess from your description you are looking at a gloss slab door?

If so, then lacquered is better than vinyl wrap which is better than foil wrapped. Though a good quality vinyl wrap should last you years with no problem.

Acrylic doors are probably the future of gloss slab doors and are filtering down to the high street, but are still, mostly the preserve of mid to upper range independents at the moment.

Don't fall for the "this is why our units are way better than our competition" patter. There are differences, but in most cases they are not huge or massively significant ones, certainly amongst the major chains, whatever any salesperson tells you...;)

What can vary quite widely, is the quality of drawer boxes and hinges, and those that come as standard or are optional extras.

Two things are paramount, the quality of the design, and the quality of the fit. Both are more significant than any minor differences in cabinet spec....

cat_claws

I have been and had quotes from a lot including B&Q, wickes, homebase, magnet, tesco kitchens, next, in-toto, as well as 2 local companies who manufactuer themselves.

i'm looking at a white gloss (no kids) handless doors, with corian worktop and glass splashbacks. So i'm spending a fair amount and is designed to match my tastes. The leasehold isn't short, but i guess i'm trying to find ways to justify all that £££s just on me!

Thanks so much for your responses

I am choosing soft closing hinges and the pull out drawers, which look sturdy and well made in any case and will have to place trust on the company that's actually fitting the kitchen.

ryder72

Look around and try and locate kitchen studios (preferably by recommendation) that have the type of product you want. Of course you need to find a designer on your wavelength that understands your requirements and can work to your specification and budget.

At the cheaper end of the market the 'handleless' units you will find have J-shaped recessed routed into the top fronts of the door. This isnt a true handleless kitchen. This is a space the Europeans have dominated for years.

Your gloss doors could be High pressure laminate, acrylic/acrylic faced , vinyl wrapped or lacquered doors. Of these vinyl handleless doors are a no-no (you will be touching the sharp edged rear of the door) and it will delaminate very quickly).

Any decent kitchen these days should come with soft close drawers (preferably Grass, Blum or Hettich) and hinges as standard. It says a lot about a kitchen supplier that offers these features as a chargeable extra.

In terms of installation - a good fitter can make or break a kitchen so look at the showroom installation carefully. Everything should line up perfectly. If it doesnt walk away - what can you expect from a retailer that doesnt bother to put their showcase in order. A good retailer should be able to put you in touch with a couple of their past clients to visit them and get first hand feedback.