New kitchen problems

Kai1977

I have just had a new kitchen handmade by a company who provide bespoke unpainted kitchens. They were nice and helpful through the process and asked me to send links to all our appliances to ensure an accurate fit. In fact I had to get the oven delivered to them beforehand to ensure an exact fit.

Mostly everything has been fine but we are now coming to install the induction hob and double oven and have discovered through the installer that more space is required under the induction hob than has been allowed, for safety reasons.

This is something that has come out of the installation manual which comes with the product but is also available online.

Is it reasonable to expect that if the kitchen company ask for details of appliances, they should ensure they have allowed correct clearances?

If I had known, I would have got advice from an electrician before purchasing the products but I didn't even know such big clearances would be required on these types of products. I made the kitchen company aware that I don't have much knowledge of this type of thing but would use a proper installer when the time came.

At the very least, should the kitchen company have made it clear that they were only checking for kitchen unit size purposes and any other requirements would need to be given as directed by a qualified electrician or installer?

Doozergirl

Did the links that you sent say what the clearance should be?

Kai1977

Not the one for the induction hob, just gives dimensions etc. They never asked for clearances between that and the oven, and I didn't know any are ever required (beyond a few mm) anyway. I just feel that they should have made it clear that they wouldn't check clearances as they make kitchens day in and day out.

andyhop

The onus is on you since you supplied

While I see it from your side do you think every hob, oven etc is exactly the same and requires the same fitting technique?? Some require more clearance than others

You can not expect a tradesman to sit and browse through hundreds of pages of PDF files looking for details you should have supplied unless you are paying for his off time !!

Kai1977

andyhop wrote: »

The onus is on you since you supplied

While I see it from your side do you think every hob, oven etc is exactly the same and requires the same fitting technique?? Some require more clearance than others

I guess that's my point. I didn't know different appliances required different clearances (assumed this was standard) and I had assumed that if clearances were required, they would be detailed on the tech spec on the webpage I linked to. I checked all the dimensions myself before I bought them too (as you say, no, I don't think all appliances are the same). Had I known there were such differences in clearances, I would have got it checked out in advance. But it's my first time buying and having a kitchen fitted.

For future references, should I ensure I read or get someone to read the full installation manual of every appliance I am having fitted, before I buy it?

Sounds like I have to take this one on the chin but I am understanding now why having kitchens fitted can be stressful and will use a full service kitchen supplier in future!

Doozergirl

Kai, yes. It's a very goo idea to read the installation manual. It's usually only a page or so but they often give you required depths of units etc rather than dimensions of the appliance itself.

This is the risk you take with supplying some of your own stuff. I've done it before and had to swap the hob for another. If you get it right, you save money. If you get it wrong you potentially pay more.

What's your fix going to be? If you have a drawer under the hob, that provides the clearance, or thicker worktops or a new hob?

Kai1977

Thanks. Well the annoying thing is this could have been resolved by exchanging the double oven for a single but the kitchen company didn't supply the original packaging as I requested!

We are adding wood along the top of the entire cabinets to give 2cm extra depth. Lose a bit of space between the worktops and the wall units but it looks like it will be alright.

pimento

This is the exact reason why I couldn't have an induction hob. I ended up having a plain old glass hob. BUT, I would much rather have use of the double oven (and grill) than an induction hob if I had to choose one because I use the grill all the time.

I only discovered by Googling that a minimum clearance was required.

C'est la vie.