What are my best options for replacing my kitchen units please ?

hilda1

Hi all,

We are looking to replace our old kitchen units with new ones. For info, the wall units are fine so we are just looking to get new floor units.

I went into B&Q yesterday hoping that I could get someone to visit my place to do a design and work out the best units for the replacement, show me colours, do measurements, etc. However, the B&Q assitant just gave me a brochure, told me to look at the brochure to pick out the units, do measurements of the kitchen and then come back instore so that they can order everything.

I think that our floor units are oak coloured but I am not sure.

I am not a DIY expert so I will need to the replacement units installed.

Can anyone recommend the best supplier for doing a home visit and design ? Will Wickes or IKEA provide this service ?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks.

suisidevw

Wickes definitely offer this service, as do Howdens.... unsure on IKEA.

I don't know how the 'salesperson' can say, measure up, choose your units then order - absolutely absurd.

cattie

I know that B&Q will now only send somebody out to evaluate your kitchen & do a design is if from the outset you tell them that you want to use their full installation service.

Not sure about the other sheds, whether they now do the same thing but if so then just let them believe that you are interested in using the full installation service for one of their kitchen ranges.

cddc

Work for Wickes and we do, so do Howdens, Benchmarx and any independent worth his salt.

Watch out for the drop close, sell on the night types who will stay in your house for hours trying to badger you into a sale...

The above three will not do that for sure...

hilda1

Thanks for your responses and help.

Bigphil1474

Have you considered replacing the doors rather than the whole units - we did that and it made a huge difference, particularly as the old doors were a bit chipped and stained. We got a local company to quote us for the 8 doors we needed, then did a bit of DIY on the cupboard facia bits. Cheaper then new units, and much less work for me.

hilda1

Bigphil1474 wrote: »

Have you considered replacing the doors rather than the whole units - we did that and it made a huge difference, particularly as the old doors were a bit chipped and stained. We got a local company to quote us for the 8 doors we needed, then did a bit of DIY on the cupboard facia bits. Cheaper then new units, and much less work for me.

Many thanks. That is an option that I didn't think of !

Who did you get to replace the doors ? Was it a carpenter or someone else ?

I also need a new sink. I assume that will need a plumber ?

We may also have a little bit of damp coming off the kitchen front garden facing-wall so this will need sorting as well.

Any advice would be appreciated as we are still struggling to work out who to contact.

Many thanks.

hilda1

bumped for a response.

Thanks.

Ebe_Scrooge

Replacing just the doors is a common - and very good - way of sprucing up a tired kitchen for relatively little cost.

In terms of fitting the doors, it depends. Many doors / cabinets have standard fittings at standard spacings. In this case, it's simply a matter of unscrewing the old doors and screwing in the new ones. An easy DIY job even for a novice. The hinges will have a couple of adjustment screws to allow you to get them to line up neatly. They are very easy to use - if you're not familiar with them, there's any number of "how-to" videos on you-tube.

If you find that the new doors have their fittings in a different place to the existing ones, then it's still not a huge problem. Simply drill new holes, fill the old ones, and Bob's your auntie's live-in-lover.

If your DIY skills don't run to this, then a carpenter will be able to do the job - or even a general handyman, if you have such a person locally.

For the sink - again, it depends on your level of DIY experience. If the new sink is the same dimensions as the existing one, with the taps and plug-hole in the same place, then again it's quite easy to do yourself if you have a little experience. Otherwise a plumber is your friend.

As with all these things, personal recommendation is the best. Ask your friends and neighbours which plumbers / handymen they use. It depends where you live though. In a large city there will be many tradesmen, most thoroughly honest and reasonably priced, but there will be the inevitable cowboy. In a rural community with an active rumour-mill, any tradesman that "tries it on" won't be in business for very long :-)

< OK sweeping generalisation I know, but you know what I mean >