Kichen quote -- Im totally out of my depth

gupps

Hi,

Really desperate for some help regaring a kicthen redesign if anyone can help. Specifically someone with some knowledge of dealing with howdens.

Kind of at the end of my tether with this one and dont have a clue if I am been ripped off with this quote or not, having never had to get a kitchen fitted before.

So basically, living a 300 year old cottage we have a wierd kitchen shape (probably easiest to imagine it split into a U and then up 3 steps a small offshoot)

I was were reccomended a kitchen fitter and decided on the Burford cream range from Howdens. As I am not trade and cannott see howdens prices for units and the quote I was given has no breakdown I dont know if its reasonable or not.

The kitchen units would be:

3 Base cupboard units (1m ones)
1 microwave unit
2 smaller base unit with cutlery drawers
1 Front for an integrated dishwasher
1 Belfast sink
3 large wall units (1m?)
2 small wall units
1 large tall unit (larger than an american style fridge freezer) and a smaller unit above this to effectively box the fridge freezer in.
1 narrow tall cupboard (from worktop to ceiling)

Solid oak/granite worktops and breakfast bar (Aprox 5m for the U and 1m for the breakfast bar)

The construction of a set of oak double doors and surround to 'box off' cubbyhole under the stone stairs.

I have have/would purchase a range cooker, microwave, dishwasher, cooker hood. So there are no appliances to quote for.

I know the above description of items is very rough but unfortunately I have not been able to get a breakdown from our joiner on the exact units. I know the joiner is good, and am aware there is a lot of cutting down to do to fit things in with the multi level kitchen and odd shaped stone walls.

Anyhow the quote we have been given has no proper breakdown of howdens prices/labour prices. Can anyone shed any light on whether the deal is any good??

We have been quoted:

Kitchen units + fitting £4700
Worktop £1400 (aprox) Regardless of solid oak or granite
Plumbing £200
Electrics £300

Construction and materials of oak doors £700

A total of £7300
A timeframe of a weeks work was given.



Any ideas anyone?

Many thanks.

Doozergirl

It's hard without seeing and being able to picture the size of the kitchen.

My last Howdens quote for the Burford was £2800. Larger kitchen, included a dishwasher and laminate worktops.

If we're generous and say yours is the same in units, then it's £2000 in fitting alone which I think is high considering it is small, even if it does need some jigging. It's well over £100 a unit. Are you being charged VAT? Changing skirting? Need a skip? Are they stripping it for you?

Granite is more expensive than oak. I would reasonably expect 6 metres of granite to cost a bit more than £1400. I would also expect the oak tops to be very nice ones at that price - not from Howdens.

The burford doors are not oak. Do you need solid oak doors under the stairs if you are having a painted kitchen? If you do, that's fine - your choice but there is a mismatch in the quality of doors you are buying.

Plumbing and electrics really depends on what you are doing - are you moving things?

Jonesya

The key thing with quotes is that one on its own isn't much use - they're relative, get a few more and then compare them otherwise you can't know whether they are a good deal or not.

Don't get stressed about it, put your energy into finding some more kitchen fitters and getting a few more quotes.

gupps

Its a small u shaped galley kitchen with and extension tagged on up 3 steps.

So in the extension bit, which just needs the breakfast bar putting over the washer/tumber (which are in a recess) and a full floor to ceiling cupboard at the side of the freezer and cupboard above the freezer. (600mm cupboard unit?)

Leaving the main u shaped kichen which measures aproximately 4m in lengh and 2m wide. A range cooker will go at the end of it and then worktops down the side (one side will be cut down slightly) with cupboards under and then a run of cupboards on the wall down one side with wall cupboards either side of the range.

No changes to skirting and the price was all in. Didnt think to ask about ripping out old kitchen but at that price i hopeso!!

Re: the worktops the guy has a mate who does granite so he can offer a good price on it but I did think the price for wood was high.. Maybe hes pushing we get granite to give his mate buisness.

We needed a way to block off under the stairs and it stay in character. The entire house is oak beams/stone walls/stone floors and lime plaster The solid stone stairs we are blocking off under need something matching the beams and doors hence if we must loose the feature under the stairs it has to be fitting with the rest of the house.

I just really wish I could see the breakdown of cabinets and labour. A lot of the units need to be cut down to fit over the steps and accomadate the narrow worktop, but I dont know what is a reasonable price for doing this.

SailorSam

You see some really big figures for kitchen quotes so maybe £7k could be a good deal. A couple of things that do look cheap, without me knowing exactly what it includes , is the £200 for plumbing and £300 for electrics.