kitchen fitter v joiner & how to find one ??

motomoto_2

hello


After lots of helpful info on here i'm thinking about getting a kitchen from DIY kitchens but do I need a kitchen fitter or a joiner ( whats the difference ? ) and HOW do I find one ? I don't know anyone in real life who has had a new kitchen fitted so I can't ask anyone for recommendations.

I did get a recommendation from Howdens for one of "their" fitters but I'm sure if he's charging me a good price ( £2000 for fitting, skim of ceiling, 8 spotlights, fit of 2 internal doors ( one with custom made frame ) and plastering. The price DOESN'T include electrics or fitting of floor.

Any advice would be gratefully received !

Thanks

suisidevw

That's a lot more than I paid and I've seen the layout of your kitchen from your other post! Surely you've got some work colleagues/friends/family who can recommend someone?

PHYTHIAN

A kitchen should be fitted by a 'kitchen fitter' IMHO. Basically the difference from a fitter to a joiner is that the fitter only fits kitchens and is used to all the 'problems' that can be encountered. He/she would also normally be a plumber , Corgi registered gas mechanic and electrically competent to the latest standards. Most can tile and lay floors or employ someone who does.

When I worked for a kitchen retailer, the worst complaints to deal with were those that involved a joiner fitting a kitchen. Straightaway I just knew it wasn't being fitted correctly.

Having said all that, I have also seen kitchens expertly fitted by 'joiners' but then you will normally need to get others in to do all the associated extras and time waiting around can get excessive especially when you are being charged for someone waiting around because someone else hasn't finished 'their bit' yet!!. Don't know if its the same now but a fitter used to charge

£30 per unit ( £50 if the units are flat packed)
£50 per wet appliance ( sink, dishwasher, washing machine)
£30 per dry appliance ( oven, hob, extractor)

so a ten unit kitchen with oven hob extractor sink and washing machine to fit would cost

(10 x 30) + (3 x 30) + (2 x 50) = 300 + 90 + 100 = £490 fully fitted.

PHYTHIAN

Just had a quick look at your plans from another post and although done fairly quickly and with limited views ( computer at work PAINFULLY slow) I would expect that kitchen with the appliances I can see to cost approx £1000 fully fitted (excludes the extras you have mentioned ), so Howdens are WAY over priced .

What area do you live in? Have you priced the kitchen with an independent? They can normally get the same or very similar doors to those that Howdens can and usually the full package is a lot less.

trailingspouse

Agree you need a kitchen fitter - ours did everything apart from the electrics, but only because the electrics had already been done when we had the house re-wired. Search locally for a kitchen fitter, contact 5-6 of them, ask them to come and visit and give a quote. I choose trades on the basis of

a) did they turn up to do the quote when they said they would?
b) would I feel comfortable having them in my house?
c) are they the right price? (ie not crazy cheap but not ridiculously expensive either)

And as I've said in previous posts - if they take their boots off at the door, they've got the job.

motomoto_2

thanks for the replies everyone


so I'm probably not going to go with Howdens but Diy kitchens. How much would a kitchen fitter charge to fit £1000 ?

and then the electrics, plastering etc on top ?

I live in birmingham

is it better to take out old kitchen myself, get the electrics and plastering done by an electrician and plaster THEN have the kitchen fitted ( I have had an offer to FIT ONLY the kitchen for £1000 )
but is it more efficient to have a kitchen fitter do the whole job rather than seperate people ?

Thanks in advance !!

suisidevw

My kitchen fitter did EVERYTHING. His leccie mate came in and did that. the fitter did the fitting, the plumbing, the plastering and the tiling!

Go for somethign similar to the above - so simple and convenient.

motomoto_2

How did you find your kitchen fitter ?

suisidevw

I asked friends/colleagues who they recommended and I was very happy with that

PHYTHIAN

motomoto wrote: »

thanks for the replies everyone


so I'm probably not going to go with Howdens but Diy kitchens. How much would a kitchen fitter charge to fit £1000 ?

and then the electrics, plastering etc on top ?

I live in birmingham

---

sorry bit too far for the fitters I know to travel

is it better to take out old kitchen myself, get the electrics and plastering done by an electrician and plaster THEN have the kitchen fitted ( I have had an offer to FIT ONLY the kitchen for £1000 )

Get the fitter to give you a price and a breakdown. He/she would probably charge about £100-£150 to remove and dispose of the old kitchen.

but is it more efficient to have a kitchen fitter do the whole job rather than seperate people ?

DEFINITELY more efficient and definitely more peace of mind. One person responsible for the lot means you won't get involved in the ' Well he did this wrong so I've got to make good and I'll need to charge you more'. Agree what is to be done. Morning of the works say "Milk's in the fridge, mugs are over there with the tea coffee sugar and biccies. Kettles there, here's 50% of your money , I'll pay the rest at the end when I'm happy just as we agreed.BYE BYE!!"

Thanks in advance !!

I've put some replies above. Obviously all are based on my own experiences. The part about 50% up front is what any decent fitter would say ie pay me the rest at the end when you're happy.

Doozergirl

PHYTHIAN wrote: »

I've put some replies above. Obviously all are based on my own experiences. The part about 50% up front is what any decent fitter would say ie pay me the rest at the end when you're happy.

Considering that the tiniest of skips costs £120 in this area, charging £100-150 for disposal would involve doing it for free or even paying the customer for the privilege of ripping their kitchen out.