Bathroom Cupboards Discoloured

Ro5ie

Hi

Five years ago I purchased new fitted bathroom furniture from B&Q, this was ordered in store and eventually delivered several weeks later. After a few initial issues which were satisfactorily remedied I had the bathrroom furniture installed and fitted.

I was very happy with the result a bright white bathroom.

Now , five years later on, some of the cupboard doors have become discoloured and are a horrible dark cream, the other doors are still a bright white. My lovely bathroom looks awful!

I have contacted B&Q and they have emailed me saying that "The product you have purchased comes with a 12 month warranty which has now expired. This means that you can no longer make a warranty claim for the product." They also say that "The Sale of Goods Act covers you for a period of 6 years against any manufacturing defects. To pursue a claim to have a report conducted to ascertain what caused the fault and forward that on to us for our consideration. If the report indicates that your product has failed due to a manufacturing defect then you will be happy to assist you further."

Can discolouration of some items and not others be considered a manufacturing fault? And how do I have a report conducted?

Can anyone give me advice on what I can do?

Thank you

wealdroam

Ro5ie wrote: »

Can discolouration of some items and not others be considered a manufacturing fault? And how do I have a report conducted?

The discolouration is not necessarily an inherent fault. For example, it could be caused by using some chemical cleaner.

Have you read MSE's Consumer Rights Guide and their How to Complain article?

In there you will find that it is for you to prove that the goods were faulty at the time of sale. That's all they are asking for.

Ro5ie

wealdroam wrote: »

The discolouration is not necessarily an inherent fault. For example, it could be caused by using some chemical cleaner.

It is not caused by me using a chemical cleaner, Some doors a brilliant white all over , while others are a dark cream all over.

These are doors that are side by side in a line of cupboards and drawers. If it was something that I had applied then all the doors would be the same colour.

Thank you for the links, I had read the information, but am not sure how or if this particular problem is covered.

How can I prove that the goods were faulty?

marleyboy

You cannot, they are not classed as faulty, in that they do the job they were built for. The discolouration could be due to many factors, from cleaning agents to cooking, it will be very difficult indeed for you to try and prove the discolouration of a product you have had for 5 Years, was as a direct result of an inherent fault.

Ro5ie

marleyboy wrote: »

You cannot, they are not classed as faulty, in that they do the job they were built for. The discolouration could be due to many factors, from cleaning agents to cooking, it will be very difficult indeed for you to try and prove the discolouration of a product you have had for 5 Years, was as a direct result of an inherent fault.

Thanks.

The point is that some of the cupboards have become discoloured while others have remained brilliant white. These are doors which are side by side. So something must be wrong.

Also I don't cook in the bathroom.

I do appreciate that they partially do the job they were built for. I can keep stuff in them.

But they were also purchased to look good.

If I hadn't wanted them to look good I would have kept the old cupboards and not spent thousands of pounds on a new bathroom, which now looks awful.

marleyboy

Could it be sunbleach? where the effective cupboards meet direct sunlight?

That some remain attractive, is indicative that it is not an inherent fault. A cheap method would be to replace the door panels or use the grain adhesives to mask the discolouring.

wealdroam

Ro5ie wrote: »

It is not caused by me using a chemical cleaner, Some doors a brilliant white all over , while others are a dark cream all over.

These are doors that are side by side in a line of cupboards and drawers. If it was something that I had applied then all the doors would be the same colour.

Thank you for the links, I had read the information, but am not sure how or if this particular problem is covered.

How can I prove that the goods were faulty?

I didn't say that you had used a chemical cleaner. I just gave one example of how the discolouration could've come about.

Even so, you saying "It is not caused by me using a chemical cleaner", is not proof that a chemical cleaner hasn't been used. Again, I am using 'chemical cleaner' as an example of a user activity which could cause the discolouration.

If you are determined to follow this through then you need to find someone who knows about the finishes and is prepared to state in writing that the discolouration is due a flaw in the manufacturing process. If you cannot do that, then you will get nowhere.

Remember also that you have had five years use.
So even if you could prove that the discolouration is due to an inherent fault, a remedy could be a refund which is reduced to take account of the use you have had.
I don't know what the expected life of your cupboard doors is, but a refund of significantly less than 50% of the cost of the doors might be seen as reasonable.

Ro5ie

marleyboy wrote: »

Could it be sunbleach? where the effective cupboards meet direct sunlight?

That some remain attractive, is indicative that it is not an inherent fault. A cheap method would be to replace the door panels or use the grain adhesives to mask the discolouring.

Hi, thanks. Definately not sunbleach. These are random doors, Some high units and some low, which have discoloured evenly and completely. Sunbleach wouldn't stop exactly where a cupboard door ends.

It seems to be a fault with some of the doors.

What are grain adhesives? These are gloss finished doors which are supposed to be brilliant white.Doesn't sound this would work.

Thank you for you reply

Ro5ie

wealdroam wrote: »

I didn't say that you had used a chemical cleaner. I just gave one example of how the discolouration could've come about.

Even so, you saying "It is not caused by me using a chemical cleaner", is not proof that a chemical cleaner hasn't been used. Again, I am using 'chemical cleaner' as an example of a user activity which could cause the discolouration.

If you are determined to follow this through then you need to find someone who knows about the finishes and is prepared to state in writing that the discolouration is due a flaw in the manufacturing process. If you cannot do that, then you will get nowhere.

Remember also that you have had five years use.
So even if you could prove that the discolouration is due to an inherent fault, a remedy could be a refund which is reduced to take account of the use you have had.
I don't know what the expected life of your cupboard doors is, but a refund of significantly less than 50% of the cost of the doors might be seen as reasonable.

OK ,thanks. I realise that it was an example.

I would have thought that the fact that some units are discoloured and not others would indicate some sort of problem with the manufacturing process.

Guess that I have just been ripped off again and will have to live with it.

You don't expect to have to replace a bathroom every 4 or 5 years though.

I will just have to try and argue it out with B&Q. I won't hold out much hope though after reading these replies.

wealdroam

Ro5ie wrote: »

OK ,thanks. I realise that it was an example.

I would have thought that the fact that some units are discoloured and not others would indicate some sort of problem with the manufacturing process.

Guess that I have just been ripped off again and will have to live with it.

You don't expect to have to replace a bathroom every 4 or 5 years though.

I will just have to try and argue it out with B&Q. I won't hold out much hope though after reading these replies.

You could try the Furniture Ombudsman, but I do not know whether they can help.

Have you considered asking B&Q for a contribution towards some repalcement doors? Is getting replacement doors even possible?

Just some thoughts.

Ro5ie

Its not possible to get replacement doors as neither B&Q or their suppliers stock these any more.

B&Q have said that I need to get a report from trading standards stating that the problem is due to a manufacturing fault before they will do anything to help.