Howdens Tewkesbury vs Burford

dirty_magic

Does anyone have a Howdens Burford oak or Tewkesbury oak kitchen at all? I'm just wondering roughly what the price difference is between the two and what each one is likely to cost because I think the Tewkesbury might be out of our price range.

I think we'll need 11 or 12 units for a u shaped kitchen, it's not a big kitchen. We'll be getting worktops and appliances elsewhere. I don't want to get them out to quote yet because we can't afford it at the moment, I'm just trying to work out roughly how much we need to save before we can realistically afford it.

It'd be great if any of you have one and could tell me how much you paid. I know it depends on the tradesman's discount but I have literally no idea how much to expect.

We looked at the magnet retail prices for their version of the Tewkesbury and it was listed at around 10k even in their sale. I've looked online and some people are suggesting less than half that.

NICHOLAS_2

Good luck, they make their pricing us as they go along. Tradesmen have to haggle with them to get the price down, so a lot of how much you pay depends on what they pay for it and how much they put on the kitchen and what they charge for labour.

What's your maximum budget, are you looking to get the room plastered, new electrics, tiling, flooring, decoration and kitchen?

Our average kitchen price is usually 8k for supply and your kitchen is a similar size to one we're doing now for 8k, but we did a whole refurb and not just plonk the units on the wall and put the doors on.

dirty_magic

It's a big job, pretty much everything needs to be done. We're converting our tiny kitchen and dining room into a kitchen diner, so we need to knock a stud wall down and we also need to brick up an existing external door because we don't need 2 in one room. The walls need either skimming or lining because they're artexed and electrics and plumbing need to be moved.

My OH is fitting the kitchen so we only need the cost for the units (we know a tradesman who can get it for us from Howdens) and we're getting quartz worktops.

We've had plumbing quotes and I've worked out a budget for everything else, but I don't know where to start with the kitchen itself. Looks like we might just have to get them to quote!

I didn't want to set a maximum budget, I'd rather just save until we can afford to get it exactly how we want it. At the moment we have around 8k.

NICHOLAS_2

If the OH is fitting (hopefully he does a good job) then you are probably not all that far away. If you allow a maximum budget of 5k for the kitchen goods with the tops and appliances, and maybe even your tiles and flooring, you shouldn't have trouble getting the rest of the work done for another 5k or less.

Magnet prices are mega over the top, but they do have a trade section and compete with howdens. Not sure what magnets service is like though/.

Doozergirl

The Somerset from Benchmarx is the same solid wood door style as the Tewkesbury but it will be cheaper.

Went through the Burford/Tewkesbury/Oxford/Somerset thing last year with a customer and Benchmarx consistantly hammered Howdens on price.

Doozergirl

Pulled up some old emails.

One Tewkesbury quote for a kitchen was £3637. Burford was £2887. Units only, no tops, not a massive kitchen.

That gives you a differential, I guess. I also have a feeling that thise quotes were price matching Benchmarx, they weren't offered up willingly.

andyhop

We've done a few BenchMarx recently and the finish on the units and especially the end panels are carp compared to Howdens. The knowledge from my local branch is also carp not being able to supply even the basics like the right carbon filters for extractors.

Doozergirl

andyhop wrote: »

We've done a few BenchMarx recently and the finish on the units and especially the end panels are carp compared to Howdens. The knowledge from my local branch is also carp not being able to supply even the basics like the right carbon filters for extractors.

I have to say, I didn't get involved the work on that house. l can't vouch for touchy-feely quality. It was a price decision for the client. It looked great finished, but Inwasn't playing with the doors.

Their Oxford doors are horrible. Nowhere near comparable to the Burford.

andyhop

Yes I agree with the oxford. Draw fronts were probably the worst I've ever seen

dirty_magic

Thanks for that doozergirl, it doesn't sound like there's a massive difference between the burford and the Tewkesbury so we may as well hold out until we can get that! If I budget for 5k with a decent contingency we should be ok.

kaymay

I would highly recommend the Tewkesbury if you can afford it as we have had this range in both of our last houses. After 14 years the units are still like brand new. When we came to sell our buyer though we had just put the kitchen in ! Excellent quality