New house complaint, would appreciate some advice on how to deal with.

kmoggy

marliepanda wrote: »

They're not saying do it at the edge of your worktop, just to not let it steam away directly under the cupboards.

Obviously depending on the set up of the kitchen that can be easier said than done. It must be a very small kitchen with very little counter space if there's nowhere to place a kettle that isn't directly under a cupboard or at the very edge.

As I have said all 4 of the sockets are directly under the units, bar one which is right next to sink and unit.

kmoggy

Zandoni wrote: »

OP perhaps you should have a look here http://consumercodeforhomebuilders.com/the-code/dispute-resolution-scheme/

Yeah I will have look thanks!

kmoggy

susancs wrote: »

OP, this seems to be a badly designed kitchen IMO. When we had a new kitchen installed ,the company who came and did the layout and fitted the kitchen, said that we would need a space with plug points and no cupboards above, to use a kettle, toaster etc. They said that in badly designed kitchens stream often causes cupboard damage (also why cooker was under the extractor fan). I would have thought that in a newly built house that this would have been considered at the planning stage.

I am sure someone who is more knowledgable or has better advice, will come along ,but it may be worth obtaining a report from a kitchen designer and fitter, to state that the kitchen is badly designed and use that to support your position that the layout has a flaw.

Yes this is my argument. Why on earth would you put unit in a kitchen that were liable to do this if you knew all appliances would need to be under them? I might do that to be honest as this is just one in a long list of things wrong with this house.

hollydays

http://www.snagging.org

Leo2020

It is possible to boil a kettle away from the kitchen unit above but not right next to the edge of the worktop either. The laminate will come off if it is continuously exposed to steam or water. The laminate is glued on. My old kitchen was laminate and I never boiled kettles right underneath. Even with my solid wood kitchen I now have I still pull the kettle away from it as steam will damage wood too.

I don't expect general steam around a kitchen to damage cupboards but this is not what we are discussing. It is repeated steam directly under a unit which is causing a problem.

hollydays

I've got oak cupboard fronts with laminate case , I've had my tall kettle under them for years , they haven't peeled .its really not a good idea to pull your kettle forward with young children.

Leo2020

If you Google it is is a common problem - steam causes damage to veneers/laminate. It may not always cause a problem but it can do. This link is from a kitchen repairer but it does give advice on what to do to prevent damage, http://repairandrestore.co.uk/avoid-kitchen-unit-and-worktop-damage-repairs-to-new-kitchen/

"Steam from the daily use of boiling kettles can damage kitchen units, consider positioning a kettle below an open area or away from wall units to allow the steam to dissipate into the air."

It may not be a good idea to pull the kettle away in which case you risk damaging your kitchen cabinets. It's a case of what to you want to risk damaging more.

I know this is not what the OP wants to read but I think they are going to have to put up the with the damage.