homebase kitchens - any good?

bootalishus

hi

Does anyone have a homebase kitchen? are they good quality. I like the framed cream one. I have looked at MFI but not impressed with quality of carcasses. Lots of holes drilled out, no colour match to doors and flimsy backs. Are the Homebase ones any better? Also what was delivery like, did everything arrive?

Finally does anyone know where homebase source their kitchens from.

Thanks

dreamypuma

Hi ,

I'm about to buy a new Kitchen and having seen Homebase ones a while back I thought I'd have a closer inspection last week.

I'm not going to buy from Homebase. The doors look good, however next time your in a store knock on the rear wall inside the cabinet. They seem very flimsy. the carcasses seem a bit weedy too. I ould brabably peg them somewhere between Wickes Take Home Range and B&Q IT Range. (B&Q being the superior)

If it wasn't for the door quality on the Homebase ones, I think there is very little to differentiate between them and Wickes Take Home Range.

I think I'll take a look at Howdens.

The fitting cost is going to be more or less the same regardless for Kitchen type, so I think it's worth spend a couple of hundred more for peace of mind.

Homebase are probably ideal for property developers or rental properties.

girlsmum

my parents have the lemon one and i must say its fine, there is nothing flimsy about them, ok they might not be as thick as Howdens or others, but once screwed into place, they are fine,
whilst i agree Howdens are better quality i personally dont like the styles, (except for the top of the range ones) if you get someone to fit it that knows what they are doing any kitchen can look the part and last

ozskin

they are all flat pack 15mm and all pretty much the same, homebase made by gower, ok but not great quality, and dont be fooled by howdens same type of carcase and pre asembled NOT RIGID. for quality you want 18mm solid back colour coordinated carcase but of course there are cost issues, but last time we quoted directly against mfi there was suprisingly little in it

ormus

dont think theres much difference in the quality of the budget ranges.
but homebase never seem very good on prices. on almost every product line.

cattie

Many Howdens kitchens are identical to those in MFI, they just go under different names.

I can't speak about the flat pack kitchens, but can assure you that the rigid MFI kitchen I had in my last house was of good quality & very robust.

Crypto

We recently had a Homebase kitchen fitted and I would agree with others; the quality of the carcass seems about the same wherever you go. They did deliver on schedule but the extractor hood was missing and then out of stock so we had to buy it seperately through our kitchen fitter. We bought our kitchen on a 20% off bank holiday weekend so saved some money but I would definately recommend sourcing your applicances seperately - I think you definately pay over the odds for those at Homebase.

The kitchen 'designer' included the wrong type of sink as it needed to be over a base unit rather than the washing machine where we wanted it - this was very inconvenient but they did refund the money to us no problem (as they did with the extractor hood as well).

All in all I think the kitchen looks really good but it I was doing it again I think I would source the units through the kitchen fitter so that one person is responsible for the design and fitting - homebase don't offer a fitting service so you can't end up between homebase and your kitchen fitter if there are any problems.

markrhewitt

Homebase kitchens are made in 2 places. Their carcases are made in germany and the doors made in italy.

They are much bigger in size than most of their competitors as their wall units are 330mm which means you can fit a 12" plate inside no probs at all (B&Q, MFI, HOWDENS do not have this as standard). They also have soft close doors as standard across the range and amazing 10 year guarentee which is much better than competitors (B&Q 1 YEAR, MFI 1 YEAR but you can pay £250 to extend to 5year, HOWDENS 1 YEAR)

Base units are 560mm in size and have a recess at the back for pipes etc so no need to cut them.

They also install now with profesional fitters with 10 years or more experience. They do the full job and have very very high standards. A 97% customer satisfaction rate is the highest in the market place

Their prices are very strong as they qoute for the full item, carcase, door and hinge as one full price not like others who have price for this THEN price for that THEN price for the other

Dont be fooled. Homebase supply a fantastic kitchen and thier range will meet all tastes. Their service is excellent and they will not give you crap like other companies.

Ask yourself the question "why do Howdens only supply to trade" answer so the builder can put his cut into the price so you lose.

Homebase are the dark horses taking the kitchen market by storm and dont be surprised that in a few years time they are not the number 1 suppliers of kitchens in the uk in what is a very very aggresive market

I have a Homebase kitchen and i can honestly say that i am impressed with the quaulity, service and after sales service i have recieved from start to finish

mrcow

If you go with Homebase then haggle haggle haggle.

We were offered 40% off the kitchen plus an extra 10% off for buying on their interest free card (we'd have paid it off immediately). We would have also got Spend and Save points (a few hundred quid). We left it and they called 2 days later to offer an additional 10% off.

So bargains to be had.

We didn't go with them as I think their kitchens look quite cheap and rubbishy and they are a dime a dozen so we got a much better quality kitchen. But that's personal choice.

But if budget is what you are looking for.....then grab a bargain.

jayuhu

I have just installed a Homebase kitchen. Door and Drawer fronts (in Oak) are well made, but the imitation "oak" panels and trim are total rubbish and look nothing like real oak. This is probably why they delivered a matt white end panel instead of oak. Not the only delivery mistakes. One cupboard was obviously a reject as it was marked with red stickers and part of the edging was missing. The sink drain was the wrong one for the sink ordered. A handle was missing. I would not recommend them to anyone except my worst ememy.

hewhoisnotintheknow

if buying from homebase buy a 20% off voucher from ebay, then use it on their half price kitchen deals which they always do