Recommended Pronorm kitchen retailer?

PeteW

Hi,

I've seen Pronorm recommended a few times for German handleless kitchens and I like the look of their X-line.

Does anyone have any experience of suppliers? Any cheaper than the others? Any to avoid?

Cheers

Pete

dw14

Hi Pete,

Wondering the same myself.

I've posted a question about kitchens today as we need a new one. Waiting on a quote from a local independent Pronorm showroom. Their pre-sales service and survey was excellent.
Need to know if Proform is really much better than Diy-Kitchens for instance.

mpet

Where are you located? We used Alaris kitchens for our Pronorm, but they are based in Bromley/Dartford & Scotland!

dw14

Based in Edinburgh, I see they are in Aberdeen I think?
Pronorm reseller is two minutes along the road from us.

Am I allowed to mention their name on the forum?

Private_Church

dw14 wrote: »

Hi Pete,

Wondering the same myself.

I've posted a question about kitchens today as we need a new one. Waiting on a quote from a local independent Pronorm showroom. Their pre-sales service and survey was excellent.
Need to know if Proform is really much better than Diy-Kitchens for instance.

Carcase quality on the DIY Kitchens is better because it has a very think 2.5mm ABS plastic edgings to the carcases so when you hit the sides,shelves with plates,saucepans etc they won't damage the carcase whereas Pronorm edgings are only 1.3mm edging which is usually melamine so it will damage more easily. The carcase sides are also 16mm thick whereas most British kitchens will be 18mm.

The only reason people choose a German kitchen over a decent UK kitchen is purely down to design aesthetics and not build quality.

dw14

Private_Church wrote: »

Carcase quality on the DIY Kitchens is better because it has a very think 2.5mm ABS plastic edgings to the carcases so when you hit the sides,shelves with plates,saucepans etc they won't damage the carcase whereas Pronorm edgings are only 1.3mm edging which is usually melamine so it will damage more easily. The carcase sides are also 16mm thick whereas most British kitchens will be 18mm.

The only reason people choose a German kitchen over a decent UK kitchen is purely down to design aesthetics and not build quality.

So would you say that Pronorm are more akin to Howdens quality?

Private_Church

dw14 wrote: »

So would you say that Pronorm are more akin to Howdens quality?

Its really down to aesthetics because quality wise there is little between most of them.

The cheapest Howdens kitchen money can buy will last 25yrs if looked after. There are subtle differences such as carcase materials,type of door/drawer finish that can make a difference but in general the reason some kitchens cost a premium is purely down to marketing faff. A kitchen is a collection of basic boxes on feet. Those boxes more often than not are constructed from the same materials manufactured by the same 1-2 companines . They use the same hinges and drawer runners in the majority of cases.

Look at this way if you wanted some new Upvc windows and had quotes from some local companies and the large national ones with prices ranging from £2,500 to £18k would you go for the £18k quotes whilst in the knowledge that they are all made of the same materials ,many with the same Upvc extrusions/profiles and the same warranties?.

You need to consider the planning side is quite important but it really isn't rocket science . A good fitter can make an average kitchen look great and a poor fitter can make an expensive kitchen look pants.

Howdens have a very poor business model with their so-called discount system which ,in my opinion is only there to deceive the customer.

dw14

Private_Church wrote: »

Its really down to aesthetics because quality wise there is little between most of them.
Howdens have a very poor business model with their so-called discount system which ,in my opinion is only there to deceive the customer.

Yes aesthetics is important. Like the look of the Pronorm I've seen in the showroom. Better than the Howdens we got quoted for. Also better than others we've seen.
Liked the look of Mackintosh kitchens in another local independent who was recommended to us by a friend and the quote wasn't hugely more than Howdens.

And yes, indeed, Howdens can b****r off with their discount sales nonsense.

Just don't want to have waited years to get the kitchen done only to find we've spent months researching then purchase an inferior one that won't last as long as an equal or less priced alternative.

Just as an aside, why do the German kitchens have 16mm carcases. They say it's furniture grade 3 layer chipboard. Is that better than 18mm standard chipboard?

Private_Church

dw14 wrote: »

Just as an aside, why do the German kitchens have 16mm carcases. They say it's furniture grade 3 layer chipboard. Is that better than 18mm standard chipboard?

This is marketing faff because most companies use melamine faced chipboard for carcases produced by companies such as EGGER. The only part of a kitchen that moves /under stress are the doors/drawers which rely on the hinges/runners so as long as they are fixed properly with the correct type of screws/knock in fixings there's nothing to worry about. I've seen plenty of bog standard kicthens that have been used on a daily basis for 20-25yrs+ and very, very few have any issues with chipboard other than it expanding due to moisture ingress.

BLUM door hinges and drawer runners are used my the vast majority of kitchen manufacturers and they are perfectly adequate for the job and along with other companies such as Hettich and Grass most of their hinge base plates have 3-4 fixing points so they aren't going to fall off due to the chipboard falling apart. By the way the reason companies (including German companies) tend to use melamine faced chipboard over MDF is purely down to cost and a 10'x5' sheet of melamine faced MDF costs around £60-00 and you can make around 3 units from 1 sheet. My point is carcases are very cheap to make.

I liken the kitchen industry to that of motorhomes and caravans, its a bit of a rip off industry where the public get taken in by all the "fluff" and marketing bull.

dw14

So, it could be put as:German for good aesthetics, custom size units etc.
Uk for ‘better’ quality cabinets i.e. technical specifications.


Know that is over simplifying but when looking at spending £00000’s on something we’ve needed for years but couldn’t afford until now, I need that simplification.


Hate to pay more for something of the same or worse quality in anything in life but something we’ll use every day for 10 years has to be the best choice we can do.

ryder72

Comparing German kitchens to Howdens indicates a complete lack of knowledge and understanding of the subject.

If you want to compare a basic German kitchen, look at Nobilia side by side with a Howdens. If you cant see the diference, but Howdens. If you can you will see obvious reasons why Nobilia is better.

Pronorm is not a bad product but a bit dear for what it is. However if you like the X or Y line then its design copyrighted to you have to go down Pronorm route.

In terms of differences, its been well discussed on teh forum so look up past posts.