Anyone used Wren Kitchens additional installation services?

itm2

We're ordering a new kitchen from Wren Kitchen, and we'd like to use their installers for all of the auxiliary work that needs to be done, to avoid us having to coordinate multiple tradespeople ourselves. The jobs include: 
- moving or installing power sockets
- moving a light switch
- altering plumbing to accommodate repositioned appliances
- moving/replacing a radiator
- replastering and painting/tiling
Does anyone have any experience of using Wren's installation services to do this work (re. cost and quality/reliability of the subcontractors)?

FreeBear

itm2 said: - moving/replacing a radiator

Can't/won't comment on Wren or their subcontractors...

If you are replacing a radiator, have you thought about a kickstrip (or plinth) heater ?

Whilst they are not particularly cheap, they free up wall space and pump out the heat at floor level. Fitted one in my kitchen several years ago, and love it. So much so, I kept it when refurbishing the kitchen recently.

itm2

FreeBear said:

itm2 said: - moving/replacing a radiator

Can't/won't comment on Wren or their subcontractors...

If you are replacing a radiator, have you thought about a kickstrip (or plinth) heater ?

Whilst they are not particularly cheap, they free up wall space and pump out the heat at floor level. Fitted one in my kitchen several years ago, and love it. So much so, I kept it when refurbishing the kitchen recently.

I've never heard of kickstrip/plinth heaters before, but they do sound like a good idea. In your experience, does it heat up a room more effectively than a radiator?
And how is the fan managed - does it need to be manually switched on (I use Hive active heating)? Is the heater completely ineffective unless the fan is on?

FreeBear

itm2 said: And how is the fan managed - does it need to be manually switched on (I use Hive active heating)? Is the heater completely ineffective unless the fan is on?

The one I have has a three position switch. Normal speed - OFF - High speed. There is also an option to connect a thermostat to the fan, but I've never bothered. If I did, perhaps use a Sonoff linked to the home automation system. As standard, there is a little thermostatic switch inside that turns the fan on when the CH water reaches 50°C, so the on/off switch rarely needs to be touched.

Without the fan, no appreciable heat comes out, so the fan does need to be blowing to warm the space. Mine is pretty quiet and can hardly hear it unless it is on high speed. There was a radiator in the kitchen (fitted around the same time as the plinth heater), but the heating system was never very good (poor insulation, loads of cold draughts). Now that most of the draughts have been plugged and the insulation upgraded, the radiator has gone, leaving just the plinth heater. In the winter, having nice warm toes when preparing breakfast makes it worthwhile.

Just make sure you get one appropriately sized for the room and think about the best place to put it - The manufacturers have guidelines that should be followed where possible.

Rosa_Damascena

itm2 said:

We're ordering a new kitchen from Wren Kitchen, and we'd like to use their installers for all of the auxiliary work that needs to be done, to avoid us having to coordinate multiple tradespeople ourselves. The jobs include: 
- moving or installing power sockets
- moving a light switch
- altering plumbing to accommodate repositioned appliances
- moving/replacing a radiator
- replastering and painting/tiling
Does anyone have any experience of using Wren's installation services to do this work (re. cost and quality/reliability of the subcontractors)?

I am crossing my fingers and everything else for you because everything I have heard about Wren makes it sound like playing Russian Roulette. The business model is to charm you up-front with its sleek kitchens and sales staff, its when it comes to deliveries and fittings that the problems emerge.

If you've got space to pause, take it and find a different kitchen fitting company and a reputable builder to install it.

itm2

Rosa_Damascena said:

itm2 said:

We're ordering a new kitchen from Wren Kitchen, and we'd like to use their installers for all of the auxiliary work that needs to be done, to avoid us having to coordinate multiple tradespeople ourselves. The jobs include: 
- moving or installing power sockets
- moving a light switch
- altering plumbing to accommodate repositioned appliances
- moving/replacing a radiator
- replastering and painting/tiling
Does anyone have any experience of using Wren's installation services to do this work (re. cost and quality/reliability of the subcontractors)?

I am crossing my fingers and everything else for you because everything I have heard about Wren makes it sound like playing Russian Roulette. The business model is to charm you up-front with its sleek kitchens and sales staff, its when it comes to deliveries and fittings that the problems emerge.

If you've got space to pause, take it and find a different kitchen fitting company and a reputable builder to install it.

I'd be interested to hear of any specific problems that you're aware of with Wren. Like alot of companies, there are lots of positive and negative stories about them on the web.
I only know one person who has had a kitchen fitted by them, and she was very pleased with it. She didn't use the extended services that I'm thinking of using, though.
As we don't have a recommended, reputable builder to deal with it seems logical to use Wren's subcontractors to keep all of the services within the same domain of responsibility. At this stage I don't have any reason to suspect that Wren's subcontractors would be any worse than ones that I found myself from the internet, but would really like to hear of other people's experience of these services.