Kitchen fitting disaster

Joshuac91

Hello thank you for reading.
just need some help and advice because we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.
we bought a kitchen through B&Q in January. This is the first time we have ever done something like this. Fast forward to March and it’s been delivered I sorted my own kitchen fitter as B&Q were not providing them at the time. My kitchen fitter did not do gas/water/electric.
we have had numerous issues with the design since the installation started including faulty parts, parts that were the wrong size etc. Due to delivery delays brought about by wrong parts being delivered my kitchen fitter cannot return to finish the work. 

We have complained to B&Q about this as the reason for this set back is the design they created doesn’t meat fire regs for the hob (not enough clearance). B&Q have said this is the kitchen fitters fault as he should have seen this but as I said earlier our kitchen fitter doesn’t do gas and therefore unless he had encountered this issue before, would not know. I feel that this is B&Qs fault as it should’ve flagged up when they designed it.
what are my rights in this circumstance it’s going to cost us a fortune to rectify this and we’re nearly at 8 weeks without a fully functioning kitchen (dishwasher and tap only got plumbed in yesterday)
and what is reasonable to expect B&Q to do to rectify? Is it reasonable to expect them to provide a fitter? Money off the kitchen? I’m really at a loss and every time I come home it stresses me out which is far from what a home should be like.

Thank you

welshmoneylover

Your fitter should be aware of gas clearances 

mug2007

We had some incorrect items delivered to us for our kitchen. The local company are going to provide the correct items and will fit them for us as well.  They offered to do this as soon as they saw the incorrect items. We ordered the kitchen on a supply only basis.

casper_gutman

welshmoneylover said:

Your fitter should be aware of gas clearances 

True, but so should a professional kitchen designer!

TELLIT01

welshmoneylover said:

Your fitter should be aware of gas clearances 

It seems that the kitchen fitter in this instance is basically a joiner and purely does cabinet assembly and installation.  If that is the case he would have no reason to know the regs regarding gas / electrical installation.  The kitchen designer certainly should.  To me the fault lays entirely with B&Q.

travis-powers

Speaking as a carpenter who does a lot of kitchens if I had a kitchen that fitted to the plan and a delivery with all the right parts and no damage that would be a first it’s part of the job and I price that in!
 I can’t do gas or electrics but I know the regs, concerning the hob are the wall units or extractor too low?

Doozergirl

I'm pretty sure that B&Q will have a disclaimer telling you that your fitter is responsible for checking the final measurements if you aren't using their service.   

They'll also have a disclaimer telling you not to book your fitter until everything is on site. 

You save money by buying your products and employing individuals separately, but it puts additional responsibility onto you because you take up the project management role.  

It's why I still put "direct from stock" places like Howdens at the top of the list for a stress-free kitchen purchase and fit.  Changes can be made immediately. 

Like travis-powers, I've also never had an entire kitchen turn up complete and correct when made to order! ...unless the kitchen was bespoke and cost more than most would ever be willing to pay (me included!). 

Rosa_Damascena

Doozergirl said:

I'm pretty sure that B&Q will have a disclaimer telling you that your fitter is responsible for checking the final measurements if you aren't using their service.   

They'll also have a disclaimer telling you not to book your fitter until everything is on site. 

You save money by buying your products and employing individuals separately, but it puts additional responsibility onto you because you take up the project management role.  

It's why I still put "direct from stock" places like Howdens at the top of the list for a stress-free kitchen purchase and fit.  Changes can be made immediately. 

Like travis-powers, I've also never had an entire kitchen turn up complete and correct when made to order! ...unless the kitchen was bespoke and cost more than most would ever be willing to pay (me included!). 

This is not what I want to hear 

TELLIT01

Doozergirl said:

I'm pretty sure that B&Q will have a disclaimer telling you that your fitter is responsible for checking the final measurements if you aren't using their service.   

They'll also have a disclaimer telling you not to book your fitter until everything is on site. 

You save money by buying your products and employing individuals separately, but it puts additional responsibility onto you because you take up the project management role.  

It's why I still put "direct from stock" places like Howdens at the top of the list for a stress-free kitchen purchase and fit.  Changes can be made immediately. 

Like travis-powers, I've also never had an entire kitchen turn up complete and correct when made to order! ...unless the kitchen was bespoke and cost more than most would ever be willing to pay (me included!). 

That was certainly true when we had a new kitchen installed.  Many of the doors were the wrong colour and replacements arrived the next day.  That wouldn't happen with purchases from any of the retail DIY sheds.

Emmia

John Lewis was no better, a decorative panel required 6 deliveries before one of the right size and colour was eventually supplied, one door opened the wrong way round - and their first attempt at swapping that wound up with another incorrectly coloured door.