Are kitchen carcasses made from Egger boards better than those supplied by the likes of Howdens?

lagransiete

Hi, i just had a few quotes ,one from Howdens which came to almost £17k -Chelford handleless painted +3 appliances, Magnet for something similar at £20500,Benchmarx didn't give a quote but their doors are all wrapped and finally a local company who supply  Second  Nature doors fitted onto carcases made from Egger boards manufactured by an SME company based in Eastbourne. Their quote came to just shy of 20k , would involve two fewer wall cabinets, one fewer appliance(ie inbuilt combination microwave)  but would include pelmet lighting, curved corners and better skirting. In all three examples the worktops, would be a quarts marble effect,  under the surface sink and 3 tall cabinets.
I have no idea how good Egger boards are but was informed they are much better at gripping on to Blum hinge screws than the conventional boards used to manufacture the likes of Howdens or Benchmarx cabinets are. I know from experience that Benxhmarx are not great in that regards having had a door and drawer collapse and then having to replace the screws with longer ones.  I know the quote from Howdens was at the top end a local fitter I know  would probably get it for less  but i was wondering what you guys thought about Egger boards and whether they are worth the premium price? Thanks

Doozergirl

Egger is a brand. Most kitchens are made with a melamine faced chipboard, probably of their own manufacture.  Egger produce different varieties, as well as just selling the different types of melamine facing. 

It's impossible to know what they're offering.    My upstairs floorboards are Egger, but these ones are designed to be able to sit out on the elements for two months while you build a house.  Our first floor went in before the first floor walls.   We were brushing torrential rain off them!   Our kitchen isn't made from that.  

I have second nature (1909 kitchens) doors on carcasses made by an independent and yes, I'm happier with the quality but the cabinets are made to measure for us, within the constraints of the door sizes.  We could have any colour carcass we wanted from the Egger book and my double pantry unit make-up is essentially bespoke, based on what I wanted inside.  

My supplier had several carcases in the store so you could compare differences.   I suspect that you would have more customisations available to you than the usual suspects provide, because they're making them from scratch for you.  

starving_artist

Interesting.  I've been getting quotes for a fitted wardrobe and a couple are using Egger.  I believe it is lighter than mdf but I was wondering how it compared otherwise. Where there was an option Egger was cheaper.

lagransiete

Doozergirl said:

Egger is a brand. Most kitchens are made with a melamine faced chipboard, probably of their own manufacture.  Egger produce different varieties, as well as just selling the different types of melamine facing. 

It's impossible to know what they're offering.    My upstairs floorboards are Egger, but these ones are designed to be able to sit out on the elements for two months while you build a house.  Our first floor went in before the first floor walls.   We were brushing torrential rain off them!   Our kitchen isn't made from that.  

I have second nature (1909 kitchens) doors on carcasses made by an independent and yes, I'm happier with the quality but the cabinets are made to measure for us, within the constraints of the door sizes.  We could have any colour carcass we wanted from the Egger book and my double pantry unit make-up is essentially bespoke, based on what I wanted inside.  

My supplier had several carcases in the store so you could compare differences.   I suspect that you would have more customisations available to you than the usual suspects provide, because they're making them from scratch for you.  

i guess i was trying to go by reputation I accept Egger probably make different products for different applications as you alluded to but i am trying to compare like with like .I know, for example,  there are different thicknesses of MFC. The boards used on the ones i have in mind are18mm thick , compared to 16mm on Howdens cabinets but equally i would be concerned about how well screws are gripped and maybe the density of the chipboard. In any case, i am looking for a bit of quality compared to what I have at the moment which is Benchmarx Tucson vinyl wrapped which is already delaminating after 9 years of use

lagransiete

lagransiete said:

Doozergirl said:

Egger is a brand. Most kitchens are made with a melamine faced chipboard, probably of their own manufacture.  Egger produce different varieties, as well as just selling the different types of melamine facing. 

It's impossible to know what they're offering.    My upstairs floorboards are Egger, but these ones are designed to be able to sit out on the elements for two months while you build a house.  Our first floor went in before the first floor walls.   We were brushing torrential rain off them!   Our kitchen isn't made from that.  

I have second nature (1909 kitchens) doors on carcasses made by an independent and yes, I'm happier with the quality but the cabinets are made to measure for us, within the constraints of the door sizes.  We could have any colour carcass we wanted from the Egger book and my double pantry unit make-up is essentially bespoke, based on what I wanted inside.  

My supplier had several carcases in the store so you could compare differences.   I suspect that you would have more customisations available to you than the usual suspects provide, because they're making them from scratch for you.  

i guess i was trying to go by reputation I accept Egger probably make different products for different applications as you alluded to but i am trying to compare like with like .I know, for example,  there are different thicknesses of MFC. The boards used on the ones i have in mind are18mm thick , compared to 16mm on Howdens cabinets but equally i would be concerned about how well screws are gripped and maybe the density of the chipboard. In any case, i am looking for a bit of quality compared to what I have at the moment which is Benchmarx Tucson vinyl wrapped which is already delaminating after 9 years of use

I guess the bottom line question is would i be better off with a cheaper Howdens kitchen with painted MDF doors or  the independent supplier/ fitter and his, presumably, better quality.longevity in mind Egger carcsasses? 

koalakoala

I personally prefer painted doors to wraparound laminate

theonlywayisup

As has been said, Egger are a brand and are most well used for their Protect flooring.  Boards that can be withstand all sorts for a while.  I didn't realise they did kitchens. 

Having holiday cottages I can say from experience that anything wrapped, eventually unwraps itself.

Have you tried a local supplier of something more bespoke? 

Rosa_Damascena

Reassured by my choice of painted cabinets now!

lagransiete

theonlywayisup said:

As has been said, Egger are a brand and are most well used for their Protect flooring.  Boards that can be withstand all sorts for a while.  I didn't realise they did kitchens. 

Having holiday cottages I can say from experience that anything wrapped, eventually unwraps itself.

Have you tried a local supplier of something more bespoke? 

Yes as. said in my OP I got a quote from an independent retailer which worked out more expensive but having examined the cabinets in their retail outlet yesterday I came away satisfied that they are of a very good quality

lagransiete

Gallery Kitchens from Eastbourne are the cabinet manufacturers. I think they purchase the doors from PWS and then supply cabinets fully assembled to the retailers who then install them 

edgex

lagransiete said:

Gallery Kitchens from Eastbourne are the cabinet manufacturers. I think they purchase the doors from PWS and then supply cabinets fully assembled to the retailers who then install them 

"Our carcass product is normally made from top quality Egger MFC board, 18mm throughout."

A quick google suggests that 18mm is what you want to look for as a sign of quality.