New fitted kitchen issues.

AdamPD

Need some advice on some issues with a new kitchen I had fitted, if someone could help?

Last year (November/December) I had a kitchen renovation done by a firm in Brighton, the old kitchen and brick larders were removed and a Howdens kitchen fitted, with Lamona appliances, including a new floor using those "Engineered stone flooring" tiles.

There have been issues cropping up since then, for instance, in one cupboard mould started to appear on the back panel and a strong smell of damp, it also smelt of damp in the cutlery and pot drawer which is next to it, the guy who did the kitchen said it was because I had put wet pots in the cupboard (I did not).

So I gave him the benefit of the doubt and cleaned the mould off, removed all the dry pots, used a tablet water absorption thing to remove excess moisture, then left it empty for 2 months, the damp smell never went away, but the mould has come back.

As soon as you open the drawers or cupboard, it stinks.

Another issue is the cupboard they put around the wall-mounted gas boiler, which blocks access to the boiler's control panel and access port for servicing.

But the major issue for me is the tiled floor is "puffy", meaning there are air pockets underneath several tiles, so it feels like you're walking on a springy sponge, as they didn't bother to completely level the floor, he just filled in the uneven parts with some kind of silicone stuff which he spread across some of the floor.

I don't really know what my rights are, or what I should do, I've emailed him again today but had no reply, he really doesn't seem to want to come out and fix the issues.

Given that all this cost me around £15,000, I must admit I feel really disappointed, as it's only a small kitchen as well.

tacpot12

The mould is being caused by damp. I think it unlikely that anything the kitchen fitter did has caused the damp, so I think you need to find where the damp is coming from and stop it.

The problem with the access to the boiler controls and for servicing is tricky. Did you give the fitter any instructions not to block the access port or make the  boiler manual available to him? I think this could be an issue where both of you have not done your best. If you can get him back, I would suggest that you share the cost of rectification. Offering to do so, might get him back.

Your rights as such are to have the work done to a professional standard, and if it hasn't been, then for the work to be redone. It doesn't sound like the floor has been laid correctly.

If you have home insurance check to see if you have legal expenses cover, and if you do, call the legal help line for help to get him to come back to sort the floor (and the cabinet if necessary).

AdamPD

Thanks Tacpot

The damp issue is confusing as we've never had a damp issue in that area, as it's an internal wall
There was a dishwasher and washing machine on that wall, but the dishwasher was relocated to another area, so I wonder if there's a leak from the washing machine pipe, as that's the only place I can think of where water might be coming in.

I didn't think of contacting the insurance company, I may end up doing that, because the entire floor is uneven, it will cost a fortune to level and fix it, I think.

Aylesbury_Duck

I suspect the water connection to the washing machine is cross threaded, not tightened sufficiently, is pinched or has a tiny leak.  I had something similar years ago and over a period of weeks the wall was soaked.  Pull the machine out and check the connections.

born_again

Water leak could also be why the floor does not feel solid.