cheapest. reliable fitted bathroom and kitchen companies

faerielight

hi I'm selling my flat and looking for a bungalow.. they all need a lot of medernisations.. what would be a good company to go for for a new kitchen and bathroom on the cheap? how much does the average budget kitchen and bathroom cost?

Martico

Things will depend on your local area - independents can be good. But for kitchen, I got the plan mapped out digitally for free by Wickes (pricey) then took the plans to Benchmarx (same umbrella company) and they supplied what I wanted for a fraction (30%? 40%?) of the cost. Had a fitter lined up with trade discount, that helped as I think Benchmarx only do trade sales. Hunt around and go beyond the "high street" names

thegreenone

If this is your forever home, don't do anything on 'the cheap'.   Otherwise you'll be doing all again in five years time.

However, you could find good quality bathrooms and kitchens for sale online and then find local fitters. 

Doozergirl

If properties are in need of updating, it isn't just kitchens and bathrooms that need doing.  Those are the last things to be done. 

It's everything else that needs looking at first.  

youth_leader

I bought a bungalow in 2021 and now I've had the cavity ties/soffits/gutters and all floorboards replaced! I'm ready to do the old fashioned bathroom.  

I went onto my Which membership website, they have done a big comparison of bathroom retailers/bathroom makes.  B&Q/Homebase/Wickes came out at 67%.  Independents were top at 83%, then John Lewis, Screwfix at 79, 77, 77 %.  John Lewis no longer offer a fitting service, which is a shame!  I have asked my local trustworthy plumber to fit something if I buy it - I hope to find the Armitage range.

faerielight

thanks for all the suggestions.. I haven't put an offer in yet..ideally I need a modern, ready to move in one, but there are so few bungalows available , I'm trying to open the search to ones in need of modernisation.. I def don't want one that needs a tonn e of structual repairs. I would have thought Wickes would be cheap.. I'll look out for their umberella company, and thasnks  youth leader for shsaring the which results

Martico

Wickes and Benchmarx are both owned by Travis Perkins - other companies that do kitchen carcasses etc have similar structures: a retail side that's more expensive and a trade side that's cheaper if you can access it. It's not tricky - they don't care that much. All the products are the same. Use friends or the right fitter to get you access to the trade arm of the company and you'll have saved money

faerielight

great advice.. I made a note, thank you

GDB2222

faerielight said:

thanks for all the suggestions.. I haven't put an offer in yet..ideally I need a modern, ready to move in one, but there are so few bungalows available , I'm trying to open the search to ones in need of modernisation.. I def don't want one that needs a tonn e of structual repairs. I would have thought Wickes would be cheap.. I'll look out for their umberella company, and thasnks  youth leader for shsaring the which results

Be a bit careful not to underestimate the cost of the work. You really need a friendly builder to give you a rough estimate before you offer on the house.

Albermarle

I would have thought Wickes would be cheap

Anything connected to construction/work on homes has rocketed in price in the last 3 years or so.

Due to Covid, there was a boom in demand and a restriction of supply of material, with some tripling in price. Then energy costs went up due to Ukraine war, plus general inflation. This has calmed down now but has left prices for all materials a lot higher than they were.

Then on the labour side, demand was high but less people around to do the work since Brexit, so tradespeople can demand higher prices.

So nothing is cheap anymore. Probably at least double to fit a kitchen of similar quality than 4 years ago.

stormCat99

We are about to buy from DIY Kitchens.  Much much cheaper than Wren, Bodensee, Benchmarx etc, but also much better quality. Had never heard of them but then read the Which report and they were very highly recommended. 

Magnetbwanted £45k for our kitchen and utility,  DIYK will be £18k, and better quality.

https://www.diy-kitchens.com/