Please help me work out what to say to builders about unused kitchen cabinets!

[runningLou]

Background: builders changed timetable for work on our new kitchen extension and started earlier than planned - fine with me other than we had been told to go away on holiday while they were knocking through external wall, but ended up being away when they were fitting the kitchen (holiday ruined as I was so anxious about what they might be doing!)
Got back Weds evening and called in (we're staying at my Mum's at the moment), kitchen was looking great, seemed to be progressing well. All cabinets in by Friday and builder told us to come by over at the weekend to hoover out cabinets and fit shelves.
Did this today, and noticed a stack of panels in same colour as kitchen had been set aside. Looking closer I saw there were 3 replacement end panels and a support panel, which should have been used in the kitchen design, had not been used. Cabinets are all built now, and worktop fitted, so am guessing it's too late to fit them?
Am not massively bothered about this, as cabinets look fine as they are, and missing panels (should have been on either side of dishwasher and oven) are not essential.
What annoys me is that when they were doing the kitchen, they unpacked absolutely everything and put all boxes in the skip before starting so assemble, so I can't return the blooming things and get a refund!
I did a bit of skip diving when I was there, and retrieved a couple of battered boxes, but it's rained a lot here since Weds and the boxes are in a real state. With the 4 panels that would have been about £150 ... we're doing the kitchen on a budget and that's quite a big deal.
So, what do I say to builders? Overall am really pleased with what they've done, and they're not quite finished yet either - tiling and other bits still to do. Want to maintain a good working relationship but not happy that (a) kitchen design was ignored and not all panels were used and (b) I can't return unused panels. Am bad with confrontation but this has made me so CROSS!

[runningLou]

Sorry that was so long! Am suffering from an overdose of kitchen anxiety and needed to vent.

[UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter]

I'd want end panels on otherwis doesn't stuff fall out of the cupboards and in the minuscule gaps between cabinet and appliance? Or is that just the quality of work In whoever fitted our kitchen before we moved in.

[ImperialBlether]

So what's next to the dishwasher and oven?

[runningLou]

There are panels on the sides of the cabinets next to the appliances, but just the basic white ones which come with the cabinets - the colour-matched replacement panels, which swap in to match the rest of the kitchen, haven't been used.

[GipsyDanger]

those type of panels are more for aesthetics or getting the spacing/look right.... Not 100% 'essential' so they take them back for a refund. The only other reason is that the sizing of the kitchen/walls was slightly off and he didn't have the room to fit them

[RandomMess]

Could it have been that there wasn't actually the space to fit them?

You may have to resort to selling them on ebay if they are unpackaged

[GipsyDanger]

Oh sorry, just seen that they've left the panels with you, you are correct, can only return unfitted in packaging

[runningLou]

That's fine if he didn't have the space to fit them - but I can't get a refund, the packaging has all been binned.

[SavoyCabbage]

Presumably they did fit panels but not the coloured ones. They probably didn't fit them as as they went along, building the kitchen, they would have assumed that you hadn't ordered coloured end panels as, like you say, they aren't essential as you can't see them. Unless they were involved in the ordering of the kitchen.

If there are no panels at all then you need to insist that they are fitted.

[SavoyCabbage]

Sorry, I totally missed the boat there with my slow typing!

[runningLou]

They probably didn't fit them as as they went along, building the kitchen, they would have assumed that you hadn't ordered coloured end panels

Fair enough, but they had got absolutely everything out of the packaging before starting to build, so they should have seen what was there, surely?
If they'd built one cabinet at a time, only unpacking what's needed, then the panels would still be packaged and I could return them.

[Believeitornot]

Well they've done it that way because it's probably a bit easier for them.

I'm not sure why you ordered the panels in the first place?

I'd just write it off as a mistake.

[CodyKing]

We don't have end panels by our oven and the heat is warping the doors and the top it is coming away from the door - you really need them by the oven for spacing - same with a hot dish washer

[runningLou]

I ordered them as they were part of the agreed kitchen design. I know they're only aesthetic details really, so I'm not too fussed they've been left out and the standard sides used instead - it's the fact I can neither use nor return them that's bugging me ...

[BreakfastAtSquiffanys]

Could you do something with the spare panels to make it feel less of a waste? Are they strong enough to be cut to make shelves eg in utility room?

[ScoopyDoo]

I'd ask them to fit the coloured panels you ordered. It's a pretty basic mistake! It's not actually that much work to put right.

[MimsyPimsy]

What Scoopy says! And if there's a problem, ask them for the refund...

[runningLou]

Is it really not much work to change them? I thought it would involve taking the worktop off and deconstructing the cabinets?
If it really is easy, I'll ask them.

[Lunar1]

I'd let it go, I wouldn't risk more problems now. Just for your sanity as much as anything!

[PigletJohn]

end panels are not usually used to build the cabinets. They are attached to exposed ends of ready-made cabinets as ornaments.

For example if you have a kitchen with white cabinets and oak doors (the worst case) you would not want any white to be visible, so you put the décor panels on the ends.

They are especially useful on wall cabinets at each side of the cooker.

They are likely to be thicker than the material used for the cabinets, and to have a better trim or veneer on all the edges. They will not have holes for hinges.

They can be useful for making matching shelves on the wall.

You might be able to sell them in ebay, or keep them in case you change the layout in future. Don't let the builders take or skip them.

[runningLou]

It's replacement end panels that are spare, the ones that replace a cabinet side and are colour-matched.
They should have gone on the cupboards either side of the dishwasher. To fit them, I'm guessing it would mean pulling out those cabinets and changing the sides. Is that a bog job, now the worktop is on?

[Lunar1]

The work top would have to come off.

[PigletJohn]

have these panels got hinge-holes in? Were the units self-assembly or rigid?

Kitchen units can be removed without taking off the worktop.

You screw down the telescopic legs so they are no longer pressing against the worktop (support ends) after removing any fixing screws, and pull the units out.

It will be more tiresome if the floor was laid after the units fitted.

[runningLou]

The panels have hinge and shelf holes, and the units were self-assembly.
Taking them out does sound possible, but it's made more complicated by the fact that the plug point for the dishwasher is screwed to the inside of one of the existing cabinet walls.
The floor hasn't been laid yet, and no plinth fitted.

[greenfolder]

I would ask them about it. I would also be prepared to write of. £150 if this was the only thing in an otherwise perfect job. Did they have a detailed spec of the kitchen or just a plan? My dad was an interior designer and his plans would have highlighted anything such as decorative panels and this would have been discussed with the fitter. If one person has done the design and another unrelated company is doing the fitting stuff like this will happen.