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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is my husband correct

233 replies

Catvsworld · 10/03/2016 22:00

We are currently get ting our kitchen done and choose a IKEA kitchen witch have tall deep units lovey

We brought the legs that go with the kitchen units however the builder had said they weren't very sturdy and brought standard legs with make the units about 5cm higher than the standard

My husband is making be feel awful and feel quite bullied by him o can't sit all day and watch the builder I have 3 children and in any case I no nothing about building work the first day when he set the leg on husband came home said there a it high then said no more more work was then done work tops now on sink in and yesterday he complained at me I

Then said do you want me to say somthing to the builder he kept changing his mind then said no

Now today's he's telling me we waisted 5 grand most likely devalued our home and now most of the works been completed there's not much that can be done
Really gets me the Kitchen has had the high legs for a few days and he should of said then

He keeps saying its looks strange because the dishwasher and washing machine don't sit flush under the work top
It looks a little night but tbh it's a good hight for me cooking and chopping ect

Apart from stressing me out what's the blinking point of saying now I am sure even as late as yesterday I could of said somthing to the builder but he told me not to and I no he's just going to keep moaning about it for years to come

I did say when we come to sell witch won't be for at least 10 years we can replace the kitchen as most of the cost this time was knocking out a wall and re jigging the way the kitchen was set up

Have we waisted the money is this a awful mistake

Please note were about half way through the build everything else is fine

OP posts:
OohMavis · 11/03/2016 08:03

I have a few inches between my washing machine and worktop, you'll be glad of it trust me! Perfect for chopping boards.

unlucky83 · 11/03/2016 08:12

Justaboy That's not strictly true - my brothers an electrician and I've had two houses rewired - sockets in both come up from the floor - but actually that will be because both had suspended wooden you could get underneath rather than concrete/sold floors.
It makes sense to put your downstairs ring main cables under the floor if you can - you don't want to run a circuit up from (and back down to) the consumer unit/mains to the celling /floor void and then chase down from the ceiling to a foot above the floor for every socket if you don't need to - light switches usually come down cos you need the light circuit up anyway for the fittings. So you would have your ring main for ground floor under floor, ring main for upper floor and ground lighting in ceiling/floor void and lighting for upper floor in attic space.

skankingpiglet · 11/03/2016 08:20

Given a choice, I would go with having a tray space built in above the appliances rather than sitting them on a plinth. A plinth will make sliding them in and out if there is a problem in the future a complete ball-ache. They will look nice on one, but some machines are ridiculously heavy these days (my new Miele washing machine I'm looking at you!). If they do build a plinth, make sure it isn't out of MDF (I'm not sure I'd even risk the green moisture resistant MDF), as if there is a leak on one of the machines you'll end up having to replace it.

I agree with PPs, don't worry OP it can be easily fixed in a way that will make the 'problem' invisible to people who never knew there was an issue. Raising the sockets is an easy job. It would be a massive job to replace the legs now (sink out, worktop off, all base units out. Basically starting again), although if you were really unhappy you would be well within your rights to insist it was changed as it is totally the builder's fault. (I'm a chippy btw Smile)

Your DH is an arse to blame you and is being a bit of a drama llama.

hejsvejs · 11/03/2016 08:21

If it's a good height for you when you're cooking then I think you should keep it like it is. You don't want to break your back having the worktop too low.

Add skirting above the appliances and it will look fine!

diddl · 11/03/2016 08:24

If I wanted the worksurface at that height then the gap above the appliances wouldn't bother me at all.

I certainly wouldn't want them on a plinth rather than the floor.

mix56 · 11/03/2016 08:30

I agree move the units up or down a create a drawer for rolling pin/baking trays/emergency remedial gin.....

DH being a dick, he dithered, & now is blaming you. he is asleep & you are worrying.

SonjasSister · 11/03/2016 08:31

See, now you are working out out what to do with the help of us lot the internet, and are dealing with it yourself. Onwards and upwards!

MidniteScribbler · 11/03/2016 08:36

How in the hell do you not know what is going on with your own kitchen? Why is you 'D'h the one who knows everything about the build and you know nothing? It's your home, how did you not have some input in to the design of your own kitchen?

nauticant · 11/03/2016 08:36

When you speak to the builder OP just remember that his first response will probably be to suggest a bit of a bodge that suits him in terms of being straightforward to carry out. You need a clear idea of what the solution is and try not to be moved from that. To me that would be lowering of the worktops rather than raising the appliances and raising the sockets.

SpidersFromMars · 11/03/2016 08:46

It's our builder who went against the spec - he needs to pay to make good. Not you.

Peaceandl0ve · 11/03/2016 08:57

Is there room between the white goods and the current worksurface to create a slot underneath as a place to put chopping borads or trays etc. would make it look like a purpose created space?

But yes the it looks like your builder is a bit crap, dont feel bad you are doing just fine!

Jux · 11/03/2016 09:01

Having that gap above the white goods is useful. We have one a similar size. TBH, it's all too high for me but I'm a short arse! I use the kitchen table for chopping etc as it's a much better height for me.

Your builder chose to use the other legs, so any remedial work is his problem, not yours. You shouldn't have to pay anything to have the height dropped. However, you don't have to have it dropped, if it suits you at that height. It won't look bad, and you'll have a handy place for foil, greaseproof, clingfilm etc.

It's a nice kitchen, and you'll love it when it's done, whatever you decide to do now.

wotoodoo · 11/03/2016 09:14

Do not worry!

Do NOT raise your appliances on to a platform/plinth, the noise when they are on will reverberate around the house.

Instead, cover over the gap at the top with mdf or a false drawer/door painted white or colour of your cupboard doors.

Still leave a small gap though so you can repair/remove appliance if you need to.

It will look lovely x

alltouchedout · 11/03/2016 09:17

All this drama over a gap between the top of an appliance and the worktop? How does your dh react to real problems?

If the gap is that awful get a panel added to cover it. Otherwise who cares?

MiniCooperLover · 11/03/2016 09:18

I think it just needs to be lowered. The washing machine and dryer will be heard for miles around if they are raised and aren't solid on the ground. Be assertive, tell him to use the legs that come with the units, they were built for those units and they'll be fine. It's up to him to resolve. I'm only 5ft4 so if I was buying a house that had a raised worktop it would put me off to be honest. I'd wonder what else had been 'bodged'. Sorry.

Calamariss · 11/03/2016 09:19

Mine is the same by a few inches. It's fine. Builders should of adjusted the legs but they didn't. Just bend some plastic to fill the void.

I was furious when they put the plumbing at the back so the dishwasher a d matching machine overhung by 2 inches. Now that looked awful.

MerryMarigold · 11/03/2016 09:22

I'm going to add my voice to not putting them on a plinth. I would get the builder to build a box above the washing machine to store things, or add a drawer if that would be possible. It would look like it had been thought through. And if you are going to live there for 10 years, I am sure the people who buy your house will replace the kitchen anyway. Your husband is blaming you, because he is annoyed with himself too. Some people annoying ones who can't take responsibility are like that.

Am another who is intrigued how you got an answer out of your builder at that hour! Or is this a reverse...maybe you are the builder and were hoping for lots of people to say, "It is fine. It looks great." Ha ha ha. I also agree with a PP who said the builder has used taller legs to hide another mistake. There is no way he would risk putting everything out, and redoing everything, just to save you the risk of dodgy Ikea legs (they are fine, we've had kitchen 4 years no probs at all). I just think it's very odd he did that in the first place.

Tallulahoola · 11/03/2016 09:26

Your DH needs to be there today to tell your builder what he's unhappy with and what he wants done about it. If he's already gone to work, either ask him to come home early or ask your builder to stay late so they can discuss it. And if he tries to duck that - give the builder your DH's phone number and say 'Can you ring him, he wants to talk to you about the kitchen because he's the unhappy one.'

I understand why you feel awful about this - your DH has left you to have all the dealings with the builder so you probably now have a nice friendly relationship with him, meaning you feel super awkward about asking for this to be corrected. That's why you need to pass the responsibility on to DH.

nauticant · 11/03/2016 09:34

I think your DH is acting in a cowardly way. He doesn't want to confront the builders himself so is using you as a proxy while undermining you at the same time.

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 11/03/2016 09:35

I've an ikea kitchen and never had any problems with the legs; your builder is presumptuous cockwomble!

However get your Dh to ring him and tell him to sort it...sounds bad but I've found tradesmen frequently seem to take The Man of the House more seriously until I put them right by tearing them a new asshole for their dickish ways Grin

Yseulte · 11/03/2016 09:37

OP, just tell the builder to undo the work and replace the IKEA legs.

It's quite possible the worktop can be refitted, if not the builder has to fork out for a new one as it was his cockup.

He failed to think through the consequences of his actions, and could easily have cut down the standard legs to the height of the IKEA ones.

You and DH need to have the confidence to confront him and stop blaming each other.

Next time do not let builders make decisions for you.

CauliflowerBalti · 11/03/2016 09:42

Your husband is being totally unreasonable.

I love your kitchen units and the worktop and the sink. Serious kitchen envy going on.

The gap above the white goods doesn't bother me in the slightest. I don't think it would put anyone off buying your house either, certainly hasn't devalued it. Nonsense. Even the people here who think it looks odd - if the rest of the house was fine, they'd buy your house, no problem.

I wouldn't lower the surfaces. I'd raise the washing machine and tumble dryer.

Well I wouldn't. I'd leave it. It's honestly not such a big deal. When everything is in and finished - it won't be nearly as noticeable.

diddl · 11/03/2016 09:42

Couldn't you just put slding metal baskets above the drawers?

CauliflowerBalti · 11/03/2016 09:44

Ooh yes. Have read up the post a bit now. A plinth is actually a shitty idea. But a slidey place to put chopping boards... Now we're talking.

diddl · 11/03/2016 09:45

like this?