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Original poster

Higo gloss kitchen cabinets - are they durable?

43 replies

Rosarosae · 24/05/2014 22:02

We've had a joiner round on Wednesday and he said he wouldn't choose high gloss kitchen doors because they are not durable. I asked why, as I was under the impression that they would be ideal if you have young kids, easy to clean and so On. He was very vague and didn't give me a straight answer. What is the MN consensus on this front?

He fits Howdens kitchens mostly, could it be that Howdens high gloss model is rubbish?

OP posts:
AnnieAnoniMouse · 11/05/2017 17:26

I'm trying to decide what to do as well.

I need to have another look at IKEA but the kitchen fitter isn't too keen because if the lack of service area, but he'll do it if I want him to.

I'm looking at Howdens, Benchmarx or Magnet (as well as IKEA). The white gloss doors seem the best from Benchmarx, the Howdens ones have a less smooth reflection.

I'm not sure about the whole reflection/finger prints thing, but I can't find non gloss white doors that I like or a style that's not shaker.

If I was staying here I'd choose a colour, but I'm going white as I'll be renting it out or selling it.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 11/05/2017 17:27

wotznoo

Which door did you choose?

Is it in direct sunlight?

MaidenMotherCrone · 11/05/2017 17:30

I've got a Wren high gloss handleless in cream. No issues with them but I recommend a Window Vac for cleaning.

I would not recommend a servo kitchen ever though!

It's a nightmare, the dogs and cats all know how to lean against the doors/drawers to open them. If you brush past one it opens like Arkwrights bloody till.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 11/05/2017 23:28

If you brush past one it opens like Arkwrights bloody till

That made me laugh a lot more than it should have. I think I'm at the 'laugh or cry' stage of trying to decide what the hell to do.

How did you find the whole Wren experience? I had found a kitchen I loved in there, but the reviews put me off using the Company. The twat that came on here to defend them did them no favours either.

DragonNoodleCake · 11/05/2017 23:53

Don't do it, keeping them streak free is a nightmare. My last kitchen was white gloss. My new one is a light taupe matt type and so much easier to clean

MiaowTheCat · 12/05/2017 07:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaidenMotherCrone · 12/05/2017 08:59

With regards to Wren I give the kitchen itself 10/10.

I would never recommend using their fitters though. Bloody nightmare and cost a fortune.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 12/05/2017 09:23

Maiden. Did everything turn up & was it undamaged? Did you need to go back for anything? Most of the complaints were about customer services when things were missing or arrived damaged.

Miow. I remember you from other threads 😊 But I can't remember 'what/where from' you chose in the end?!

I've just realised wotznoo revived a Zombie Thread. I wonder if they work for Howdens? 😁 That's ok though, I don't feel bad hijacking the thread now!

MiaowTheCat · 12/05/2017 10:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaidenMotherCrone · 12/05/2017 10:59

Annie.....everything turned up, at the exact time Wren said it would and nothing at all was missing/damaged.

The kitchen is lovely, solidly built and after 4 years it still looks like new. ( I wish I could say the same of the ceramic tiled floor!)

I've just remembered I had an issue with the lovely sparkly glass thing behind the hob. It cracked right across the first time I used the hob. Phoned Wren and they replaced and fitted it in a couple of days.

Bluntness100 · 12/05/2017 11:16

Aren't thr Wickes and howdens ones guaranteed for 15 years though, so this should allay some concerns.

Also high gloss may show the dirt more, but that's a good thing because it sits on the surface and buffs off. When it's Matt and uou don't see the dirt, it builds up in the material and after a few years looks dirty in areas of high use, because rhe dirt is ingrained into the surface. And that's what makes them look tired.

MiaowTheCat · 12/05/2017 13:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

galloper · 03/11/2017 10:37

Anyone in the 'wanting to buy a kitchen but don't know what to buy' stage today? I'm finding it a nightmare. I've had some great plans especially from Wickes but all of the reviews on all of the kitchen firms with websites is putting me off. I'm getting round to thinking I should install the kitchen myself. I installed my last two kitchens myself and I thought that I might get someone else to do it for a change but now I'm having doubts! My kitchen is looking very tired and I'm desperate to renew it. Two local firms are my last resort. One doesn't have a website and the other one does, with some great reviews. Well, here goes...! I'll keep you posted.

alikatgolf · 09/09/2018 19:58

Like so many people I had high gloss kitchen units fitted as well as fitted wardrobes but after about three years they started to delaminate. I went back to the suppliers and they told me the manufacturers had gone out of business and they had always been a problem because it was all to do with the glue the manufacturers had used so the only solution would be ton replace all of the doors which was quite a hefty price and was in the process of selling my property. Since then I have spoken to so many other people who have had the same problem, however I have recently found a company who will recover the doors in almost any colour and the material they use is manufactured by 3M which is an international company. For anyone interested, the name of the business is TINT & WRAP NORTHEAST and they have a great website which shows everything they do

alikatgolf · 09/09/2018 20:01

As we all know guarantees are wonderful, they are like insurance policies until you come to make a claim and as we all know insurance companies are the biggest scammers and so corrupt they will do anything but pay out unless they are forced to

alikatgolf · 09/09/2018 20:04

I was told when I first complained about my high gloss units delaminating that it was a common fault with the doors fitted on dishwasher units due to the steam, I found out later it was total tripe, it was all to do with the glue used by manufacturers which sent a number of companies crashing due to all the claims against them

PigletJohn · 09/09/2018 21:04

vinyl-wrap doors are not durable, and will peel from heat, steam, cats' claws, or being picked at.

Hard laminate doors are very durable. The oldest I have seen were about 50 years and had been relegated from the kitchen to the boiler room.

I haven't experienced other types.

alikatgolf · 09/09/2018 21:53

Hi Piglet John. Thats what I was told when I first heard about vinyl wrapped doors and units so I checked with 3M and they told me that providing the right bonding compound is used there will never be any trouble with them. I suppose its like many things in life, there are always cowboys taking short cuts trying to make some quick cash by not using the correct materials, I saw exactly the same problems in the 1980s with PVC and rubber roof coverings which gave both products a bad name, it had nothing to do with the products, only the cowboys fitted them.

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