Problems with B&Q kitchen

[stonecircle]

Had a new kitchen fitted last summer and went with B&Q as they are local and seemed OK. Kitchen looks lovely but problems have started to arise. We have laminate worktops (wood was out due to previous bad experience and everything else seemed too expensive). There is a join about one foot to the left of the sink and I noticed recently that the laminate had started to lift. I also noticed that there was a small split in base of each of the upstands (not sure if that is the right word - I mean the worktop to floor panels).

B&Q sent someone to look and, although they blamed the lifting on escaping heat from a nearby microwave agreed to replace the two worktops which have the join problem and the upstands. He's ordered them and I'm waiting to hear when they will refit.

Today we were having a new boiler fitted and the plumber discovered that there was a gas leak underneath the gas hob. He said it must have been there since the kitchen was fitted. The plumber also pointed out that the reason the upstands had split where they meet the floor is that they'd been cut and not sealed so that any moisture from washing the floor is just soaked straight into the mdf.

I'm feeling very disheartened about my kitchen now and not looking forward to having replacement worktops that can't withstand a bit of water and escaping heat from a microwave which is used about once a week!

Just thought I'd post to warn of the dangers of using B&Q.

You posted about this last week I think? The microwave tale is, I feel, frankly rubbish. The issue is that unsealed edges of mdf absorb moisture and swell.

If they replace the worktop in the same way as it was fitted, you'll get a recurrence of the problem so ask them for a proper solution that is fit for purpose. Complain about the gas leak - did the plumber provide you with a report detailing the problems he found and fixed? Get B&Q back to look at the up stands and kick up stink. Message them on Facebook or Twitter for a quicker response if necessary. The key phrase is that what they have fitted is not fit for purpose.

You paid a lot of money for the kitchen - don't be fobbed off.

Yes, I did post about the worktops last week when I thought that was the only problem. We've emailed them and are waiting to hear what they intend to do. But the people who do the fitting were trying to get in touch with me yesterday - no doubt to arrange a time to put in some more worktops but I need some reassurance that the same problems won't arise again!