Howdens v DIY kitchens

[PippaFawcett]

We are yet to have our quote back from our builder for our Howdens kitchen but has anyone else researched the difference in quality between the two companies? Howdens said they can deliver pretty much everything on next day delivery which would be helpful as we don't really know how our building schedule will work but the lead in time for DIY kitchens is much longer.

We are thinking of going to look at the DIY kitchens showroom but I worry about getting the order wrong and delaying the build etc. And should we be avoiding foil wrapped doors etc?

They typically produce a list price invoice for the trade account holder to show their customer and then bill the account holder at whatever their discount rate is.

We've used DIY kitchens several times now - first for our kitchen, then for MILs utility, then for her kitchen. They've been excellent every single time.

I have a high gloss kitchen but not foil wrapped, it's a handleless lacquered style (I think equivalent to the Luca) and it's been in for over 4 years now. No issues at all, and the units do come fully assembled unless you request otherwise (we had one dry assembled because we knew it would probably need to go in to place in pieces)

They'll also customise units, so we have a wine rack which is narrower than standard, I think MIL had a custom size unit too.

Drawers and pullouts are excellent quality and still very smooth and stable.

The quality of DIY Kitchens is superior to Howdens, I've used both DIY Kitchens and Units Online and would recommend both.

YorkshireTea86 - we paid extra for a small van delivery as we do live down a single track lane - well worth it (£50 if I remember correctly?) as they could turn in an unload without any issues

Great thanks lou. That should be OK if we need to do that.

My fitter assumed I meant the DIY range from B&Q when I told him I'd decided to order from DIY Kitchens instead of Wren. He was thinking they'd be flat pack and he'd have twice the work and be upping my install quote! I still don't think he believes me when I say it will be fully built units and they're extremely well reviewed by installers, but I have faith he'll be pleased when it arrives in June :D

Beat me to it. Yes I was charged for the small van. There would have no room to turn around in a big lorry and it gets narrower the further down the lane you go. Can't remember if I remember correctly if it was standard but my units came with the doors already fitted

It's an extra £50 for a smaller van delivery. We have a narrow winding drive off a busy A road so it was the only way for them to deliver to us.