All are kitchens cabinets the same???

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I am looking at getting a new kitchen fitted and have obtained a few quotes.

There is a price difference in the quotes and I presume I should not be just going for the cheapest price although its tempting!

Are all kitchen carcasses essentially the same? Apart from Blum hinges being better, I don't actually know if one kitchen is better than another IYSWIM??? Its so confusing!!

Anyone know the difference between Howdens and Wickes kitchens?

We are also getting a quote from an independent kitchen maker and fitter and I need to know what to be able to ask him for when I ask to to give a quote.

TIA

Am in the same position...following with interest.

When we went to wrens part of their sale pitch was showing us how the cabinets from different companies are all different (flat pack, different hinges, seeing the holes for the shelves, whether you could fit a ‘big plate’ into them etc).

Just my experience... as a renter I had two brand new ones kitchens. They all had a loose cupboard door, didn’t shut properly, some small problem or other, constantly. We’d need to tighten screws, get a repairer in - they just seemed not to live up to the rigours of normal family life.

Buying our own hone, we had a John Lewis (dept store, not hungerfords!), kitchen installed. It’s been brilliant - all cupboards open and close properly, never a lose door etc etc. 8 years on it still looks good. Had a free knocks, but I have 4 dc. We are extending our kitchen and can still get the same cabinets installed, which is great!

The maker is Merewsy Kitchens / ypu can buy them direct there. They are not the most cutting edge kitchens, but we have a basic white gloss kitchen, so not too hard to get wrong! In retrospect, I would have gone Matt.

Sorry, typo - rented kitchens were Ikea kitchens

My DH , in his building work, sometimes fits kitchens, uses Howdens as they supply trade, there is a big difference not only in hinges, but in strength of MDF used. Cheapy stuff is false economy, harder to fit, and will not last. Go for a trade kitchen and even in their range the more you pay the sturdier, and better finish.

We had howdens kitchen in previous house and are getting howdens again. Parents howdens kitchen is still going strong after 16 years. Grandparents have had 2 howdens kitchens. I don't work for howdens, just only know good things of them

It’s mainly down to how well they are installed. Unless you have a carpenter making bespoke carcasses, most of them are made by very few suppliers. John Lewis use a range of suppliers - Mereway and some Italian makes come to mind. Round here the contractors John Lewis use for fitting their kitchens also do IKEA kitchens.

We have an IKEA kitchen and it comes with a 25 year guarentee. Looks good as new 4 years after it was fitted but it was fitted by them, not by a ham fisted DIYer. Howdens did my head in because we could never get a clear price out of them, and the idea that they are somehow better quality is ludicrous.

Yes there is a real difference! Cheaper kitchens are made with cheaper materials. At the lower end, you get melamine wrapped MDC and MDF. The more expensive kitchens are made from tulipwood, oak veneer and sometimes birch plywood. It's also thicker, 20 mm Vs 15mm at IKEA.

Having been to see both IKEA and handmade kitchens of Christchurch in consecutive weekends, the difference it's very very stark. The IKEA kitchens felt very flimsy in comparison. But obviously, there is a massive price difference.

Has anyone seen the details of the watchdog investigation into the IKEA guarantee? Something about it being actually impossible to claim on?

Yes there is a difference. My friend and I both had kitchens fitted at the same time. Within a couple of years hers had got wonky drawers and a slightly work look. Mine 10 years on looks exactly the same.
Mine cost 3 times the price.

Ask for the specifications of the carcass. What is it made of and what thickness? Then you can compare like for like. Look at what different companies are offering and see what standard you need/can afford. I got ply cupboards custom made because I have a tiny kitchen so I wanted bespoke to fit what I needed in, and I never wanted to have to do it again!

You can put pretty much put any door on any carcass so prices can be all over the shop with that. Can you work backwards by deciding your budget then choosing the parts that fit that?

When you pay more you get getter cabinets, but the main differences that change the cost are the available colour choices, door types, the finish on the doors, whether you choose all drawers or just cupboards, internal pull out, handles
I agree that you pay your money and take your choice.
I would add that no retailer has a large enough mark up to genuinely be offering a 50% discount as is often advertised by the big sheds. I would further add that the quality of the design makes the most difference and for this I like the independent retailers

YY to carcass thickness and materiel density.

Our kitchen was made by a local kitchen company, 18 mm carcasses, vinyl covered MDF. We chose the middle priced hinges. Looks virtually new 11 years later.

DH is a joiner/kitchen fitter - yes there is a massive difference!!

What they're made of
How thick they are
Whether the carcass is white or matches your doors
Whether they come flat pack or ready built (flat pack are cheaper quality but your joiner will charge you more to fit as they take more time so it's a false economy!)

DH wouldn't touch anywhere like B&Q but Howdens he does a lot of and says they're good but he did say that because they've gotten popular they've eeked their prices up and he doesn't reckon some are worth what they charge iyswim?

He wouldn't have one himself, our new one is coming from a local independent shop.

Ikea aside, most UK kitchens are made to a standard size. Carcases and doors often come from different factories so someone can sell you a "solid wood" kitchen with oak doors on a cheap rubbish carcase.

Not all chipboard carcases are the same and the better ones will have a reinforced edge on the shelves/fronts, choice of colours, a solid back not a wobbly push out one, sturdy feet and use 18mm thick board. So when you visit a showroom, peer inside the cabinets, look at the drawers and take a tape measure! You soon get to spot the difference.

A lot of it is down to installation, even cheap cabinets if they are securely fixed to the wall and each other will last OK if you are not rough with them.

We have a Howdens kitchen and went to adjust the hinges, they are screwed in with a little reinforcing plug as the chipboard is clearly too weak for a normal hinge screw!

I'm now wondering what kitchen company the Housing Association use around here. I've just bought a house from them with a 90's kitchen in and it's still really solid - obviously they are not going to have fitted an expensive kitchen, so I wonder what it is... 🤔.

I can't afford to replace it so it's a good job it's stood the test of time - I'm looking into whether to paint, vinyl wrap or replace the doors (putting new handles on in the process) to make it look more modern and expect it will be fine for quite a while yet.

obviously they are not going to have fitted an expensive kitchen

Maybe not a designer German one, but I wouldn't expect it to be cheap and cheerful as they need them to last.

We have a 25 year old magnet kitchen. It's very strong and sturdy and looks in great condition.

Housing associations often use Magnet Trade or similar I believe - no frills but fairly robust.

We've had two Wickes kitchens. One was in old house, must now be 20 years old, and when it went on Rightmove I couldn't believe it was still in and looked immaculate.

So, Wickes quality excellent in my book, for cupboards - I think where you could make the difference is in worktops/taps etc. to make it look higher end.

I have a B&Q kitchen, fitted about 10 years ago. The drawers no longer fit properly: is there any way these can be fixed?

Yes a carpenter can get new drawer boxes and runners, better ones if you want, and fit them with the original drawer fronts. A tandembox drawer (the steel full extension soft close ones) are about £40 a box but there are less expensive ones too.