Are Ikea kitchens that difficult to fit?

[wufti]

Just that really, had a quote from a recommended kitchen fitter, with extra cost to fit Ikea kitchen and detailing lots of reasons why it is trickier. And that is after I had said I would build the cabinets up. He doesn’t want to fit Ikea, does he?

It sounds as though he's already explained why Ikea kitchens cost more to fit than others? From my own experience, the Ikea cabinets I've fitted didn't have a "Service Gap" at the back. This meant (in my case) I had to modify every single unit to allow the run for a washing machine drain. Most (if not all) of the other high-street kitchen cabinets would not have needed this modification and hence would have been considerably quicker to fit. Time is money.

I’ve put in two Ikea kitchens along with DH and my dad. My dad was a bit apprehensive at first, but couldn’t believe how well it all went together.
I’d look for another fitter if I were you.

Assembling the units is the easy bit though. Are the reasons he's given reasonable, or not? Do you know exactly where your pipes etc are now? If not his quote needs to cover the risk on the unseen bits.

If it's the lack of service void that's the problem, you might be able to bypass some of it by pulling the units forward a bit. Then you'd need a deeper worktop though, which might add complication and/or cost.

no washing machine, pipes for sink are in the correct position and channelled into wall, kitchen been rewired with electrics lined up for integrated fridge, freezer and oven. will need to re-site the waste water pipe but fitter not doing any electrics or plumbing

i did mine, alone, if you do not count the help of a dog, and a three year old who sorted out all the screws and was in charge of the allen key and screwdriver.

just an average diy-er

From your last post, he hasn’t anything to complain about. It should be totally straight forward.