Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Anyone getting a new kitchen fitted at the moment?

116 replies

Howmanysleepsnow · 19/10/2019 09:52

I feel like I need a support thread! This is waaaay more stressful than expected. We were told to expect a week: units out Monday, floor down Tuesday, radiator moved Wednesday morning and electrics done that afternoon, units in Thursday and Friday. The radiator took all of Wednesday and Thursday. The joiner quit as the units were being delivered on Thursday. New one couldn’t start until Friday. One week in and all we have is a floor, a radiator and some wires hanging out of walls.
We’ve stupidly packed away everything except cups and kettle, and are living off prepackaged food and takeaway. I’m craving vegetables! There’s stuff stored in all but one room, which is ridiculously cramped, especially because dh is reeeaaaalllly stressed by all of it!
Can anyone see a light at the end of the tunnel?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
Raaraaboonah · 25/10/2019 19:41

We’re having floor taken up, under floor heating down and then tile on top. But it’s a big area so we’ve allowed lots of time in case any bit of it is a nightmare. Hopefully it will be quicker! 🤞

Wendy38 · 25/10/2019 19:49

My kitchen has just been finished took 6 weeks

Howmanysleepsnow · 25/10/2019 20:27

@Raaraaboonah. Ah, ok. I have no idea how long underfloor heating takes! We had ours taken up in the morning and the floor screed to level it. Next day he tiled in the morning, grouted in the afternoon. It was by far the smoothest part of the experience so far! (Our kitchen is only 4x4 though!)

OP posts:
Howmanysleepsnow · 25/10/2019 20:28

@Wendy38 that was the last thing I needed to hear! I’m not exactly an extrovert and don’t cope well with workmen for 11 hours a day... I need my space back!

OP posts:
SunshineAngel · 25/10/2019 20:37

I feel your pain, 100%. When we were getting ours done, my partner's brother said he would do it, which we were thrilled at.

In Feb, we ordered the kitchen to be delivered for mid-March, then he told us to get the kitchen completely ripped out and cleared (we had to do that, even though we said we would pay him to do everything, like he would for any other customer).

He said he could start the Monday after it had been delivered (was delivered on a Thursday).

For the first week he was coming and going doing electrics and gas and things like that, which was okay. Bear in mind we had NO means of cooking apart from a microwave, and no sink downstairs.

After that, he disappeared for about a month. We heard nothing more from him (after he ignored texts and calls) for five weeks.

After this, there was a MASSIVE bust up because he finally picked up the phone and my partner had a go at him saying he couldn't just leave us without a kitchen for this long.

He said he was sorry - he'd been busy - but would start coming next week.

Anyway. He started coming, but would come for like 2hrs a day, not starting until mid afternoon despite saying he would be there from 10am each day. Sometimes not turning up at all despite saying he would.

Mid March we ripped out the kitchen. It finally got finished in early August. So that was almost 5 months without having a way to cook proper food. It cost us a fortune in takeaways, meals out, microwave meals. We all put on weight, and now I feel horrible.

It still isn't truly finished. He hasn't finished the plug sockets, and needs to fill the ceiling around the lights. But at least we can use it now.

He had the cheek to text the other day asking why we were getting someone else to do the bathroom instead of using him! Erm, because we want it done before next summer, mainly!

Thecatisboss · 25/10/2019 21:04

This was our kitchen last week - floor now fitted but not yet got a photo of that. Hopeful by end of next week the kitchen will be finished and we can get the doors fitted.

Anyone getting a new kitchen fitted at the moment?
Howmanysleepsnow · 25/10/2019 21:09

@Thecatisboss that looks amazing!

OP posts:
Howmanysleepsnow · 25/10/2019 21:12

@SunshineAngel I’ve managed to lose 3lb in the last 2 weeks. Takeaway has become so unappealing I’ve found myself skipping meals or eating just a bit of what the dc leave. Plus no fridge = no grazing. So I suppose that’s a positive...

OP posts:
Thecatisboss · 25/10/2019 21:31

@Howmanysleepsnow I wouldn't like to go through this again though. I can agree with you we're tired of workmen being round and want the house back now!

Howmanysleepsnow · 26/10/2019 07:51

@Thecatisboss DH just suggested getting the bathroom done next. I can’t even start to think about any more jobs on the house, ever! Can you tell it’s been me that’s had to supervise, not him?
Fingers crossed we’re both finished by the end of next week!

OP posts:
Howmanysleepsnow · 26/10/2019 12:12

Aaaarrggghhh!
Our second fitter has just walked out. He seemed stressed by some drawers. I asked if he was ok, or if they were difficult. He said the drawers are simple, but that he can’t do things that used to be straightforward at the moment as his head isn’t in the right place. He stood up, said he’d be back for his tools and it was up to us how much we want to pay him. Then left, saying he’s taking some time off!
What the hell am I meant to do now???
How hard is it to fit a kitchen? I’m thinking about trying...

OP posts:
666onmyhead · 26/10/2019 12:44

@Howmanysleepsnow where abouts are you ? Ie Kent, Sussex ', Yorkshire etc ? Maybe someone can recommend a fitter if we know where you are ?!

Isohungy · 26/10/2019 14:01

We've just hit the 5 week mark. On the face of it it looks like a kitchen, but all doors need adjusting, some still don't have handles, sockets missing, wall sanding and touching up needed, plinths and boxing in.. light fittings and skirtings still needed, and our backsplash still needs tiling too. 😭

We've been able to cook for a week and thank god for gousto because all my cooking mojo or enjoyment of food has left me. I no longer seem to fancy anything.

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 26/10/2019 14:17

@Howmanysleepsnow if you have a local branch of Howdens they usually have a board with local tradesmen

SpookilyBadOooooooh · 26/10/2019 14:35

@Howmanysleepsnow oh no, definitely not what you needed!

I feel sorry for him though, he must be in a bad way, poor bugger 😢

You could ask him if he knows anyone that
Might finish it off for you

I don’t think it’s actually that difficult if you take it slowly and are fairly practical, YouTube is your friend - but the thing is having the tools to do it and the time.

SpookilyBadOooooooh · 26/10/2019 14:35

@Thecatisboss where did your cat buy your kitchen?

Thecatisboss · 26/10/2019 14:52

@SpookilyBadOooooooh local place called White Rose Interiors - we're in Yorkshire whiteroseinteriors.co.uk/

Would recommend their kitchen fitters too as they were very good

Thecatisboss · 26/10/2019 14:57

@Howmanysleepsnow on no that's terrible!

peachesforfree · 26/10/2019 14:59

4 months and counting!!! It’s so stressful. Good luck x

MaisyMary77 · 26/10/2019 15:01

Ours was completed recently. Took 9 weeks altogether. It was a pretty big job-new ceiling in the old part of the kitchen, (old ceiling fell down on the first day of works 😱) electrics and new radiators as well, and 50m2 of new flooring. Did feel like banging my head against a wall towards the end as the fitter was coming only twice a week. He still hasn’t completed the trim around some cabinets. Am fed up of chasing him.

Anyone getting a new kitchen fitted at the moment?
Anyone getting a new kitchen fitted at the moment?
Anyone getting a new kitchen fitted at the moment?
Howmanysleepsnow · 26/10/2019 15:44

I think I might try to finish it myself. I don’t seem able to keep a joiner/ fitter! And definitely would struggle to trust one right now.

OP posts:
Howmanysleepsnow · 26/10/2019 15:47

Plus I’m not sure I could afford to pay someone else. First one had a 50% advance, second one will probably want similar for a half fitted kitchen and on top of that I’m having to pay the same again to a third man to fit worktops. So 150% of fitting costs for a kitchen that’s 50% done...

OP posts:
itwaseverthus · 26/10/2019 17:02

@Howmanysleepsnow your fitter sounds awfully like the guy I have just suffered for five weeks. Told him to get it all completed yesterday or don't come back. When I got home at 4pm he was gone, everything looked finished. Went to load dishwasher and the door came off in my hand...

I can't even begin to tell you the hassle we've had. End panels destroyed, refusing to build the internal drawers of pantry, no clue how to box in the fridge freezer and just generally making like the Scarlett Pimpernell after two hours of arriving.

TiddleTaddleTat · 26/10/2019 17:09

@MaisyMary77 your kitchen is fabulous! Do you mind telling me where you got the kitchen from? I really like the style and the space looks very practical

bigbluebus · 26/10/2019 17:34

Crikey. When i had my kitchen fitted (14years ago now) the joiner quoted for 5 days work and finished it in 3 1/2 - including electrical work which Sparky came in and did plus moving sink slightly ( joiner did pipework for that).Tiling still had to be done by someone else but we had a functioning kitchen. Was considering a revamp as my Range cooker is starting to be problematic and thought I'd go for hob and separate ovens this time but reading this is putting me off!

This year we've had 2 bathrooms revamped consecutively along with some walls blocked off/doors moved and it was all done in 3 weeks.

Swipe left for the next trending thread