Issue with hob been placed hard against splashback

[Pandora2011]

We are in the process of getting a kitchen installed. The fitter was unable to get the hob any further forward due to the hob and oven not being compatible with Zenith thin solid laminate worktop. We have contacted Homebase where we purchased it and they have suggested we place a heat resistant glass or steel panel above hob as a precaution. However we are not happy as there is no clearance between the hob and splashback and doesn’t meet regulations. On the zenith website it states that the worktop is compatible with all single ovens and hobs. I wondered if anyone else has had similar issues and where to go from here. I have attached some pics

More options:

Could he not just tinker with the oven housing to drop the height by a little bit and put a strip above it?

If the 'ridge' is just a support bracket it could be removed with an angle grinder.

It’s a thin solid laminate worktop and he has said it’s been a nightmare to fit

Yeah, it's plywood with plastic coating on. Normally laminate is chipboard inside so it's probably a bit bendy but why is it a nightmare?

These are helpful suggestions thank you. I am going to get a second opinion and will see if any of these options are a possibility when he comes back on Monday. Stress... 😞

I am going to get a second opinion and will see if any of these options are a possibility when he comes back on Monday.

I can't see another fitter will want to come and look at someone else's job. Opinions from homebase are likely to be of limited use.

Apologies, I was wrong about zenith; seems it's solid plastic, so I can see why it might be a pain.

I'm presuming it's come in 60cm wide runs? Standard cabinets are 54cm deep so a worktop might typically be 56cm deep. The extra 4cm is to allow for stuff like this.

So the question is: he buys another worktop, is 60cm enough width to fit the hob in normally? It really should be.

If not you can buy a 100cm width and cut it down to say 70cm but be careful to check it won't look silly.

If homebase don't have the wide stuff use worktop express.

Can you post a pic with the front of the oven? Is it a particularly tall single oven?

We had a slightly similar issue fitting our hob over a cutlery drawer with a thin worktop, and it was 25mm or 28mm so probably thicker than your Zenith. The difference is our fitter mentioned it as a potential issue early on, told me to check the depth of the hob when buying and warned me that there might not be clearance for a functional drawer underneath (there was).

Once the worktop is cut you're a bit buggered really. My guess is it is the fitter's error and their insurance will cover replacing the worktop, but you might end up having to stump up for a different oven.

Yes I can imagine most wouldn’t, but my cousin has a joinery business not local to me but could possibly may have a solution that ours hasn’t thought of. Worth a try anyway..

I'm confused by the oven ridge. A picture would help

Surely this is purely a fitter issue. Only. He sounds questionable. I too don't know how you are going to get a second opinion but you mustn't settle for this.

Maybe over the weekend, put your concerns in writing, view a text to him, to at least have some sort of written evidence, paper trail of your concerns.

stages video

Even this one said gas should be 50 to 130 mm from the back wall.

How on earth can you use a pan on the back burners? Isn't there supposed to be a 50mm gap at the back to meet the regs for a gas hob? It is part of the heat zone.

He should never have fitted it and should have come to you first to work out what you wanted to do.

Zoom call your cousin so they can see what has happened.

He must have realised when he was measuring that there was an issue and he should have highlighted it with you before he cut the hole.

It would have been much more sensible to adjust the oven housing to allow the oven to sit lower down, a bit more work though.

It would only be Homebase's issue if they had said the three items, i.e. oven, slim worktop and hob will work when fitted together, (as not every oven is mounted under a hob) or if Homebase had provided the design service.

That is definitely not right, how many kitchens has this guy fitted? No way could upstand be fitted & safe. Pleased you haven’t paid him, make sure you don’t until you are completely happy.

Minimum of 5cm from the wall for regulations I think, google Hot Zone for hobs OP, I can’t believe a professional fitter would fit a gas hob like that.

The key question is did Homebase offer a kitchen design service? If so they are responsible because they shouldn’t have sold you this oven and worktop together. Their designer is a paid professional and should know that you can’t fit an oven under a thin worktop. The manufacturer’s instructions for the oven will state the minimum thickness of worktop required. Basically they have designed and sold a kitchen that doesn’t work.

Yes the fitter should have realised this was an issue and contacted you before he cut the worktop. But the fact is, this combo was never going to work no matter what he did. It was impossible for him to install the oven under this particular worktop because it’s too thin.

I’d complain to Homebase that they’ve sold you a worktop that’s not fit for purpose (the purpose being to accommodate the oven they also sold you). I’d ask them to replace the worktop. Not just this section because then it won’t match - I’d expect the full kitchen the be replaced with a thicker worktop of at least 30mm.

Of course, if Homebase didn’t design the kitchen or didn’t sell you the oven, you don’t have a leg to stand on.

Yes they did design the kitchen. I’ve spoke to the designer who said she doesn’t understand why it won’t fit but if that’s the only way the fitters can get it to go then all she can suggest is a panel sitting on top of hob to protect splashback. She said she’s not a fitter and wouldn’t know. 😫

Is he a kitchen fitter or a joiner?

A joiner who has fitted many kitchens and came recommended locally and a gas registered engineer

She said she’s not a fitter and wouldn’t know
It’s her job to know! She has sold you an incompatible oven and worktop and she needs to take responsibility for rectifying her mistake. Homebase will have to replace the worktop with one that’s compatible with the oven.

What make and model is the oven? Have a look at the manual and see what’s specified as the minimum thickness of worktop. The kitchen designer should have checked this info before selling you the oven.

Go back to Homebase and tell them it’s impossible to fit the oven under this worktop in a manner that complies with the manufacturer’s warranty and safety information. Insist that they replace the incompatible worktop with a compatible one.

I think get the fitter to call the designer. Stop getting caught in the middle. It's a bit hard to know from your or our POV if a) it actually is impossible to fit that combo of hob, oven and worktop or b) it is possible but he has failed to do it

bodgit and scarper the kitchen fitter - our gas hob is also a bit far back although the rear burners are usable. The quote about thin laminate worktops being a nightmare to fit rings a bell, they are a bit shit but that doesn't stop them being sold.

someone needs to pay for a new worktop and a compatible design. While the fitter isn't the designer, it should have been obvious that this wasn't going to work and he should have flagged it up. Don't pay.

BTW unless you have a REALLY wide worktop, the only compatible splashback for gas is tiles - glass and panels would be too close to the flame. Fortunately tiles are cheaper and much more long lasting.

I don’t see what the fitter can do though. Even if he replaces the worktop like for like, it will still be impossible for him or anyone else to fit an oven underneath it. The fault lies with Homebase who have sold an incompatible kitchen package.

He said it would not have been a problem with a standard worktop.I agree I feel like I’ve been sold an incompatible product but I do think it should not have been fitted and I may have problems now trying to get Homebase to replace

it will still be impossible for him or anyone else to fit an oven underneath

I think this is still to be determined. Often a single oven is shorter than a cupboard unit so should fit under anything with the blanking panel at the top. I imagine we are assuming this is a taller single oven with no space for a panel but at the moment it's an assumption that it's totally impossible, not hard fact.

docs.indesit.eu/_doc/400011387270EN.pdf
The hob is an Indesit ING61T/BKUK and the product manual is linked above. Look at page 5 which is titled Installation. It says “This product can be embedded in a worktop 20-60mm thick”.

OP’s worktop is a 12.5mm Zenith so it’s impossible to install the hob in that worktop. The kitchen designer should have checked this and shouldn’t have sold those two products as compatible.

Note also the right hand diagram under the title Dimensions and Distances To Be Maintained. It clearly shows the minimum distance between hob and wall is 50mm. If this isn’t complied with then the manufacturer’s warranty will be invalidated.

OP I recommend you go back to Homebase, show them the manual and explain the worktop is incompatible with the hob. Tell them they’ve sold you a worktop that’s not fit for purpose and you’d like a replacement that is compatible with your hob.

Thank you so much for this. This is really helpful. The shall talk to the kitchen designer tommorow and make her aware of this. I will also talk to the joiner to discuss our options