Scratches in brand new kitchen doors

[kitchenissues]

In the process of having my kitchen changed. Yesterday I noticed whilst having a good look scratches in a lot of the doors. Now I'm not sure if I'm being too much of a perfectionist and just accept it or if I should stand my ground with this which I'm leaning towards. When I showed kitchen fitters this morning they said they didn't realise and I heard them say they wouldn't even notice them (maybe I wouldn't if I wasn't the one paying thousands). They said they will probably rub off. They are scratches, the paint has come off in places, of course I tried to clean/rub them myself when I noticed them. The only one they have actually acknowledged it the first one. Any advice? Am I being unreasonable? I hate confrontation but I'm spending a lot of money here.

I overheard them yesterday talking about a women who had her kitchen done a few weeks ago and has just complained about some scratches, they said she was a bit of a PITA. I'm thinking she got the same style of door as me. Pics attached.

One of the owners from the shop came whilst I was working upstairs and she didn't think there was much of a problem either. The main owner hadn't seen them in person yet. It's making me so stressed and anxious having to be confrontational.

So it's now the finish of the door that's the problem apparently.

I have matt paint on some walls- its a nightmare getting scuffs and marks. Looks very similar to your damage, and id be worried about how these will fare over time with use. Do they not seal the paint? ( eg i have clear matt ronseal over a Matt painted item of furniture and its great protection and resistant to marks but still looks matt)

They're pretty obvious for me. My kitchen has been in for 4 months now and I don't have anything that even resembles a scratch! I'd be kicking off.

It also appears as though the paint is already coming off... Not a good sign. Generally speaking, the paint shouldn't be 'matt'. Wooden doors should be covered in an eggshell of some sort (is my understanding), even an eggshell with a lower sheen.

You're not being unreasonable- it's a new kitchen! When I got my last kitchen, it came with a paint matched touch up kit for just these issues. Ask them to fix it.

I would be fuming if those were mine!!! It's hard to confront people sometimes but you don't need to be aggressive about it - just be factual. And at the end of the day, who cares if they think you're a PITA, they're not working for you from the goodness of their hearts, you're paying them for a job! Would they install those doors in their own house?

They seem to think these will rub off, I don't know how but we'll see
Do not try to do any remedial work yourself because then they can blame your attempts at rectification. This is their problem to sort out, leave it to them.

Just want to say to make sure they are actually scratches and not a thin transparent membrane protecting the brand new doors/cabinets etc that come with the new kitchen. I had a brand new fridge-freezer delivered last year and on close inspection I noted some "scratches" on the doors and elsewhere. I was asking to be returned and waited for the kitchen fitter to arrive the next morning to ask him to do it. To my embarrassment, he proceeded to peel the entire membrane off the unit which I didn't know was there and asked me, "What's the problem?"

Did they warn you when purchasing that this finish was not very durable? They can’t just say it’s a problem with this type of door!

I find this very odd

in a quality kitchen, each door comes in its own sealed cardboard wapper, and has a sort of thick tissue paper to protect the surface.

Are any of your doors still wrapped?

I wonder if some oaf unwrapped them all and stacked them in a pile?

btw the shopowner will lose money if she has to supply new ones (unless the maker is at fault) so will naturally try to minimise your concerns.

Op, if they think they will rub off then ask them to do it. Don’t you try it as they can say you damaged them

But I’d be concerned yes, if they scratch easily then they will be very damaged quickly. It looks to me like the paint isn’t protected. So it’s just scratching off.

Op is it a new kitchen or have you just had the doors repainted?

Firstly, any finish should be fit for purpose and not be damaged during expected use, storage or installation. So the damage has been caused either by lack of care during installation or storage, or, because the finish is not fit for purpose. Either way these should be repaired or replaced at no cost to yourself.

Take care to photograph and document the damage as soon as you see it, including dates, fitters names, location etc. If you can save documents as pdf.

Inform whomever your contract is with that you have noticed damage and ask them when, not if, they are going to repair or replace. Then take it from there, you wouldn't accept a brand new car to be damaged and shouldn't with a kitchen either.

There's no way I would accept that.

I would not be happy with doors that a) were that marked at installation; and b) mark that easily full stop.

That first picture doesn't look like it will buff out - that looks like a gouge in the surface. The fact that you've overhead the other conversation makes it sound like a product issue to me. I would not want to spend all that money on something that's going to be so easily damaged. There's clearly an issue with them if they have no longevity and I would be asking for replacement doors with a different, more longlasting finish if that's what they're like.

OP, have you paid already? I'm surprised by how little durability the paint on the units have. They don't look like they've been protected at all.

I've just had another look at the photos. If that was my old kitchen I'd want to replace it if it was that damaged, let alone buying it like that.

They could replace them , or they could get a specialist to retouch them such as " Plastic Surgeon". They do a really good job so that you cant tell there was any damage.

Absolutely do not pay until you are happy. Once you have paid there is little incentive for them to sort it out.

I'm not a perfectionist and I would not be paying for them. You have spent a lot of money on a new kitchen and it should be perfect. They are all significant scratches. Stand your ground and don't pay a penny more until it's put right and you've checked it thoroughly. Even if they think you're difficult (you're not) you will never have to see them again but will be looking at this kitchen every day.

@kitchenissues Did this get resolved?