Kitchen
Secret #20
How long should
your kitchen lifespan be?
How
long is a piece of string? Very
short according to some people’s version of their previous kitchen.
Some people
are so infuriated about the length of time that their previous kitchen
lasted for; they’re willing to pay a stupid amount for their new kitchen
cabinetry. This,
according to their mindset will make sure that they won’t suffer
from the same tragedy this time.
The problem with
this mindset is that it ignores value. A customer can pay £20,000
for a kitchen and still get value for money. A customer can pay £2,000
for a kitchen and get ‘ripped-off’.
The number one reason
why a customer  doesn’t
receive good value for money is their willingness to make a reactive
decision about most things in their kitchen. The number one reason why
a customer doesn’t receive the quality they are looking for in a kitchen
is that they don’t take the time to search for good value for money.
Quality might
mean the difference between kitchen cabinetry lasting for either 2 or
20 years.
Quality is available
at all pricing levels within the kitchen market. You just have to look
for it. Quality within a fitted kitchen can easily be identified into
two separate areas:
1) All the
materials that are put into a kitchen
2) The way
that the materials are put together
Materials that go
into the kitchen include the kitchen cupboard doors, the carcasses,
the handles, hinges and any product that may aid the snug fit of
the kitchen such as glues, silicon sealants and screws. These are small
yet significant changes that a kitchen company may make in order to
save a little bit of money. If they save just £50 on each kitchen they
fit, in their eyes it would certainly make it worth their while. For
the customer it’s difficult to establish whether the right product and
the right quantity is being used. Just as tricky to establish is the
quality of furniture and appliance fitting.
Ask your kitchen
cabinetry designer about the proposed quality of fitting though. Make
sure that worktops will be scribed together. Make sure that all
new electrical supplies aren’t simply spurs taken from an existing
socket.
This is where it becomes
significant as to whether the kitchen fitters used by the company are
either employed or self-employed. Unfortunately kitchen fitters are often
self-employed as well – contrary to what you might have been told by the
kitchen designer. The major disadvantage to the customer here is the fact
that the kitchen fitter will be paid by the amount of kitchens that he
fits and not the length of time that he works on your kitchen. Although
not rocket science, one of the most significant quality enhancing decisions
that a customer can make is to treat the kitchen cabinetry fitter
very well. Give the kitchen fitter a tip before he starts the work.
Make him a bacon sandwich in the morning. Keep him supplied with a never-ending
cup of coffee. Tell him that you’re looking for the best fitted kitchen
in the world. It’ll be the best investment you’ll have every made.
With regards to
choosing the quality of the product itself, you will be told many stories
by the kitchen designer. Some kitchen companies offer an 18mm carcass,
some are 15mm. A lot of companies make a great deal out of this. The
reality is that it’s more down to the quality of material within that
18mm or 15mm. What’s the point in having a thicker carcass if half of
it is made of air? Pick at the samples of material offered for you to
look at by the kitchen designer. Run your finger along the end of the
material – how good are the joins – how thick is the laminate – how
well is it sealed.
If the quality of
the material is approved by any third party then that’s good – take
their contact details – but don’t rely on them. When reviewing the proposed
quality in your kitchen you really need to rely on yourself.
Be sensible in the
choice of your kitchen. If you do have small children and pets, then
there really should be no misconception that a solid fruit tree wood
kitchen door will look the same in 10 years time. A decent laminate
might. Take your time. Cover all bases. Then your new kitchen cabinetry
will last for as long as you want it to. Perhaps 20 years instead of
2.
|
