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Why you should never buy a cheap kitchen

Most of us have a tight budget when we need a new kitchen. There’s a strong temptation to choose a cheap kitchen, but that’s a false economy. There’s an old saying “buy cheap, buy twice”, and that’s certainly true of a cheap kitchen.

Budget to avoid a cheap kitchen
Suppose you have a budget of £15,000 for a decent sized, 20 unit kitchen, including worktops, appliances & fitting.  That should be enough to get something decent. However,  too many people have the wrong priorities. More often than not, people will prioritise buying expensive granite or quartz worktops for £3,000 & expensive Neff, AEG or Siemens appliances for £5,000.  Then, once they’ve added in the cost of fitting, they’ll only be left with about £5,000 for the units. If you shop around for long enough, you might be able to find 20 units for £5,000. However, it’s unlikely that these will last much longer than 3 or 4 years before they need replacing. If you want 20 good quality units that are built to last, about £8,000 would be a more realistic cost.

The problem is, the units are the kitchen’s foundations. The units support the weight of the worktops & most of the appliances. Just as skimping on a building’s foundations is disastrous, skimping on the units is also disastrous.

What’s wrong with a cheap kitchen?
Not all kitchen units are alike. If you buy a cheap kitchen, you’ll get thin 3mm backs, which will soon start to bow under the weight of the worktops & appliances. This contrasts with quality kitchen units. Quality kitchen units will have solid 18mm thick backs that will never bow under the weight of the worktops & appliances.

Similarly, a cheap kitchen will come with low-quality foil, vinyl, pet or PVC wrapped type doors. The problem with these is it won’t be long before they start to peel. In contrast, a good quality kitchen will come with high quality painted/lacquered doors that will never peel.

As a result, you’ll probably have to replace the units within 5 years. Plus, the expensive granite or quartz worktops you paid £3,000 for just a few years ago will also probably need replacing. This is because granite & quartz worktops usually crack when it’s removed from the units. You’ll also have to pay to have the kitchen re-fitted again.  This is why buying cheap, low quality units is usually a false economy.

When it’s OK to buy a cheap kitchen
If you’re a landlord buying a kitchen for a cheap rental property, you’ll probably have to replace it within a few years, anyway. Therefore, buying a a cheap kitchen can make sense. However, if you’re looking for a kitchen for your own home & want something that’s going to last, buying a cheap kitchen is usually a false economy.

How to get a cheap kitchen that’s built to last
On the other hand, it is possible to find cheap kitchens that are cheap in price but not cheap in terms of quality. Unfortunately, you won’t find these in chain stores like Wickes, Magnet & Wren or trade suppliers like Howdens or Benchmarx. You’ll only find these in independent showrooms like ours. The problem is finding these showrooms. However, this is where we come in.

Why are our units higher quality than the chains & trade-only suppliers?

The type of doors used:
Our doors are mostly the high quality painted/lacquered type. In contrast, the chains & trade-only suppliers mainly sell the low-quality foil, PVC & vinyl wrapped types. The problem with the wrapped types is they peel.

The quality of the chipboard used:
Our units are constructed using high density chipboard. High density chipboard will support the weight of the heaviest worktops & will never bow.

In contrast, the chains & trade-only suppliers tend to use cheaper, low density chipboard. The problem with low density chipboard is it bows under the weight of the worktops. The first signs of bowing is usually seen on the backs of the units. Once the backs start to bow, it isn’t usually long before they come away completely, exposing the wall & any pipework behind.

The type of edging used:
Our units feature impact resistant PVC or ABS edging. The purpose of the edging is to protect the delicate front edges from chips & damage & prevent any water ingress. In contrast, the chains & trade-only suppliers tend to use standard melamine edging which offers little or no protection.

How can a small showroom be better value than the chains?

Because we have lower overheads. Unlike the chains, we don’t have large superstores or costly TV adverts to pay for. Therefore, we can afford to offer higher quality kitchens than the chains, for a similar price.

Surely the chains will be cheaper if their units are in the sale?
No – because their sales are fake. The chains try to mislead consumers into thinking they’re getting a bargain by inflating their prices & then offering 50% off. They then try and pressurise people into putting down a deposit by telling them their sale ends in the next few days.

Isn’t the cheapest way to buy a kitchen via a builder?
No – because their discounts are also fake. Builders will tell you they’ll save you a fortune because of the 80% discounts they get from trade-only suppliers. However, this is the same sales trick the chains use. Trade-only suppliers hike up their prices so builders can then tell consumers they get 80% off. Again, this is designed to mislead people into thinking they’re getting a bargain.

In reality, the prices builders quote for kitchens is usually similar to the chains.

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