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kitchen and bathroom advice needed!
folks, im thinking of moving soon and the new place will probably need a new kitchen and bathroom. now, as im new to this property game i dont know where to start in finding a reputable company to fit the kitchen and bathroom. in your opinion is it better to go with local salesrooms or the larger companies like mfi or dolphin. any advice greatly appreciated.
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Been in the trade for 24 years now and my advice is stay away from the big boys. They talk a good job but the sales person they send has only been on a 1 week course to learn how to sell you what you don't realy need, when things go wrong they don't want to know you.
Stick to a local small to medium size company, ask for addresses of some recent jobs they have done, if they are genuine they will have no objection to this. Get several quotes and never pay large amounts of cash up front. A small company might ask for the material costs up front which is fair. Get everything in writing, agree a time period for the duration of the job and a firm start date. Never ever ever part with the balance due until you are 101% happy.
One last tip is look after your builder (tea etc) but avoid getting over friendly as it is harder to complain to someone you get to friendly with.
PS If you live near Tamworth in staffs I will be happy quote you.
Stick to a local small to medium size company, ask for addresses of some recent jobs they have done, if they are genuine they will have no objection to this. Get several quotes and never pay large amounts of cash up front. A small company might ask for the material costs up front which is fair. Get everything in writing, agree a time period for the duration of the job and a firm start date. Never ever ever part with the balance due until you are 101% happy.
One last tip is look after your builder (tea etc) but avoid getting over friendly as it is harder to complain to someone you get to friendly with.
PS If you live near Tamworth in staffs I will be happy quote you.
I have a brill. specialist bedroom fitter. When he asked to show people his work I was only too happy to oblige.
I would ask around and try to get someone who runs a small team of workers - that they work with,or reliable subbies that they trust!. These have always been the quickest, best finished projects that we have done in our houses.
Expense does not always safeguard the end result with regard to the supplied product or quality of finish. It is always an eye opener to get around some one like Magnet, a local bespoke maker, and a cheaper diy shed. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out what good value a bespoke local guy is incomparison. As an example we were quoted a cheap five grand - 3 for units - two for fitting by local chippie and his lads. The next was just under eleven for a completely handmade, bespoke ( no gaps , filler panels etc) and shockingly the high street ,bog standard - in their sale?!!!!! was the most expensive at almost two grand more. We went for the cheap option at the end of our build budget - tarted with expensive handles sourced from the internet, an ultra expensive eye catching tap ( our local plumbers merchant matched the internet price) used the cages and anti slam catches fron diy sheds and screw fix type places where the scale they sell them on meant savings for us. Everybody is always shocked when I tell them how much ( or little ) it cost. We paid for the units directly, paid for fitting when finished, having completed a snagging list with they guys on the last day.
I would ask around and try to get someone who runs a small team of workers - that they work with,or reliable subbies that they trust!. These have always been the quickest, best finished projects that we have done in our houses.
Expense does not always safeguard the end result with regard to the supplied product or quality of finish. It is always an eye opener to get around some one like Magnet, a local bespoke maker, and a cheaper diy shed. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out what good value a bespoke local guy is incomparison. As an example we were quoted a cheap five grand - 3 for units - two for fitting by local chippie and his lads. The next was just under eleven for a completely handmade, bespoke ( no gaps , filler panels etc) and shockingly the high street ,bog standard - in their sale?!!!!! was the most expensive at almost two grand more. We went for the cheap option at the end of our build budget - tarted with expensive handles sourced from the internet, an ultra expensive eye catching tap ( our local plumbers merchant matched the internet price) used the cages and anti slam catches fron diy sheds and screw fix type places where the scale they sell them on meant savings for us. Everybody is always shocked when I tell them how much ( or little ) it cost. We paid for the units directly, paid for fitting when finished, having completed a snagging list with they guys on the last day.
thanks guys for all your advice. i live in london johnnyedge so i dont think youd fancy the commute from tamworth! just wondered if you could give me a rough idea of costs. my bathroom will be 7x6 foot, we want a new plain suite, tiling and a shower installed. i know it cant be specific but any ball park figures for how much you reckon it will cost would be a great help! thanks in advane.
We live just to the West of London.
http://www.pimlicoplumbers.com/
A mate used these guys - have a read and see how you feel.
http://www.firedearth.com/47_202.htm at the Adderbury head office they used to have an end of range, ex display and seconds section open to the public at very resonable prices ( I have just phoned to check and it's still there! ) So if you ever go to Bicester Village to shop it is a smallish detour while you are out that way.
For an upmarket look you can use a lower budget white tile with an upmarket border. Haggle for a job lot at your dicount tile store managers special etc. Remind them if these cheap tiles are out of their way -they can put something flasher in the floorspace if you take the lot - put the spares under the bath, If you redesign or damage a tile spares to hand without an expensive complete re tile!
Unless you have a plumber in the family do not go for cheap taps - false economy in my view. Find what you want on the internet then go to plumbers merchant locally to see if they can match price for similar or better quality. Look at thickness of bath CAREFULLY some are shockingly thin and would flex too much imho. If you tile yourself fill bath with water before mastic-ing edge of bath and tiles, avoids that split look.We pay 200 quid a day for our tiler he works 9 til 6 is fast and acurate - as a guide to compare. Hope this gives you a few ideas. Buy a copy of the ' Money Pit' as you may need a laugh mid projects!!!!!
http://www.pimlicoplumbers.com/
A mate used these guys - have a read and see how you feel.
http://www.firedearth.com/47_202.htm at the Adderbury head office they used to have an end of range, ex display and seconds section open to the public at very resonable prices ( I have just phoned to check and it's still there! ) So if you ever go to Bicester Village to shop it is a smallish detour while you are out that way.
For an upmarket look you can use a lower budget white tile with an upmarket border. Haggle for a job lot at your dicount tile store managers special etc. Remind them if these cheap tiles are out of their way -they can put something flasher in the floorspace if you take the lot - put the spares under the bath, If you redesign or damage a tile spares to hand without an expensive complete re tile!
Unless you have a plumber in the family do not go for cheap taps - false economy in my view. Find what you want on the internet then go to plumbers merchant locally to see if they can match price for similar or better quality. Look at thickness of bath CAREFULLY some are shockingly thin and would flex too much imho. If you tile yourself fill bath with water before mastic-ing edge of bath and tiles, avoids that split look.We pay 200 quid a day for our tiler he works 9 til 6 is fast and acurate - as a guide to compare. Hope this gives you a few ideas. Buy a copy of the ' Money Pit' as you may need a laugh mid projects!!!!!
Hi loulou06,
London is fine but its a little far to travel home for dinner.
B and Q do some decent gear now, should be able to get your materials for about �700 to �800. Labour for a simple re fit should be about �1200 inc Tiling. Remember you will need to get a qualified electrician to wire the shower due to the new regulations.
Happy hunting.
London is fine but its a little far to travel home for dinner.
B and Q do some decent gear now, should be able to get your materials for about �700 to �800. Labour for a simple re fit should be about �1200 inc Tiling. Remember you will need to get a qualified electrician to wire the shower due to the new regulations.
Happy hunting.
Yes i second johnny. Get you kitchen from a decent company but don't pay for fitting. They just sub it out and take a big chunk of the money for themselves. Find a good chippy and get him to recomend a plumber/gasman/electrician as there is nothing worse than fitting a kitchen when a customer want's to use the people they know. It ends up with poor communication and sockets ect being placed in wrong places and heights(Thats if you have your sparky in before the fitter).
Johnny will probibly agree but mfi units arnt good really. They haven't changed for 15 years or so. Bit tacky
B&Q for a budget medium quallity kitchen.
Magnet are more expensive but do some very good quality kitchens.
Whatever you do don't have black gloss worktops.
If you want give me an email and I will send you some pictures of a few of our magnet and B&Q jobs.
[email protected]
Johnny will probibly agree but mfi units arnt good really. They haven't changed for 15 years or so. Bit tacky
B&Q for a budget medium quallity kitchen.
Magnet are more expensive but do some very good quality kitchens.
Whatever you do don't have black gloss worktops.
If you want give me an email and I will send you some pictures of a few of our magnet and B&Q jobs.
[email protected]
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