Just Had A New Kitchen Fitted By B&Q

[renegadefm]

Just had our kitchen completed by B&Q, well when I say completed there is one major issue outstanding.

 

When the fitter was doing his finishing touches, he says to my partner, are you going to paint the walls before I put the cooker and fridge back in?

 

To which my partner replies, what do you mean, are you not going to paint the walls for us?

He replies it's not in the plan, so to my partners horror she storms into our B&Q, and asks what's going on, we even picked out the paint when we did the plan.

 

How do we now prove otherwise?

 

And is it normal to have an establishment like B&Q to do your kitchen, but leave the painting to the customer?

 

This is outrageous to me. 

[Buenchico]

>>> is it normal to have an establishment like B&Q to do your kitchen, but leave the painting to the customer?

Almost certainly, in my opinion.  It would never even occur to me to expect kitchen fitters to do any painting.  They're completely separate skill sets!

[jno]

I would have thought so, B&Q are usually suppliers and often fitters but not normally decorators.

[wolf63]

I got a Wickes kitchen installed a few months back.  Paint was never mentioned.  They installed splashbacks (? I think that is what they are called) behind every unit.

 

[snags]

Once the cooker was reinstalled I hope they cooked you dinner.

[renegadefm]

I think we been a bit nieve, we admit that both my partner and I thought if your spending like 13 k on a kitchen, you expect not to have to lift a finger towards it. 

Its mainly why we chose something like B&Q so we didn't have the worry of painting.

 

But my point is as far as we remember we included the painting of walls in the plan, and even picked out the paint colour. 

 

I just can't believe how they assume after spending 13 thousand on the kitchen, we now risk getting splatters of paint on the brand new cabinets and work tops etc. Surely that affects the guarantee. 

 

Admitted this is the first time we ever had professionals to build a new kitchen for us. Had a mate last time but that was 30 years ago, and he painted the walls for us. 

[barry1010]

I would not expect the walls to be painted by B&Q.

I would expect them to do the tiling if I had ordered and paid for tiles and tiling.

[newmodarmy]

Just go back and check the plan. I'd be amazed if the plan included the fitter painting your kitchen

[barry1010]

B&Q don't employ fitters, they subcontract the work to local tradespeople.

[Boto]

I wouldn't even think that B&Q would do the painting.

[DDIL]

Good Morning, 

If you picked the paint during the planning stage a note of it would have been included in the plans, have you checked the plans?

"But my point is as far as we remember we included the painting of walls in the plan, and even picked out the paint colour. "

You do not seem 100 percent, I would check the plans and your receipt and see what you have actually paid for.

[The Builder]

Kitchen planners are sales people - nothing more. They are 'trained' to accentuate the positives. They'll only go into colour schemes with you to keep you happy. They should point out to you that decorating is never included.

They are not programmed to mention anything that's not  included though for fear of seeming negative.  

I'm glad that you've got the kitchen you want. There's usually something 'missing' at the end though. At least you were spared that. 🙄

[renegadefm]

Yeah as I said I think in hindsight we have been incredibly nieve with entering this venture.

 

We have had zero experience with having an establishment like B&Q to do our kitchen and bathroom.

 

We didn't have the issue with painting in the bathroom as the tiles are from floor to ceiling. 

 

Foolish now I know, but we just assumed when your having a company like B&Q everything would be taken care of from start to finish.

 

We didn't think we would be painting the walls for several reasons, like some people might be too disabled to physically do it, or are incompetent of painting. Plus we thought the guarantee could be affected if we get paint on the new cabinets etc. 

 

We are actual dreading painting the walls that we might hire a decorator, but it's just added expense, when we feel we spent a lot already. 

 

You would think B&Q would at least include the painting at a little extra cost, there must be decorators they could hire for this.

 

Or what if your just too old to do the painting, what happens in those situations which must be quite common? 

[renegadefm]

I think also the walls should have been painted before the cabinets were fitted as it would save getting paint on them afterwards. 

[pastafreak]

Most people, if they feel unable to paint a room for whatever reason, budget to have it done...which seems to be what you will need to do. 

[barry1010]

If you don't know, you don't know to ask.

I can imagine how disappointed you are. 

If your walls are in good condition, have a go at painting them yourselves. Cover the worktops, use masking tape where necessary; get good quality paint, brushes and rollers and you might be surprised 

[renegadefm]

barry1010, 

 

Thanks Barry, we will give it a go, it's just awkward at the moment with Dad in hospital, we have no time to ourselves juggling work schedules etc. 

 

I wish I knew then what I know now, as we could have painted the walls after the fitter plastered them. 

 

See that's the funny thing, he gave the walls a skim of plaster to make them even before attaching cabinets and work tops. We could have just painted them then once the plaster had dried, but neither of us including the fitter mentioned it, rather foolishly in hindsight I feel. 

 

We could have done it in one evening after he gone home, probably done the whole kitchen walls in one evening. 

 

OK I know our fault as much as anyones, but you'd think the fitter would have said, oh by the way, would you like the paint the walls before I fix any furnishings? It would have made life so much easier.

 

Oh well we live and learn. 

 

Thanks to everyone who has commented.