5 Signs it’s time for a New Kitchen

Not sure if it’s time to think about getting a new kitchen? Do you think you could get away with a fresh lick of paint rather than a full refit? Take a look at our top five signs it’s time for a new kitchen to help you figure out where you stand.

Chopping boards are a thing of the past

Remember how nervous you used to be about scratching your work surfaces? If you’ve become so used to the chips and scratches that the thought of chopping vegetables straight on the worktop doesn’t faze you, it’s probably time for an upgrade…

There’s always a problem

If barely a week goes by without the washing machine leaking or the microwave going kaput, you’re long overdue a replacement.

Your cupboard doors have seen better days

If you can’t remember the last time your cupboard doors were straight or if they’re missing handles… or just missing full stop, it’s definitely time for a refresh.

You’ve started calling your kitchen retro

Whatever label you’re choosing, it’s unlikely that “vintage” kitchen is going to come back into fashion. Unlike clothes, cars and furniture people don’t seem so fond of collecting old-school kitchens! Don’t live in denial; start your quest for a kitchen you’re proud to show off.

You have kitchen envy

And not just the kind where you admire your friend’s new spiralizer or paint refresh. If you’re positively green with envy every time you watch a home improvement show or you’re so consumed with jealousy over your friends’ kitchens you can think of little else when you visit, it’s definitely time to treat yourself to a new one of your own!

Browse the latest kitchens from the top UK retailers and compare them by style and price using our independent comparison tool.

Kitchen Design: How To Avoid Fads

A kitchen packed full of the latest gadgets, appliances and design trends may seem like a dream but when choosing a new kitchen, it’s important to focus on the long term. Will those brightly coloured cabinets still look great in ten years’ time? Do you have space for an island or will it ultimately get in the way?

Do your best to avoid kitchen fads with our top tips…

Avoid super trendy styles

The kitchen is often the most expensive room to make over so you want to make sure it stands the test of time. Cabinets in neutral shades will stop your kitchen dating quickly. If you want to add a splash of colour, experiment with bolder paint on the walls – this is easier and less expensive to update when the shade is no longer in fashion.

Choose quality

The cabinets form the basis of your kitchen so this is where we’d recommend spending a little more of your budget. Look for soft-close hinges and drawers that open smoothly. Think practically when it comes to your work surfaces too. Glass looks ultra-modern and slick but only if you maintain it. Stains, streaks and fingerprints show up more easily on glass, so if you have young children or a busy lifestyle, you’re probably better off choosing a less high maintenance material like granite or marble.

Honour the triangle 

The triangle is the foundation of all good kitchen design. The three points to consider are the fridge, the oven and the sink – you don’t want to obstruct the flow between them as they are the most-used spots. Also, be careful when adding in a kitchen island – aim to allow at least one metre of space around it or your floor space will become too restricted.

Maximise storage

Don’t miss out on the opportunity for extra storage. The space above the refrigerator is one of the most commonly wasted storage opportunities: fit shelves here to make the most of the space. (See more kitchen storage ideas here.)

Don’t do it all yourself

The home improvement trend has seen many homeowners taking on the role of project manager. This is great for keeping costs down but it’s also important to know when to call in the experts. When dealing with gas, electricity and plumbing, you don’t want to risk potentially dangerous mistakes occurring. Handing over the job to a professional will ensure the project runs smoothly and give you peace of mind.

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to start searching for your perfect kitchen! Compare kitchens from the top retailers using our independent price checker.

Kitchen Quality: Criteria Explained

In our last blog we gave you a brief overview of what to look for when assessing the quality of a kitchen. Here at Kitchen-Compare, we compare kitchens from major retailers including IKEA and B&Q based on price, quality and finance. There are a number of quality indicators we look for, from construction to materials and we award each kitchen a quality score out of 10. Read on for a more detailed insight into just what we’re looking for in a quality kitchen…

Cabinets

Sturdy cabinets will ensure your kitchen lasts. The first thing to assess is the material – you want to look for a solid wood or quality grade of plywood, to provide a quality foundation. The wall thickness is also a key indicator – 18mm walls will get a higher quality score from us than 15mm. Back panels can range from a 4mm hardboard to 15mm of solid wood, so you might want to consider opting for a thicker back panel. Don’t forget to look at the cabinet guarantee too as this signals how confident the retailer is in the finished quality. You can compare the guarantee from the top retailers on our Compare Retailers page.

Drawers & Shelves

Drawers should provide easy access – expect to be able to open them at least three quarters of the way. Check what the weight is for the pan drawer too: if you’re planning to store heavy items here, make sure it can hold more than 25kg.

For shelves, check for anti-tilt plastic or metal fixings to stop them from tipping. Next, consider how many pre-drilled holes are in the walls for shelf adjustments. Some units come with less than two, those with four or more will make repositioning your shelves to suit your storage needs much easier (and so secure a higher quality score from us).

Hinges

Always look for a soft-close door hinge. Most kitchens do come with these as a standard as it is now a popular choice with consumers. The hinge should also enable to door to be opened fully for ease of access. Hinges can vary by up to 30 degrees so don’t be afraid to test them out.

Ratings & Certifications

In our overview blog, we discussed FSC ratings as a quality signal. Another rating to pay attention to is the prized FIRA Gold Product Certification. FIRA is an independent association for furniture validation. Products are subject to thorough testing and achieving Gold certification is a stamp of high quality.

Now you know how we assess kitchens here at Kitchen-Compare, why not start comparing the quality scores for your dream kitchen?

Kitchen Quality: What You Need To Know

With so many styles of kitchen available in seemingly endless materials and finishes, distinguishing between several very similar kitchens can be a tough task. Cost is always a top factor to consider but quality is equally as important. At Kitchen-Compare we carry out a number of quality checks on the kitchens we feature, scoring each out of 10. There are a few key things to consider when determining the standard of a kitchen. (Hint: it’s all in the details)

Practicality – your kitchen can come either pre-constructed or flat pack. Which is preferable, depends on what is easier for you, there’s no difference when it comes to the quality. If you’re having a lot of cabinets fitted, a flat-pack option may be preferred – think of the practicalities of delivering and maneuvering 9 or 10 pre-constructed cabinets. If you don’t have confidence in your DIY abilities, then it may be best to opt for pre-constructed.

Cabinet construction – your cabinets form the foundation of your kitchen so pay close attention to how they’re constructed. Look for solid wood frames over less-resilient MDF.

Thickness – most cabinet walls, floors and tops measure from 15mm to 18mm in thickness. While it doesn’t seem like a big difference, an 18mm cabinet will be far more robust.

Guarantee – the guarantee attached to your kitchen cabinets can be anything from 1 – 25 years so it’s a good idea to pay close attention to this as it shows how confident the retailer is in the quality.

Drawer functionality – how far can you pull the drawers out? You should be able to extend them at least three quarters of the way out, with no signs of wobbling.

Shelves – how many pre-drilled holes are there to reposition your shelves? The more there are, the more you can customise your cabinets to accommodate your storage. Also check for anti-tilt fixings to stop shelves from tipping.

Check the FSC rating – the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sets standards for, certifies and labels products to encourage responsible management of forests. If it’s important to you that your kitchen has come from a renewable source, then make sure you look out for the FSC rating.

At Kitchen-compare we independently review the kitchens available from all major retailers, making it easy for you to compare what’s on offer and find your perfect kitchen. Use our comparison tool now to start your search.

Kitchen Installation -Budgeting & Cost

A large chunk of your kitchen renovation will need to be set aside for installation fees. Here are some useful tips on how to budget for your kitchen fitting and reduce your costs:

 

Entire re-fit or partial replacement?

Before contacting a fitter for a consultation make a list of the tasks that need to be completed. For example, are you planning on simply changing the doors on your cabinets and retaining the carcasses to save on costs? Or do you need an entire re-fit that includes removal of old units, installation of appliances, tiling, plastering and decorating?

 

Quotes

Gather at least three quotes from a selection of tradesmen so you can compare prices on all of the tasks on your list. It may be worthwhile to split the jobs and hire one tradesman to fit the units and another to tile the floor and install splashbacks if it works out cheaper. You don’t have to stick to a single fitter but it can make life easier to have one person in charge of the entire project who can see it out from start to finish.

 

Choose a reputable professional

If you’d like to hand the entire project onto one company make sure they are qualified to complete all jobs including plumbing, electrical work and light installation. Choose professional fitters who are certified to carry out the work so you don’t end up having to re-do shoddy work carried out by a rogue tradesman and shell out more cash than you first intended.

 

Do some of the work yourself

If you’ve got some experience of home renovation, you can save money by doing some of the work yourself, like tiling or painting. Bear it in mind that you may need to fork out for tools and equipment where as a proper fitter will include all of that in their quote. Always get a registered fitter to install appliances like ovens and gas cookers to stay on the safe side.

 

Finally, always work within your budget but set aside a cash buffer for emergencies that you can call on if needed.

A Guide to Kitchen Worktops

Confused about kitchen worktops? Here’s our concise guide to the pros and cons of granite and laminate to wood and stainless steel:

 

Granite

Granite is a luxury countertop material that is super durable, comes in a variety of finishes and is heat resistant. It needs very little maintenance and so, despite its higher cost, it’s great value for money in the long term, especially if you only need a small piece for a galley kitchen. Plus, because you can put hot pans straight onto a granite worktop you’ll never need to worry about unsightly heat marks, unlike marble worktops that can scratch and stain easily. However, because each slab of granite is unique you might not be able to achieve a uniform finish throughout your kitchen. It can also be tricky to remove heavy granite if you’d like to refresh your space later down the line.

 

Wood

Wooden worktops add warmth and natural beauty to a kitchen. They tend to work with any style (including gloss cabinets and painted shakers) and lots of colour varieties are available, such as maple, cherry, oak and teak. You can also apply a wood stain to create a colour that complements your design palette. Wooden countertops need to be regularly treated so that they remain sealed, safeguarding them from water damage and general wear and tear. They can also become scratched and dented, unlike hard granite tops, because they have a softer texture.

 

Laminate

Laminate worktops are popular because they are affordable, easy to fit and require little maintenance.  Better yet, they come in a variety of designs and graphic patterns so you can achieve the look of granite or marble without spending a fortune. On the downside, laminate counters can often leave behind a tell-tale line across worktops where edges have been joined together and they don’t stand up to high heat. However, if they do become scratched or damaged they can be easily removed and cheaply replaced.

 

Stainless steel

For kitchens that get a lot of use, stainless steel counters are a useful option because they don’t stain, they’re heat resistant and affordable. The shiny surface reflects the light and makes smaller contemporary spaces look spacious but scratches, dents and smudge marks can appear on the surface. However, many would say that this adds to the charm of a heavily-used stainless steel worktop.

Kitchen Jargon-Buster!

Buying a new kitchen is a rewarding process but there is so much choice out there that time invested in research and planning is time well spent. Whether talking to retailers, designers or simply reading up in books and magazines, the kitchen design process has a whole language

of its own!

Below are some key terms that are frequently used…along with an explanation of what they really mean!

Built In

Built-In refers to appliances that are built into a cupboard, forming a continuous “bank”.  Most common examples of these are ovens, microwaves and warming drawers.

Built Under

Built-Under refers to appliances that are built into the cabinetry itself below the work surface. These are usually fridges, dishwashers and wine coolers.

Integrated

Appliances that are integrated are hidden behind cabinet doors to give a streamlined look to a kitchen.

Undercounter

Appliances that sit below a worktop but are not built into a cabinet are referred to as undercounter appliances

Carcass

The carcass is the actual frame and wall of kitchen cupboards. These come in a variety of different finishes, different widths and sizes.

Kickplate/Plinth

This is a panel that hides the cabinetry leg supports. These can often incorporate additional storage such as drawers

Splashback

A splashback is a length of material, such as tiles or glass, that sit directly behind your hob or cooking area to protect the kitchen wall from dirt, grease and general splashes

Fitted Furniture

Fitted furniture refers to kitchen units that are fixed in place and are often designed specifically to fit a given space

Cut-Outs

These are the holes that house sinks, hobs and other worktop appliances. If the worktops material is granite, stone or composite then cut-outs need to be templated by an expert. Cut-outs in some woods and laminates can be undertaken by competent DIYers

CAD

CAD stands for computer-aided design and many kitchen companies and designers will provide you with 3D CAD drawings of your kitchen layout. These provide you with a visual representation of your kitchen detailing materials used as well as where units and appliances are located