Choosing the Right Kitchen Fitter for Our Solid Oak Kitchen Cabinets and Worktops
Ensuring you have the right kitchen fitter is just as important as the solid oak kitchen cabinets you choose. Fortunately – if you shop at Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets – you can be certain that your cabinetry and other components will be highly attractive and of excellent quality.
However, having invested in a beautiful new kitchen, the last thing you want to do is risk a poor overall finish or inadequate installation. Many of our customers choose to install our products themselves and as such enjoy more control over the installation; but for larger kitchens it may be necessary to hire a fitter. Our handy information guide is here to help you sort the kitchen experts from the cowboy fitters.
Capabilities and Qualifications
All kitchen fitters should be savvy in the way of fitting units and worktops. If you require installation of appliances or sinks, however, you should verify whether a potential fitter can install gas ovens or hobs, relocate plugs sockets, re-plaster any walls as required and install sinks with plumbing. If you require any services that your kitchen fitter will not be able to perform, these tasks will need to be outsourced to another company. If you need to delegate many tasks to other companies, you are likely to end up paying more, so it is worth doing your research first.
Safety should be your greatest priority. If your kitchen fitter says they are happy to fit gas hobs, install plumbing or move sockets, you should check their qualifications before hiring them. Professional qualifications include NVQ diplomas in plumbing and electrotechnical systems. For gas, check that your fitter is Gas Safe registered (if they are not, you risk invalidating your home insurance).
You can check this by visiting www.gassaferegister.co.uk.
Ability to Handle Solid Wood
If you have ordered our beautiful, sustainably-sourced solid wood worktops, be sure to check how comfortable your fitter is with this material. Real wood has different characteristics to laminate worktops, for example, and your fitter should be aware of the correct practices for working with timber – or he/she should be prepared to do some research first (our handy ‘How to Fit a Kitchen: Wood Worktops’ guide might help). Incorrect installation can cause costly damage – and may even result in the need to replace your new worktops – so it is certainly worth considering this aspect carefully.
Recommendations from Friends and Family
When it comes to reviews, trust those you can rely on for honesty: friends and family. If a close friend or relative has recently had a kitchen installed, do not be afraid to ask for their opinion – your nearest and dearest are valuable sources of information! These are the best people to talk to for truthful and independent recommendations.
Testimonials and Review Sites
If you have found a company that sounds reliable and offers the services you require, check out the reviews on websites such as Trustpilot and Yell. These sites are independent and should paint a relatively reliable picture of the company’s previous work. However, it is worth remembering that customers who have had a negative experience may be more likely to post a review than happy customers. Companies that care about their work will also respond to negative reviews to try to resolve any issues.
If you have used a kitchen designer, they may also be able to offer you professional advice and recommendations about which fitter to use.
Cost Considerations
Find out how your preferred kitchen fitter charges for their work. Do they offer a daily rate or a flat fee? In certain cases, fitters who accept a fixed payment may have more incentive to work quickly. This is not to say that any kitchen fitter who works for a daily rate will be likely to dawdle on the job, but a good fitter should be able to give you an estimate of how long the installation will take. If you opt for a kitchen fitter who charges a daily fee, the possibility of the job taking longer than expected should be factored into your budget before you commit.
A Final Tip…
Inadequate knowledge – and use of the wrong tools or parts – can cause expensive damage, so it is definitely worth investing time in finding the best fitter.
You can tell a lot about your potential kitchen fitter by their attitude on the telephone. Good fitters will listen attentively to the details you give them and make an effort understand your needs – they should not be rushing to get you off the phone! A fitter who takes the time to listen to you is likely to take real pride in their work.
Don’t be put off if this sounds like a lot of work: it will be worth it when your beautiful new kitchen is installed and ready to enjoy. So, if you’re ready to get started, please feel to contact us – or order your wood worktops, solid oak kitchen cabinets and kitchen accessories online today!
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September 8, 2017 @ 4:05 pm
[…] guide on choosing the right kitchen fitter provides a little more information if you would like further advice on finding a good kitchen […]