New kitchen and bathroom

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Loofah, Oct 29, 2019.

  1. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    Finally picked the kitchen and purchased at DIY Kitchens... Just have to sort worktops and to keep costs down we'll probably get wood and upgrade after a few years if needed
     
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    • Scrungee

      Scrungee Well known for it

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      Do wood/granite/marble/etc. worktops still come in a range of different thicknesses? If changing from one material to another involves a change of thickness, that could involve hacking off and replacing wall tiling above, and could throw out alignment above worktop socket outlets/control switches for below worktop outlets.You are specifying those in nice centralised, pleasing locations in the tiling grid aren't you? (So they don't have silly thin slivers of cut tiles bordering them).

      EDIT: There could also be a problem with change in levels between top of worktop and window cill, if they have been coordinated for the original thickness.
       
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        Last edited: Mar 4, 2020
      • Loofah

        Loofah Admin Staff Member

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        All good points once again Scrunge! The current trend is for 'returns' which is basically a way of using up long sections of the worktop as a shallow splashback; just painted above. Different around range cooker obviously. Whenever we get round to replacing then I'll worry about it but it should only be a relatively small decorating job should the new worktop be thinner than the wood, which it almost certainly will be. We may also just leave it for ages and not bother at all!! Electrics layout not complete yet...
         
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        • Scrungee

          Scrungee Well known for it

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          Do you mean upstands? The walls in my old house aren't straight enough for them, and a mixture of old and extended new/infilled door openings would be a nightmare fitting long straight lengths of anything unless hacking off and replastering (which caused me a problem levelling wall surfaces as the entire kitchen was cement and sand render coat).
           
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            Last edited: Mar 5, 2020
          • Loofah

            Loofah Admin Staff Member

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            Yep, upstand or returns, I've had different kitchen places call them both. I would hope my walls will be flat enough as they'll be brand new but you never know :)
             
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            • CanadianLori

              CanadianLori Total Gardener

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              Interesting @Loofah. Tiled backsplash or what you call returns, are the still the standard here for anything higher scale than a basic kitchen over here. And they go up from the counter top to the bottom of the cupboards or window behind the sink. I'll watch to see if this trend comes across the pond. :)
               
            • Loofah

              Loofah Admin Staff Member

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              I think it's driven by economy of effort Lori! I haven'r decided on which finish I'll go for ;)
               
            • Vince

              Vince Not so well known for it.

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              Having been an ex kitchen fitter, I'm as useless as the rest!

              I would always now go bespoke (designed and built by me).

              You always seem to get problems with in store designed, supplied and installed, more trouble than it's worth.

              Carol wanted a new kitchen, chose one from wickes and to be fitted by Vince.

              It's now installed and looks okay....... but I had to cut down a couple of cabinets to make the kitchen fit despite giving accurate measurements and a kitchen plan on graft paper!!!
               
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              • Loofah

                Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                Well there's one run of cabinets that has plenty of room to expand but the other might be a bit more tricky. Fingers crossed! Might wait until they're in before measuring and ordering the worktops
                 
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                • Loofah

                  Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                  What are fitter rates in Surrey, does anyone know? I figure a two man team and £160 pd each but if anyone has a better estimate then I'm all ears :)
                   
                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  Having had contractors in recently those rates are only for labourers, skilled craftsmen were around the £280 mark
                   
                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  You might be better off getting a fixed price?
                   
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                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                    It is a preference setting, I have "show signatures" switched off since in the past one or two members added very distracting animated gifs in their signature.
                     
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