Recently Homebase have started selling framed kitchens. They have 2 a wood and a cream one. We bought cream.
The issues I have so far (and I'm not yet finished dealing with them yet) found:
Delivery: 1: Advertised in shop as 4-6 weeks. Advised by the sales person 4 weeks. Reality 7-8 (and bits still missing) 2: Delivery at a componet level rather than a unit. So you have not way of knowing if all these little boxes the blokes are throwing off the truck are anything to do with you and the several grand you've spent with them.
You then have 7 days to check it is all there. Do this. There are 2 checks that must be completed. 1: The number and type of packages matches the delivery note. Yes this does mean checking each part number and counting each box. 2: Check that what they put on the manifest was enough to build the kitchen you ordered.
The best way to do this is to get on and build. fast. very fast.
Design of the frame kitchen is shocking and not ready for market. there are problems hanging doors on corner units. In that you cannot have the door opening so that it opens into the corner rather then into the room. They don't tell you about this major restriction. NOT TILL ITS TOO LATE.
Soft close, if fitted as per the instructions then the soft close plumger catches on the hinge. Solution move it 5mm futher out. Result door takes longer to close.
Hinges these are not the ones that ship with the base unit. This is not mentioned in the instructions so you will spend ages fitting the wrong hinges. The hinges that are needed have a monster blanking plate to raise them from the unit side to be next to the inside of the frame. My physics is telling me that this cannot be as strong as flush mounting ones.
The catch for the soft close draws is within 2mm's of the frame. This is a very small gap for home build wood products. I now have a lovely gash in one of the frames from the draw.
Draw blanks. Draws cannot be fitted to corner units or sink units etc. instead 2 metal straps are provided. These are too thick. This means that the frame will not fit flush with the other frames unless you recess them. This will result in exposed chipboard under the sink. Again this is not going to last very long.
Manufacturing problems The cream is weak. It chips and splits if it is knocked by anything. I've taken to building the frames of a towel surface so that it does not scratch. This does not look too good for a long term quality kitchen.
There are areas where you can see the MDF under the paint. We will see how things go. But it ain't looking good.
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I will not be getting this kitchen, after looking at it for quite some time. I am thinking rather to go with MFI kelmscott white which is solid wood underneath the paint and they fit it all etc. Definitely worth the 10K.
FunkyFaulkner 19.06.2007 22:48
My other half has just found your review as he is fitting this very kitchen at the moment and was having difficulties with fitting the blanks. I must say that I am feeling rather gloomy now as it sounds like my lovely new kitchen will be on the way down the shi**er before it is even completed! :0( Homebase seem to be a load of #!?@~!!!!! Thanks for a great review...very helpful if rather depressing...welcome to Ciao!!
why.the.dots 13.04.2006 15:14
Update.
Last week the frame under the sink started to bubble and crack from where water from the sink had run down the front.
A nice man from Interior Solutions has just been round to inspect the problem and has announced that:
1: The shadowing on the frames is how they build them. That is normal.
2: He would NOT expect a kitchen to survive knocks. He would expect you to carefully place all items in your kitchen cupboards and to never catch an edge with a knife etc...
3: Do not let anything other than soap and mild detergent into your kitchen otherwise you risk the units discolouring.
4: Yes, the water damage was unusual was I sure it was just from water?
5: They do not class the framed kitchen as DIY build products....... Homebase however sell them as that.
Mar 12th, 2006
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