Flat-pack kitchens - are they worth it?

clairebbbear · Jan 24, 2007 7:04 pm

Hi folks

I am totally replacing my kitchen as the layout is bad and it's just plain ugly and crumbling. I have a total reno budget of about $30,000, including for a bathroom upgrade, and I've realised that that's not going to be enough so I am thinking about how I can cut down costs.

So I am thinking of using a flat-pack kitchen and installing it myself, with help from my mum and friends who are good at that kind of thing.

However my builder - who I am getting a quote from to have a kitchen custom-made - is telling me that there are no flat-pack kitchens that are good quality and I can expect things to go wrong. I expect that he will say that though as he wants to make money from me, not have me do it myself!

Does anyone have any company recommendations? I am in Melbourne (my unit is in West Footscray - so I don't necessarily want a massively flash kitchen as it's not worth it for the area I'm in).

thanks in advance

Justin · Jan 26, 2007 10:51 am

Hi Claire,

I built my kitchen reno, from the ground up, using flatpack from Plyboard Distributors in Dandenong :

http://www.plyboard.com.au/

Check out their "kitchen design guide" under the faq & download section.

I did the demolition, and got our builder to plasterboard the walls, then I tiled the floor and built the kitchen (used trades for connecting up gas & power). Total cost of between 5 and 6 grand including appliances, and after five years we haven't had any dramas to speak of.

I strongly advise that you check out a few flatpack places and make up your own mind. You need to draw up a scale diagram of your available space on grid paper, then draw up a diagram of your desired layout using the various carcass options from the supplier. Then add benchtop, doors & options like corner carousels etc.

It's not a small project, and you don't need heaps of tools but you do need a reasonable set : cordless drill & bits, jigsaw, spirit level blah blah blah. You need to think about potential dramas with the install, walls & floors in existing homes are usually not level and square to each other, how will you handle that ? Do you know to scribe benchtops to walls ?

If I were you I'd look at both flatpack suppliers, plus specialists who do nothing but kitchen installs, possibly unlike your builder. It would be interesting to see if your builder is planning to build the cabinets from scratch, or get them from a cabinetmaker anyway....

I'm tipping you'll end up getting an install done by a dedicated kitchen company, but it's well worth going through the process to arrive at the best solution.

Cheers,

Justin.

clairebbbear · Jan 26, 2007 6:21 pm

Thanks Justin

Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm planning to do anyway - get some more quotes (one from a kitchen company and another from a cabinet-maker to install a flat pack one for me), visit flat pack companies and look at the quality, that kind of thing.

I will check out your recommendation too.

cheers,

Claire

arms · Feb 12, 2007 12:30 pm

hi ,new to the forum so be kind

check out my range of flat pack kitchens ,we have an online store which i am told has the most comprehensive range of cabinets on the net ,any questions you may have please email me ,all the cabinets in the store can be modified in size and materials to suit your project ,
we sell and send our cabinets all over australia to your door ,

terryb · Mar 30, 2007 3:04 pm

I have just read this post and I see it is over two months since the question was first asked. I was wondering what you ended up doing.
I have been involved in setting up a flat pack division for a long estabilished kitchen company in Bayswater Victoria.
We can supply you with DIY cabinets to any size with doors and panels in timber, laminate, vinyl or two pack paint.
Because of our affilation with a full service kitchen company your choice of benchtop colours and materials is also unlimitated.
If I can assist you or anyone on this forum please send me a PM
As for quality, the materials and construction methods are exactly the same. All you have to do is your own assembly and instalation (or source your own local tradesman ) and it is easy.

terry

www.aussieflatpacks.com.au