Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Jun 12, 2014 2:09 pm Hi all, Interested in hearing of ppl's experiences with integrated fridges ... in particular the side by side/ pigeon pair type (e.g. from miele/liebherr). Pros: - seamless look Cons: - cost - intial cost and maintenance if needing to pull apart doors. - smaller volume, shelves less deep - narrower (unless french door fridge) - sit higher off the ground b/c compressor on the floor (unless subzero - but the mark up on these c.f. with the USA is incredible!) so not so good for shorter persons. Are there any other pros? In practice, is the smaller volume much of a compromise? Do people have any regrets? Are there any other brands to consider? Is seems like you'd get more bang for the buck with a top of the range french door Samsung ... Re: Integrated fridges or not? Worth it? 2Jun 12, 2014 5:36 pm Cons, Very costly to setup Doors eventually sag There are two types of intergrated fridges. 1. The Fisher and Pykel type where the door fasica is hinged to the cabinet as normal and then a slider joins it to the fridge door. 2. The fridge door supports the entire weight of the door fasica. Type 2 takes a lot longer to setup and will sag a lot quicker without the support of cabinet hinges. In short I hate them and would never put them in a kitchen where you intend to use the fridge all the time! They are fine for bar fridges and show kitchens. Cutting Edge Kitchens and Cabinet Making http://cuttingedgekitchens.net.au http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutting-Edge-Kitchens/290484196676 Mobile : 0419 430 575 PH: 9452 4772 Fax :9452 4772 cuttingedgekitchens@outlook.com Re: Integrated fridges or not? Worth it? 3Jun 13, 2014 4:10 pm In my home country in Europe they are the standard for decades untill SBS appeared. No door sagging, nothing. Over here they are completely overprized. Liebherr is the best what you can buy. If you want a sleek look and can effort it, go for it. But you need to know a kitchen maker who is willing and able to install it correctly because they are not used to them. The downside of build-in fridges/freezers is the smaller capacity, so you have to go as you mentioned the 'pigeon' way. Last year when Miele here in Perth had their sale due to model change, you could get them for a good price. I would not recommend them for a larger family and as you mentioned they come quite tall. My last fridge/freezer I bought is an inverter model, because you practically can't hear them. Re: Integrated fridges or not? Worth it? 4Jun 13, 2014 10:49 pm Evelin In my home country in Europe they are the standard for decades untill SBS appeared. No door sagging, nothing. Over here they are completely overprized. Liebherr is the best what you can buy. If you want a sleek look and can effort it, go for it. But you need to know a kitchen maker who is willing and able to install it correctly because they are not used to them. The downside of build-in fridges/freezers is the smaller capacity, so you have to go as you mentioned the 'pigeon' way. Last year when Miele here in Perth had their sale due to model change, you could get them for a good price. I would not recommend them for a larger family and as you mentioned they come quite tall. My last fridge/freezer I bought is an inverter model, because you practically can't hear them. Thanks evelin... I do like the look ... but the fact that you're paying more but getting less is bugging me. How large would you suggest a 'larger family is'? We have a family of four. If we went for an integrated fridge/freezer pair, i'd consider going for another fridge ?perhaps a Fischer-Paykel Cooldrawer to supplement. Re: Integrated fridges or not? Worth it? 5Jun 14, 2014 10:11 am Evelin If you want a sleek look and can effort it, go for it. But you need to know a kitchen maker who is willing and able to install it correctly because they are not used to them. The downside of build-in fridges/freezers is the smaller capacity, so you have to go as you mentioned the 'pigeon' way. Last year when Miele here in Perth had their sale due to model change, you could get them for a good price. . Evelin, I have fitted hundreds of integrated fridge and freezes and I know how to do it properly. From Fisher and Pykel, Liebherr to fully custom fridge's and freezers built as one offs for well over $20,000 each I have integrated them! After a few years every integrated panel had to be realigned. The gap between the integrated panel and the doors/fillers beside had run out and looked terriable. Its all to do with the fridge hinge sagging or being weighed down with the weight of what you store in the doors. Its inevitable and happens with all of them!! Cutting Edge Kitchens and Cabinet Making http://cuttingedgekitchens.net.au http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutting-Edge-Kitchens/290484196676 Mobile : 0419 430 575 PH: 9452 4772 Fax :9452 4772 cuttingedgekitchens@outlook.com Re: Integrated fridges or not? Worth it? 6Jun 14, 2014 12:06 pm Evelin In my home country in Europe they are the standard for decades untill SBS appeared. No door sagging, nothing. Over here they are completely overprized. Liebherr is the best what you can buy. If you want a sleek look and can effort it, go for it. But you need to know a kitchen maker who is willing and able to install it correctly because they are not used to them. The downside of build-in fridges/freezers is the smaller capacity, so you have to go as you mentioned the 'pigeon' way. Last year when Miele here in Perth had their sale due to model change, you could get them for a good price. I would not recommend them for a larger family and as you mentioned they come quite tall. My last fridge/freezer I bought is an inverter model, because you practically can't hear them. Yes they're more popular in Europe, even Ikea sell them there. Some of the integrated fridges such as Miele Mastercool and Gaggenau VarioCool have very sturdy hinges to minimise sagging but you do pay more. Miele Mastercool: Re: Integrated fridges or not? Worth it? 7Jun 14, 2014 12:25 pm Integrated fridges were installed in my office lunch room but failed due to overheating of the electronics. The manufacturer could not repair the electronics. The electronics would need to be replaced at cost of +$1,000. The electronics failed due to overheating caused by lack of ventilation as the fridges were built into joinery and as such were not covered by manufacturers warrantee. As there was no obvious way to improve the ventilation sufficiently to prevent overheating again the fridge was not repaired. The moral of this storey is to check the ventilation requirements of your fridge before you buy it. Re: Integrated fridges or not? Worth it? 8Jun 14, 2014 7:16 pm if you spend the money on a high end fridge you would want it on display. if I was to have a integrated fridge it would be a cheaper one to hide it. sub zero fridge's look awesome!!! Re: Integrated fridges or not? Worth it? 9Jun 14, 2014 7:16 pm or you can get a scullery to put the fridge in Re: Integrated fridges or not? Worth it? 10Jun 15, 2014 10:15 am Jaeger LeCoultre [ Yes they're more popular in Europe, even Ikea sell them there. Some of the integrated fridges such as Miele Mastercool and Gaggenau VarioCool have very sturdy hinges to minimise sagging but you do pay more. Miele Mastercool: Yes they are better than some of them but they still sag! I integrate fridges, dishwashers and rangehoods every day of the week and the companys that make these products put very little thought into how the product will attached/integrate to the cabinet. Some of the more expensive integrated fridges attach with thin flimsy metal brackets that just flex and bend. Cutting Edge Kitchens and Cabinet Making http://cuttingedgekitchens.net.au http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutting-Edge-Kitchens/290484196676 Mobile : 0419 430 575 PH: 9452 4772 Fax :9452 4772 cuttingedgekitchens@outlook.com Re: Integrated fridges or not? Worth it? 11Jun 15, 2014 10:22 am Beetaloo Integrated fridges were installed in my office lunch room but failed due to overheating of the electronics. The manufacturer could not repair the electronics. The electronics would need to be replaced at cost of +$1,000. The electronics failed due to overheating caused by lack of ventilation as the fridges were built into joinery and as such were not covered by manufacturers warrantee. As there was no obvious way to improve the ventilation sufficiently to prevent overheating again the fridge was not repaired. The moral of this storey is to check the ventilation requirements of your fridge before you buy it. Most integrated fridges come with a ventilation manual. If the fridge was built to be integrated and comes with an integration kit then its covered under warranty as long as the ventilation specs have been followed. With a Fisher and Pykel fridge you have to cut a long 600x70mm vent into the kickboard below the fridge and leave the bottom/top of the cabinet short to allow air to move in and through the back of the cabinet. Cutting Edge Kitchens and Cabinet Making http://cuttingedgekitchens.net.au http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutting-Edge-Kitchens/290484196676 Mobile : 0419 430 575 PH: 9452 4772 Fax :9452 4772 cuttingedgekitchens@outlook.com 2 2523 In fairness nobody gave a crap about the ACCC and the gag clauses continued in the pro forma templates of a few other builders after the ACCC took on Wisdom, and more… 19 73469 Hi I am wanting some opinions about the build of a steel shed I am going to get one about 4.5 x 2.5 m steel shed and the height will be about 2.3-2.4m high The one I am… 0 14442 |