Laminate butt worktop trim

[Blue Mermaid]

Thanks thescruff. That would mean going behind my dad's back again and contacting the plumber Why can't my dad be reasonable

[thescruff]

To be honest I think at least some of the end panels look better plain.

[Blue Mermaid]

Which ones would you leave plain?

[thescruff]

Thanks thescruff. That would mean going behind my dad's back again and contacting the plumber Why can't my dad be reasonable

Whens the next service due, if at all.

Have you got carbon monoxide detectors fitted.

[Blue Mermaid]

No service planned No detectors either

Would value your opinion about which end panels to keep plain please?

[thescruff]

Any panel that butts up to the work top, e.g. the long ones.

The wall cupboards where they stop in mid run should have then.

[thescruff]

No service planned No detectors either

Would value your opinion about which end panels to keep plain please?

You could buy some good CO detectors that are battery operated and get the builder to fit them on the wall.

Ok, you have a large kitchen so the risk is slightly less, but the family is still at risk of waking up dead some day.

[Blue Mermaid]

I'd have to fight my dad for the detectors as well I guess I'm going to have to bring the whole subject up with him. I hate all these rows

What about the corner wall cupboards? Would you put the in-frame panels there? What about the short cupboard under the beam? That would be a problem wouldn't it? Finally, would you put them on the base end panels? Sorry for all the questions and thanks for your help again.

[thescruff]

I would have all the tall units plain, and all the wall units where they are seen decorative.

The floor cupboards I think look better plain, but see what the chippies have to say.

Out of interest I notice they have the side panels on some of the wall units sticking down below the bottom. Is there a reason for that. ?

[Blue Mermaid]

Thanks thescruff.

Those side panels hanging down are like that because the builders originally put the pelmets on the other way up, so that the longer side was at the front. This is how it looked on the computer generated pictures given to us by the designer. The side panels were then shorter than the pelmet. Again, this was on the computer pictures, so the builders were following those. It was noticed by the first worktop joiner who came over a while back to give advice and then by the designer when he came over once. He told them to turn the pelmets round, so that they were flat. So, that's why the side panels are now hanging down. When I started asking questions as to why we weren't sent the in-frame panels like in the showroom and the brochure, the designer said just get the builders to cut the side panels level with the pelmet. They were going to do that but I delayed them while I was waiting to hear whether they were going to send us the in-frame ones.

[Colour Republic]

No comparison is there!

So glad you got it sorted and I hope your dad will in time realise what you've done for him and Light worktops look great in that setting.

As for the end panels I think scruff is right, because of the design there are only a few areas that they could be installed. In fact every panel bar one would be better as a flat decor end. You have an issue on one side of the cooker hood because of the beam, the tall unit by the appliances has wall units coming off it, the end base panel where the units kicked out by 40mm needs extending...

On that base panel that needs extending, The builders will hopefull still have the off cut from the tall end panel they installed by the sink. They can cut a length off that and extend the other base panel to cover the 40mm gap.

If it looks like Wickes are going to supply new decor end panels I would say that you no longer want them as the whole experiance has meant you don't want the extra hassle of having them changed but you will accept compensation to the same value

Wickes have a habit of charging fortunes for decor end panels which is great news for you as if you don't take up the offer you can point out they were just about to give you hundreds of pounds worth of product, in fact it wouldn't surprise me if the end panels for that kitchen are close to £1k given their inflated prices. Wickes should have quite a bit of room on this with a kitchen your size, so don't settle lightly.

I would write a list of everything you're not happy with, including any customer service issues

[Blue Mermaid]

Thanks Colour Republic. Glad you came back, because I'm so thankful to you for suggesting the breakfast bar worktops. Also glad you think the guy did a good job and that you like the light worktops. Everyone seems to have black these days and we'd seen them so much everywhere, I think we were brainwashed into having them too! We thought they made the room look too dark though, as it's not a particularly light in there and the light worktops really lift everything. The builders were here today and the main builder kept saying what a great job the other guy had done and he really likes them as well. One of the others said he preferred the black!

The Wickes Installations Manager came over today as well. We went through everything and my feeling is, it didn't go too well in regards for us getting compensation. Even with the gas meter being missed by the designer and the beam not even being in the plans, he seemed to be saying that it was up to the builders to survey everything first before doing anything. I really can't see the point of their design service. Common sense says to me, if they design a kitchen for you it should fit your kitchen. I know you've all said that it is up to the fitters to survey things first. I accept that for the walls not being square and the problem with the worktops but I would have thought the gas meter being missed and the problem with the beam should be down to the designer. It's not as if he came up with any imaginative designs. I thought he'd come up with a few designs for us to choose from and expected them to be imaginative. As you've all said here though, they're not really designers but salesmen who measure up and put the measurements into computer software. If I had the software I could have done that myself! Anyway we just have to wait and see now what happens with regards to compensation.

Btw, the Wickes guy commented on the large overhang of the new worktops but I think they look good. The Wickes ones were nearly flush to the cupboards.

Good idea about the end panels We are having them though. Not by the larder cupboards but everywhere else, apart from that little cupboard by the hob that you spoke of. They make the kitchen look more solid I think and it's what we chose in the showroom, so I think we're entitled to them.

Thanks so much again for your help with the worktops. We're really pleased with them and pleased to be rid of the problem with a professional looking result as well.

[Blue Mermaid]

Had the inevitable argument with my dad tonight about the ventilation needed in the kitchen, because of the boiler. You just can't reason with him. As far as he's concerned it's not needed and he doesn't want another hole cut in the wall (the plumber said we need a second vent). I wish the plumber *would* condemn the boiler the next time he's here and get BG to switch us off when my dad refuses to get the ventilation sorted. At least my dad would then be forced to get it sorted or get a new boiler. I don't think the plumber will do that though.

I told my dad, I'd get the plumber and pay for it myself but he said it was nothing to do with the money. I just think he can't bear anyone outside the house telling him what he can and can't do.

I called my brother to talk about it. He said get in another plumber for a second opinion and then Dad would believe it was needed. My dad wouldn't agree to me doing that even. Impossible situation.

[Blue Mermaid]

Hi Scruff

If my dad ends up backing down about the ventilation (which I doubt), where did you mean when you said, "that space where the unit is off the wall would have been ideal place to hide it". Do you mean the space on the left hand side of the window (the window where the sink is situated)? Not sure where you mean, as you said it was an ideal place to hide it and I can't see where we have a space where it would be hidden from view. Thanks.

[thescruff]

Where the units are off the wall, assuming it's an outside wall.

You could have grill in the plinth then