B & Q Kitchen

[blackbess2]

i purchased a £3500 lemon shaker kitchen from b&q and did this in late 2003 over the last few months the edges of the doors are lifting and the doors are bubbling ,they said they did not know of the fault but have now said that they discontiued the range two years ago and they had problems with i want to hear from anyone who has had a similar problem please

[1stlifeline]

I used to work for the company that supplied the kitchens to B and Q. What was the name of the range of unit you had? Shaker doors are usually painted not laminated so Im a bit confused about the lifting/bubbling bit. Also is it definatly lemon rather than cream as I dont recall them doing lemon. Its not a creamy lemon colour with a pale green line on the doors as well is it? If its bubbling its more likely to be fitting error than a fault on the doors. there are strict limits to how close to or how far above a hob/oven the doors can be fitted and also in some places you need to have a heat strip fitted. Ive only just seen your post so you may have got it sorted now but if not post a bit more detail and I will tell you how to get it sorted as best I can.

[RJEThorpe]

i purchased a £3500 lemon shaker kitchen from b&q and did this in late 2003 over the last few months the edges of the doors are lifting and the doors are bubbling ,they said they did not know of the fault but have now said that they discontiued the range two years ago and they had problems with i want to hear from anyone who has had a similar problem please

 

Hello, I have had a lemon shaker kitchen for 4 years and the doors are also delaminating. I have spent the last 5 months contacting B&Q about this and they couldnt careless. They claim that the kitchen is out of warranty, but I only ever had a warranty for installation - which was 2 years. The simple fact is that the kitchen (subject to usual wear and tear) should last a lot longer than 4 years. If I had known I would have to replace it after 4 years I would not have bought it.

 

This is clearly a manufacturing fault. The store is unwilling to sort this out. I have been dealing with their warranties department. They have sent an assessor out who has reported that the kitchen is perfect (we have looked after it) but the doors are delaminating. I have waited 3 weeks and no response to the report. I have today spoken to head office and advised them I have had enough. Unless they replace all the doors to Ivory Shaker (lemon discontinued so nearest to it), I will go down to the store with my delaminting doors and 1000 flyers warning people not to buy from B&Q. There lack of ownership or customer care has driven me to the end of my tether! I have given them 1 hr to comeback to me before I start unscrewing my doors and hit print on the computer!

 

Watch this space.

[1stlifeline]

Can I just ask you some questions about your kitchen?

 

Did you have it fitted by B and Q?

Are all the doors affected or is it certain ones?

Where are the affected doors situated in your kitchen?

Whats the name of the kitchen range you had installed? Is it actually called Lemon Shaker. Are the doors definatly laminated, I only ask because the shaker range always used to be a painted door.

If it is delaminating as oposed to peeling then the situation of the peeling doors is important. How many are peeling and where are they?

I used to work alongside the people from the Bq warranty/complaints team so may be able to give you some pointers as to how to deal with them.

[1stlifeline]

They claim that the kitchen is out of warranty, but I only ever had a warranty for installation - which was 2 years.

 

Your kitchen will definatly have had a warranty, not just the fitting.

[absolutebounder]

We bought a cottage style shaker kitchen from B & Q and have come close to a nervous breakdown. expected the kitchen to arrive on feb 18th and after waiting in all day only got the cooker. final part of kitchen delivered 2 months later. Had I believe 8 deliveries, 4 trips to the store and countless phone calls.

Never again.

Also B & Q financial services in funded by HFC bank which means if you put the bill on their zero interest card you have an extra company to fight with when it goes wrong. which judging by most people I know is very likely.

[bri-eng]

Hi,

 

I have also had a lemon shaker kitchen which i bought about 3 years ago which 2 of the larder cupboards have started de laminating and bubbling. I am about to go off to b&q and complain. Did you get anywhere with your replacement or did you have to despatch all the leaflets.

 

Thanks Brian.

[laddie007]

i have also put a post on here regarding shaker style kitchen doors,i paid 6 grand for a buttermilk shaker style kitchen in june2008,after 9 weeks 7 of the doos were returned to the manufacturer because of bubbling lifting on the bottom inside corners ,they said it was due toexcess water running down the doors,shaker doors are just water traps,fortunately they changed them for free,beware dont spill water on them and dont have your kettle etc...under the wall cupboards.

[bri-eng]

Many thanks for that. I hopefully have a case for replacement. I will keep you posted.

 

Thanks Brian.

[Chippychick]

I have a pine style B & Q Kitchen. It was fitted in Oct 2004. I have the same units in the kitchen and the utility. Several of the door fronts now have the laminate lifting in places. The worst is a larder door which is in the utility so is not near any source of heat, steam etc., The whole of the laminate on this door has lifted and it is only held on around the very edge. I have tried to ring customer services but have had no joy. If I end up having to replace all of these it will mean not only a new kitchen but also a new utility. They stopped making this design a few years ago and don't seem to do any thing close to it. this makes it even worse as all the ends of the units are colour matched as are the pelmets and cornice etc. I have my house on the market and really do not wish to have to spend out on a new kitchen, but I cant see a buyer being happy if they spot this problem. Can someone please tell me who is the best person to contact to get this sorted out. It is obviously a manufacturing fault but could end up costing me a lot of money that I cant afford!! ANY kitchen should last longer than 4 years!!!

[pucejuice]

Hi there, i had to register after seeing this thread,

i brought a maple shaker kitchen from bq late 2003, within 18 mths we began to experience the delaminating problem, also the plinths and bottom of end panels were begining to swell, i guess from washing the floor (which i do very carefully as the floor is laminate and thats fine)

 

in august 2005 i went to bq to complain about these faults, they could'nt care less and told me they no longer used that supplier so could do nothing, but as a gesture would give me 10% off a new kitchen!!!!!!! i explained that was not good enough, and as we are doing up whole house could not afford a new kitchen, she went to the office and returned ten mins later to advise that when i could afford a new kitchen i could still have the discount........ I left.

 

my kitchen in the time since has got worse, one plinth has split, and several base doors are swollen along the ridge as if they have been standing in water ( they have of course been cleaned, but only with a cloth, nowhere near the pasting my nans cupboards get). also the colour has really faded, and they now have a nice yellow tinge, and no the kitchen does not get loads of sun!

 

anyway, to the point. i was in the store today looking at kitchens, as i will have to replace before i sell, and explained my problem to a member of staff who called another, who called another. I was advised that the level of service i had recived was appalling, that the maufactuer in question had gone bust, and that customers are still coming to complain and getting refunds (yippeee) all i need is my origianl receipt.

i explained that due to time elapsed and the response when i had first complained i no longer have the receipt, but i did pay with finance so they should find a record.

apparently thats to is tough, if i have receipt i get help, without i can take a hike, they do not keep records for more than 12 mths, and i need to prove purchase.

i asked if i had kicked up a stink would i have got a refund, and was told yes.

Im absolutely fuming, can anyone help? do i have any rights?

[palmtree7]

I bought a lemon shaker kitchen and the doors have started to bubble and one has even cracked wide open. I contacted BQ and they informed me that it was a Bernstein Kitchen and was no longer produced. 4 of the doors have bubbled and it would seem it is on the 500 door unit. The only thing BQ would offer was a reduction on another type of door.

[Laura28]

I have just bought I new house with a B&Q lemon shaker kitchen. One of the cupboards has lifted due to the sudden heat wave. However there is a plug under it and I thought that the last owner may have had a kettle there and the steam has lifted the glue up under the laminate finish. I'm currently trying to get a replacement door or trying to find a company to make me one as the kitchen is huge and would cost a fortune to replace. If anyone is gutting theres let me know as I'll purchase some undamaged doors from you. x

[Laura28]

Hi folks, I have found that Homebase have the exact same kitchen on sale in cream. I'm sure a specialist paint service could colour match. I'm still trying to find originals though, but will take this option if I'm unsuccessful. If a had the receipt for the kitchen I'd definately be taking legally action as these kitchen's have not lasted a "reasonable time".

[millie1952]

I will keep this short for now we bought and paid for a kitchen from B&Q for nearly £8000 on the 2nd February this year.The fitter's were supplied by B&Q to the firm was called ALLTRADES they started on the 20th of April after less than 2 weeks they was kicked of the job.Infact they no longer work for B&Q anyway we got intouch with the Installation's Manager who organised the second lot of fitter's who started at the end of April we went away to our caravan for 2 weeks and was promised it would be complete on our return.Anyway we got back to what can only be discribed as a total B---s up.We phoned the Installation's manager again who came down 2 days later only for him to say he was lost for words at the state of the workmanship and could not appologies enough and would sort it out ASAP.My mother-in-law and sister-in-Law hjad a B&Q Kitchen fitted just before us and it was a realy good job.So we have asked to have the same fitter's who are starting on the 29th June basically they are going to start again with new units in places knocking off all the tiles which will make a mess we are just completly stressed out we wish we had never started.What do you think of our chances of recieving compensation i will not settle for peanuts off them

[Guest Old_andrew2018]

Hello millie1952

Firstly, Welcome to CAG, you might find it worthwhile to start your own thread, as your post could get lost here.

 

To start a new thread, go to the page you want to have a thread, at the top and bottom of the page there is a blue box which says...NEW THREAD. Click on that.

 

You will get an empty box up, Give your self a title, e.g millie1952-V-B&Q, Please have a read of the link below, it has everything you will need to know to help you find your way around this site.

 

"How do I...?" A Dummies' Guide to this Forum

 

Also please have a really good read around the site. As soon as you are ready, make a post and some one will be around to help you.

 

Andy

[Reggie123]

I've also had problems with the de-lamination of doors and drawer fronts on a lemon shaker kitchen. B&Q did offer me compensation but it was a pitance so i am now pursuing the matter through the small claims court. As part of their defence B&Q state that they have not received any other complaints from customers !!!!!!!! If anybody out there can provide me with their complaint number and date I will be really happy to remind B&Q in court!

[Guest Old_andrew2018]

May be you could PM millie1952, and other people who are listed in this thread and share information, B&Q would be shown as lying when they say they have not received any complaints.

[mo1983uk]

hiya guys i have just read your comments here and thought i would reply and give you guys some help as I work for B&Q. All B&Q doors come with a 5 year guarantee that is never mentioned but it does exist I know this as I am working with my store manager to find out why we do not offer a much longer guarantee like other stores do.

 

The think that B&Q will never tell you is that if you write a letter to the head office outlining all the problems you have had and the poor customer service you may have expereienced you will be compensated somehow as if a complaint reaches the head office they then pressurise the store to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

 

The customer who lost their receipt but ordered the kitchen on finance shoudl definitely write to head office as they keep records or it they do not have them they can definitely find out and trace finance records.

 

Hope this helps you guys

[freakyleaky]

Just a reminder to those people buying and selling kitchen doors. Use ebay not the Consumer Action Group. Thanks.

 

(I have removed all posts re buying and selling kitchen spares)

[mickc41]

Just thought i best join the great b&q debate as i,ve just been to b&q to ask why my doors are delaminating and have been since the kitchen was 2 years old,also the doors and drawer fronts each side of the cooker are melting, i ask if i should have anything between the cooker and the cabinets they say no but say they should not melt, they could not awnser what they can do only that they will get the store manager to phone tommorow anyone else had this problem please

[1stlifeline]

i ask if i should have anything between the cooker and the cabinets they say no but say they should not melt, they could not awnser what they can do only that they will get the store manager to phone tommorow anyone else had this problem please

 

 

That depends on the type of oven you have, if its a built under then it should be fittied into a built under housing cabinet, if its a split level then again it should be i a housing unit. If its free standing then you do need heat panels fitted either side and the correct ventilation.

[spyhawk]

I also have a lemon shaker kitchen which I bought about 4 years ago, and yes some of my doors have started to de-laminate. I contacted the store who sent someone round to look at it, they then asked for proof of purchase ( which I had), It was passed on to head office who have come back and offered 20% of the purchase price as compensation. Any one had any better luck yet as do not intend to accept but given the problems other people have had I am thinking of takeing B&Q to the small claims court as I do not think the product was fit for purpase

[hilaryfrances]

I had the same problem with a white high gloss finish, was told that they no longer made that design and that was the end of it. So I am now stuck with same door years later. I would never buy a kitchen from B and Q again

[loug142]

I too purchased the Lemon Shaker from B&Q. My doors are delaminating and you can clearly see that the laminate has only 5 patches of adhesive on each as the bubbling of the door front shows these patches.

I have had no water spillage to cause this as half the doors affected are wall cupboards.

If anyone gets any joy from B&Q let us know please as i can't afford to replace my kitchen again!