Most kitchen quotes don’t lie. They just leave the awkward bits out — the worktop joint sealant, the plinth scribing, the extractor cut-out. Add them up across a job and you’re looking at three or four hundred quid that wasn’t in the price you signed.
None of this is fraud. It’s just an industry that’s used to a certain way of pricing, and most people sign before they know which questions to ask. Here’s what we’d ask if we were on your side of the table.
01. The pricing trick
You’ll usually get a number that looks comprehensive but bundles “materials” into one line. That’s the line to break apart. Ask for: cabinets, fascias, panels, worktops, fixings, sealant, ironmongery — separately. The good fitters will hand it over without complaint.
“Materials” is doing too much work in most quotes. Break it apart and the price either holds or it doesn’t.
02. The five line items
These are the five things that should be quoted explicitly. Their absence isn’t proof of anything dodgy, but it’s worth a question.
- Worktop joints and sealant. Where two pieces of stone or laminate meet, that joint should be biscuit-jointed and silicone-sealed.
- Plinth scribing. Floors aren’t level. The plinth has to be scribed to the floor, not just cut to length.
- Cornicing mitres. The 45° corner cuts on top of cabinets. If they’re more than a hairline gap, the kitchen ages five years in two.
- Old kitchen rip-out and disposal. Most quotes assume you’re handling this. Get it priced before signing.
- Plumbing rough-in and electrics. Two trades, often two extra invoices. A good quote either includes them or names the sub-contractor.
03. Materials margins
Most fitters mark up materials between 15-30%. That’s normal — it covers ordering, collection, the headaches of returning damaged stock. Anything north of 35% and you might want to supply the units yourself.
04. When to walk away
If a quote can’t be itemised, walk. If it includes the word “approximately” against more than one line, walk. If the lead time is shorter than three weeks, ask why — quality kitchens have quality fitters with full diaries.
None of this means you have to use us. There are good fitters all over Lancashire, and most of them will appreciate a client who knows what to ask. The five questions are the test.
