Kitchen quote checklist: 3 questions to ask before you sign
Bring this to any showroom or design visit. Ask three questions and get the answers written on the quote. It takes about thirty seconds, and it tells you what you are really being quoted for.
Two kitchens can look identical from the front. The difference is the box behind the door, and that is the part you never see once it is fitted.
| Ask | Why it matters | What a clear answer sounds like | Their answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. What are the carcases made of, and how thick? | The carcase is the box behind the door. It carries the worktop, holds the hinges and sits under the sink for the life of the kitchen. | Clear: a board type and a thickness, such as “18mm melamine faced chipboard”, “18mm moisture resistant chipboard” or “18mm melamine faced plywood”. Vague: “top quality board” or “premium materials”. |
|
| 2. What are the backs made of, and how thick? | The back keeps each unit square on the wall. Thin backs are common and can bow over time. | Clear: a material and a number, such as “3mm hardboard” or “9mm plywood”. Vague: “standard backs”. |
|
| 3. What hinges and drawer runners are you using? | A kitchen door can open and close thousands of times a year. Hinges and runners are the moving parts that take the strain. | Clear: a brand name, such as Blum, Hettich or DTC. Vague: “soft close” with no brand. |
What if the answer is vague?
A good kitchen company answers all three without hesitating, and puts the answers on the quote. If the reply is a pause, or the brochure says premium board without naming it, assume it is standard chipboard. Then decide whether you are happy with that at the price.
Chipboard is not junk. In dry spots like wall units it does the job, and moisture resistant chipboard is a real step up when a company actually specifies it. It is most at risk around the sink, the dishwasher and the washing machine, where a small leak can make a cut edge swell for good. Our guide on what kitchen units are really made of explains why.
Two more questions if you want to be thorough
- What edge banding is used, and are the cut edges around the sink sealed? Water gets into unsealed edges and screw holes first.
- When the quote says solid wood or hardwood, which parts does that mean? It almost always means the doors, not the boxes behind them.
How we answer the same three questions
So you can hold anyone up against it, here is our standard build, as published on our units and cabinets page:
- Carcases: 18mm melamine faced plywood, faced both sides and E1 rated.
- Backs: 9mm melamine plywood.
- Hinges and runners: DTC soft close hinges and undermount soft close drawers as standard, with Blum available as its own priced line.
Our kitchens are premium and priced to that standard. If you are working to a tight budget, a good chipboard kitchen with sealed edges is a perfectly reasonable choice.
Want the answers to all three in writing, on a quote for your own kitchen? The design visit is free: we measure your room and you get full 3D plans.
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