My Ikea Kitchen Install project

Hi,
I am getting near the end of my kitchen reno project and since it is thanks to this forum that I have been able to do most of the work I thought I would start a thread about my experience. Pics will follow once I find the cable for the upload to PC. Its been a big learning curve, seems to be working out okay - just taking a long time! And I certainly couldn't have done it on my own.

Timeline and comments:
8/2006 Removed old kitchen (ugly 80's U-shape in ground floor apartment)
3 kitchen designers provided prelim designs and quotes - all around 20k without appliances. Got over shock and looked around for flat pack option.
Tweaked the designs using Ikea kitchen planner and came up with one that was open style with loads of storage.
I began installing t&g floorboards in apartment lounge, living, dining, halls.
11/2006 Day trip to Ikea from Canberra, 88 pieces + $250 delivery fee and kitchen was on its way.
12/2006 Finished installing floorboards
2/2007 Initial prep gas and plumbing work completed.
Listed other prelim work and sought quotes:
- needed to reduce double inner doorway to single doorway, extend length other direction 50cm, quote was for $2,660. After finished laughing as thought it was a typo (it wasn't :o) had frame installed (with me supplying wood cut to length) for $150. Quicker than I could do it. Was able to do plastering thanks to Rods website.
- needed to relocate, remove / replace powerpoints, (chase into brick walls etc), replace fluouro light. Had 3 guys turn up to quote, only one quoted - 2 days work $1400. Figured I needed the work done so would pay the price. Different guy turned up - did not chase cables in brick and used conduit on outside of walls :oo: in the middle of where splashbacks would be. He worked for 4 hours and tried to charge me the full amount quoted :((. Couldn't get rid of him fast enough. So, rework needed as most of the work done was not workable for the kitchen.
Mega annoyed so decided to continue camping in my dining room and using the basics as a pretend kitchen. Lucky I live alone.
All on hold as day job got even busier.
8/2007 Needed to (somehow) remove metal bits of vent that extruded out as new corner cabinet and duct attachment would not fit. Quick chat with a bloke at Bunnings and an angle grinder and cutting blade later I was in business. Easily removed to be flush with wall.
11/2007 Discovered upper cabinets (corner one where vent shaft is) was too difficult for me to install. Searched the internet and found a kitchen installer, Randall. Then found another electrician (referred by a friend this time.)
I hired a wall chaser from Kennards and did the really dirty work, finished off the fine bits with my angle grinder and diamond blade. My electrician came in and did the rest of the work - now I'm very very happy.
I installed most of the base cabinets.
12/2007 Randall installed all top cabinets. (he attached rails to them rather than use the brackets) He's a great guy - if you need help with flat packs, kitchen reno, etc here is the link to find him, http://www.home-maintenance-canberra.com.au/default.htm
1/2008 I'm finishing attaching doors to cabinets, installing drawer runners etc and now finally made a decision on the benchtop. Pity everyone closes over Xmas. Going with Ceasarstone so next week off to stonemasons for quotes.
Also have to finish off the wall I extended (paint) then attach the remaining 2 base cabinets there.
Pics to follow. And will update on progress - am relieved to finally almost have a kitchen again.
General comment on Ikea kitchens - great, easy to put together (clear instructions) easy to install so long as you can judge where your own ability stops. Learning curve for me - always stay and watch your tradies, double check the invoice. Also, make sure you know what needs to be done, do lots of research and ask lots of questions of everyone. Don't rely one one source and have a vision for what you want to achieve.

It is good to hear other peoples reno stories - Thanx .

I've done several Ikea Kitchens and they hold up very well. One that I put in 14 years ago is still going strong without water damage. Now when I assemble the cabinets I seal the joining edges with polyurethane sealant - especially in under sink cabinets............ But geez I find assembling the things tedious ... I dont know why ..it is supposed to fun isnt it.

Hi DD,

Good to hear the Ikea kitchens stand the test of time. I'm impressed with the blum hinges, drawer runners, soft close and the drawers themselves.
I was a bit worried about water damage if anything happened with the sink. As the cabinet is in situ but no water connected (no pipes in the way etc) should I seal the joins now? I'm guessing I can seal them on the inside of the cabinet? (never sealed anything before).

thanks

I'd be interested in a rough price comparison (ie Ikea vs the other quotes) if you're happy to post it.

I'm thinking of doing the same thing in my place and Ikea looks like a pretty good deal for a kitchen.

Trav

Wow, i'm suprised that people are happy with the ikea kitchens. They're made in china so i'm not too sure how they would last in the long run. I reckon they're rip-off though, same as bunnings kitchens. It's probably half the price if you get it done through a private company - espically if you go looking around (they would usually beat other companies prices).

There's probably about $500 or less worth of wood (for the carcass) in your average kitchen. Laminate benchtops are about $90 per meter and doors are $50-100 each

Quote:

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Originally Posted by big_gumbo

Wow, i'm suprised that people are happy with the ikea kitchens. They're made in china so i'm not too sure how they would last in the long run.

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Just because something is made in China does not mean bad quality. I wouldn't call an iPod bad quality nor this 22 inch LCD monitor I'm looking at.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by big_gumbo

There's probably about $500 or less worth of wood (for the carcass) in your average kitchen. Laminate benchtops are about $90 per meter and doors are $50-100 each

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Wood is just one cost of the kitchen. The interior fittings like the drawer runners and saucepan pull outs are most of the cost. A three drawer 80cm cabinet from IKEA cost $490 with a middle of the range front. The same 80cm cabinet but with two doors and a shelf is $245. Having high quality Blum drawers doubles the price.

Actually nothing in my latest Ikea kitchen is made in china according to the boxes, CZechoslavia (carcasses), germany(handles,board fasteners), austria (BLUM metablok slides hinges and runners), italy (heat sealed polyester high gloss doors,drawer fronts).

The only downside with ikea kitchens from a construction point of view is that they dont use Moisture resistant board in cabinetry (but they do use very high strength wafer core chipboard which has a shear strength 3x that of local MR chipboard).

It is worth running a bead of polyurethane sealant around the inside base seams and around waste pipes - just in case someone leaves the hot water tap running.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by inside

Just because something is made in China does not mean bad quality. I wouldn't call an iPod bad quality nor this 22 inch LCD monitor I'm looking at.

Wood is just one cost of the kitchen. The interior fittings like the drawer runners and saucepan pull outs are most of the cost. A three drawer 80cm cabinet from IKEA cost $490 with a middle of the range front. The same 80cm cabinet but with two doors and a shelf is $245. Having high quality Blum drawers doubles the price.

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I agree with your point about China. They don't (usually) make bad stuff but they mass produce everything and cost ikea very little. They're probably built the same way as we make them here but the standards for making the wood boards wouldn't be as good as they are here. Then Ikea give them some fancy names and mark up the price so much. You would be better off buying from a local manufacture who will usually do everything they can to get your business which usuall means giving you the best price


With draw runners, they only cost alot if you have soft close runners - about $30 a pair. Normal runners that you see on most cupboards only cost a few bucks each and ball bearing runners (mainly seen on filing cabinets) cost about $10 for 500mm long.
Not sure what saucepan pull out are but i know a lazy susan cost about $200-250.

I'm just giving you a guide on what they really cost compared what ikea charges

Quote:

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Originally Posted by big_gumbo

Wow, i'm suprised that people are happy with the ikea kitchens. They're made in china so i'm not too sure how they would last in the long run. I reckon they're rip-off though, same as bunnings kitchens. It's probably half the price if you get it done through a private company - espically if you go looking around (they would usually beat other companies prices).

There's probably about $500 or less worth of wood (for the carcass) in your average kitchen. Laminate benchtops are about $90 per meter and doors are $50-100 each

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big_gumbo, any private companies you recommend in Melbourne?

It has been my experience many times over that if you want fancy pullout fittings and even lots of drawer units then IKEA wipes the floor with any local kitchen company in terms of price.

Even if you have existing cabinets and you want a few pull out shelves or drawers you can buy the Blum fitting at Ikea at substantial saving over cabinet makers supply outfits - reason IKEA now owns BLUM and Ikea is the primary importer of Blum fittings in Australia through one of its local distribution companies.

Hi Trav,
I went locally for 3 quotes and went through with each designer details of a folder showing my wish list of look and inclusions as well as a preliminary design that I had come up with.
First quote was $19,000 incl splashback and benchtop and trades PLUS appliances. Very small kitchen design with minimal storage.
Second quote was $20,000 PLUS trades, plus splashback plus benchtop plus appliances. Better design.
Third quote - best design so far, but that $20,000 price range again. PLUS trades plus splashback plus benchtop plus appliances.
IKEA I have more cabinets than in any of the above designs, glossy doors as well as some frosted glass doors, a rollup appliance cabinet, a lazy susan for my corner cabinet, Blum drawers and fittings. Cost $7,500 plus $250 delivery to Canberra. You can see none of the local companies came anywhere near this.
Even allowing that I have paid for help with the install, cost-wise I am ahead so I can also get the caesarstone benchtop, the glass spashback and the quality appliances in a kitchen that I love. Only downside is my fault in that its taken me so long to install.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tabby

big_gumbo, any private companies you recommend in Melbourne?

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You can try claytons kitchens. Biggest kitchen manufacture in melbourne. They pump out 300 kitchens a week!

http://www.claytonsgroup.com/homepage.jsp?xcid=1

i love ikea litchen i could go on and on about the cheap and tacky feeling towards them. but it is really as simply as two things. economies of scale and that they are flat packed .
But i would never buy there bench tops . spend the extra money you save on the cabinets on stone tops.
i but a Essa stone 'Ciro' top for $2800 on some cabinets from ikea that cost $3,000 and the resault was incredible
i have some pics if anybody wants to see them .

rob

I would love to see the pics jags

ditto.