Hello We have just had a new kitchen installed by a major company, the bottom edges of the side panels do not have a clean edge and look tatty, when we questioned this a manager was sent round to have a look and he advised the best thing would be to use tipex to touch over chips, is this normal practise and acceptable? Thanks for advice in advance.
No not acceptable at all as soon as the floor gets wet the side panels will "blow" the panels should be fully sealed at the bottom.
Thank you teabreak, do you think they just need sealent run round the bottoms or the panels replaced then sealed?
No the bottoms will be raw chipboard when the silicone fails as it will do at some point water will get to the unprotected part. They need removing and fully sealing, Ideally replacing with panels cut at the top and sealing strip fitted to the bottom. This sort of thing. https://www.locksonline.com/buy/Plastic-Plinth-Sealing-Strip-for-18mm-to-19mm-Thick-Panel-827.html Not a good finish for a professional company looks more like a first time DIY job
That manager was having a laugh with you. Firstly, anyone with a modicum of skill would not cut a board and have it come out like that. Telling you to tipex it, well, I can't think of any repeatable words for a response to that. Time to kick-ass. Mr. HandyAndy - Really
Sian, that's not good For a start, the cuts should have been made along the top of the panels, and anyways it should have been done more neatly. It won't necessarily be a problem unless it actually gets wet, but it chust ain't good enough. If that was a £400 cash-in-hand job done by a friend, then you might look past it and tart it up yourself. Done by a 'major' company at, I presume, major costs demands that these panels should be replaced. They only cost them around £20 a piece and an hour's work; they have no excuse. (You could always accept a few £undred discount and then sort it yourself with something like wot Teabreak suggests. But don't tell them that's what you're planning 'cos they'll probably do that themselves instead... Ie - it's acceptable for you, but not for them!)
No way should you consider accepting work of this very low standard, was the so called manager sub normal or does he need to wear spectacles. Local media often works well.
Thanks everyone, I didn't think it was right but it's good to have it confirmed. One of the managers is coming next Thursday to have another look so I will push to have all the side panels removed and replaced. (Although I'm not sure how easy it will be to remove the quartz worktop without damaging it or the wooden floor) We paid £3000 just for the fit and it took 2 men 2 days, so think it was a rush job.