Investing on a kitchen renovation can be a total game changer when redecorating your home and can give it an entirely new feel. Although this tends to be a big initial spend, kitchens tend to be durable and therefore money well spent.
The average estimated cost of a new kitchen in the UK was £8,000 in 2020, including fitting costs but can range from anything between £5,000 and £14,000. However, the exact cost of a new kitchen will vary depending on the kitchen size, the materials used and the style.
In order to guarantee that you are getting your money’s worth, the majority of kitchen fittings will offer warranty.
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How Does Warranty Work?
When something has a full warranty, a company is making a guarantee to the customer that they will replace or repair any damage or faults during the warranty period. Limited warranties work in a similar way but will only cover certain types of defects or specific parts which are specified upon purchase.
How Long Does A Typical Kitchen Last?
Good quality kitchens can last over 20 years and in some cases up to 50 years making the initial purchases well worth it for what it can offer in longevity. Cabinets are known for being one of the longest lasting components of the kitchen. This will depend largely on what material you choose to furnish your kitchen with as some materials are more hardwearing than others.
For example, surfacing the worktops with a cheaper material like laminate will lead to a cheaper initial payout but will give rise to easy marking and scratches which may need to be replaced sooner. More durable materials such as granite or marble may be a bigger hit to your wallet when doing the reformation but will need to be replaced far less frequently.
What Is The Standard Warranty On A Kitchen?
The warranty of a kitchen will vary between suppliers and can run anywhere from 5 to 25 years. In general, more expensive or custom cabinets will have a longer warranty.
Like any legal document, you should read the warranty information carefully before undergoing any kitchen work as this is essentially the contractual agreement you are entering with the supplier.
What Does Kitchen Warranty Cover?
- Any defects
- Scratched surfaces
- Broken cabinet doors
- Broken hinges
- Labour for any fixes
- Replacement materials
The majority of kitchen warranties will cover any defects in the material that is used to construct your kitchen. For example, this could be a scratched surface of the cabinet door or a broken hinge.
Additionally, warranty will normally cover the labour of any poor workmanship for the kitchen as well.
A warranty can replace anything in the kitchen that is defective or accidentally faulty, but it cannot replace or pay for things as a result of wear and tear or misuse
What Is Not Covered by Warranty?
There are certain elements which will not be covered by warranty and these tend to be common across suppliers including:
- misuse
- natural ageing or wear and tear
- any labour to replace defective materials
If the user is negligent or fails to use the kitchen properly, this cannot be covered by the company. For example, if a drawer breaks due to too much force or if a scratch is the result of using a knife directly on the work surface, this is the error of the user.
Ageing and wear and tear will depend hugely on the choice of material for your kitchen. For example, a wood kitchen is subject to change due to a range of environmental factors such as the amount of sunlight it receives as well as different cleaning products. Paintwork will also give rise to cracking over time just due to the natural humidity of the household. All of this is considered natural and therefore is not an imperfection or defect that is covered by warranties.
For defective items, the warranty will ensure that these are replaced as soon as possible. However, the associated labour costs to install or replace these defects is not usually covered. You should claim the warranty as soon as there is any damage in order to try and avoid extreme costs associated with non-covered repairs.
Is a Warranty Transferable?
More often than not, warranties are only valid for the original purchaser and cannot be transferred to the new owners upon purchase of the property. However, you can always speak to the original kitchen company or supplier to discuss this further.