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We are hopefully having a new extension built in the non too distant future.
Part of this will be a new kitchen. Whilst we currently have free standing white goods (Bosch fridge/freezer, Hoover washing machine, Bosch slimline dishwasher and a Hotpoint condenser dryer in graphite), we have thought of fitting stainless units.
After coming back from a look around Currys, we have come across some nice black kit; Bosch double fridge and Smeg dishwasher and are undecided.
Also, we had not given integrated units much thought as we have never had them.
Does anyone have any experiences of deciding to use free standing or integrating the units? Are there pitfalls for either/both.
We do intend to have the fridge freezer (double with water ) free standing.Re: opinion of integrated versus free standing.
If you are asking the trade members they will almost to a man say free standing, but they will be coming at it from a future repair standpoint.
You should bargain for higher labour costs for integrated machine repairs due to the extra work involved in gaining access.
From an aesthetic point of view integrated kitchens do look nicer but again integrated appliances are always a fair bit more expensive to purchase in the first place.
The real problem from our point of view is not the integrated machines in themselves but the 90{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of idiot kitchen fitters that install them. 👿
On a well installed appliance such as a washer or dishwasher it should be possible to remove the appliance from the units to gain access from all sides without having to disconnect the water pipes, gas or electrical supply, granted the latter two should always be disconnected when working on the appliance. 😉
That includes not having to smash the expensive floor tiles, rip up the laminated flooring, take up fitted carpets,dismantle 75{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of the units etc, etc.
Jim.Re: opinion of integrated versus free standing.
As above but I always recommend that you tile under all intergrated appliances, use the longer hoses for both inlet / discharge pipes.
Ask the fitters to make sure that plugs and waste pipes are easy to reach.
Otherwise it is normally good luck getting it out, call me when you have done it or higher labour charge for time spent messing around.
Re: opinion of integrated versus free standing.
My record was an hour and a half to renew a split washing machine fill hose, 2 minutes to change the hose, 1 hr 28mins to dismantle and re-assemble the kitchen. 😉
Worst dishwasher ever? Integrated (good gods) by blind monkeys. 20 min to fix machine. 2 hours to get back into in position. 🙁
Customer – “What would you do if it didn’t work after all of that?”
“I’d set it on fire and then dance naked around the flames.”
wench wrote:Worst dishwasher ever? Integrated (good gods) by blind monkeys. 20 min to fix machine. 2 hours to get back into in position. 🙁
Customer – “What would you do if it didn’t work after all of that?”
“I’d set it on fire and then dance naked around the flames.”
Good plan.
Also why do customers complain that there ovens/kitchens are getting dirty.
Its an oven, not a blepping super model, kitchens like workshops are there to be worked in, not to show the neighbours how much you owe the bank.
:rolls:
Re: opinion of integrated versus free standing.
Thanks for the replies!
So it all comes down to how they are (mis)installed and the general reliability of the product.
Not too sure which way to go now!
Re: opinion of integrated versus free standing.
ok, well to simplyfy, integrated looks nice, thats the pro,
The against are, if it goes wrong you risk damage to the worktop & floor in removing it, and it will hardly ever go back in as it origionally was, machines do go wrong, so at some time it will most likely need to come out (most repairers will charge you more to repair an integrated)
Free standing, no problems removing, easy access for repair, cheaper repairs, and if you know a good kitchen fitter you can always put a seperate door on the front of the unit to hide the machine, plus cheaper to buy in the first place
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