You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Just been quoted £320 inc VAT for 3 laminate worktops fitted in a U shape (so 2 joins), one with sink cutout, one with hob cutout.
Seems expensive for a (quoted) days work as no materials needed (apart from glue and worktop bolts). Already have the worktops.
Any comments on that, or any recommendations in Hudds area?
Anyone?
If you hadn't already bought the worktops then you could have got them from one of the companies that supplies them cut to size and then fitted them yourself. e.g. http://onestopworktops.co.uk/
I think that a lot of fitters only want to fit the whole kitchen and so price high for just a worktop. Suggest you get a few more quotes.............
Any comments on that, or any recommendations in Hudds area?
I had a similar quote for fitting two worktops in Aberdeen, one proper mitred join, one sink cutout and one hob cutout. I ended up doing it myself.
If I was replacing the kitchen I'd want a proper job but for replacement worktops in a flat that's being let out then my version was fine.
You can buy the bits (router and worktop jig) for a lot less than that OP.
Sink and hob are easy with drill and a jigsaw.
Unless you've got marble/granite 😉
Butt and scribe joints used to be around £50 per joint plus the other bits. For a good fitter it should be no more than a few hours work
Was considering doing it myself, I have a router already (not sure what size it is though, I think I need a 1/2" size) but I get the idea its very tricky to do. Never seen anyone do it myself which doesn't help.
plenty of videos online of how to go about it. Just be careful!
That said, our wooden worktops have only a very small chamfer along the edges, so I just butt them against each other rather than cutting, looks good actually.
Joints are quite easy to do as long as everything is reasonably square, you will also need a ring for the router so it follows the profile of the worktop jig rather than cutting into it turning it into scrap. Also as the router only rotates clockwise you need to cut one worktop upside down so it doesn't either lift and crack the laminate or chip the show face if solid wood... New cutter and several small cuts and job is a good un
Does seem a bit high.
I do this a lot and normally this is a good few hours work, its incredibly easy to mess up as well.
You can often hire the jig, they have replaceable guides. and then a 12.7mm router bit and 30mm guide bush in a decent router(big)and you should be OK.
Hardest part is if the kitchen is not square or lumps of plaster or tiles. Oh and carrying long lengths of worktop in and out.
I did a worktop for a guy about a month ago and had to cut a sink out, instructions showed a square cut and the dimensions, but when the sink turned up it had rounded corners, Sorry, best talk to Wickes about the new drainage holes in the corners.
Routers are vicious things as they have no guards and can't be put down easily, be careful.
You can buy the bits (router and worktop jig) for a lot less than that OP.
You can, but the tools don't include the skills. If you're ham fisted, there's no tool you can buy to fix that.
I think I paid £150, certainly less than £200 to have 3 worktops cut and fitted. No joins, but had 1 cutout for under worktop belfast sink and two curved ends to cut.
Try looking outside of kitchen fitters. I'd of thought you should only be paying the day rate + maybe the cost of some router bits etc. at most.
I do this for a living, and fitted several thousand sets of tops over the years. I charge £90 for 1st joint, £50 there after per joint. £25 for each hole cut out and £10 per finished end. then £50 to bolt up and screw down. all plus VAT.
so 90+50+25+25+10+10+50= £260+ VAT.
It would take a good half day and change if you got a move on. A decent router cutter is £15-20 and is toast after cutting a set, there's some other materials required. If you make a mistake you could easily cost yourself more than the job was worth, you're paying for more than just time, you're paying for experience.
I do this for a living, and fitted several thousand sets of tops over the years. I charge £90 for 1st joint, £50 there after per joint. £25 for each hole cut out a....SNIP
Perfect answer, thanks very much. So £320 inc VAT probably ok really.
Blazing saddles
We use these router cutters at work, about £40 each and a box of 10 replaceable cutters are about £25 but the cutters are reversible so in theory 20 cutters
https://www.wealdentool.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Multi_Trim_270.html
Do these all the time give or take about £20 i would say his price is spot on, if you won't a professional job done then you need to pay for it , i guarantee if you try it yourself the end product will be know where near as good .Dont forget he has to cover his other cost insurance and tools etc.
Neighbour asked me about fitting a sink into worktop, told him to use the sink tenplate or to place sink on top and trace round it with a felt tipped pen and then measure the depth of lip from the outer edge, he then proceeded to cut around it the outer line of sink, the sink fell through, so next week and second worktop, i did it for him, he then lifted up worktop without any support of the cut out eg 2 x 1 screwed underneath cut out for transportation, and worktop snapped in half.
Get someone wo knows in to do the job, its cheaper than new worktops or chipped or damaged ones
Decided not to do it myself, just need a couple more quotes to get an idea.
To just fit worktops I'd charge pretty.much exactly that. If I was doing the whole kitchen then probably a bit less.
But it is a pain to come and just fit 1 set of worktops I find.
As an update I ended up paying £240 for fitting which took 1.5 days, first day was spent levelling and screwing units together in prep for the worktops.
Unfortunately We hated the worktops when they were in and swapped them for solid oak which then only cost £140 for fitting.