Specialists answer the burning questions about kitchen revamps
Is there a right time to revamp a kitchen?
Because the kitchen forms such a central part of the residential space, many homeowners look to rejuvenate them, but are not sure when to actually take that big step.
The Kitchen Specialists Association (KSA), has offered its insights into the best time for kitchen revamps and renovations.
The honest answer to the question, “Is there a right time to refurbish a kitchen?” is “Honestly, no”.
Even at the best of times, being without a kitchen for four weeks and having tradesmen in your home is an inconvenience. However, there are times of the year that are more conducive to a stress-free renovation than others.
Most of us take some time planning a renovation and, because year end is the time for bonuses and holidays, there is a trend to try and squeeze the renovation into the last quarter of the year. This, unfortunately, will add to the possibility of a stressful renovation. September through to December is the busiest time of year for the kitchen industry. As a rule, the related building industry closes on or about 15 December. This means that, should you experience delays on the building site, the chance of having a completed kitchen before industry shut-down is slim.
Suppliers to the kitchen industry project their stock holding for the last quarter on sales trends of earlier months, and the previous history of the final quarter. This is to ensure that they are not left holding excessive amounts of stock over the holiday period, and is a normal and sensible business practice.
With many of the goods used in a kitchen being imported, it is possible that the supply of materials, hardware and accessories are limited come year end, particularly if there has been a higher than anticipated volume of kitchen orders. The international supply chain can also be erratic, particularly nearing the holiday season, and kitchen manufacturers have no control over international deliveries from suppliers. This could lead to your kitchen company only being able to complete the job in the new year, when stock is once again readily available.
The likes of door manufacturers and other suppliers sometimes close their order books as early as November, depending on demand. It is not always possible for a kitchen company to order your goods as soon as they get your deposit. Not all companies are equipped to store the raw materials or pre-manufactured goods for long periods of time or for multiple jobs. Unfortunately, this can mean that when they come to order for your job, their supplier’s books may already be closed for the year.
Stone fabricators also have a huge influx of work during the last quarter of the year and their order books fill up quickly too. You could face a situation where your kitchen is complete but the tops cannot be fabricated or installed.
No one likes to turn down work and, although a kitchen company may have capacity to assist you close to year end, there is no guarantee that their suppliers will be able to do the same. So, if you are going to opt to have your renovation done towards the end of the year, do so with your eyes wide open to the potential pitfalls. It may well be advisable to postpone your renovation to the first third of the year, when the supply chain is more consistent, and when the kitchen companies themselves are under less pressure.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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