Anyone have experience using IKEA kitchen cabinet? their price seem quite reasonable... I plan to install it to my apartment for my tenant.. not very sure it is durable or how long it could last?

My sister used Ikea cabinet before. Self-installation near impossible, even the Ikea installer took almost half a day to install.

Also, pay attention and make sure cabinet doors close and match perfectly. If you pay close attention to the details, you will notice the doors tend to be 'unevenly' matched when close, meaning one piece is slightly higher or lower than the other.

I also think that self-installation is impossible... too many pieces... thanks for the pieces of advices...

but how about the durability? still look nice after years?

ikea kitchen cabinets are great (using them for ages). good quality, great choices, can change front panels when you like and the fittings are great (blum hinges etc.). total value for money. can self install but you need to know what your doing for the counter top. Installers are good (used them twice) and worth their money. The doors can be adjusted and the installers did it very well for both jobs (of course you can adjust yourself too lah).

personally i am a huge fan of their kitchens and would always buy them again (because i think the nicer ones like miele or gaggenau are jsut too blardy expensive and out of my reach!)

y not give kubiq a look as well..

Mind you show us your IKEA kitchen cabinet after years? I would like to see some real photo... because IKEA showroom only shown us new stuff..

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Added on November 17, 2012, 9:57 amI surfed on their website... look kinda ordinary design but affordable as well.. but how about their quality? and also choices of accessories?

This post has been edited by angkee83: Nov 17 2012, 09:57 AM

i can show you some pics later of a 7 yr old kitchen which has been used on a daily basis for cooking, washing up etc. will make a pic later. in case your're wondering about any problems:

none of the doors or cabinets have shown any sign or aging, rust etc. and the only thing that broke so far was one side of the door dampers which is good considering we have like 20 or so dampers installed.

I find those color cubes awful, only suitable for children's room.

I use Ikea cabinets too....much better than SCI. The base cabinets are very strong and shelves very thick and sturdy. No bending like stupid SCI which I used for my wet kitchen! I am waiting for SCI to collpase before I replace them with ikea.

Thanks... Greatly appreciated and awaiting for your photos to be uploaded soon...
help us to make good decision when selecting IKEA product...

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Added on November 18, 2012, 2:22 amI think a bit waste to install kitchen cabinet in wet kitchen instead of dry kitchen... just build a RC cabinet with tiles... could last longer...

I just found IKEA kitchen cabinet more stylish compare to other...just not very sure about their quality only...

This post has been edited by angkee83: Nov 18 2012, 02:22 AM

Ikea kitchen use Blum sets, guaranteed better than outside. The doors are thicker and very strong. I love my Rubrik tempered glass doors. ONLY ikea has tempered glass doors. I use all glass doors for upper cabinets and all stainless steel doors for lower cabinets. Very easy to clean and no fear of getting killed by falling sharp glass shrapnel.

MAKE SURE YOU PAY FOR INSTALLATION! Once you pay the initial amount, they will come back for next 25 years FOC if you have complaints. Trust me.... they came back 3 times just to service.

Very professional installation job.

Get Uncle Chong to measure your cabinets and plug points. The fee is refundable upon purchase.

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Added on November 18, 2012, 7:48 amIf you wish to have solid or granite tops, it does NOT void Ikea warranty on the doors and cabinets as long as you don't cut holes in the cabinets or doors.





This post has been edited by twins9: Nov 18 2012, 07:48 AM

Thanks for the pieces of information? by the way, regarding to coutertop? can those wood coutertop leave stain or knife cut if accidentally split some red wine or knife cut?

if you have an oiled top and leave it too ling then yes wine can leave a mark. you need to regularly apply oil on those tops then a spil wont leave a mark if (!) you act within a couple of minutes. i have one wooden top for the kitchen island (oak) - nice, but needs an oiling once a year.

ok here are some pictures of how their stuff looks like after almost 7 years. the top is still perfect even around the sink. all we do is give the fronts a wipe now and then.

pictures are for the drawer fronts, sink area, hob area and nearby - even the fumes cant do any damage to the wall cabinets as you can see (of course the hood is helping lah!).

Hi PJusa,

If my kitchen cabinet is L-shaped, can Ikea KC be fitted or customised?

How much roughly was your whole set of KC with hob and hood etc?

Will the IKEA installer also bore the hole for the hood (air oulet)? That means, will they install it to the point of ready to use?

Thanks

Many likes for:
1. wealth of accessories
2. interchangeability
3. ease of upgrading from cabinet to drawer or pull out wire tray or pull out cabinets 4. Use of Blum fittings plus the ease of adding newer types of softclose Blum fittings (available from Kitch on Old Klang Rd), it's bargain.
5. With slight modification and some heavy DIY, its ease of fitting dishwashers in existing kitchen plumbing without hacking and without investing in an undersink garbage disposal unit (Insinkerator or Kleengard). *


* Disclaimer:
a. May not suit some of us as the sink area will be 82-86cm high. Ensure cooking area is on separate segment broken by a cabinet so that it could be set lower like 80cm.

b. Assumes an existing 13A socket strategically located to power the dishwasher and/or washing machine. Of course, this involves planning in a new kitchen or a total renovation on the sink side of the kitchen as electrical plug points need to be accessible (behind) for either or both appliances. Both dishwasher and washing machine could be rated at 10A or 13A so best if the electrician provide a dedicated point or if sharing, use only one appliance at a time - do not overload.

c. For dishwasher and washing machine waste water in the kitchen, waste pipes or fittings must be rated for 100-120 deg C temperature. In apartments, ask management or consult the manual if the pipes can withstand the heat of a 90 deg wash from a washing machine. Even if a pipe can not all connection parts in the whole length of the drain waste vent are rated for it. If it can, it surely can take a dishwasher. Grey PVC waste pipes cannot be used as it will become soft at 50 deg. Most home dishwasher hot programmes are at 70-75deg C whilst washing machine cotton wash can be up to 90 deg C.

d. Just make sure the excess fats from curry and such are disposed separately as they tend to clog.

e. Not all 90mm outlet non-Ikea sinks are usable, even though the Atlant sink traps are 90mm in diameter. Most kitchen outlet pipes are 40mm (1.5") but the Ikea Atlant is 42mm so a Universal compression fitting (note: it is not push fit which will definitely leak) between the two is needed to seal nicely without leaking. Ya this is the main hurdle.

Only thing to watch out for during installation:
1. For wooden worktops only, insist that installers apply caulk/silicon water proof seal on the cut-out area for sink. The reason they don't do this or is less inclined to is because they will tend to install the base frames first before the worktop. The silicon needs time to set or dry unless there's a quick setting formula in the market or tar. That's why it can take a while due to waiting for the silicon/caulk to dry somewhat. Otherwise, ask them to optimize installation time by starting on the sink cabinets first and then cut out the wood top and apply silicon/caulk and then continue with the rest or go for lunch while waiting for the silicon to dry. Then after the finish the rest, they can install the sink before leaving. This is of course, if you are asking them to install the sink for you.

Otherwise after 2 years or more they could start to rot and smell. Even if there's no water ingress from the worktop into the sink due to the waterproof gum resin they apply on the lip of the sink, condensation still occurs since air the inside of the sink cabinet cools slower than the stainless steel sink which starts to 'sweat'. Some stainless steel sinks have an anti-condensation coating but then the uncoated cut-out area of chip wood will experience expansion over time due to moisture ingress (seeping in).

2. For wood worktop, on the kitchen hob cut out area, maybe the roof-top type aluminium foil with the tar undercoating might help since temperature can be rather high under the hob surface which melts and vaporises the caulk/silicon. Like 1, this helps lengthen wood worktop from expansion due to moisture ingress over time.

3. For wooden worktops, ask CT Kitchen if they could supply aluminium backsplash (of course, you're willing to pay for the extra items) or if other kitchen installers have them. Solid surface doesn't need this as the backsplash lip will be added. The backsplash protects the part where the worktop meets the wall and prevents seepage from going in. Without a backsplash, this area can get mouldy over time.

This post has been edited by halcyon27: Nov 19 2012, 04:02 PM

halcyon27,

good tip with the silicon. IKEA installer did that without me having to ask them - so plus for them

rocklee88,

- If my kitchen cabinet is L-shaped, can Ikea KC be fitted or customised?

No problem at all. Mine is U-shaped. They have filler pieces to make it 100% fit.

- How much roughly was your whole set of KC with hob and hood etc?

The kitchen set us back a bomb cause its a combined wet&dry kitchen with kitchen island and all inside a 30 sqm room. I dont think it helps you a lot as it also contains 1 double fridge, wine fridge, dishwasher, oven etc.
You can easily configure an IKEA kitchen online and see your price. If you choose cheaper fronts you save a lot. If you feel like it, you can always change them later. I havent changed mine (yet).

- Will the IKEA installer also bore the hole for the hood (air oulet)? That means, will they install it to the point of ready to use?

I got my hood installed by my contractor who did the hole, piping and all. So I am not sure. My guess is that they can and will do so - perhaps for a fee. They did install dishwasher, hob and oven.

The condition still look very good!!! hope my tenant will give a good care of it after i install...

im commenting this coz it's true.

my house is furnished with IKEA wardrobes, i used BESTA for shoerack and bought their billy bookcase too. Can honestly say none of it is properly aligned. When you make complain to IKEA they will shift the blame to the installers.

When the installer is installing, already saw it sengit. And ,I told him to install again, and he refuse to. He said he screw it properly, IKEA cabinets got holes at the side he screw directly sure no problem.

So if no problem, then why the doors all sengit and misaligned one?

I am pissed

Luckily my kitchen cabinet is from those really do kitchen cabinets one, and the doors are properly aligned. So i dont get why IKEA one can't be aligned. if u wanna install IKEA one, be prepared to accept unsatisfied work.

This post has been edited by @Adele: Nov 20 2012, 06:11 PM

the hinges have screws inside to allow you allign 100%. i have installed many before (just installed 6 besta sets in my laundry room for storage myself). getting it right is tricky but its not hard. i have them 99,9% totally aligned. you just have to get used to the screw settings and understand how they work. look at the manual and try yourself. or post a picture and i help you with what screw to start with. its easy once you get the hang of it.

@- PJusa>
1- Did you use concrete base?
2- What is the height of your base? (Ikea kitchen base are 5" - 6" high.)
3- What is your total height for your kitchen counter top?