Why Installation Matters More Than the Kitchen You Buy
- Graham Parnell
- Dec 28, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 30, 2025
When planning a new kitchen or bedroom, most homeowners focus on products - unit brands, appliances, worktops and finishes.
All important.
But here’s the truth that most people only realise after something goes wrong:
The quality of the installation matters more than the products themselves.
A poorly installed premium kitchen will disappoint every time. A well-installed, sensibly priced one will outperform it for years.
Where Problems Really Come From
In over 20 years of working in people’s homes, I’ve seen the same issues repeat:
Doors that don’t line up
Worktops cracking or lifting
Appliances failing early
Units moving or pulling away
Water damage appearing months later
In most cases, these aren’t product faults.
They’re installation failures - poor preparation, rushed fitting, incorrect sequencing, or a lack of accountability.
A Kitchen Is a System, Not Just Units
A professional installation involves far more than fitting boxes:
Accurate surveying
Understanding the building
Coordinating trades
Correct sequencing
Allowing for movement, moisture and heat
Miss any of these, and problems follow, sometimes long after the installer has left.
That’s why installation should never be an afterthought.
Cheap Installation Is Rarely Cheap
Cut-price installation often leads to:
Expensive remedial work
Rejected warranties
Disputes between retailer and installer
Homeowners caught in the middle
What looked like a saving at the start usually costs more in time, stress and money.
Why Professional & Accredited Installation Matters
Anyone can call themselves a kitchen installer.
Very few are independently vetted and held to recognised standards.
That’s why BIFIS registration matters. It provides reassurance that the installer:
Is competent and compliant
Works to professional standards
Is accountable for the installation
For homeowners, it’s about reducing risk on a major investment, not ticking a box.
The Bottom Line
If you’re planning a kitchen or bedroom project, ask one simple question:
“Who is responsible for making sure this actually works when it’s finished?”
If the answer isn’t clear, that’s a warning sign.
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