06/04/2024
Shaker Kitchens from DIY Kitchens
There are a bewildering amount of ‘Shaker’ kitchens made by DIY Kitchens UK. I will attempt to break them down into categories to make your choice easier.
Foil wrapped doors
Dalby, Malton, Linton, are kitchens with foil wrap doors.
Foil wrapped doors, also known as thermofoil doors, are MDF doors wrapped with a layer of plastic that is resistant to chipping. However, this thermofoil layer is vulnerable to damage from heat and water as heat can cause the plastic layer to bubble and melt and water can get between the wood and plastic and cause it to peel. The vinyl tends to peel on the floor unit doors below the kitchen sink, wall unit doors above toasters and kettles, and doors and drawers either side of the oven, where the seals start to degrade and release heat.
Remember that while foil-wrapped doors can look appealing initially, their long-term durability and resistance to wear and tear may be limited. If you’re considering kitchen renovations, it’s worth exploring other options that offer better longevity and performance.There are ways of repairing foil wrapped doors but that generally means removing the foil completely with a hot air gun and painting the MDF underneath-on every door and drawer front. Very expensive.
Painted MDF Doors
Clayton and Stanbury are kitchens with Painted MDF Doors MDF doors don’t have the grained look of Solid wood frame doors (unless you go for the foil wrapped Malton ) but they do give the same shaker look and feel but with a smooth painted finish.
Medium-Density Fibreboard, mostly known as MDF is a type of composite wood. It is a top-grade, amalgamated material which gives better performance than solid wood in many areas. Made from cast-off wood fibres and resin, MDF is machine dried and pressed for the production of thick and even sheets. Having been built from recycled materials it qualifies as “green”. If MDF gets wet ,though, it will swell up like a sponge and flake. If it even absorbs moisture it will irreversibly swell up. Danger areas are sink cabinets and Dishwasher doors. Not normally a problem unless the paint finish is breached and water gets in-danger areas are hinge holes
5 piece Painted Wood doors
Linwood, Norton and Silsden
The traditional way to make a door. Solid wood frame with a veneer centre panel. Not a lot to go wrong with this that cannot be repaired. There can appear cracking between the various parts of the door especially in very damp or hot conditions but can be repaired
In frame 5 piece Painted Wood doors
Harewood and Helmsley
These are copies of the more expensive bespoke kitchens made by high end companies like Tom Howley, Martin Moore etc etc. These, however, are not made in the same cabinet construction as those (with a butt hinge) but with a more contemporary concealed hinge.
Next are all the kitchens mentioned, with the current price of a 600mm base unit (ex VAT).You can see how the price goes up from £83.90 for the cheapest 600mm foil wrapped door unit to £204 for an in frame unit painted to a colour of your choice. Hope that helps your decision making.
Malton/Linton
Is an MDF foil wrapped shaker door that looks like painted wood, but it’s much cheaper than a painted solid real wood door.
The doors as well as the drawers have the v grooves. The doors and drawer fronts are 22mm thick.
The centre panel is recessed by 11mm
The door frame width is 115mm
600mm base unit £83.90 plus VAT
Clayton
Is a smooth painted MDF shaker door with v grooves on the main door but not the drawer.
The doors and drawer fronts are 22mm thick.
The centre panel is recessed by 7mm
The door frame width is 105mm
600mm base unit £93.90 plus VAT
Dalby
Is a smooth foil MDF shaker door with v grooves on the main door but not the drawer.
The doors and drawer fronts are 22mm thick.
The centre panel is recessed by 7mm
The door frame width is 105mm 600mm base unit £83.90 plus VAT
Stanbury
Is a smooth painted MDF shaker door but it does not have the v grooves on the doors.
The doors and drawer fronts are 19mm thick.
The centre panel is recessed by 7mm
The door frame width is 105mm
600mm base unit £93.89 plus VAT
Norton
Is a 5 piece solid wood shaker door but this door does not have v grooves and gives a very smooth seamless look.
The doors and drawer fronts are 20mm thick.
The centre panel is recessed by 10mm
The door frame width is 105mm
600mm base unit £118.00 plus VAT
Linwood
Is a 5 piece solid wood shaker door with v grooves on the main door but not the drawer fronts.
The doors and drawer fronts are 20mm thick.
The centre panel is recessed by 7mm
The door frame width is 105mm
600mm base unit £118.00 plus VAT
Silsden
Is a 5 piece solid wood shaker door but this door does not have v grooves, giving it a smooth seamless finish.
The main door and drawers both have a raised centre panel are the doors are 20mm thick.
The door frame width is 85mm
600mm base unit £83.90 plus VAT
Then there are bespoke (Painted in a colour of your choice) versions of Malton, Stanbury, Clayton, Linwood, Norton and Silsden.
In Frame Kitchens
Harewood
Framed. Doors in 5 part construction. 12 colours. Grained finish
600mm base unit £174.00 plus VAT
Helmsley
Framed. Doors in 5 part construction. 12 colours. Grained finish
600mm base unit £174.00 plus VAT
Then there are bespoke (Painted in a colour of your choice) versions of Harewood and Helmsley
Bespoke Harewood and Helmsley
600mm base unit £204.00 plus VAT
Note these pictures are not of DIY Kitchens units but show the potential dangers of these types of door
