Any else having issues with Roundhouse kitchens? Post Reply

[Tris]

Hello everyone,

We bought a Roundhouse kitchen a few years ago. We wanted a darker kitchen and were initially pleased with it. Very quickly though the paint started to chip off all over the kitchen, in spite of our careful use. Roundhouse use white MDF so, as the paint chipped off, bright white spots started appearing all over the kitchen cupboards. We now have white spots everywhere and have taken to colouring them in with a dark felt tip pen.

In addition, we have multiple doors which have started swelling at the bottom. Roundhouse claim that it’s due to excessive use of moisture. This can be only due to cleaning but what kitchen isn’t designed to be cleaned?

At the point of sale no one pointed out to us that:

1) It’s a painted kitchen and it’s likely to chip very quickly. Roundhouse now tell us in the post sales chat that painted kitchens just chip but, having only ever had cheaper non painted kitchens in the past, I didn’t realise this is a thing with painted kitchens. It would have been good to know at the point of sale as I wouldn’t have bought it.

2) The dark painted is literally painted over white MDF so it’s going to look very obviously pockmarked within a year or two.

3) The kitchens are designed for excessive moisture. I’m still trying to work out what constitutes excessive moisture? We certainly don’t bath our kitchen cupboards.

Is anyone else having these problems? I ask because Roundhouse are refusing to accept there is a problem with the kitchen. Their implication is that it is our use of the kitchen rather than their design. Clearly, we know how we use it and the most galling thing is that we’re incredibly tidy and fastidious in caring for our home. We have had no issues with other aspects of our build except for the Roundhouse kitchen.

Keen to know if we’re just unlucky or others have the same problems.

Thanks!

Tris

[Goldhawk]

How many years is a few years ago?

Do you have plinths at the bottom or are your doors flush with the kitchen floor?

[Summerbird]

Hi Tris. Yes, how many years ago was it? And do you have spray finish or hand painted?

We had our kitchen installed a few years ago and, despite two boisterous kids and a dog, it still looks great but we had to touch up some chipped areas (we have a lot of very dark cupboards). We did it with the original paint though, not markets, as you would never get the colour and texture right with them. Also, our kitchen is hard wood and hand painted not MDF and spray painted which is also easier to fix and it ages differently. I know our friends with spray painted finish can't fix it as well. And yes, we gave them exactly the same feedback - why do they use white undercoat for dark cabinets...? Seems like a massive design flaw.

I don't understand the swelling doors though. This doesn't sound right at all. We have lots of floor to ceiling cupboards and wash our floors all the time, kids spill water, no swelling anywhere whatsoever. All wood needs to be painted with waterproof paint to avoid it.

Sorry about their aftersale care manner. Thankfully never had to deal with it. We absolutely love our kitchen and the fitting team were amazing but we found their sales team obnoxious.

[LoveShoes]

Hmm – I love my painted wood kitchen which I’ve had for 14 plus years.  It’s bespoke but not by a brand.  It’s been hand painted 3 times in 14 years with various touch ups.  Love it as I do, the painted element is a total pain on the high traffic / high use areas such as the pan drawer, bin, dishwasher, sink and crockery drawer whereas other areas are virtually pristine.  For some reason the skirting / bottom plinth gets a lot of wear and tear throughout the kitchen diner – possibly over enthusiastic (careless) vacuum cleaning / mopping taking its toll.  It was last painted 3 years ago just before Covid and 3 children, dog and busy family life have taken their toll.   See pics.  Paint touch-up is on the long ‘jobs to do list’.  I have problems with my wooden front door swelling and sticking from time to time but have never had a problem in the kitchen or utility so that does sound odd. 

Wear & tear on the bin and crockery drawer

Cupboard in the dining area painted at the same time but not used as often

 

[Tris]

Thanks for all your messages everyone. We had the kitchen fitted 6 years ago. It started chipping within months of installation though and about 3 years ago Roundhouse took everything away and repainted it but the chipping reappeared very quickly again after that. 

We have plinths at the bottom and they are very scuffed but that is to be expected with hoovering etc. It's the chips all over the rest of the cupboards which is the issue. 

My conclusion is that using white MDF under a dark painted kitchen is a huge design flaw. Some of you have messaged to say that you have a tough undercoat which is a similar colour to the overcoat. It sounds like this is what we need as well. I also wonder if the paint is not water proof as some of you have pointed out and this might be part of the issue? 

I just wish Roundhouse had pointed out at the point of sale that a painted kitchen will chip so quickly and that a dark coloured kitchen is not a good idea as they paint it over white MDF with no undercoat! If I had known any of the above I wouldn't have bought the kitchen...