What to Check When Your Kitchen Is Delivered

The One Rule

Do not sign the acceptance certificate until you have completed a full inspection. Once signed, appearance complaints are much harder to pursue — the manufacturer can claim defects appeared during use.

What to Have With You

• Your copy of the contract with the project drawings and materials specification
• A tape measure — to verify key dimensions
• A torch or phone light — to check corners and edges
• A spirit level — to check shelves and carcasses are level
• A clean white cloth — wipe surfaces and see what comes off

1. Completeness

• All items from the specification are present — count carcasses, doors, shelves
• All hardware is fitted: hinges, drawer runners, handles, lift systems
• Soft-close mechanisms work on all doors and drawers
• Hardware warranty cards and product passports are handed over

2. Cabinet Doors

• Colour and texture match the approved sample — check in daylight
• No scratches, chips, or dents on the face surface
• Edge banding sits flush all the way round with no lifting or bubbling
• Doors are aligned: gaps between them are equal (±1 mm is fine, ±3 mm needs adjustment)
• PVC film is sealed tight at all edges with no lifting corners
• Painted doors: no runs, bare patches, or colour variation between doors from the same batch

3. Carcasses

• Melamine board has no chips, especially at edges — check ends and internal corners
• Edge banding applied to all exposed edges, no bare sections
• Back panel is fixed flat with no waves or gaps
• Inside is clear of sawdust, shavings, and production debris
• Shelves are horizontal — check with a level
• Carcasses are plumb and level, fixed to the wall

4. Drawers

• Drawer opens and closes smoothly without sticking
• Soft-close engages cleanly — drawer pulls itself shut fully
• Drawer front is aligned, gaps to adjacent doors are even
• No lateral play — the drawer doesn't rock side to side
• Drawer base is not bowed; base clips are in place

5. Worktop

• No chips, scratches, or cracks — especially at hob and sink cut-outs
• Joints between worktop sections are tight with no gaps; silicone applied neatly
• All exposed edges are finished: end cap or edge strip in place
• Worktop sits flat on the carcasses with no sag in the middle
• Sink cut-out: clean edges with no chips, sealed with silicone

6. Hardware

• Hinges: all doors open and close without effort or noise
• Runners: the brand on the runner matches what was specified — check the label on the runner body
• Lift systems: the door panel opens and stays up without support
• Handles: all fixed without play, screws fully tightened
• Adjustable feet: carcasses are stable with no rocking

7. Dimensions

• Upper cabinet height from floor matches the project
• Gap between worktop and bottom of upper cabinets is at least 450 mm (500–600 mm is standard)
• Appliance housing openings match the appliance dimensions
• Cabinet depth: base units 560–600 mm, wall units 300–320 mm

How to Record Snags

• Every defect goes in writing on the acceptance certificate — verbal agreements don't count
• Each snag gets a specific remedy date — not "soon" or "next week"
• Both parties sign the certificate; take your copy before the installer leaves
• If the installer refuses to write snags into the certificate — write them yourself in two copies, have the installer sign one, keep the other
• Do not pay the final balance until every item on the snag list is resolved

What Is Not a Defect

• Slight shade variation between melamine boards from different production batches — within tolerance
• Wood grain on melamine does not repeat — this is a property of the decor, not a fault
• Minor tool marks on hinges and hardware from installation — not a hardware defect
• Door gaps of 1–2 mm — normal tolerance; adjustable on site with the hinge