KITCHENS
CUSTOM KITCHENS - DELIVERED
BMJ talks to Bristan’s Lisa Ward, about the role of customisation in the kitchen, and how merchants can support installers looking to make the most of any home improvement boom..
T
he phrase ‘improve not move’ has been around for a number of years now, but in 2019 it has never been more relevant. According to insurance specialists
Hiscox, there has been a five-fold increase in the number of homeowners choosing to renovate their existing property rather than move to a new house. To be exact, where just 3% chose to improve rather than move in 2013, 15% are now making the decision to stay put. Recent figures place the overall cost of the average full-scale home refurb at around £42,000, with up to £11,700 of this going on the kitchen – more than a quarter of the total budget. However, given the scale of this investment, homeowners will be looking for ways to keep their kitchen looking fresh, without continually having to splash out.
This, according to Lisa Ward, senior product manager at brassware specialist Bristan, is where customisation comes in. “By recommending products which can be updated quickly and cost-effectively, merchants can offer installers a solution which keeps their customers happy, no matter what the budget,” she says. Of all the changes which can be made to a kitchen, one of the most effective and budget- friendly is tap replacement. Ward says that many current interior trends revolve around period styles and finishes: “For example, this year, metallic materials and Art Deco features have widely been touted as top trends throughout the home. And, given the wide variety of taps available on the market, from traditional to ultra-modern, there is always going to be a model which can capture the look which the homeowner wants.”
However, she continues, these trends are constantly changing, and offering a customisable option can provide installers with the perfect solution for style savvy householders. “With this in mind, kitchen taps which can
28
be replaced with minimum fuss, and without a huge additional cost are well-worth stocking. The typical kitchen tap installation can be fiddly and
time-consuming - getting access to the fitting amidst the bowls, waste, hoses and the carcass of the unit itself can be problematic, with the installer squeezing a spanner into the smallest of spaces. What’s more, the installer has to twist their body into unnatural positions to get the tap out, all whilst trying to stop the tap on top from wobbling around.”
Two part taps
Ward adds: “Fortunately, there are two-part installation taps available which make this process much simpler. Our Easyfit taps, for example, are supplied with two isolation valves, meaning the water supply can be isolated without turning it off at the mains, so the tap mechanism can be installed prior to the main body of the tap being fitted. The base can be fitted first, whilst the tap body can be fitted moments later using a hex key to speed up the installation process. Unlike standard taps, the base is secured from the top, so installers only need to spend time under the sink to connect the water using the flexible tails included.” She says the benefits are a speedy install and easier tap replacement; Easyfit taps have a common base, and a new body is fitted in minutes. This also means less likelihood of damage to, worktops or sinks. “Installers often struggle to get insurance against accidental damage incurred during installation and given the fitting process of a standard kitchen tap, this can mean a much slower, and cautious job.” Again, Ward adds, this is where two-part tap installation can help. “As the base can be fitted first, it can be installed before a new kitchen suite goes in, meaning that tiling and sealing
can be completed more easily, with no risk of accidental damage to the work surface or the tap, whilst the base is fitted at a later stage when the kitchen is in its final stages”
Boiling water taps are increasingly common in kitchens, Ward continues. “The key here, again, is choice and adaptability. There are now options available which not only provide, hot, cold and boiling water, but filtered water, too – meaning that whatever the homeowner wants, the tap can provide at the touch of a button. “As a space for entertaining and day-to-day living, the kitchen truly is the heart of the home – and as more homeowners choose to stay put, quick and easy updates are in high demand. With innovative new products arriving on the market all the time, installers will need their merchants to help navigate the wide range of options available to them, to keep customers happy with customisable options.”
BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net April 2019
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
