Article contributed by Mr Dhruv Trigunayat
CEO of Ultrafresh Modular Solutions Limited
Carpenter-made kitchens have always been a popular choice among homeowners. For years, people have favoured those conventionally built kitchens where the decision of the kitchen was made by browsing through several catalogues and contacting different carpenters for reasonable budgets, amidst the limited kitchen styles it offers.
However, today with the advent of Modular Kitchens, a customized kitchen concept is rapidly replacing the traditional kitchen era as it offers various kitchen styles which come with predesigned furniture units. The kitchens are designed for modern home needs giving them a stylish and luxurious touch. In changing times, with the level of convenience offered, integration of modern technologies and custom-made fit for optimum space utilization, modular kitchens have become a preferred choice among customers.
Yet, despite of growing popularity of modular kitchens, there are some myths and misconceptions among buyers when deciding for buying a modular kitchen. To highlight key aspects of the modular kitchen concept and breakthrough the common myths, here are some of the key aspects behind the most frequent modular kitchen fallacies.
- Low–quality Materials:
One of the common fallacies found around modular kitchens is that they are manufactured by using low-quality products. Also, the materials used to construct a modular kitchen are not long-lasting, so the product quality deteriorates over time. However, a modular kitchen is far from low-quality; modular kitchens are manufactured with high-quality materials that ensure durability. Whereas carpenter-crafted kitchens are entirely man-made with many downsides that reflect through the poor finishing of the product created through the inferior quality of the material. These factors make carpenter-crafted kitchens less durable than well-made and sturdy modular kitchens.
- Modular Kitchens are Expensive:
There is a perception created about modular kitchens that they are expensive, due to which consumers are hesitant to invest in them. With this, the consumer’s natural inclination bends towards preferring a carpenter-made kitchen as it is perceived to be much more affordable than the modular kitchen. However, there is a need to understand the fact that in the carpenter-made kitchen, the cost keeps on fluctuating, as it varies depending on the changes in the design, raw material cost and volatile charges of the carpenter basis the requirements. However, a modular kitchen provides a variety of kitchen 3D designs that helps to customize the products as per the customer’s needs and expectations with fewer changes in the set budget.
- Limited Kitchen Design Options:
There is a myth about modular kitchens that the design choices for kitchens are limited compared to carpenter-made kitchens. It is considered that carpenter-made kitchens depending upon the carpenter’s spontaneous design skills offer better kitchen designs than modular kitchens. However, the modular kitchen designs are created using advanced technology including a visual tour and a 3D presentation with a variety of designs. This enables final product delivery as identical to the created design image. On the other hand, the visualization and technology elements are missing from the carpenter-made kitchen process. At the least, the carpenter is most likely to provide the design with a preliminary drawing on paper, without any assurance that your kitchen will end up looking precisely the same.
- Time-consuming process:
A widespread misconception about modular kitchens is that it involves a very time-consuming process, and the work does not get completed on schedule. The longer process and time incur additional charges and the modular kitchen eventually becomes more expensive than in comparison to the carpenter-made kitchen. On the contrary, carpenter-built kitchens, which are crafted on-site become a tedious and lengthy procedure involving the inconvenience of excess noise, dust, and mandatory on-site supervision by the customers. However, the modular kitchens are manufactured in the factories and are ready to install which offer hassle-free installation and convenience to the customers. On average, it takes only 45 days for the modular kitchen’s end-to-end installation process. In contrast, carpenter-made kitchens are handcrafted without any set schedule for completion. This further impacts the budget of the customer who ends up paying more.
- Modular Kitchens are not Durable:
In the carpenter-made kitchen, the cabinets are made of wood, making them vulnerable to termites and other borers. However, modular kitchens are manufactured using a variety of options such as high-quality plywood, and steel. These materials offer quality like boiling water resistance & treated better to manage moisture. Hence, the modular kitchen is proved to be the most sustainable and durable choice for the customers than carpenter-made kitchens.
- Lack of Customer After-Sales-Service:
One of the key highlights and reasons for customers to choose a modular kitchen over a carpenter-made kitchen is the quick and convenient after-sales service and warranty feature offered, which has never been the case in the carpenter-made kitchen segment. A modular kitchen manufacturer provides well-organized, and timely after-sales- service support to cater to all needs of the customers and keep them happy. However, in the case of the carpenter, the work is completed without any repair or maintenance assurance. The carpenter normally works with a small unorganized team of helpers, he cannot provide as rapid a service as a professional kitchen maker, who is supported by a team of professional and skilled technicians responsible for installations and after-sales service.
In comparison to carpenter-built vs. modular kitchens, Modular kitchens are proved to be the best choice for customers as they provide excellent finishing and a wide variety of kitchen styles designed with skill and professionalism. Carpenter-made kitchens, on the other hand, provide traditional design kitchens that lack finishing elements and eventually become heavy on the pocket. Hence, in today’s modern living space, modular kitchens are gaining popularity as they are intended to adapt to the needs of the family without necessitating alterations to the kitchen and they bring simplicity and organization to even the smallest of home spaces with effective storage solutions.