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Kitchen base units installed too high?

Posted by P. M., on Tue 13 May 2014 02:48pm

Hi, I just need some advice. I just had a new IKEA METOD kitchen fitted, but the base units are too high: 930mm at the lowest point and 950mm at the highest (I’m only 5’1 so a wok on the pan supports comes up to my chest!). There is a gap running all along between the plinth and the bottom of the unit - the builder says that a 10mm gap is usually left between them for "tolerance", but due to the floor uneveness, the gap stretches up to 30mm at the highest point. This is unsightly and terrible for cleaning, but the builder says it can’t be helped, and insists all was done correctly. Is this a common problem?

Thomas Lockwood

Tue 13 May 2014 03:50pm

Base units should be set at about 860 mm depending on how level the floor is and that allows for a 40mm worktop. Ideally the top of the worktop should be no higher than 910mm from the finished floor. It sounds like the builder hasn't allowed for the thickness of the worktop. He's made a mistake and should rectify it free of charge.

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