How Long Should a New Kitchen Last?

Choose your newly fitted kitchen wisely and you could be living with it for the next 50 years. Whether you would want to do that or not is a different matter but high quality units will remain in good shape for longer than you might think. Of course there are factors that might influence a revamp of your kitchen long before half a century has passed. Some kitchens need upgrading sooner than others and of course a kitchen lifespan can be totally all about personal preference. 

Obviously, the less you use your kitchen the longer it will retain it’s good looks, but many kitchens are much more multi-functional than they once were and must endure a lot of traffic, which means they are prone to more damage. The way to mitigate this is to choose cabinets and finishes that are more durable. For example a high gloss surface will scratch much more easily than one that is made from natural stone or wood. 

 

Also if you have a kitchen that is hard to navigate because it’s an awkward shape or size, then it will also suffer chips and dings as you’ll be bumping into it more often. And if appliances aren’t placed in the correct area, or without the proper ventilation then this will also affect the kitchen lifespan. 

If the carcass of a cabinet is still sound then there are ways to revamp your kitchen without a full scale re-vamp but once their infrastructure begins to deteriorate then it really is time to replace them for new. 

Constant use can play havoc with your kitchen over time and you might find that counter tops have become blistered by heat and scratched by use, or that kitchen doors bang into each other or drawers are sticking too. 

Water is everywhere in the kitchen and this can cause wood to warp so that cabinets no longer close in the way they should, or there may be delamination, bubbling and discolouration affecting your kitchen cabinets. 

Too much steam or a water leak can lead to the shortening of your kitchen lifespan by creating mould. If caught early you might be OK but mould has a habit of creeping up on you and if left it can cause problems in your kitchen and also affect your family’s health if it gets really bad. 

The most common materials you’ll find used in kitchens throughout the world is medium density fibreboard (MDF), plywood, chipboard with melamine, real wood and in some cases, stainless steel. 

You might not want the same kitchen for 50 years but you certainly don’t need to replace it every five if you don’t want to. One of the main things you can do is keep it in good condition. When you choose a kitchen, ensure storage is easy to clean for example. Build-ups of moisture can play havoc with your kitchen so ensure you have good ventilation. You may love your kitchen but think it looks a bit dated. If that is the case, you can change the cabinet doors and kitchen faucets to give it a new look, or introduce a kitchen island to add a modern touch. 

 

If you’re looking for a new kitchen, the team at Kitchen & Bathroom Creations will be more than happy to help. Take a look at our range of kitchens or visit a local showroom near you.