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Most people associate a Modular kitchen as
one that looks great, is made in the factory and is installed onsite. However there
is more to a Modular Kitchen than just the good looks.
In this article we will look at what really
is a modular kitchen, what kind of site preparation is needed to install a
modular kitchen as well as the comparative advantages and disadvantages of a
Modular Kitchen against its carpenter made counterpart. So here goes
What
is a Modular Kitchen - The 3 Core Elements.
1. Modularity:
As the name suggests a "Modular" Kitchen consists of modules that are
assembled together. Each module consisting of the Carcass (box) and the shutter
is independent and can be taken in and out of the full unit separately. This
also helps in easy repair when the kitchen ages - for example you can completely replace the
wet unit (unit under the washbasin) if it spoils after some years of use without
disrupting the rest of the kitchen.
2. Installation:
The Carcass or the box of
a Modular kitchen rests on 3-4 inch adjustable legs, typically 4 legs under
each module. It does not rest on a wooden plank. The legs are hidden behind a
PVC (not wood) skirting. The legs & the PVC skirting help because
(a) As mentioned
in point 1 earlier the unit/ module can be independently moved in & out and
(b) the wood
does not touch the ground, hence no chances of any damage caused by water, mop
etc. and
(c) since the
legs are adjustable they help on levelling the kitchen carcass irrespective of
a minor slope or an undulation in the floor. This helps ensure that the
countertop can be laid properly.
3. Accessories:
Top quality Modular kitchens do NOT have wire steel baskets and accessories in
the drawer chambers. Having wire baskets is a local Indian concept and has been
continuing since the days when manufacturers did not have better options
available. However nowadays soft closing drawers along with matching drawer
storage accessories are available in India. Steel wire baskets also come with
their own set of problems such as the cutlery & plates peeping out of the
wire frame and interfering with the drawer movement, robustness of the joint
between the shutter and the wire basket etc.
Site Preparation for installation of a Modular Kitchen
Bare
is better:
Space for a modular kitchen needs to be
100% bare - that is - NO Pre-Installed Countertop, NO raised platform on the
floor, NO pre-built shelves. While most big builders in Bangalore have started
offering a bare kitchen space with the assumption that the customer would go in
for a Modular Kitchen, smaller builders still include the Countertop and / or a
Floor Platform pre-fixed at the time of possession. Hence if your builder gives
you a choice and you are looking to install a modular kitchen then do ask your
builder to deliver a bare kitchen to you, else you will need to spend extra
time, money and effort to demolish the platform & remove the countertop.
The reason why a modular kitchen cannot be
installed under an existing counter top is that despite best efforts there is
likelihood of a space between the existing countertop and the carcass installed
below it. This space not only leads to pest management issues but also affects
the overall finish as an uneven gap may show from the front. Also, the brackets
on which the countertop is installed come in the way of the carcass limiting
the design and space options of the cabinets. In a modular kitchen, the
countertop is laid on top after the carcass is installed hence the finish is
clean and slick PLUS the design is limited only by creativity.
A platform on the floor also incurs similar
issues as above. Due to the presence of a concrete platform on the floor it is
not possible to install the “legs” that we spoke about earlier. Since now the
carcass sits directly on and touching the top of the platform any water
accumulation between the two leads to early wear of the carcass. Also in
absence of the “legs, it becomes difficult to level the carcass. Carpenters try
to level the carcass by providing packing between the floor counter and the
carcass but it is really not a long-lasting way of doing this nor does it lead
to a clean external finish.
Plumbing
& Electrical:
Ideally the design of a modular kitchen
needs to be thought through before the plumbing and electrical work is done.
This leads to the kitchen seamlessly fitting into the space without any redo of
the plumbing or electrical points saving both time & cost. In addition, it
avoids the wires showing messing up with the overall look of the Kitchen.
Planning for plumbing & electrical includes decision on where the wet area
should be and appropriate plumbing for the same, provision of electrical points
for the Hob, Chimney, Water Purifier, Oven, microwave and other appliances
(especially important if one is planning a built in Oven/ Microwave). LED
Lighting within the cabinets and on the backsplash is also quite popular
nowadays and electrical layout planning for the same is also a key requirement
while site planning.
Another thing that usually gets missed
during the site preparation stage is planning for the chimney exhaust. Most
builders have the Chimney exhausts opening into the utility which, if closed,
leads to the smoke landing right back into the home. Not only is the exhaust piping
required to be aligned such that it opens up to the outside, it also needs to
be hidden with a loft or false roofing so it does not interfere with the look
of the Kitchen.
Advantages and Disadvantages
While a lot has been written about the
advantages of a Modular Kitchen over its traditional counterpart there are
places where the old school, carpenter made kitchen fares better. Below is an
exhaustive list of advantages & disadvantages of each
Where a Modular Kitchen beats a Traditional Carpenter made Kitchen
- Better Fit & Finish – since it is
factory made
- No hassle on site – only site preparation
is required
- Modularity – Wet unit can be taken out
and replaced in case of wear
- Installed on Legs that protect the
carcass from water & wear
- Quicker to build & install
Where a Traditional Carpenter made Kitchen beats a Modular Kitchen
- No choice in case of pre-existing
countertop or a raised counter on the floor
- 100% Control on the ply that is used. Most
modular vendors do not provide this choice
- Uses less plywood (since each unit is not
separate) – hence costs less
So, if you are out in the market hunting
for a kitchen for your new home the above should prepare you well to make the
right decision.
Signing off
Nandita
PS: If you have a question to ask then please note: On Nov 15th we have launched the Q&A module on The Studio website. The Q&A interface on this blog was unable to scale to the number of questions that we have been getting - you would have noticed being unable to scroll down to a question once the number of questions below a certain post increases beyond a certain limit.
Hence if you have a question then please post it at https://thestudiobangalore.com/questions-and-answers/
PS: If you have a question to ask then please note: On Nov 15th we have launched the Q&A module on The Studio website. The Q&A interface on this blog was unable to scale to the number of questions that we have been getting - you would have noticed being unable to scroll down to a question once the number of questions below a certain post increases beyond a certain limit.
Hence if you have a question then please post it at https://thestudiobangalore.com/questions-and-answers/
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