How to competitively tender, but still get the kitchen you need: Step by Step Guide

If you're in the process of sourcing funding for a new kitchen, you’ll know that it’s not as simple as it seems.

Making your kitchen proposal look like an attractive prospect at a reasonable price can be tough – but cut corners on quality and you could be in for a disappointment.

Step 1: Get to know your kitchen specification
Not all kitchens are created equal. While you’re in the preliminary stages of planning your kitchen with the rest of the committee, get to grips with what different kitchen providers have to offer.

• 1. MDF/timber built frame
  Available from the likes of Howdens, B&Q and Homebase, these kitchens look great at home – and their price looks great on paper. But MDF is a porous substance, and while it might be holding up ok at your house, it can’t withstand the heavy use a church kitchen goes through over the course of a year. MDF kitchens will quickly need replacing, and rarely conform to health and safety code after a couple of years of heavy use.


• 2. Semi-commercial steel cabinets + stainless steel worktops
  A steel carcass system with a cosy domestic aesthetic, this is usually the best option for a church kitchen. Unlike an MDF build, it can withstand a lot of wear and tear without becoming a health and safety hazard – or starting to look shabby. Powder-coated steel doors inject personality and colour, making a more natural fit with the church surroundings. Take a look at Steelplan’s semi-commercial kitchens here.


• 3. Fully-commercial stainless steel catering kitchen
  An industrial kitchen is great for restaurants and hotels. Anywhere else, a fully-commercial kitchen will look harsh and have an institutional feel. They may be long lasting, but they could be unwelcoming for your volunteers and be off-putting to casual hall hirers. They are also the most expensive option, so avoid being over-sold a full-commercial set up.

Step 2: Choosing a semi-commercial kitchen
A semi-commercial kitchen will last longer than an MDF build but look less corporate than a fully-commercial stainless steel kitchen. Although the outset cost is comparatively more than an MDF kitchen, the overall investment will be less: they are easy to maintain, with less repair and maintenance costs and a much longer lifespan.

Step 3: Competitive tendering
Once you’ve opted for a Steelplan semi-commercial kitchen, it’s important to get competitive rates for remedial building work to present to your finance committee. When approaching two or three local builders or architects (depending on how extensive your refurbishment project is), ask for installation of a semi-commercial kitchen – Steelplan Kitchens or equivalent specification – to be included in the tender.

Knowing how to make sure the right specification is included can be difficult, but our kitchen experts can help. We’ve included a full specification list at the end of this article – just copy and paste into your tender submitted to contractors – but if you need any further help contact our kitchen design team.

This process should help you to get funding for the semi-commercial kitchen your church needs, as opposed to a kitchen that will be a temporary solution not a long term investment. If you need any further advice from our kitchen design team, call us on 0844 809 9186 or email [email protected] to arrange a free consultation.

In the meantime, take a look at our new video on how a semi-commercial kitchen could work for you.

BENEFITS

Durability

The inherent strength of metal and a combination of the benefits listed on this page mean that a steel Kitchen will far exceed the life expectancy of a standard wooden carcass kitchens in semi-commercial environments.

Impervious to water

The polyester powder coated steel is impervious to water. No more swollen chipboard or rotting MDF.

Fire resistant

The metal is fire resistant and the powder coat finish formulated so that no toxic fumes are emitted in the case of fire.

Material

Unlike wooden/chipboard cabinets the Steelplan Kitchen carcass does not contain any material that may sustain, harbour or encourage insects or bacteria.

Cleanliness

The powder coated finish means that the units can be kept to an extremely high level of cleanliness and hygiene at all times. Essential when used in health locations.

Asthetics

It looks great! The hidden steel backbone is dressed up with a choice of doors to produce whatever look and feel you want.