Optima Kitchens

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should a new kitchen cost?

There is no fixed amount what a new kitchen may or should cost. Costs are determine by a number of factors, such as customer requirements, specific materials used, type of work surfaces, size of kitchen, colour choices, etc.

Solid wood is substantially more expensive than melamine products. Certain wood species cost more than others - for example, Maple is more expensive than Cherry which is more expensive than Beech which is again more than Oak. There is also a price difference in melamine colours - with white melamine the most economical.
The manner in which the door edges are finished, not only have an effect on the final price, but also on the quality and durability. Granite work surfaces are available in over 300 colours - mined and transported from all over the world. Transport, mining and distributor cost all have a bearing on the market value of a particular stone.
Some customers prefer high levels of luxury and convenience whilst others are satisfied with less. Dedicated cabinets such as drawer, pot drawer, and vegetable units are more expensive than conventional storage cabinets with a single shelve.

How much should I spend on my kitchen?

Although there is no fixed rule on how much you should spend, it is generally accepted that the entire kitchen project will amount to about 7 - 12% of your home value.

An entire project will typically include kitchen cabinets, tiling, plumbing, electrical, appliances, finishing and paintwork.
Optima Kitchens recommend that you keep a beady eye on the value of your home in relation to other homes in your neighbourhood. You certainly do not want to over capitalize with little or no possibility of recovering your investment. Consult with your neighbours and determine the value of their kitchens. Apply the 7 - 12 % rule on the value of your home.
Discuss lower and upper budget limitations with property professionals such as architects, estate agents or your bank. Decide on a reasonable budget within your financial means. Be frank and open with your kitchen designer - discuss your budget for the kitchen project. Any worthy designer will be able to guide you through the mountain of choices affecting the final asking price.
Finally, do not always go with the cheapest quote. There is always a tangible reason why a quote is the cheapest. Very few things in life are exactly the same. Worse still, nothing in the cabinet industry is exactly the same. Also look at quality, service, customer support, convenience, commitment, back-up, warranties, company size, training, knowledge, reputation - to name a few.

How much do granite worktops cost?

There are more than 1500 different granites available worldwide, of which more than 300 are available and sold in South Africa. The majority of these 300 granites are imported from around the world.
Prices for granite vary substantially due to mining and transport costs, currency exchange rates and import duties, distributor costs and profit margins, etc.
locally mined granites are generally less expensive than the imported varieties. It is not unusual for certain scarce granites to cost up to 8 times the price of its cheaper cousins.
Granite worktops are normally 30 mm thick but certain granites are also available in a 20 mm thickness. Contrary to what some designers will inform you, the use of 20 mm granite has very little to do with the latest in style or design - rather it has everything to do with costs.
Although 20 mm thick granite has been available and in use for a number of years, it is far more likely to crack and break than the 30 mm thickness.
Although the 30 mm granite is 50% thicker than the 20 mm granite, it does not cost 50% more - at worse, the cost difference is only about 20%.

Do you do cabinets in a flat pack or knockdown system?

All are cabinets supplied by Optima Kitchens are fully assembled and constructed. Some designers mislead unsuspecting customers by proudly proclaiming and recommending flat pack or knockdown systems. They do not inform the customer of the drawbacks! A flat pack or knockdown system means that the components required for a particular cabinet is all supplied loose and are in basic component form. This means that the customer must attend to the assembly of each and every cabinet purchased. For the laymen, this is a very daunting task at best! Not only is the task daunting, complex and very time consuming, it is also fraud with potential things to go wrong;
components are short supplied,
components go missing,
unclear or incorrect instructions. When things go wrong as detailed above, it leads to additional expenses, time wastage and a whole heap of frustrations.

Do you do any cabinet repair jobs?

Optima Kitchens specializes in complete and new complete kitchens. Whether it is an existing or new house requiring a new kitchen, we are willing and able to do the work.
Optima Kitchens does not recommend doing any renovation or repair work on existing or old cabinets. On most occasions, it is more feasible and economical to replace the entire kitchen than doing some patchwork.
Additional problems arise with redundant materials, colour matching, dated specifications, water and rot problems.
It is also not always possible to detect every possible problem during the quoting stage. Some problems can only be detected or seen after the work has commenced.
This normally leads to the proverbial “hidden costs” clause being enforced - resulting in additional expenses for the customer. From a customer perspective, this is by no means a pleasant experience.

What does your Design Consultation cost?

Unlike many of our competitors, Optima Kitchens does not charge for design consultations.
We believe that you should not pay for our services, time and efforts whilst we attempt to procure your business.
If we fail to impress you enough to award your business to ourselves, we don’t deserve to be paid for such failure.
This is the risk of business which we willingly accept.

How soon can I have your quote?

As soon as we are able to have a design consultation with you.
All our consultants are equipped and trained to provide Quotes on Demand. Every consultant is equipped with the best PC’s, laptops, 3D design and cross linked costing software.
This enables them to provide you with a complete package on your very first design consultation. No endless delays, repeated site or showroom visitations. Also no running between our design office and yourself whilst fine tuning your design.
Obtaining quotes can be a very lengthy and time consuming procedure. Not so at Optima Kitchens!

This is service at its best!

Are your kitchens expensive?

The terms “expensive” and “inexpensive” are relative terms and do not mean the same thing to all people.
However, in terms of everything we provide our customers with and when compared on a apple for apple basis, you will find Optima Kitchens  to offer the best value.
Optima Kitchens does not just sell cabinets, instead we provide comprehensive solutions with numerous value added products and services.
We have no intention to simply sell products to a given market, we bundle our products with tangible service levels which benefit customers in the long term.
Substantial resources and expenses are incurred providing comprehensive customer support and back-up systems.

These and many other tangible customer benefits and their respective expenses are absent from most of our competitors overheads. Since they do not have such expenses, they cannot provide you with the same peace of mind and convenience Optima Kitchens customers have enjoyed since 1991.
However, despite these additional expenses incurred by Optima Kitchens, you will find our quotations more than competitive.

Does different cabinet materials affect the cost?

Yes it does - quite substantially. There are a number of factors which have an influence on material costs. Some materials have a high demand and are manufactured on a bulk basis whilst other materials are less in demand and not manufactured in bulk. As with most manufacturing plants, costs are reduced whenever a product is manufactured in bulk. Certain materials are imported. Import and export duties, taxes, freight, insurance, shipping agents all add to the expense which is then ultimately paid for by the customer. Machine, tool and labour requirements to work certain materials are also different from each other and therefore vary in cost. The availability or scarcity of materials also influences the costs. For example, forest and world solid wood supply are rapidly being depleted - resulting in high costs. Finally, the level of competition or the lack thereof in material supplies have an influence on market prices.

Do you cater for universal kitchens?

Most designers in the industry have no clue on the meaning of “universal kitchen design”.
The basic idea is that if you build or remodel your kitchen with universal design principles in mind, you can ensure that anyone who ties on an apron will be able to comfortably and safely whip up dessert or wash the dishes.
Universal design guidelines can make the kitchen more practical for your kids after school, for your elderly in-laws at holiday dinners, for a loved one who requires wheelchair accessibility, or for yourself as you grow older and your own physical needs change.
The term “universal design” is also used to describe products specially designed for use by handicapped, physically disabled and people with restraints.
Optima Kitchens have a range of products designed specifically for the use of physically disabled people.
Our designers are all trained in designing kitchens for any person with limited mobility or physical handicap.

I am Jewish, can you design accordingly?

Yes, Optima Kitchens designers are all familiar with Jewish custom and faith.
The difference with other, non Jewish, kitchens is the Kasjroet or Kashrut. The Kasjroet/Kashrut is about the combination of sorts of food, but also about the traditional Jewish rituals and laws.
What makes a kitchen Jewish? The traditional way is by observing all the laws pertaining to keeping kosher. These laws mandate separating all objects that come in contact with milk products from those that are used for cooking or eating meat.
That is why a kosher kitchen has two sets of everything. Keeping kosher extends holiness to food preparation and eating and makes Jewish women the guardians of this commandment.
Two or even three sets of everything.
There are two or three separate sets of dishes in this kosher kitchen as well as two or three sets of silverware, dish racks, pots, and even dishtowels. One is used for fleishig (meat), another for milchig (dairy) and the third for Passover foods. Dishes are separated by pattern and by their place in the kitchen cupboards.

What is the classic kitchen triangle rule?

When designing a kitchen, keep in mind the classic kitchen triangle.

The classic kitchen triangle regulates work flow. The three "points" of the triangle are: sink, stove/oven, and refrigerator. In planning a kitchen, the cook should be able to move unimpeded between the three points, and the distances between those points should not be far.

Do you have your own manufacturing plant?

Optima Kitchens manufacturing plant is located in Kya Sands, Johannesburg, South Africa. The factory is equipped with the latest state of the art manufacturing plant and equipment.
Barring a few products, Optima Kitchens is completely self sufficient in that we manufacture all products in-house. This reduces reliance on sub-contractors and other third parties. This reduces undue delays and customer frustration when swift action is required.

How long does it take to order a Kitchen / Bathroom?

It usually takes 4-6 weeks to order, however in certain circumstances even this can be reduced depending on the style chosen.

What is the free planning and design service, and is it ' no obligation'?

The planning and design service we offer is completely free, we can visit you at home, take measurements and discuss your individual needs, and any special requirements you may have. We use specialised software to design your room, so that when you come to the showroom to see the designs, we can give you a computer generated image of your new room, helping to visualise the project. During the presentation you can discuss the design and costs in detail until you are completely satisfied. You are under no obligation to purchase from us until you are completely satisfied.