SJB Trade Kitchens vs DIY Kitchens -

Made to Order

Custom sizes at no extra charge — built to your exact measurements

18mm Throughout

Full 18mm backs on every cabinet — no 8mm thin backs

Nationwide Delivery

Delivered to your door in as little as 10 working days

Blum Soft Close

Blum hinges & Antaro drawer boxes fitted as standard

📋 Data Accuracy Notice — All specifications on this page are based on publicly available information as of 2026. We welcome manufacturers to submit updated specifications directly to info@sjball.uk — we’ll update our data within 48 hours. We’re committed to accuracy, and we’re happy to be checked.

SJB Trade Kitchens vs DIY Kitchens — An Honest Comparison

Looking for a DIY Kitchens Alternative?

I’m Steve, and I run SJB Trade Kitchens from our showroom in Oldham. I’ve been in the kitchen trade for over 20 years, and I get asked all the time how we compare to DIY Kitchens. It’s a fair question — they’re a well-known name, and they offer a decent product. But there are some real differences that matter when you’re spending thousands on a new kitchen, and I want to lay them out honestly.

DIY Kitchens are based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, and they sell online with showrooms in West Yorkshire and Oxford. They use 18mm Egger carcasses with Blum hinges and Tandembox drawers, and their cabinets are rigid-built. That’s a solid spec, and I won’t pretend otherwise.

But here’s where it gets interesting — and where the differences really matter to you as a buyer.

Porter Handleless Regiment & Gloss Dove Grey 2

The Big Difference: 18mm Backs vs 8mm Backs

This is the single biggest difference between us and DIY Kitchens, and it’s one most people don’t notice until it’s too late.

DIY Kitchens use 18mm Egger board for the carcass sides, top, and base — but they use 8mm backs on their cabinets. That thin back panel is fine in a lot of situations, but it’s a compromise. An 8mm back can bow over time, especially on taller units. It doesn’t give you the same structural rigidity as a full 18mm panel. And if you’re wall-mounting units, that thin back is doing a lot less to support the load.

At SJB Trade Kitchens, every cabinet we supply has full 18mm backs throughout. No thin panels, no compromises. The whole cabinet is 18mm — sides, top, base, and back. That makes a real difference to the long-term durability and rigidity of your kitchen, and it’s something your fitter will notice immediately when they’re installing it.

If you’re spending good money on a kitchen that needs to last 15 or 20 years, 18mm backs throughout is the spec you want. It’s one of the reasons fitters who’ve worked with both products tend to prefer ours.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	SJB Trade Kitchens	DIY Kitchens
Carcass Material	18mm Egger or Kronospan	18mm Egger
Cabinet Backs	Full 18mm backs	8mm backs
Construction	Rigid built (cam & dowel)	Rigid built
Hinges & Drawers	Blum hinges & Antaro drawers	Blum hinges & Tandembox drawers
Custom Sizing	Made to order — any size	Standard sizes + some custom
Ordering	Personal service from Steve	Online ordering
Showroom	Oldham (Greater Manchester)	West Yorkshire & Oxford
Design Service	Free — personal design by Steve	Online planner tool
Lead Time	10 working days	Varies
Price vs High Street	30-50% cheaper	Competitive

Personal Service vs Online-Only

DIY Kitchens is primarily an online operation. They’ve got a good website, a useful online planner, and their showrooms let you see the product in person. But when it comes to the ordering process, you’re largely on your own. You design it, you measure it, you order it.

With SJB, you deal with me directly — Steve. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years. You send me your measurements, I design the layout, I produce the quote, and I walk you through every detail before anything gets ordered. If something doesn’t look right, I’ll tell you. If there’s a better way to configure your layout, I’ll suggest it. You’re not navigating an online system — you’re working with someone who knows kitchens inside out.

I’m based in Altrincham originally, and our showroom is in Oldham. You’re welcome to visit, but most of our customers across the UK never need to. We handle everything by phone, email, and WhatsApp. The personal touch doesn’t require a personal visit.

PWS Mornington Shaker Kitchen in Hartforth Blue. Available from SJB Trade Kitchens. DIY Kitchen Specialist.

Made to Order — Every Single Cabinet

One of the things that sets us apart from DIY Kitchens — and from most kitchen suppliers, frankly — is that every cabinet we supply is genuinely made to order. That means made to your exact measurements, to the millimetre.

If you’ve got an awkward alcove, a sloping ceiling, a boiler cupboard that needs working around, or a non-standard dimension anywhere in your kitchen — we can accommodate it. You’re not choosing from a list of standard widths and hoping one fits. You tell us the size you need, and that’s what gets built.

DIY Kitchens do offer some custom sizing, but their standard range is based on fixed widths. If your kitchen has non-standard dimensions — and most kitchens do — you’ll find that made-to-order gives you a much cleaner, more professional result.

Pricing — 30-50% Cheaper Than the High Street

Both SJB and DIY Kitchens offer significant savings compared to high street kitchen showrooms. That’s the whole point of buying supply-only — you cut out the showroom markup, the sales commission, and the inflated fitting charges.

At SJB, our kitchens are typically 30-50% cheaper than what you’d pay at a high street chain for a comparable spec. And because we work directly with our manufacturer, there’s no middleman adding margin between you and the product.

The difference is, with SJB you’re also getting 18mm backs throughout, genuine made-to-order sizing, and a personal design service — all included in that price. You’re not paying less and getting less. You’re paying less and getting more.

Handleless Gloss Kitchens - Trade Kitchens Altrincham

Explore Our Kitchen Styles

Not sure which style is right for you? Browse all six of our kitchen ranges below — click any image to see the full range and individual product options.

Handleless – Matt

modern matt slab kitchens - Trade Kitchen Supplier Manchester

Slab – Matt

Shaker Kitchens - Trade Kitchen Supplier Manchester

Shaker – Foil

Handleless – Gloss

Modern Gloss Kitchens Manchester - SJB Trade Kitchens

Slab – Gloss

Painted Shaker Kitchens Altrincham - Trade Kitchen Supplier

Shaker – Painted

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SJB Trade Kitchens actually better than DIY Kitchens?

I’d say we’re different in ways that matter. DIY Kitchens offer a solid product — I won’t knock them. But we use full 18mm backs on every cabinet, while they use 8mm. We offer genuinely made-to-order sizing on every unit, and you deal with me personally from start to finish. If those things matter to you — and they should — then yes, I think we’re the better choice. But I’d rather you compared the specs and decided for yourself.

Why do 18mm backs matter so much?

An 8mm back is essentially a thin sheet of board slotted into a groove. It does the job in many cases, but it can bow over time, especially on tall units. A full 18mm back is a proper structural panel — it adds rigidity to the whole cabinet, it supports wall-mounted units better, and it gives you a more solid feel when you open and close the doors. Your fitter will tell you the difference is night and day.

Can I see the kitchens before I order?

Absolutely. Our showroom is in Oldham, Greater Manchester — four full kitchen displays and a wide range of door samples. You can see the cabinet quality, handle the doors, and talk through your project face to face. But if you can’t visit, that’s no problem at all. Most of our customers order remotely, and the process works just as smoothly by phone, email, and WhatsApp.

How does the ordering process work with SJB?

It’s straightforward. You send me your measurements — even rough ones to start with — and I’ll design a layout and produce a detailed quote, usually within 24 hours. We go back and forth until you’re happy with everything, then you place the order. Your kitchen is made to your exact spec and delivered in around 10 working days. You deal with me, Steve, the whole way through. No call centres, no automated systems.

Do you supply nationwide like DIY Kitchens do?

Yes, we deliver across the whole of the UK. The majority of our customers are outside Greater Manchester. We’ve supplied kitchens to Scotland, Wales, the South Coast, East Anglia — everywhere. Everything is carefully packaged and delivered direct to your door, and if there’s ever an issue, you deal with me directly, not a third-party courier.

What if I’ve already got a DIY Kitchens quote — can you beat it?

Send it over and I’ll take a look. I can’t always match every line item because the specs are different — our 18mm backs and made-to-order sizing mean you’re comparing slightly different products. But more often than not, customers who compare like-for-like find that we’re very competitive, and they’re getting a higher spec for the same money or less.

Are your kitchens really 30-50% cheaper than high street showrooms?

Yes, and it’s not because we cut corners. It’s because we don’t have the overheads that high street chains carry — no expensive showroom leases, no sales commission, no marketing budgets running into millions. We work directly with our manufacturer and pass those savings on to you. The quality is the same or better than what you’d get from a high street chain. The price is significantly less.