Better than DIY Kitchens? Premium 18mm Rigid Units Delivered to Essex in 10 Working Days.
Rigid Built
Nationwide Delivery
Blum Soft Close
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
Slab – Matt
Shaker – Foil
Handleless – Gloss
Slab – Gloss
Shaker – Painted
Essex boasts a vibrant and diverse property landscape, from the historic charm of Colchester and Saffron Walden to the bustling commuter towns like Chelmsford, Basildon, and Romford. Whether you’re in a Georgian townhouse, a Victorian terrace, a 1930s semi, or a contemporary new-build, homeowners across Essex share a common desire: a kitchen that combines exceptional quality with genuine value. When considering a kitchen renovation, many savvy homeowners in areas like Brentwood, Billericay, and Leigh-on-Sea often find themselves comparing options, and DIY Kitchens frequently enters the conversation. However, a closer look reveals why SJB Kitchens stands out as the superior choice for those who demand lasting quality.
You’re likely familiar with DIY Kitchens’ reputation for offering a decent product range, including rigid-built units. But the critical difference, the one that truly defines the longevity and resilience of your kitchen, lies in a detail often overlooked: the thickness of the back panels. While DIY Kitchens typically utilise 6-9mm backs for their wall and base units, SJB Kitchens specifies 18mm solid backs on every single cabinet. This isn’t just a minor upgrade; it’s a fundamental enhancement in structural integrity.
For discerning homeowners in Essex, from the executive properties of Hutton Mount to the charming cottages of the Rodings, this structural distinction is paramount. An SJB kitchen, built with 18mm solid backs using the same high-quality Egger and Kronospan board as the rest of the carcass, provides unparalleled rigidity. This means your kitchen will withstand the rigours of daily life for decades, resisting racking and maintaining its perfect alignment. This superior construction translates into genuine long-term value, ensuring your investment in a beautiful kitchen for your Essex home pays dividends for years to come.
It’s easy to get caught up in the aesthetics of kitchen design – the colours, the finishes, the handles. But the true heart of a durable kitchen lies in its underlying construction. Most kitchen buyers, quite understandably, don’t often think to scrutinise the thickness of the back panel on their cabinets. Yet, this seemingly small detail is where SJB Kitchens fundamentally differentiates itself, offering a significantly more robust product than many competitors, including DIY Kitchens.
While DIY Kitchens, like the majority of kitchen suppliers in the UK, typically employ 6mm to 9mm back panels for their wall and base units, these thinner materials offer minimal contribution to the overall structural rigidity of the cabinet. They are often more for aesthetics and keeping contents in than for providing true support. In contrast, SJB Kitchens builds every single unit with 18mm solid backs. This isn’t just an arbitrary measurement; it means we use the exact same premium Egger and Kronospan board for the back panel as we do for the carcass sides, top, and bottom.
The result of this commitment to quality is a fully rigid box. Imagine the difference between a flimsy cardboard box and a solid wooden crate – that’s the kind of structural integrity an 18mm back panel provides. This robust construction prevents the cabinet from ‘racking’ or twisting over time, a common issue with thinner-backed units that can lead to misaligned doors, sticking drawers, and premature wear. For homeowners in Essex, whether you’re in a period property in Coggeshall or a modern family home in Great Notley, this means a kitchen that stands firm, maintains its perfect lines, and functions flawlessly for decades. It’s an investment in enduring quality that pays off every single day.
| Feature | DIY Kitchens | SJB Trade Kitchens |
|---|---|---|
| Carcass Thickness | 18mm | 18mm |
| Back Panel | 6mm-9mm (typical) | 18mm Solid |
| Hardware | Blum | Blum Antaro as standard; Legrabox or dovetail solid oak available as premium upgrades |
| Bespoke Widths | Limited / extra cost | Included as standard |
| Support | Ticket / email system | Direct with Steve – 20 years experience |
| Delivery | 4-8 weeks | From 10 working days |
When it comes to choosing a kitchen supplier for your Essex home, the decision goes beyond just aesthetics. It’s about finding a partner who understands the unique character of local properties and delivers a product built to last. SJB Kitchens consistently proves to be the preferred alternative to DIY Kitchens for homeowners across the county, thanks to our unwavering commitment to superior construction, bespoke flexibility, and rapid delivery.
Consider the executive homes in areas like Brentwood, Billericay, and the affluent parts of the South Essex commuter belt. These properties, often with generous kitchen spaces or ambitious open-plan extensions, demand kitchens that are not only beautiful but structurally robust. SJB’s handleless and slab ranges, with their sleek lines and minimalist appeal, perfectly complement these modern transformations. Crucially, our 18mm rigid construction provides the essential strength to support heavy worktops, such as granite or quartz, which are popular choices for large island units in these homes. This ensures your stunning kitchen remains stable and pristine for decades.
Chelmsford, a city that has seen remarkable growth and a surge in contemporary new-build developments, presents another ideal scenario for SJB. Homeowners here are seeking modern, clean designs that reflect their property’s aesthetic. Our handleless gloss and matt ranges deliver exactly that, offering sophisticated finishes that enhance any new-build interior. Furthermore, our impressive delivery time, from just 10 working days, is invaluable for those on tight renovation schedules, allowing new homeowners to personalise their space without unnecessary delays.
Moving to the historic heart of Essex, Colchester’s charming Victorian terraces and the elegant Georgian properties in its town centre often feature kitchen spaces that are rich in character but rarely standard in dimension. Think thick, uneven walls, quirky alcoves, and non-standard layouts. This is where SJB’s commitment to bespoke sizing truly shines. Unlike suppliers who might charge extra or offer limited customisation, SJB includes made-to-measure units as standard. Your cabinets are crafted to your exact millimetre measurements at no additional cost, ensuring a perfect, seamless fit that maximises every inch of your unique Colchester kitchen.
Along the picturesque Essex coastline, towns like Southend, Leigh-on-Sea, and Frinton are home to beautifully preserved Victorian and Edwardian properties, many undergoing high-standard renovations. For these period homes, SJB’s painted shaker range offers timeless elegance, bringing warmth and traditional charm while integrating seamlessly with modern living. Our bespoke sizing is, again, critical here, allowing for precise integration into spaces that might feature original architectural details or require specific dimensions to maintain historical accuracy
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. We deliver to every postcode across Essex – including CM (Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow), SS (Southend, Basildon, Rayleigh), RM (Romford), IG (Ilford), and CO (Colchester, Clacton). Delivery is available from as little as 10 working days.
Absolutely. Colchester’s Victorian terraces and Georgian properties have kitchen spaces with thick walls, alcoves, and non-standard dimensions. SJB includes bespoke sizing as standard – your units are made to your exact millimetre measurements at no extra cost.
DIY Kitchens use 6-9mm back panels. SJB uses 18mm solid backs on every cabinet – the same Egger and Kronospan board as the carcass sides. This creates a fully rigid box that resists racking and maintains structural integrity for decades.
Chelmsford’s contemporary new builds work beautifully with SJB’s handleless matt and handleless gloss ranges. Their clean, uninterrupted lines suit modern open-plan layouts perfectly. SJB’s 18mm rigid construction is strong enough to support island configurations with heavy stone worktops.
SJB is 30-50% cheaper than Howdens and competitively priced against DIY Kitchens. For a typical Essex kitchen, you get 18mm solid backs, bespoke sizing included, Blum Antaro drawer boxes with Legrabox or dovetail oak upgrade options, and delivery from just 10 working days.
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Made to Order & Delivered in 10 Working Days
Rigid Built Cabinets with Blum Soft Close as Standard
Nationwide Delivery Available
SJB Trade Kitchens | Unit N, Central Trading Estate, Coulton Close, Oldham, OL1 4EB
Phone: 0161 509 4221 | Email: info@sjball.uk
SJB Trade Kitchens is an independent kitchen specialist. All competitor names are used for comparative purposes only based on publicly available specifications. SJB Trade Kitchens is not affiliated with Howdens, Wren Kitchens, Magnet, or DIY Kitchens.
