Better than DIY Kitchens? Premium 18mm Rigid Units Delivered to Leeds 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
Why Leeds Homeowners Are Choosing SJB Over DIY Kitchens
Leeds sits at the heart of West Yorkshire, a city where rows of Victorian through-terraces in Headingley and Hyde Park sit alongside grand Edwardian villas in Chapel Allerton and Roundhay, and modern waterfront apartments along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Granary Wharf. Each property type brings its own kitchen challenges — and each one benefits from the precision and quality that SJB Trade Kitchens delivers.
DIY Kitchens are based just an hour east of Leeds in Howden, so many Leeds homeowners have visited their showroom. But visiting a showroom and understanding what you are actually buying are two different things. The critical question most people forget to ask is: how thick are the back panels? DIY Kitchens use 6-9mm backs. SJB uses 18mm solid backs on every unit. That difference determines whether your kitchen stays square and solid for decades or starts flexing and racking within a few years.
Leeds homeowners also benefit from SJB’s proximity. Our Oldham showroom is just 40 minutes across the M62 — closer than DIY Kitchens’ Howden base for anyone in west Leeds, and far more convenient for the thousands of homeowners across Pudsey, Horsforth, and Otley who are renovating the area’s characteristic stone-built terraces.
Why 18mm Backs Matter — The Detail Most People Miss
Most kitchen buyers never think to check the thickness of the back panel on their cabinets. It sounds like a minor detail, but it is one of the most significant differences between a kitchen that lasts and one that does not.
DIY Kitchens, like most kitchen suppliers in the UK, use 6mm to 9mm back panels on their wall and base units. These thin backs are typically made from hardboard or thin MDF. They close the back of the cabinet but contribute almost nothing to structural rigidity. Over time, especially in base units carrying the weight of stone worktops, heavy appliances, and daily use, thin-backed cabinets can flex, rack, and lose their square.
SJB Trade Kitchens uses 18mm solid backs on every single unit. This is the same 18mm Egger and Kronospan board used for the carcass sides, top, and bottom. The result is a fully rigid box that resists racking, supports heavy worktops without flexing, and maintains its structural integrity for decades.
SJB vs DIY Kitchens — Side-by-Side Comparison
| 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; 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 |
Why Choose SJB Over DIY Kitchens in Leeds?
Leeds is a city of terraces. The iconic rows of through-terraces and back-to-backs that define neighbourhoods like Headingley, Burley, Meanwood, and Harehills were built with compact kitchens that rarely accommodate standard-width units. If you order from DIY Kitchens and your units are 50mm too wide for the alcove, you are stuck with filler panels and a compromised finish. SJB includes bespoke sizing as standard — every unit made to your exact dimensions at no extra cost.
For the growing number of Leeds homeowners extending their Victorian and Edwardian properties — particularly the popular rear kitchen-diner extensions in Chapel Allerton, Oakwood, and Meanwood — SJB’s handleless and slab ranges create the sleek, modern aesthetic that complements these open-plan spaces. And our rigid 18mm construction means the units are strong enough to support island configurations with heavy stone worktops, which is increasingly popular in Leeds kitchen extensions.
The South Bank regeneration and the new-build developments across Kirkstall, Cross Green, and Seacroft are also creating demand for quality kitchens delivered quickly. SJB’s 10-day turnaround is a genuine advantage for developers and homeowners who need their kitchen on site without the 4-8 week wait that DIY Kitchens typically requires.
Explore More Kitchens in Leeds
- Kitchens Leeds — Our full Leeds kitchen range
- DIY Kitchens Alternative — Compare SJB vs DIY Kitchens nationwide
- Bespoke Kitchen Units Leeds
- Rigid Kitchen Units Leeds
- Supply Only Kitchens Leeds
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Our showroom in Oldham is approximately 40 minutes from Leeds city centre via the M62, compared to around 60 minutes to DIY Kitchens in Howden via the M62 and M18. For anyone in west Leeds, north Leeds, or Bradford, SJB is significantly closer. You can visit, see the 18mm solid backs in person, and speak directly with Steve before ordering.
Absolutely — this is one of our key strengths. Leeds terraces, particularly the Victorian through-terraces of Headingley, Hyde Park, and Burley, often have kitchen spaces that do not accommodate standard-width units. SJB includes bespoke sizing as standard on every order. Your units are made to your exact millimetre measurements, eliminating the need for filler panels and ensuring a clean, professional finish that looks built-in.
For a typical Leeds terrace kitchen (8-12 units), SJB is competitively priced against DIY Kitchens and 30-50% cheaper than Howdens. The price difference between SJB and DIY Kitchens is often minimal, but you get 18mm solid backs instead of 6-9mm, bespoke sizing included, personal support from Steve, and delivery from 10 working days. When you factor in the superior construction quality, SJB offers significantly better value.
Yes. We deliver to every postcode across Leeds and West Yorkshire — from LS1 in the city centre to LS29 in Ilkley, and everything in between including Pudsey, Horsforth, Otley, Wetherby, and Garforth. Delivery is available from as little as 10 working days from order confirmation.
For Leeds Victorian terraces, our most popular choices are the Shaker Painted range (which suits the period character of these homes) and the Handleless Matt range (which creates a striking modern contrast in rear kitchen extensions). Both come with 18mm solid backs, Blum soft-close hardware, and bespoke sizing as standard. Steve can advise on the best style for your specific property — call 0161 509 4221.
Request a Free Quote
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.
