Understanding Steelplan's steel kitchens in 6 questions
1) What is the primary reason for choosing a steel kitchen?
For it's strength & durability. The metal kitchen carcass ensures a Steelplan kitchen will last many times longer than a traditional wooden kitchen in a demanding semi-commercial environment.
2) What are semi-commercial kitchens?
Kitchens that operate between private domestic dwellings and full blown professional catering kitchens. Examples are shown in the gallery section of this website: Schools, Police, Fire & Ambulance Stations, Care Homes & Community buildings, places of worship, student accommodation, hospitals and offices to name but a few.
3) So why is a Steelplan kitchen so strong?
Because the carcass is made entirely from 18 gauge steel. This highly durable carcass is the backbone to the product. It is not only extremely strong, but also impervious to fire & water and does not harbour insects.
4) Does the kitchens' longevity save money?
Yes! The secret is in the life cycle cost savings. An independent study* has proven that as the Steelplan kitchen continues to work year after year, the cost of replacing wooden kitchens that fail along the way starts to dwarf any small difference between the initial capital cost of steel and wood.
5) If a Steelplan kitchen is so strong - is it ugly to look at?
Far from it! With the durability assured you then choose from our magnificent range of doors with a colour to suit your needs. A quick browse through this website will show that the strength also comes with great aesthetics.
6) Does Steelplan Kitchens only offer cabinets?
No we offer everything you could want in the kitchen environment. Starting with a free of charge design & consultancy service through to items such as worktops & splashbacks through to appliances.
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.
The polyester powder coated steel is impervious to water. No more swollen chipboard or rotting MDF.
The metal is fire resistant and the powder coat finish formulated so that no toxic fumes are emitted in the case of fire.
Unlike wooden/chipboard cabinets the Steelplan Kitchen carcass does not contain any material that may sustain, harbour or encourage insects or bacteria.
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.
It looks great! The hidden steel backbone is dressed up with a choice of doors to produce whatever look and feel you want.
Carcass Technical Specifications
All carcass components
(including plinths & end panels) are finished in Pearl colour. (RAL9002)
Pearl (96)
Metal and steel kitchens are less expensive than wood
It is easy to make the mistake of thinking that because the initial cost of a wooden kitchen is less than a metal or steel one, wood is therefore cheaper. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality the initial small saving is the cause of a huge maintenance and refurbishment burden over the next 30 years.
The actual cost difference between wooden cabinets and metal cabinets is not huge. One of the main costs in a kitchen is people - tradesmen. The cost to install either a wood or metal kitchen is identical. The problems start when the wooden one deteriorates and requires replacement before the metal one - you incur the cost of replacement kitchen cabinets PLUS all the tradesmen again. With metal kitchen cabinets having a longer life expectancy it is conceivable that the replacement of wooden kitchen cabinets may be required 2, 3, 4 or 5 times during that period.
The following simple life cycle cost exercise looks at some typical figures for a small food technology room in a school fitted with steel worktops with one option for wooden kitchen cabinets and another for metal kitchen cabinets:
| YEAR | NOTES | WOOD - ANNUAL | WOOD - LIFE | METAL - ANNUAL | METAL - LIFE | SAVING/LOSS |
| 1 | ORIGINAL INSTALLATION* | £15,350 | £15,350 | £17,350 | £17,350 | + £2,000 |
| 7 | RIPOUT & REPLACE WOOD KITCHEN | £14,299** | £29,646 | £4,233*** | £21,583 | - £8,066 |
| 14 | RIPOUT & REPLACE WOOD KITCHEN | £16,920** | £46,569 | £4,862 | £26,445 | - £20,124 |
| 21 | RIPOUT & REPLACE WOOD KITCHEN | £19,931** | £66,500 | £5,378*** | £31,823 | - £34,677 |
| 28 | RIPOUT & REPLACE WOOD KITCHEN | £23,390** | £89,890 | £8,374**** | £40,197 | - £49,693 |
25 YEAR LIFE CYCLE SAVING FOR CHOOSING METAL: + £49,693
* Prices include kitchen cabinets, steel worktop and installation (install, plumbing, gas, electrics, decoration, flooring, project management, profit & attendance)
** Price includes sum for renewal of all kitchen cabinets, appliances, redecorating and associated labour costs.
*** Price includes for renewal of appliances only and associated labour costs.
**** Price includes for renewal of appliances, redecorating, new set of steel doors and associated labour costs.
1) Costs after year 1 increased by 2% inflation, refurbishment costs exclude flooring.
2) Life cycle used in this example: wood kitchen 7 years; steel kitchen 30 years.
3) All figures indicative and would differ from project to project.
Steelplan Kitchens provide metal kitchens and steel kitchens that offer strength, rigidity, quality, style and durability
Introduction
Benefits
Specification
Life Cycle
