I'm not a fitter but it looks suspect to me, I've never heard of needing venteleation under a cupboard unless there's a very good reason, it should be flush. Also if it not only is heigher then standard and contradicts the manufactures specs then something is wrong. Who did you get to put it in? is it a fitter from where you bought it or someone else? If the fitter isn't doing a good job you can call a halt until your happy and talk to someone further up.

Ultimately its your kitchen, your money, you are the customer; if you want cupboards on their side with pink dots on them its your right to have it like that (I hope you don't though)

Ventilation my a**e. He’s talking rubbish.

I was just waiting for your comment Daisy! Never seen a ventilation gap in any of my kitchens.

The only time you get a gap is when you have an integrated dishwasher fitted above.

Something has gone wrong. Such a shame the tradesperson can't just come clean. If the worktops/tiles haven't been fitted it really wouldn't be too much work to correct it.

I'm just hoping you haven't paid all the money. Maybe try calling Howdens and telling them about it. Although they are independent of the tradesperson they do only supply to professional fitters. Maybe your tradesperson would feel a bit more shame if he knew you were speaking to his supplier?

But one thing I definitely don't recommend is giving in.

Thanks all. Have now spoken at length to the fitter who’s reluctantly agreed to come back to drop the units to close the gap - doubt he’ll want to go to the extra effort of reducing the unit height further though - but still maintains he’s correct despite informing him that all evidence contradicts him. In fact he said he’d spoken to our designer at Howdens, who agreed with him!

What?! Howdens agreed?

Apparently. Beggars belief.

Well the best thing to do is call the designer at Howdens and clarify what he means by "agreed"

Standard height for worktop is 900mm. (including worktop) !!...You need it lowered especially if you're short anyway.

The gap on the plinths is simply to make fitting them easier. We have a small gap so nothing too much to worry about. Gap shown in your pic is quite big though !! Ours varies a little but max is 10mm....

Hope you manage to get it sorted...

Worktop heights vary between manufacturers and also depend on worktop thickness so there is no standard height.

In my opinion if you wanted your worktop to be lower than average because your height is slightly below average I think you should have stated this in advance and asking the fitter to take every cabinet off the wall and reattach it 1.5 cm lower without cost will really test his goodwill and frankly I’m amazed he has agree to that job.

Separately there can sometimes be a modest plinth gap if your floors are not level. This is bigger than a modest gap and I think it would be reasonable to expect the fitter to be fitting a taller replacement plinth to hide that gap.

We didn’t expect or ask for the units to be any lower than normal or what’s considered standard. However they are now already 910mm without the 30mm worktops (which he did now about), making them higher than standard. For me particularly that is an ergonomic issue, especially as we shrink as we age. Even without the ridiculous “ventilation” gap, they’d be too high. We suspect he forgot to account for the worktops but won’t admit to that.

Generally any fitter will have all on site and take plinth height into account when fitting.

Great result!

Not only have you now got what you paid for, you have helped his future customers too. He won't make the same mistake again.

Pleased to hear you got it sorted in the end but it shouldn’t have happened in the first place. There are so many good tradespeople out there doing quality work but all too often we come up against people who, time and again, get away with muddling through and if they are rumbled they have an answer ready prepared. It couldn’t have been easy, I know because I have been there, so well done for persevering.

Glad its all resolved now and you were absolutely right in getting the 'installer' to correct his mistake, Howdens own unit size pdf states the cabinets are at 890mm, the base decor panels come at 910mm tall so the panel is scribed to the floor, so i doubt/hope the 'designer' didn't agree with the 'installer'.

Apparently the Howdens designer did agree with our fitter (who came recommended by Howdens). However we don’t know what he said to her & she hasn’t returned my call! I either suspect the fitter forgot to factor in the worktops, though it’s a shame he didn’t admit to it, or just didn’t want to cut down the plinths & panels given his comments about it being “difficult”. Also he was anxious to get the job finished before the Easter hols. Anyway, I’m pleased to have it done now & all it cost him was time - I’ve got a few more grey hairs though!

Hi Jen, its in black and white on the howdens own technical pdf's that you can download and if the units are fitted at 890mm the plinth wouldn't need cutting down. I'd suggest the 'designer' gets a refresher course, but it wouldn't surprise me if the designer told the fitter to sort it or she wouldn't 'recommend' him any more as she wouldn't want it to escalate and her manager then gets involved.

TBH I didn't think Howdens were supposed to recommend fitters as then they can be held responsible for poor workmanship, but glad you got what you wanted in the end even though it caused you stress and created an uncomfortable situation.