Hathaway

Hi.
I am enquiring about shipping a kitchen and doors to Barbados from the UK. I have been told I need a Plant quarantine certificate due to the wood content. i am asking if anyone knows if this is indeed the case. Thanks in advance. Certificate”

uk_grenada

What sort of wood is it? I assume it’s an insect resistant hardwood?

Hathaway

Hi.
the kitchen is made from MDF

uk_grenada

Insects love that, and mdf is also bad for absorbing humidity from the air and growing mould, normally thats a very bad idea in the tropics. Hinges and metal parts also rust a lot quicker.

I’ll give you an example. Ikea sell kitchens around the globe, but if you visit their store in malaysia there are warnings about which kitchen items will and wont be acceptable if not in permanently climate controlled places. Only a few counter tops are suitable, only some thickly plastic coated doors work, and theres no long warranty on cupboard carcasses. I know a guy here who rents apts, he has about 15 ikea kitchens, the chromed metalwork is good but anything thats painted and gets scratched rusts very fast. Cupboards - variable - some do last but some only a few years and anything near dampness like a sink - forget it. All has to be sprayed all over when new then annually treated for insects, and even then the parts you cant get to will be attacked eventually.

Best solution - in the is you can buy outdoor kitchen units that are entirely plastic, in theuk you can buy similar units for use in factories and surgeries, but they arent as pretty. Or use a carpenter and hardwood, which is the best solution here. Oh - acacia wood is resistant, you can get acacia furniture, counter top and a few other items in ikea or elsewhere. Mango wood is a disaster.

Hathaway

Hi.
thank you for your advice.

Happyowner

I would never have dreamed of bringing my kitchen units from the UK .. Some of our condos had their kitchens done by specialist companies here, but the cupboard doors are MDF and one kichen got flooded from the condo above and the cupboards ( not cheap ) just swelled and blew. Another one's washing machine flooded the kitchen and the same happened.

My kitchen was hand made by a local carpenter and it's now 15 years old and as good as the day it was built.

My surfaces are made of Corian ( I don't like Granite) with a built in sink and that still looks beautiful, it is stain resistant , scratch resistant and I love it even now.

Don't import at silly cost, employ a local tradesman and give a Bajan a job.