We are in the process of renovating a 5 bedroom Victorian cottage and would really appreciate any comments/advice on the following key areas:

1) Central heating system - we are going to compeltely replace the existing conventional system but should we avoid a Combi system? It's what our surveyor has included in the specification but I've heard so many bad things about them (particularly from a BG engineer!)

2)Kitchen - we're looking for a painted wood kitchen (probably white) with solid wood worktops and have a budget of around £10k - where is the best place to go? We've seen a Schreiber kitchen at MFI but are MFI units good enough to spend all that money on?

There are so many other questions I could ask, but I'll just ask these two!

Thanks in advance

Take a look at the thread on boilers, combi and otherwise, currently on the first page of this forum.

Re kitchens, if you have £10K to spend why not get a joiner to make your units? They will be better quality than anything the chains can offer and you can get exactly the dimensions you want. I had kitchen units made and installed by a local guy ten years ago and they still look brand new (we used mdf because it was going to be painted). We bought the wooden worksurface from Ikea.

Paula you will need something more substantial than a Combi for a 5 Bed Cottage.
You will need an on-site survey to answer your questions re-heating installation.
I am not surprised that the BG Guy wasn't too keen on Combi's because the ones BG fit are utter cr@p compared to the market quality leaders like Vaillant etc.
By all means get a BG quote for installation costings then get a real quote from an Independent Gas Heating Installer and save yourself a bucket of money.
Mel.

Thanks guys. That's what I needed - some expert advice to help make my decision! The BG guy recommended a mains pressured system boiler if I remember correctly - is that the sort of thing you'd suggest for a house this size? Sorry I'm a bit of a girl when it comes to central heating systems (probably because I am a girl!)

Mel is of course the expert (with bells on ) but I am just chipping in because you said

"The BG guy recommended a mains pressured system boiler"

I have a system boiler. If you want to have a look at the different types, google worcester bosch, then when in the WB site click on homeowner area, then gas boilers. You will find good explanations of the three types of boiler - combi, system, regular (I found it very useful ).

Oh by the way I neglected to add I am very happy with my WB system boiler, then again I was perfectly happy with my normal conventional boiler too .