Terms & Conditions
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE – SHEFFIELD SOLID SURFACES LTD.
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Trading as Athena Kitchens & Solid Surfaces Co. Referred to as ‘The Company’ in this document
Information, terms, and conditions appearing on this page and overleaf represent the full extent of the agreement between us.
Please read this document carefully.
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1. Definitions
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In these terms and conditions and in all contracts to which these conditions apply:
A. "The customer" shall mean yourselves.
B. "The company" shall mean Sheffield Solid Surfaces Ltd & associated trading names.
C. "The goods" shall mean the furniture, splash backs & work surfaces specified in the drawings.
D. "The quotation/order document" shall constitute the contract.
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2. Terms of Payment
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A. Cash & Card Sales:
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Kitchen’s fitted & supply only. A deposit of 35% of the total price of the agreement is payable by the customer.
No goods or items are ordered or any services booked without a deposit paid.
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A further payment of 65% of the total price of the agreement is payable on or before the installation date or delivery of the goods or materials. This also includes materials we are installing.
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Worktops. A deposit of 75% of the total price of the agreement is payable by the customer.
No goods or items are ordered or any services booked without a deposit paid.
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A further payment of 25% of the total price of the agreement is payable on or before the delivery of the materials. This also includes materials we are installing.
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Appliances. A deposit of 100% of the total price of the agreement is payable by the customer.
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No goods or items are ordered or any services booked without a deposit paid.
Supply only worktops 100% deposit including VAT
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No goods or items are ordered or any services booked without a deposit paid.
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B. Price Validity:
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The price quoted on this agreement is valid for up to 30 days from the date of the agreement. Thereafter, it may be subject to an upward price review at the discretion of the company.
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C. Payment Withholding:
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The customer shall not be entitled to withhold any payment by reason of any alleged minor defects.
The company will investigate any alleged defect or warranty after the payment in full of the balance on completion.
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D. Pricing Errors:
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The company does all it reasonably can to ensure the price quoted by our agent at the time of the contract is correct. However, if the goods and/or the supply or installation of goods have, for any reason, been underpriced by the agent, then either party can elect to renegotiate the price upon the company notifying the customer of the discrepancy.
If a new price cannot be agreed, then either party is entitled to terminate the contract, whereupon any deposit will be repaid in full. In these circumstances, the company will not make to the customer any payment for any loss the customer may suffer.
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E. Deposit Acceptance:
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Payment of a deposit by any means is deemed as acceptance of the order and the terms and conditions, regardless of signing the order.
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F. Design Plans & Visuals:
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CAD design visuals are for guidance purposes only and if computer aided design is used then this is subject to colour variations, and any computer aided perspectives shall not form any part of the contract whatsoever. Any items used in the design not listed in the quote is not included in the sale.
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G. Itemised Quotations:
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Only items listed on the quotation or order are included and will be supplied. It is not assumed that other items such as pullout bins and pullout storage solutions, shelves, racks, interior storage is included. Any items which have been chosen or selected will show on your quotation or order.
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3. Completion
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A. Installation Timelines:
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The company will ensure they shall complete the installation of the goods within a reasonable time. However, the company cannot be held responsible for delays due to circumstances beyond our control. In such cases, the company will complete the work as soon as is reasonably possible, taking the circumstances into account.
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When we are installing or supplying new kitchen units kitchen work surfaces, splash backs and appliances, there will be a templating/survey visit booked to determine and finalise the work-surface and cladding requirements. This may highlight any changes from the original specification and confirmed order. Materials and fabrication will not progress until these have been accepted and then paid for by the customer. This may result in a delay or rebooking of the installation dates to complete the installation and follow on works. We will not stand to or accept any costs for following on trades or works being delayed.
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B. Customer Responsibilities:
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The customer agrees that there will be an available supply of water, gas, and electricity on the premises for the purpose of carrying out the installation, and such services will be supplied at no cost to the company.
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The customer will agree to a date upon which the customer will give free access to the company installers to carry out the installation of the goods and shall ensure that any rerouting of electrical and plumbing or general building works are carried out at the customer’s own cost, if not agreed prior to fitting with Sheffield Solid Surfaces and in good time, so that the company may install the goods at the agreed time.
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If the customer will not give the company free access at the agreed date, or within 14 days of such agreed date, then the customer will be notified in writing that the goods have been manufactured, and the full balance of the agreement would fall due for payment within 7 days of the notice period. Should the customer then decide to go ahead with the installation, the company reserves the right to carry out the installation within 3 weeks of the customer notifying the company in writing of their desire to proceed.
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C. Defects:
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Any defects must be notified to the installation’s manager in writing within 14 days of installation; otherwise, the company will assume that the contract has been performed to the customer’s satisfaction.
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Any defects after the 14-day period will be dealt with as a guarantee claim.
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For the avoidance of doubt, defects shall not include any consequences of normal wear and tear, or damage arising from accidents, misuse, abuse, improper installation, or exposure to extreme conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, excessive exposure to cold, heat, or moisture from appliances (whether integrated or freestanding), improper maintenance or cleaning, or issues caused by the environment in which the goods are situated or installed.
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Laminate work-surfaces and MFC panelling are manufactured with a thin laminate veneer over a substrate board. These materials are not water resistant. When moisture or water is present, this causes the panel or work-surface to expand. This is water ingress and is not a fault of the product or a result of poor installation. Where these items are used in your agreed kitchen design, care should be taken to leave no standing water on or around the area or subject the area to steam or moisture.
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Care should be taken when using a dishwasher, moisture from the dishwasher when opened mid-cycle can cause doors to ingress the steam/moisture and is not covered under the warranty.
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Timber is hygroscopic meaning it absorbs and releases water depending on its surrounding environment, as consequence it its physical dimensions may vary and change. The dimensional specification of the item is only applicable at the point of manufacture under controlled temperature and moisture content.
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It is normal for the item to change dimensions once installed even under normal humidity conditions. When timber shrinks or expands it does so across the grain not with the grain, this can create an effect where a door rail on the top and bottom of the door protrudes slightly to the vertical frame piece. This can also create whisper lines within painted doors. The paint cannot expand with the timber and this perfectly normal.
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D. Delays and Unforeseen Circumstances:
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The company will do all that it reasonably can to meet the date given for delivery/installation. However, in the case of unforeseen circumstances, the company may not be able to do so and cannot guarantee delivery or installation dates.
If the company cannot deliver or install on time, this is not deemed to be a breach of contract. The company will contact the customer and agree on an alternative date. In such circumstances, the company will not make the customer any payments for loss, whether direct or consequential, that they might suffer.​
4. Termination
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A. Custom Goods:
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The goods ordered under the agreement are made specifically for the customer’s particular requirements. Accordingly, any termination by the customer of the agreement may incur cost penalties.
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The following goods will be non-returnable to the Seller; drilled goods, painted goods, discontinued goods, made to measure goods and goods that are not in their original packaging.
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For clarity our kitchen carcases are not re-stocked and are made to order to the clients agreed specification of order. These are non-returnable.
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Any items such handles, lights, pullouts and accessories carry a restocking fee.
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B. Penalty Costs:
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The company reserves the right to charge an administration fee of £50 against any agreement terminated by the customer.
The company also reserves the right to charge for legitimate costs incurred by way of materials and/or services such as survey costs up to the time of notification by the customer of termination.
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Such costs may be offset against any deposit taken. Requests to terminate the agreement must be made in writing.​
5. Title of Goods
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Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all materials delivered to the customer’s premises in connection with the work shall be at the customer’s risk after delivery. Ownership and legal title of such material shall not pass to the customer until the full balance of the agreed contract has been paid.​
6. Damage and Property Conditions
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A. Installation:
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The company will ensure that all necessary action is taken to avoid damages to the goods during installation and shall ensure that the installation is fitted in accordance with the plans and specifications.
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The customer accepts that the installation may cause damage to walls, floors and decorations, reinstatement of decorations or re-flooring works are not included and are the customers responsibility
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B. Property Suitability:
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It is assumed that the customer’s property is of adequate construction to accommodate the fitting of the furniture (e.g., no building defects such as dry rot, wet rot, rising damp, or condensation).
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The company accepts no liability for problems arising out of structural defects unless disclosed to the company in writing.
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C. Room Readiness:
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It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that the room is adequately prepared for the installation of the furniture. This includes ensuring that the room is dry, free from excess moisture, and sufficiently cured after plastering or other building works.
Excess moisture can cause damage to the materials and may prevent the proper installation of the goods. The company accepts no liability for any damage to the furniture, items or delays caused by the room not being adequately prepared for installation. Any issues arising due to the room’s unsuitability will be the customer’s responsibility.​
7. Alterations
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A. Survey Alterations:
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We may undertake a survey once a deposit has been paid. This may result in some form of change to your order and this may result in the final price increasing or decreasing.
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No changes after templating: Once our site templating has been completed, no changes may be made to the kitchen plan or layout, including the position, level, or alignment of any cabinets, carcasses, walls, or appliances, without The Company’s prior written consent.
Changes requested post-template: If you request changes after templating, you must notify us immediately. We may require a re-templating visit and will provide a quotation for any additional costs, including new drawings, manufacturing adjustments, call‑outs, and revised installation scheduling.
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If manufacture has commenced: If fabrication has started, the client is responsible for 100% of the cost of any replacement or remanufactured worktops and all associated charges (including re‑templating, disposal, additional fitting, delivery, storage, and delay/call‑out fees).
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Site condition at installation: At installation, the site must match the templated condition—units must be fixed, level, and in the exact templated positions, and appliances located as templated. Any deviation voids the template. We reserve the right to postpone installation and charge for abortive visits, re‑templating, and rescheduling.
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Liability: The Company cannot accept responsibility for fit issues, misalignments, gaps, or overhangs arising from changes made after templating or from site conditions outside our control.
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Consent and variations: Approval for any change must be given in writing by The Company and may affect lead times and pricing. Verbal agreements are not valid. Variations are chargeable at our prevailing rates and must be paid prior to rescheduling fabrication or installation. Deposits become non‑refundable once manufacture has commenced.
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Ownership: All templates, materials and manufacturing drawings remain the property of The Company
These terms are intended to protect product quality, installation accuracy, and scheduling, and take precedence over any conflicting instructions or documents provided after templating.
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Late customer alterations to orders cannot be accepted once the survey has been completed and final changes have been confirmed. Any variations post-survey may result in additional costs and delays to agreed fitting dates.
The company will not accept any claims for such delays.
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B. Communication:
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All telephone communication in connection with orders must be confirmed in writing or by email within 3 days of the telephone call.
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8. Guarantees
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Both workmanship and materials are covered by the terms of our 1-year guarantee.
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It is the customers responsibility to register their appliances. This enables the manufacturer to contact the customer if they have important updates. Appliance warranties and guarantees are confirmed by registering them with the appliance manufacturer. Our usual supplier is Bosch and NEFF and these appliances at the time of writing carry two years manufacturing warranty. Other brands we supply may differ and less or more.
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Exclusions :- Heat damage (placing hot pans/appliances directly on the surface); chemical damage; improper cleaning; failure to follow care guidelines.- Water ingress/swelling to laminate/wood due to standing water or inadequate sealing maintenance.- Insufficient cabinet support, over-spans, unsupported overhangs, or non‑compliant cut-outs/fixtures by third parties.- Chips, scratches, or edge damage caused by impact, misuse or third party trade damage.- Natural features in stone/wood (veining, pitting, micro‑fissures, colour variation) and normal changes from UV exposure.- Silicone/sealants are consumables and not covered.​
9. Value Added Tax
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VAT will be charged at the rate prevailing at the installation date.​​
10. Force Majeure Event
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We will not be in breach of contract or otherwise liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations to the extent that such failure or delay is caused by a Force Majeure Event.​
Any agreed delivery, fabrication or installation dates will be treated as extended by the duration of the Force Majeure Event and a reasonable recovery period thereafter.​
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Notice and mitigation​
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We will notify you as soon as reasonably practicable of a Force Majeure Event, provide updates on its impact, and use reasonable endeavours to mitigate its effects and resume performance as soon as reasonably possible.
Prolonged events and termination
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If a Force Majeure Event continues for more than 60 consecutive days (or causes cumulative delays exceeding 90 days), either party may terminate the affected order on written notice.
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On termination under this clause, we will refund sums you have paid for goods and services not provided, less our reasonable and properly incurred costs relating to bespoke or made-to-measure items that cannot reasonably be reused or resold.
Storage and re-delivery
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Where goods are ready but delivery or installation is prevented or delayed by a Force Majeure Event, we may arrange reasonable storage (at our premises or a third-party facility) and charge you our reasonable storage, insurance and re-delivery costs. For consumer customers, your statutory rights remain unaffected and risk will not pass until delivery.
Price adjustments for exceptional cost increases
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If a Force Majeure Event materially increases our costs of performance (for example, due to exceptional increases in material or transport costs), we may propose a fair price adjustment. If you do not agree within 14 days, either party may terminate the affected order. Any refund will be made in accordance with section 4.
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A Force Majeure Event means any event or circumstance beyond the reasonable control of the affected party that prevents or delays performance, including: acts of God (such as flood, drought, earthquake, storm or other natural disaster); fire or explosion; epidemic, pandemic or contagious disease and related public health measures; war, terrorism, riot or civil commotion; industrial action, strikes or labour shortages not limited to the affected party’s own workforce; failure of utilities (including power, gas, water or telecommunications); breakdown of essential plant or machinery; shortages or delays in the supply of materials or components; transport or logistics disruption (including port closures, road blockages or customs delays); sanctions, embargoes, or other governmental actions or changes in law or building control requirements; and failures of suppliers or subcontractors due to any of the above. Inability to pay or a lack of funds is not a Force Majeure Event.
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Governing law
This clause and any dispute arising out of it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales shall have jurisdiction.