Datum Line and High point, Kitchen Units.

[manny]

Hello people, I have a question regarding finding the high point on a kitchen floor.

I have a U-shape kitchen that I will be fitting myself.
So I have three walls on which base units will be fitted.
My question is which side of the floor do I use to find the high point and then add a datum from that point.
Im assuming its the side that will have the most base units in a run.

The right side will have the most units, 4 in total and a washing machine. run is approx. 3500mm (1000mm corner unit, 600 drawer, 350 base, 600 washing machine and 900 sink unit).

Its a 14 unit kitchen, 8 base and 6 wall.

Look forward to any replies.

Thanks,
Manny

[ayjay]

Check all three sections of the U and compare them to each other.

It doesn't matter which side it is so long as you find it.

[philprime]

As its a u shaped kitchen I would work from a corner, most floors are fairly level but I havd worked with plenty that a miles out.

Remember to allow for the flooring when fitting your units, adjusting the height for the washing machine to fit under worktop

[steviejoiner74]

The datum line around the kitchen can initially be at any point really,as long as you have a perfectly level line(it's handy if you have laser) you can use this as a reference point to measure off anyway.
So say you have a datum line at 1m around your u shape you can measure from that point to set base units or wall units or check the floor height of that as well.

[manny]

The datum line around the kitchen can initially be at any point really,as long as you have a perfectly level line(it's handy if you have laser) you can use this as a reference point to measure off anyway.
So say you have a datum line at 1m around your u shape you can measure from that point to set base units or wall units or check the floor height of that as well.

Thanks stevie, I was initially going to do a datum at 300mm all around and then measure up from the floor to the datum every 2ft or so and record the measurements, lowest measurement would give me the high point?

[manny]

So say you have a datum line at 1m around your u shape you can measure from that point to set base units or wall units or check the floor height of that as well.

So if I wanted the tops of my base units to be 870mm would I measure down 130mm from the 1000mm datum line?

[steviejoiner74]

Yes but you have to factor in the highest point of the floor and floor coverings and appliance heights etc. the 1m is only a reference point to work from. Once you establish what height you need your base units it's a case of measuring the appropriate height down(for base) or upwards for wall units.

[nick200]

We did this (start from a corner) but found that the washing machine was an issue as the floor was higher here so the worktop is now under 860mm (a bit cosy)

For me if I did it again I would start with where the white goods are and make sure they can fit first

[big-all]

if its way out you also need to remember maximum leg adjustment and plinth size when adjusting for an appliance under the highest run

[joinerjohn]

The reason for finding the high point (if there is one) is that if there's an under worktop freestanding appliance (washing machine/fridge/freezer) going in. (usually do) If you started from the lowest point and fitted the kitchen and a washing machine/fridge, happened to go in at the highest point of the floor, you might find out that it wouldn't fit under the worktop.

[Rorschach]

Plinth size was a big problem for us when we fitted out kitchen, it only came in one width and if we set the cabinets to have height then our washing machine wouldn't fit under at all. In the end I have to rip a strip down and edge joint it onto the plinth board to make it wider, bloody irritating.

[The man with no aim]

The datum line around the kitchen can initially be at any point really,as long as you have a perfectly level line(it's handy if you have laser) you can use this as a reference point to measure off anyway.
So say you have a datum line at 1m around your u shape you can measure from that point to set base units or wall units or check the floor height of that as well.

Always use a laser especially if you've got any tiled surfaces, sockets always look shite with tiles unless you laser level the back boxes in using bonding plaster to fix them as its more accurate than drill'n'screw, its the only way you'll get a run of sockets/fuse spurs to look good too.

[joinerjohn]

Plinth size was a big problem for us when we fitted out kitchen, it only came in one width and if we set the cabinets to have height then our washing machine wouldn't fit under at all. In the end I have to rip a strip down and edge joint it onto the plinth board to make it wider, bloody irritating.

I've often had to buy 300mm wide boards in the same/similar colours as the original plinth for the same reason. Then cut them down to fit. Shame that manufacturers don't supply them about 175mm-200mm wide, instead of the standard 150mm.