Fitting a new kitchen - How

urban colour · Post by **urban colour** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:31 pm

Hello

I'm looking for a guide on how best to fit a new kitchen - where to start, what to look for, tips etc

Is there any on here, Can anyone recommend one please

Thanks

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:56 pm

How long is a piece of string?

You need to have an idea of what appliances you want and where they are to go. Do a drawing with accurate measurements and go to BnQ and get a plan drawn and a kitchen costed. The fitting costs will go up for plumbing, electrics, flooring and any plastering.

Have a word around for recommendation for a good kitchen fitter and get a quote from him on your plan.

DWD

urban colour · Post by **urban colour** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:41 am

Kitchen planned, bought etc

Let down by fitter and so I want to know how bets to fit the kitchen

Thanks

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:48 am

I would not attempt it if you have never done one before but I guess you could do the basic fit and call in help as you need it.

Rip out old units and do your floor and any plastering work. I decorate at this point as it is easier to paint the exposed walls and ceiling.

Start with installing any tall cupboards like fridge/freezer housing to give the height for top run units. It is all about getting things level so you need a datum line all along where the base and top units are to be fixed.

Make up the base cabinets and stand them in position. Work out where the electrics and plumbing need to be and get that sorted. When levelled using the feet you screw the units together and fix them to the wall. Put the appliances in and test.

Get the worktops done for you if they need a masons mitre for a right angle joint. Tile splash backs etc.

Fix the pelmets and cornice then finally fix the doors and drawer fronts last.

I have made this sound easy....it isn't and you need a fair few power tools to do the job.

DWD

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:43 pm

assuming you have no appreciable skills or tools and plan on using trades for the plumbing'electrics'worktops it could take you 4 to 6 weeks from start to finninish

plumber' electrician isolate water' and electrics rip out clean up week one gone

plumbing and'electrics need moving as required now or later

level/ repair floor ceiling and walls week 2 to 3 gone

fit cabinets week 4 gone

laminate top fittted electrics finnished plumbing finnished week 5 gone

pelmets doors and finnishing week 6

it could of course be quicker or slower

joiner_uk · Post by **joiner_uk** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:26 am

Can you post a picture of your kitchen plan?

lockie · Post by **lockie** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:32 am

What you also have to watch out for is dodgy plans.Some firms will deliberately make the measurements slightly out in case you get them to plan it and then you go off to buy it elsewhere and fit yourself. Also not all plans are good to work from, who did the measuring and plans ?

I fitted a kitchen for my mother-in-law and the plans were so out it was crazy.I was able to cope and adjust but only because i have some experience and a van load of tools to make it easier.

Some kitchen are easy to fit and others are not.For example an ikea kitchen unit doesn't have any free space behind the backs of the unit meaning pipework has to go underneath, through it or another route.A howdens kitchen has a nice space behind of at least 60mm giving lots of space to run pipeworks.Also this void allows you to trim the backs of the cupboards a little to counter curved walls etc.
You may be thinking why cut the back off when i can just bring all the units out a bit ? and then when you go to fit the worktop you find out it doesnt quite cover everything.
Some worktops are a little wider giving you a bit more to play with.

If you haven't done it before get someone in and watch and learn so next time you can go for it yourself.Its the little details that make all the difference.
I nice a little tip that works well is to hide the cabinet joining screws behind the hinges inside the cupboards.

royboywales · Post by **royboywales** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:13 pm

My god! If someone told me that it would take six weeks to fit a kitchen I would rather move house!

I fit an average kitchen in three days including the elecs a ndplumbing. Yes I am very exoerienced but no way even an amature should take longer than a week plus a day or so.

Ripping out the exsisting units should not take longer than a couple of hours. NEVER use a power tool to assemble the units ( your warrantee will be out the window if you do)

Assembling around eight units should take about 4hrs.

Allways start with the larder units first, wall units and then the base units and last with the worktops.

You really should but and scribe the worktops but there are metal joints available if you are not too fussy.

Tools that you will need (minimum) a screwdriver flat and pozi,drill,rubber hammer, jigsaw and level.

I beleive that b&q will cut the worktops to size for a small charge,

Plumbing the sink is like falling off a log these days ( flexi fits)

Many kitchen fitters will attend to the worktops if you want a pro finish.

Good luck.

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Telmay · Post by **Telmay** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:13 am

Yes I am very exoerienced but no way even an amature should take longer than a week plus a day or so

Thats the main issue here mate, we dont know th skill base of the OP, could be he/she can even drill a hole, so therefore realistically it could take them too eternity - the important fact here is to realise when your out of your depth before you trash your new units

ScarlettUK · Post by **ScarlettUK** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 11:25 am

I'd never fitted a kitchen or done any plumbing before I started on mine. I enlisted the help of some muscle (I'm a 7 stone girl) and just got stuck in. The muscle came in useful for the tall units, but I'd planned it all very carefully before we started. I needed an electrician to do the oven as I'd had a freestanding gas cooker before and there was no cooker point.

Without the assistance of muscle I managed to do a whole 6ft run of units, plus the corner, sink, installed the dishwasher, installed the cooker hood, cut all the worktops (including cut-outs for hob and sink) tidied up the plumbing under the sink, etc. I did need some assistance from the plumbing forum yesterday but I'm now leak-free (dodgy plastic Y piece was to blame - long live compression joints!)

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that if you plan, do your research, you can do anything you put your mind to. And this site has been extremely valuable.

Lisa

PS Leave the gas to the professionals - it's illegal not to :)

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 2:46 pm

ScarlettUK wrote:
PS Leave the gas to the professionals - it's illegal not to :)

Sorry Lisa, Not quite true.

Certainly it is not advisable, but if you can prove competence, then diy gas is not a problem in this Country, according to the HSE and Kennel club.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 5:20 pm

royboywales wrote:My god! If someone told me that it would take six weeks to fit a kitchen I would rather move house!

I fit an average kitchen in three days including the elecs a ndplumbing. Yes I am very exoerienced but no way even an amature should take longer than a week plus a day or so.

Ripping out the exsisting units should not take longer than a couple of hours. NEVER use a power tool to assemble the units ( your warrantee will be out the window if you do)

Assembling around eight units should take about 4hrs.

Allways start with the larder units first, wall units and then the base units and last with the worktops.

You really should but and scribe the worktops but there are metal joints available if you are not too fussy.

Tools that you will need (minimum) a screwdriver flat and pozi,drill,rubber hammer, jigsaw and level.

I beleive that b&q will cut the worktops to size for a small charge,

Plumbing the sink is like falling off a log these days ( flexi fits)

Many kitchen fitters will attend to the worktops if you want a pro finish.

Good luck.

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

of course it may only take them 2 or 3 weeks if everything falls ito place and all the trades are free when you need them
and the reference books are understandable and someone is in line to answer the question you have asked and you dont have to make more than 2 trips to bxq a day to buy tools or materials you dont know about and all the parts are there and your not working more than 65hrs a week including traveling and you dont need to go shopping or need to take the kids out and pick them up again

far to many variables to know

Mr Mike · Post by **Mr Mike** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 11:12 pm

Hello Urban Colour,

Go to this page :

http://www.kitchensfitted.co.uk/Kitchen ... /index.php

Go to the "kitchen installation articles" links at the bottom of the page.

It's all there...... Get stuck in

Telmay · Post by **Telmay** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:40 am

If it was that easy we would have no tradesmen!

Like I said before know your limits!

By the time you have invested in all the tools you require, that you will more than likely only use once or twice and all the fixings etc etc you would have spent a small fortune! Also guides are fine till you run into problems, they work on the perfect room - there is no such thing! I appreciate that this is a DIY advice forum, but a kitchen should only be attempted by a seasoned DIY'er at best. But most of all what is your time worth to you? Get a quote or two and then work out how many hours it will take you, I guarantee your working hours will be at least 4 times the trades and of course you will have to fit that in at evenings and weekends or waste a weeks holiday - isn't your time precious to you ? And of course there is the finished item you know you will be a bit more forgiving on your own work but why compromise - a prime example is joining worktop, a tradesman will route and join it properly whilst most DIY'ers will use those nasty strips.

marc1106 · Post by **marc1106** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:51 pm

i cant remember how many calls i get from women who want to
A, kill their spouse.
B, divorce their spouse.
or C just want thier kitchen finished after six weeks of washing up in a bucket becuase the old man said "why pay all that money out its only some boxes on legs i can do that!. OH how i laugh!

Fitting a new kitchen - How

Fitting a new kitchen - How

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