Fitting complete kitchens is a big job and no matter what your level of DIY expertise, there will be a point where you will need to contact the professionals – although you can still have a go at doing much of the work yourself.
The kitchen is the heart of the home and if you want to create a haven your whole family can enjoy spending time in it may be worth speaking with tradesmen who will be able to deliver you the best possible finished result.
In fact, there is so much to remember when installing new furniture in this space that goes far beyond simply putting up new cabinets and new fittings – which is why it could be worth taking advantage of the expertise offered by kitchen fitters.
If you are keen to do a lot of the work yourself then you should make sure you have enough time to do this in and that you have made preparations for while the task is going ahead. Remember – your kitchen will be out of action so you will need to assign another space in your home for preparing meals.
To begin with you should pick the new kitchen that you want. If you rip out your existing one first, you may then be left for longer without the appliances you need as you wait for its replacement to arrive.
Once all of the cupboards have been cleared out you should switch off the water and power supply and then disconnect any links to your drains and sink. Remember, if you have any gas appliances that you need to have removed or replaced, you must contact an engineer from the Gas Safe Register to do this work for you.
The next step is to ascertain where any pipes or electrical wires are located in the walls using a detector to make sure you do not damage them when fitting your kitchen. You should also make a note of where all the sockets and water pipes are, along with any static features in the space such as doors and windows and add these to your plan.
It is important to draw up a scale image of your new kitchen on graph paper with any permanent features clearly marked so that you can make sure each piece is fitted where you want it. However, bear in mind that any new washing machines or dishwashers may be limited to going in the space vacated by the old unit as it can be expensive to reroute pipe work.
Before you set about dismantling your old units make sure you have all of the right tools for the job, that you have an RCD protection device and that you are wearing safety goggles and gloves.
Once all of the old units have been removed, you can take advantage of the empty space and fill in any patches where plaster has come off the wall, apply a fresh lick of paint or repair the floor, along with thoroughly cleaning.
It is equally important not to jump right in when fitting your new kitchen, by taking the time to carefully read the manufacturers’ instructions.
Before fitting anything, get your spirit level – your most important tool for this job – and, beginning in the corner of the space where you will start fitting from, mark the highest point of the floor along the room. This is important in ensuring that the cabinets are level, even if the floor isn’t. You should measure up from this point to the height of your cabinets and draw a level line.
In order to ensure that your new cabinets look as good as when you saw them in the showroom or online it is wise to take your time with assembling them and to do it on a soft surface to avoid scratches. Use masking tape to create a sticker to remind you where each piece will go.
You should have already checked what material your walls are made of so that you can get the right fixtures. Always start from the corner cabinet and work your way out when fitting the units, using your spirit level as you go to check everything is level. Use your plans and guide lines to aid you.
Installing your kitchen could take time and you should be prepared for this. Remember, it could be worth using professional plumbers and electricians for completion of some of the more tricky parts of the job, to ensure it is finished safely and to a high level of quality.
Once it is all in place and both you and the tradesmen have finished, you can begin decorating, such as painting or installing kitchen tiles.
Fitting a new kitchen is not for the amateur or the fainthearted, however. If you want to be sure of getting the best result then it really is worth calling in the professionals – their services may well be cheaper than you think.