Your dream kitchen has been designed and you’ve prepared your space for the build phase – now, it’s time for the installation.
From clearing the entryways to the last building control inspection, KBB journo Charlotte Luxford has put together a quick guide on what you need to know about installing your new kitchen…
Kitchen cabinets
While it might sound obvious, you’ll want to ensure you’ve got entryways clear, and plenty of space in the room where your cabinetry will be installed, before it’s scheduled to be delivered.
Once it’s arrived, allow five to seven days to install a typical kitchen, not including worktops, advises Tom Edmonds, founder of Lewis Alderson & Co. “Ideally, allow the fitters sole access, so contractors aren’t working around each other,” he adds.
Worktops
Once base cabinets are fitted, those installing the work surfaces can measure up to create a ‘template’ of your worktops before they cut it to size. “All cabinets should be level and any overhangs appropriately supported,” explains Tom.
Natural stone, quartz and porcelain are ‘templated’ in the same way, although Tom says porcelain will take longer to process, as extra fabrication is required to make up for the thinner material. Edge details on stone and quartz also take longer to process, which bumps up the costs, too.
Once templated, it’s a week turnaround before the worktop is installed.
Kitchen appliances and lighting
The appliances are usually installed by the fitting team during the kitchen installation, unless it’s a more specialist appliance such as an Aga, which is typically installed prior to the cabinets, according to Tom.
However, the fitters don’t second-fix the appliances and light fixtures – this needs to be completed by qualified electricians and/or gas engineers for legislative reasons. This usually takes a couple of hours for an average kitchen, and is often completed once the worktops are fitted.
Hardware and finishing touches
Finally, the fun details. If your kitchen is hand painted, the cabinet painters will come in to apply the top coats, which can take around four to five days. Hardware will be added and the fitters will arrange a ‘snagging’ session, checking doors and drawers for rubbing or catching; that the handles are aligned, and the paint finish is up to scratch.
Now’s the time to raise any issues with your builders, before the last building control inspection and the ‘final certificate’ is issued – proving the work meets the standards required by law.
Pop the kettle on, put your feet up, and relax.
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