Fitting a Kitchen

Soldato
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I would say it depends how confident and competent you are. I personally would leave a job like this to a chippy or a kitchener haha :)
 
Soldato
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I did mine apart from the worktop and posted pictures etc in thread below. I need to post up some finished photos. As above takes longer than expected!

Only thing I wouldn't do is the worktops if you have corner joins (if you have a straight run it would be relatively easy! Except walls etc likely to be out.)

If I got offered someone to do it for 600/800£ I'd probably go for it tbh, as it did take a while to do.

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/bungalow-build-log.18757204/page-3
 
Associate
OP
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Yeah i think i will set aside extra time, and give it a go myself alongside a good handyman. Will get a few more quotes and if they sound reasonable then will take them up on it. Saves me some lost weekends/nights.

Sparks/Plumbers/Plasters/granite company will be doing the specialised stuff anyway.
 
Soldato
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If you can, get hold of the Howdens Trade kitchen installation instructions. It's a fairly comprehensive and thick book which is really useful. If you don't have a trade account they will charge usually.
 
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Do you class a kitchen fitter as some numpty then?

Nope, i class it as something i could potentially do, especially if the units come ready built.

Well, my helper will do all the cutting and routing part of the job. I'd just be the labourer. lol


Got a fitter coming out tonight, and if i get a half decent quote, then i will be hiring.

End of the day its all down to money
 
Soldato
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Units are just like doing flat pack furniture but maybe we are getting mixed up with what a kitchen fitter is. All the ones I know including myself will do most if not all of the plumbing, lighting, tiling and work with granite top companies when they come to measure.
 
Associate
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Everyone had different abilities so always down to the individual if they are competent enough.
It doesn't mean they are belittling anyone's profession.

Apart from knocking 2 rooms into one, plastering and new downlights I did everything else.
The assembling, fitting of cupboards, routered the worktops to join and curve the ends to match the cupboards laid solid wood flooring, damp course membrane and thin padding stuff underneath.
Removed the pvc door and concrete blocked the inside and bricked up the outside, again with the relevant tieing in, damp course and insulating in between.
Cut out and fitted the sink and plumbed in new pipework removing all the old stuff out.

Fitted wall cabinets and under lighting, added new sockets when we realised we wanted the old door removed to fill with floor and wall cupboards.

Would I take it up professionally? Hell no as it nearly killed me doing it on my own.
Do I think I am now a professional, hell no.

What I do know is that b&q wanted £1500 to fit the kitchen design we chose, that's money I put to all the decorating/ tools that were needed.
Is it perfect no but it's pretty damn close.

No tiles, but I tiled my bathroom 4-5 years ago so that's ticked off the bucket list as well.
 
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I've had 1 quote of £600 and then another guy has come back to me suggesting a day rate of £200 and he estimates it'd be 3 days work so they work out about the same. I'm probably a bit more keen on the second guy but i'm always skeptical of "day rates". Although at the same time i'm not 100% sure how my job is even 3 days worth!

My second fitter has come in with a £700 rate for fitting of units(21 units), removal of old kitchen, skip hire etc. 3 days work for 2 guys. Electrician and plasterer down to me or he could recommend people to come and quote.


First fitter quoted 2.5k labour + extra for materials for start to finish service. Extra for gas/elec certificates.
 
Soldato
Joined
25 Feb 2004
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Hampshire
Did mine with my old man last summer, I completely cleared it and then my Dad came along and fitted most of it, he's done a few over the years in his own house/my sisters, it took about 7 or 8 days spread over multiple weekend to complete and there were a few issues along the way, but nothing major. Just needed an electrician in to finish off the wiring for the movement of ovens and new induction hob and that was it.
 
Soldato
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13 Feb 2003
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Sheffield
I've fitted a few in the past and have another to fit very soon. I wouldn't class it as an easy job, but certainly not outside the scope of a competent DIYer. I've found that planning is the key, not just the units themselves but all the pipes and wires etc that go with it.

For the new kitchen I've got a fair bit of plumbing to reroute, a few sockets to move, and a cable in the wall that I almost overlooked which would be right in the way of a wall unit hanging bracket.

I'm part way through moving most of the old units into the new utility room (we've had a 36sqm extension built). Doesn't look too bad for an amateur so far I reckon, just needs a splash of colour on the walls when I decide on one, some tiles for a splashback and bits & pieces finishing off.

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RTkFP7z.jpg

Will probably start a topic of my own once I get cracking on the actual kitchen. It's easily the biggest I've ever done so hopefully it doesn't go pear shaped! :D
 
Soldato
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17 Jun 2012
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I did the opposite with my Mum's kitchen- I did all the plumbing, relocating of stop cocks and moving all the pipework, redid the floor (into a penny floor, resin etc) slate tiled the pantry floor, and prepped everything else and left the fitting of the units and real oak worktop to the builder who was doing other work on her house. I'm a commercial kitchen fitter but I didn't have the time to do the whole job, she was happy with how it turned out. Didn't really fancy messing around with wood anyway as I hate the stuff.
 
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