Kitchen buying and fitting

danoliver1

danoliver1

danoliver1

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I will be moving house in a few weeks hopfully and when i do i need to get a new kitchen for the place, had a look at focus,wicks, ikea but i dont have a clue if there good/bad for the money. Also how hard is it to fit a kitchen tryin to save myself a few quid here will get a prof to install gas cooker and hob dont want to go boom now do we :p . So anyone have any advice?
 
I'm looking at this, and have come to the conlusion that it's really not that difficult if you are confident with this kind of thing. It is basically a really big wardrobe, so if you are happy assembling flatpack, then you should be ok. B+Q, IKEA etc all have 'kitchen planners' on their websites, so load it up, input your dimensions and chose the style and it will automatically design a standard kitchen for you, and then you add extra cupboard etc. Best of all, it will produce an entire shopping list for you, including handles, screws etc that you can reserve in store or get delivered! Easy as hell!

The only problem I see is the electrics as you have to get a prof in to do them in the kitchen.
 
Also make sure you get the appropriate fixings for the type/s of wall you will be hanging the cupboards on.

A stud/cable detector is a useful check tool as well.
 
if you can use an electric drill,screwdriver and read a measure then you can fit a kitchen.it really is'nt rocket science.planning is the crucial bit.
i've fitted three in various places i've had.the first took longer,6 days,as there was errors in the materials ordered but the last took me 4 days to a total finish including tiling and laying a floor.
i've bought units from magnet,mfi and wickes.all the stuff is overpriced crap really but wickes was more crap than the others.magnet had vastly superior finishing bits like handles,architraves etc.
have a good look at the products that catch your eye,draw up a plan and take a week off work and go for it.
helps if you have a homebase quite close :)
 
Samtheman1k said:
I'm looking at this, and have come to the conlusion that it's really not that difficult if you are confident with this kind of thing. It is basically a really big wardrobe, so if you are happy assembling flatpack, then you should be ok. B+Q, IKEA etc all have 'kitchen planners' on their websites, so load it up, input your dimensions and chose the style and it will automatically design a standard kitchen for you, and then you add extra cupboard etc. Best of all, it will produce an entire shopping list for you, including handles, screws etc that you can reserve in store or get delivered! Easy as hell!

The only problem I see is the electrics as you have to get a prof in to do them in the kitchen.
Click to expand...

Easy, except for the fact you need a qualified Corgi gas fitter to do the gas work if you go for a gas cooker, a qualified electrician to do the electrics (not just in the kitchen, but anywhere, otherwise it's illegal now) and a qualified plumber to do the waterworks.....

You need to get the pros in otherwise you're breaking the law if you do certain aspects of the work yourself and don't get safety/installation certificates.

If you're going for MFI stuff, try Howden's instead. It's the same company but Howdens is the trade/wholesale arm and sells exactly the same stuff at much lower prices. All you need to do is find someone in the trade that can get you in there.....
 
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My girlfriend has just spent £30,000 on a new kitchen, the fitting cost around £5,000, which is a ridiculous amount. Now, I could have easily fitted the cupboards, cooker, dishwasher, sink etc, and probably done the tiling.

You need qualified people for the wiring, and a corgi rated gas man to sort out gas pipes, connect the cooker, and possibly a plumber if you need any water pipes moving.

MFI and B&Q have their fitting service that doesn't seem that expensive in comparison.
 
also depends on the quality of finish you are looking to achieve. imo you can always tell a diy job from a professional installation.

I used a local kitchen company which had there own workshop which produced the units. The fitter was very experienced and I was very pleased with the results.
 
CF93 said:
Easy, except for the fact you need a qualified Corgi gas fitter to do the gas work if you go for a gas cooker, a qualified electrician to do the electrics (not just in the kitchen, but anywhere, otherwise it's illegal now) and a qualified plumber to do the waterworks.....
Click to expand...

Errr...that's not completely true. You can replace and modify many electrical items throughout the house without being qualified.

The following types of work are non-notifiable:
Replacing accessories such as socket-outlets, control switches and ceiling roses
Replacing the cable for a single circuit only, where damaged, for example, by fire, rodent or impact(a)
Re-fixing or replacing the enclosures of existing installation components(b)
Providing mechanical protection to existing fixed installations(c)
Work that is not in a kitchen or special location and does not involve a special installation(d) and consists of:
Adding lighting points (light fittings and switches) to an existing circuit(e)
Adding socket-outlets and fused spurs to an existing ring or radial circuit(e)
Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding(f)
Click to expand...

From the IET website. Note that the above excludes kitchens and bathrooms (and outbuildings IIRC).

I've never heard of requiring a qualified plumber to do work, do you have a reference for this?
 
If you're confident at it just do it yourself, no one will know (i've rewired and moved an entire bathroom in my house without professionals, including the boiler, no problems as of yet)

Kitchens are very easy to fit, like making flat pack furniture, use common sense and think about what you're doing and you'll find it easy.
Don't try to bodge it with the wrong tools though, my mate did that, didn't use a spirit level, his cupboards are warped now.
 
A vastly easier, cheaper and quicker way to transform your kitchen is to simply replace the doors and worktop surfaces.
 
I agree, if you're happy with the layout, just update the cupboard fronts, worktops etc.
If not have a look at ikea, they have some nice stuff thats reasonably priced.
They also do freestanding units, which a mate has and they look v nice.
Otherwise its simple to do really, you build your carcases, secure them all nice + level and chuck on the doors / drawers.
The tricky bit is joining 2 worktops neatly. Hire a router rather than using those tacky metal strips.
Just don't rush it!
You'll save a packet doin it youself.
 
Carcases are carcases whether they come from MFI, Ikea or a boutique kitchen fitter. They are all a standard size these days and give or take a few fixings all bolt together the same way and should accept the same doors and surfaces.
 
Having helped my best m8 do his recently some advice.

You will be without a kitchen for a period of time (could be weeks depending upon tradesman).

I will assume you have measured up and worked out what units you need to go where.

1st.

Your going to have to rip the existing kitchen out. Sounds easy - it never is. You will probably need a skip. You will no doubt find stuff you never expected when you rip it all out. Hidden problems damp, old pipework you don't need or wants replacing. Stopcocks in the way of cabinets etc.

2nd.

Room preparation.

Are you replacing the floor?
Does the room need replastering?
Work out all electrical points needed - do you need hole for extractor fan & wiring etc..
Work out lighting requirements (positions , sockets).
Work out all the plumbing. Are you moving washer or having dishwasher etc.
Are you having a tumble dryer - vent point needed.
Once the basics have been done you of course probably need to paint etc.
And the real kicker once its all done is the room actually square?

3rd - Fitting it.

Once your at this stage with a nice empty shell in theory putting the units, cupboards etc together is the easy part. Hang em level etc with some help.

Your probably gonna need help with fridge freezer/oven etc as they are 2 man jobs.

Are you having tiles? Can you do this or do you need a fitter etc.

You might need someone to do the hidden join worktops unless your going for metal joins.

I'm pretty sure for the electrical work you will get certificates etc - not sure about gas/plumbing.

Hope that helps (when you enter into it seems small job - soon mounts up).

Personally for me I'd save the cash and get it all done professionally (my m8's was hard work and took a fair while - results are good however and the feeling of achievement is there (and it wasn't my kitchen)) but if your on a tight budget then sure give it a go. Just remember that everything takes time and will take longer than you expect and you can't really do it by yourself.

Least the local takeaway will be on 1st name terms ;)
 
I'm halfway though putting my new kitchen in. It's turned out to be much harder and more expensive than I'd hoped. My observations:

- You WILL need a skip. Cost me £120 for a weekend. Make sure YOU fill it first, as other people will dump random stuff in it within an hour of it being delivered.
- Put some money aside for plumbing improvements. When I'd got the old units out, the pipework underneath was.... somewhat entertaining. Cost me £300 to straighten it out.
- How long will you be living there? If you'll be there a while, get something decent (Schreiber or similar). If you're there short-term, go for the cheaper range (Hygena etc.).
- Let the professionals handle the electrics!
- Do all your painting and decorating before putting the new units in. Scraping dried paint off new worktops ain't much fun.

Good luck!
 
We had a new kitchen kitted about 3 months ago.
Fitting costs were a nightmare but I'll tell you what - I'm pleased we paid them.
The two guys were with us for 3 days and they have done an outstanding job, really professional etc.
However watching them at work, I really wouldn't have wanted to go through some of the hassle that they did!
 
platypus said:
My girlfriend has just spent £30,000 on a new kitchen, the fitting cost around £5,000, which is a ridiculous amount. Now, I could have easily fitted the cupboards, cooker, dishwasher, sink etc, and probably done the tiling.

You need qualified people for the wiring, and a corgi rated gas man to sort out gas pipes, connect the cooker, and possibly a plumber if you need any water pipes moving.

MFI and B&Q have their fitting service that doesn't seem that expensive in comparison.
Click to expand...

If you'd spent that amount at MFI they do free fitting.
Our new kitchen was an MFI one - we didn't qualify for free fitting as we didn't spend enough, although we did get a free integrated dishwasher along with all the other discounts they were offering at the time.
We opted for their "Premium" installation.
You just sit back and they do all of the actual fitting, as and when they need plumbers, Corgi engineers, electricians etc they just get them out.
As said above, wasn't cheap but the finish is excellent - they really did a great job.
 
eddie_slovik said:
if you can use an electric drill,screwdriver and read a measure then you can fit a kitchen.it really is'nt rocket science.planning is the crucial bit.
i've fitted three in various places i've had.the first took longer,6 days,as there was errors in the materials ordered but the last took me 4 days to a total finish including tiling and laying a floor.
i've bought units from magnet,mfi and wickes.all the stuff is overpriced crap really but wickes was more crap than the others.magnet had vastly superior finishing bits like handles,architraves etc.
have a good look at the products that catch your eye,draw up a plan and take a week off work and go for it.
helps if you have a homebase quite close :)
Click to expand...

Ever used a router then? Or done a compound mitre.

Kitchen fitting aint as easy as you make out.




As with every kitchen me a spec thread those that know say Howdens
 
Jonny69 said:
Carcases are carcases whether they come from MFI, Ikea or a boutique kitchen fitter. They are all a standard size these days and give or take a few fixings all bolt together the same way and should accept the same doors and surfaces.
Click to expand...


There is a big differece between carcases the better ones are pre-asembled and will have thicker chip board
 
Samtheman1k said:
Errr...that's not completely true. You can replace and modify many electrical items throughout the house without being qualified.



From the IET website. Note that the above excludes kitchens and bathrooms (and outbuildings IIRC).

I've never heard of requiring a qualified plumber to do work, do you have a reference for this?
Click to expand...


Some, but it depends on what work the OP is doing. Particularly the cooker ring is best done by a pro.

As for the plumber....yes, my brother is a CORGI plumber and heating engineer.
 
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