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Thread: Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

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    ALT0153™ Rob_B's Avatar
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    Question Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

    Hi all,

    I’m looking at the possibility of fitting a new kitchen myself (gas/plumbing excluded) and wondered if anyone had done this/had any comments? I’d rather not pay someone thousands when I can get the units/etc myself for a quarter of the price.

    I’d be looking at 6 floor level cabinets and 4 wall mounted. I’m ‘ok’ with DIY and wondered just home much work it would be to rip out the old units and replace them, I can’t see it being too much trouble but I don’t want to launch into it with no thought. Also I might run into trouble with the worktop joins as it's an awkward fit near the sink.

    So has anyone done this? Did you learn anything along the way? Any recommendations for where to buy units? All help is appreciated!!

    Thanks,

    Rob

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    The late but legendary peterb - Onward and Upward peterb's Avatar
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    Re: Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

    Kitchen fitting isn't particularly difficult - doing it well is! Its really attention to detail.

    You need to plan your workflow, and optimise the space available. Corner cabinets are a nightmare, and a carousel unit is useful there.

    It helps if the walls are in good condition, flat and the corners are square. You need to think about how you are going to fill any odd gaps where a cupboard won't fit - and that depends on your joinery skills.

    Take time to get the units level, and if you have a worktop going round a corner, get a good chippy to make the cuts. It might cost you 100 quid, but you are buying his experience!

    As for make, pretty much all will be OK from B&Q, Wickes, Magnet etc. Have a look at the quality of the finish, thickness of materials etc. Frames are usually chipboard, sometimes MDF. Doors are often MDF, sometimes solid. Check drawer runners for quality, how substantial are they? Fitting built in appliances can be tricky, and stand-alone tend to be cheaper, and greater choice.

    Do all the plumbing and flooring first - it is possible to save a bit by not tiling under the units, but I think it is just false economy. Do you want floor level fan heating - sounds good, but would you use it?

    But the key is planning - even down to doing a scale drawing on a sheet of graph paper. Remember the 6 Ps - Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance (Yes, I know thats 5, use your imagination for the sixth! )
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    Re: Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

    There will be videos on YouTube for I imagine all the bits you'll need to do.

    So long as you have the correct tools it shouldn't be too difficult.

    You'll be on critical path so it'll need to Pete's 5P'd to the letter.

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    Re: Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

    I'd take on everything other than the worktops. Get someone in to do them.

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    Re: Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

    I've used diy-kitchens.co.uk before and they are pretty good.

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    Re: Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

    Quote Originally Posted by DR View Post
    I've used diy-kitchens.co.uk before and they are pretty good.
    Ours is from there.

    Well built, cheap and the units come pre assembled.

    Only issue was having to do your own holes in the doors.

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    Re: Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

    I agree with the consensus. Most of it is easy enough for a careful, competent DIYer .... EXCEPT worktops. Getting joints right is not easy and really, requires a decent router and an expensive template. I'd have no hesitation, given time and inclination, in doing the rest (*see note) but would get a pro in for that.


    *Note : I would do the plumbing, for water supply and drainage. I would probably avoid gas, but if I used it, that definitely wants a qualified fitter. I could do the electrics, and in the past, have. But given my lack of certification, wouldn't now. IIRC, you legally either have to get in done by a qualified sparky, or DIY the electrics (correctly) then get it tested and certified. The latter seems like too much of a pain.


    Oh, another thing. Elapsed time. If two or three fitters show up, with both experience and the right tools, it'll be a LOT faster than DIY. Maybe that matters to you, maybe not.

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    Re: Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

    I've just done this, bought an ex-display kitchen and thought I'd have a go at putting it in myself.

    I soon found that the walls weren't perfectly straight, the floor wasn't perfectly even and everything was a little bit off/wobbly. Got a professional in to do it and the difference is amazing. Everything is solid, straight and they even fixed bits that were wrong or broken (by somebody...)

    I'd call myself a competent DIY'er but for a room you use every day it's worth (in my opinion) getting a proper proessional in for it.

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    Re: Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

    Cheers for the input, I'm tempted by DIY kitchens as they're pre built so there's less for me to mess up! I've not had chance to check prices etc yet but it looks promising!

    Funnily enough me and the father in law did the worktops in my old flat and they turned out ok

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    Re: Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

    I was pleasantly surprised by the installation costs. Out fo the £20k or so we're spending on the kitchen about £1200 of that is the installation of the units. I can't split out the installation of the worktops as we're having quartz worktops which need to be custom made so they're on a supply and fit basis.

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    Re: Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

    Go to magnet trade & the in store salesman/woman will be more than happy to come out and advise you, as above though pay a pro to do the worktops, even ask guys at the trade counter if they are interested in a quick job as £100 will get them fitted in a couple of hours.

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    Re: Fitting my own kitchen, DIY gone OTT or possible?

    I agree with GoNzo. I would rather let it to the profession as at least i can know that where i can complain and get the fix when something is wrong. Everything have its price anyway

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