How to Fit a Kitchen

Are you wondering how to fit a kitchen? In this article, I’ll tell you about the process I used for fitting a new kitchen in my mum’s home. You can see the before and after pictures below.

The cost of bringing in a contractor to fit a new kitchen could run into several thousands of pounds. Depending on the amount of work needed. So, if you are able, it’s a good idea to do it yourself.

In my case, I replaced all the kitchen cupboards and worktops, retiled the walls (how to tile a wall), installed a new cooker and fitted laminate flooring (how to lay laminate flooring). It took me a weekend to do the job from start to finish.

Most competent DIYers have the ability to do this kind of work. If you fall short of all the required skills, you can bring in the specialists as and when required.

Always remember safety comes first. Check before starting work where the services are in the kitchen. Use a power/pipe detector to check for hidden live cables and water/gas pipes before removing the kitchen units, drilling holes or chasing out walls.

Fitting a kitchen – Plan the layout

To plan your new kitchen layout start by taking measurements of the kitchen area.  When you have finished it is worthwhile double-checking your measurements to save a lot of future problems.

These are some points to consider with your layout:-

• Traditionally, sinks go under a window
• Don’t place sink units or hobs too near to or on a joint in a worktop
• To reduce the amount of plumbing required, position washing machines and dishwashers close to the sink
• Hobs require space on either side for pan handles
• Install any extraction units on an outside wall.
• Don’t ‘box in’ any gas appliances as they require good airflow for correct operation and safety
• Do not place electrical sockets or switches above hobs or cookers
• Make sure your new kitchen is practical and user-friendly
• Wall units and the base units below them should be the same width, so doors and handles line up.
• Electric sockets should be at least 150mm from the finished worktop to allow room for the plug top flex. It’s easier to tile if the socket(s) are on the tile line.

Before you carry out any electrical work in the home check out the building regulations on the Government or local authority website specifically the Part P regulations and Electrical safety in the home. Although I am not aware of the current rules it is worth reading the latest regulations as they have been updated in the past.

Any gas work will require a gas safe registered plumber/engineer. You can check credentials or search for a suitable company here.

When you have made a list of the units required for the kitchen don’t forget all the extras such as:

• Cornice
• Pelmet
• Plinth
• Corner post
• Jointing kit with coloured jointing compound
• Water waste kit
• Decorative clad end panels to match the doors, including maybe an extra one to use for filling any gaps, any appliance doors, etc

Fitting a kitchen – Preparation

The first step towards your new kitchen is removing the old one. Wear the appropriate safety equipment, gloves, goggles, etc.

How to remove old kitchen cabinets and worktops

Remove all the doors, drawers and shelves, then remove any screws that are fixing the worktop(s) to the base units. If the worktop edges are under tiles you may have to remove enough to ‘free up’ the worktop. If there’s a worktop glued to a base unit, use a lump hammer or crowbar to separate them.

The units themselves should be relatively easy to remove and should come apart fairly easily. Especially with one’s trusty lump hammer. If the old cabinets won’t come away easily, get somebody to help you.

Watch out for hidden cables and pipes – most people won’t appreciate an indoor pool!

Place all the old units and worktops outside and out of the way. You’ll need to get rid of them somehow. So you might want to hire a skip for a few hours if you don’t have a van.

How to remove an old sink unit

Removing a sink unit can be a little tricky. Especially if it’s been in place for a number of years. The first thing you want to do is switch off the water supply to the hot and cold taps.

Look for the isolation valves. Using a screwdriver, turn them one quarter into a horizontal position. Now turn the taps on to empty the water still in the pipework. Once the water stops running, you can go ahead and remove all the pipework.

Typically, small fixing clips connect the kitchen sink to a worktop. Use an appropriate screwdriver to remove them. You might find it easier to lie on your back when doing this bit.

Once you’ve removed the clips, from above, try removing the sink. If you can’t do it, run a utility knife around the edge of the sink to remove the old silicone. It should come away without too much fuss.

Switching off gas and electricity supplies in the kitchen

If you are disconnecting any electrical supplies, switch off the consumer unit and remove the fuse/miniature circuit breaker as well. This reduces the chance of the circuit becoming ‘live’ if you accidentally switch on the consumer unit.

Double check the supply is ‘dead’ at the point of disconnection. If in doubt use the services of a qualified electrician as electric shocks can be fatal. Don’t attempt to disconnect any gas supplies. By law, only a Gas Safe registered plumber/engineer can carry out this kind of work.

When you’ve completely removed the old kitchen, you can start work on getting the space ready for the new one. In my case, I made some repairs to the existing walls and floors and removed the old tile adhesive.

You may need to install new electrical sockets, gas pipes or lighting.

Fitting a kitchen – Where to start?

Your new kitchen units have been delivered and the kitchen area is ready for the installation, but where do you start?

The first job to do is to check the level of the floor, wherever the highest point is, measure up 870mm and mark the wall, this measurement allows 720mm for the base unit and 150mm for the plinth.

From your mark draw a level line using your spirit level across the wall(s), this is the guideline for all your base units. Now measure up from the 870mm mark to the bottom of your wall units (this measurement is down to personal preference).

I would suggest 400 – 440mm. From this mark draw a level line across the wall(s).

Finally, measure up from the mark to the top of the wall units i.e. 720mm, and once more draw a level line across the wall(s).

Now double-check your lines are all level.

Fitting a kitchen – Assemble the units

Create a space to assemble the new kitchen cabinets. Some of the unit flat-packs can be very heavy, so get assistance when lifting them. Cover the working area with the cardboard packaging to protect the kitchen units from scratches and damage. And keep all the hinges and coloured blanks in a box for later.

Assembling the first unit using the instructions can take a while (read the post on how to assemble flat pack furniture), but once you have an assembly method the rest will go together quite quickly. If you are using a battery drill/driver without torque control take care not to over-tighten screws. Sometimes it’s safer to use a screwdriver for the last one or two turns.

If your kitchen is in an ‘L’ or ‘U’ shape start fitting the units from the corner working out in both directions.

Before fixing the wall units I prefer to place the first base unit levelled up and in position, then I mark the wall with a vertical line from its edge so I have a guide-line for the wall units so they will line up with the base units.

Wall units usually come with two fixing brackets each. When you have assembled the wall unit, measure where the fixing brackets need to be in order for it to ‘hook on’. Transfer the measurements to your wall and fix the brackets securely – I normally drill the fixing(s) at a slightly downward angle as this reduces the chance of the fixing pulling out.

Use good quality fixings and in the case of plasterboard, use cavity fixings where the brackets don’t land on a wall stud.

For peace of mind on a plasterboard wall, I always fit additional angle brackets between the wall studs and the top of the wall unit so I know I have a good fixing. They are a little unsightly but they are usually out of sight and can be painted or papered over – at least you know the wall unit won’t become a base unit overnight!

Mount each wall unit checking them with a spirit level and making sure the edges are flush as you go along. They are adjustable via two screws inside either top corner of the wall unit, one screw raises or lowers the unit, the other pulls the unit tight against the fixing bracket and locks it in position. At this stage don’t worry about any small gaps between the wall unit end and the wall itself.

As I explained earlier in this post, start installing the base units from the corner ( if you have one ). Make sure each unit is level before moving onto the next one, use your 870mm level line as the guide.

Fix the units to the wall until they are all in position and you are sure they are all level.

Most flatpack kitchen cabinets come supplied with two male/female bolts to connect the units. These usually require a hole drilling of approximately 5mm diameter through the sides of the units. When fitted, they hold the units together and keep the edges flush. Drill new holes for these bolts, don’t be tempted to use existing ones as they may be for drawer runners etc.

Fitting a kitchen – Installing new worktops

I am assuming for the purpose of this article that you will be using joint strips between the worktop edges. You can of course cut a mitre joint using a router and jig but this is a task where I would use the services of a skilled joiner.

These cuts have to be precise and the cost, not forgetting the wait for a replacement worktop, has in the past put me off having a go.

If you are skilled and confident enough to cut a mitre joint, check your router has a collet big enough to take a half-inch (13mm) router bit. As the ‘bits’ which cut to worktop depth usually, as far as I am aware, have a half-inch (13mm) shank, whereas most DIY routers will only take up to an 8mm shank.

Butt joints (worktops joining edge to edge) are easier but have to be cut accurately, on the reverse side of the worktop(s). Slots have to be cut-out using a router and jig. Clamping brackets, which sit in these slots, are tightened from below when the worktop is in position on top of the kitchen units.

Try not to have the joint too near any of  the ends of the base units as the clamps may be difficult to gain access to and tighten up.

Coloured jointing sealant should be put onto one edge of the two sections of the worktop and as you tighten the clamps check constantly how flush the worktop edges are simply by touch. Take care not to over-tighten the clamps as the finished edge of the worktop might start to ‘lift’. When you are satisfied with the quality of the joint, clean away the surplus joint sealant with the solvent that should be supplied with it.

Incidentally, the coloured sealant is very handy to mask any small chips or scratches that may, unfortunately, occur during the fitting of the worktop(s).

Fitting kitchen worktops require assistance, not only for cutting them to length but also because of their size and weight. The last thing you want to do is to damage one when placing it on top of the new kitchen units.

If you have a ‘U’ or ‘L’ shaped kitchen start with the centre or ‘back’ worktop.

Before you cut the worktop to length measure along both the back and front edges of your base units just in case the walls are not quite square and transfer these measurements to your worktop. Double-check your measurements and remember you can allow a few millimetres for any end that will have wall tiles overlapping the worktop edge, then do the cut.

You can use a wood saw for this task, but a jigsaw makes it easier. Just remember to use goggles and a face mask. If the mask stops you from seeing your cutting mark on the worktop use masking tape and re-mark the cutting line.

When positioning the worktops on the base units you may have to chase out a bit of plaster along the wall to allow the worktop front edge to line up with the base units. Ideally, the worktop should extend over the base unit’s front edge by an equal amount along its whole length.

Now measure the other worktop(s) again, across both the front and back edges of the base units and cut to size allowing for the joint strip.

Seal the end of the worktop with either PVA glue or clear sealant before fitting the joint strip to stop any future liquid spillage from damaging the worktop.

When you are satisfied the worktop(s) are sitting on the base units correctly you can mark out your cuts for the sink unit and hob. Once again use masking tape if you cannot see your marking out clearly.

If you are fortunate the sink unit and hob will come with templates to mark the worktop for cutting out. Generally, the hole to be cut is around 5 – 10mm less than the circumference of the sink unit or the hob.

The sink unit can be placed face down on the worktop, the circumference can be marked out, then reduce this cut by the appropriate measurement all round. The hob may have no template but should have the cut out dimensions supplied with it. These dimensions need to be marked out very accurately, so make sure the hob is in the position you want it.

Double-check your measurements before making any cuts in the worktop (I fitted a hob recently which only had a 5mm edge that rested on the worktop so I must have checked my marking out at least several times).

These cuts can then be made using a jigsaw. When you have completed the cuts and the worktop(s) are back in position, they can be fixed using the screws supplied with the base units. Again seal the cut-outs of the worktops with PVA glue or clear sealant prior to fitting the sink unit and hob.

Fitting a kitchen – Finishing off

Fitting the hob and sink unit is fairly straightforward. Both come with clips that hold them down tightly to the worktop. Hobs usually have a thin foam or rubber seal around the edge and this is sufficient to keep any liquids out.

Only you know whether you are competent enough to reconnect the hob to the electrical supply. I would recommend you use a qualified electrician who will use the correct size/type of cable and connect the hob correctly for safe use. With gas hobs, you should use a Gas safe registered plumber/engineer to connect the hob to the gas supply.

Before fitting the sink unit, if possible fit the tap(s) with two flexible water pipes to it, each around 30cm long (which will save a lot of time when reconnecting the pipework) and also run a bead of clear sealant approximately 6 – 8mm thick under the edge of the sink unit which should be more than adequate to keep out any liquid.

Position the sink unit in place and tighten the clips until it is secure. Be careful not to over-tighten the clips as they tend to ping off and are difficult to refit.

Remove any excess sealant from the outer edge of the sink unit. Now you can fit the waste pipework and finish plumbing in the water pipes to the tap.

Now the plinths can be cut to length and fitted.

They usually attach to the base unit legs via plastic clips that are fixed to the reverse side of the plinth. The cornice and pelmet can also be cut to length.

Using a mitre saw power tool can give a good quality, clean cut and therefore a better finish, especially if any angled cuts are required. Don’t forget the goggles and face mask.

You may want to wait before cutting the pelmet to length as any tiled walls could alter its required length.

Both the cornice and pelmet can be fitted to the wall units using fixing blocks with of course the correct size screws. Wall unit lights can be fitted, but again you may wish to wait until any tiling has been completed.

So finally the drawers and doors can be fitted. Drawers are relatively easy to assemble following the instructions. Attach one door at a time to the units, hinges are normally in two parts, one for the unit and one for the door. Fit the unit one(s) first so they are ready to accept the door. Now fit the other parts to the door.

Handles both for the doors and drawers may require two fixing holes being drilled.

There are dimple marks on the reverse of the doors to indicate where to drill the holes, these holes should be drilled as straight as possible and with the correct size drill bit to suit the fixing screws for the handles.

When fitting the doors make sure the two parts of the hinge mate together correctly otherwise it will be difficult to adjust the door. As you look at the hinge, the screw at the back holds the door in place, the other one enables you to adjust the door later for alignment. When all the doors are fitted they can be adjusted so gaps between them are even and all doors are level.

When finishing off the new kitchen it’s worth sealing any gaps at the back of the worktops with a clear sealant so there is less risk of water damage.

Any small gaps between the kitchen units and the wall(s) can be filled using cuts of decorative clad-on end panel. Doing this gives the kitchen a more professional finish.

As shown in the image below, I partly filled a gap between a washing machine and a wall using a piece of 75 x 15mm timber with cabinet magnets on the reverse for ease of removal. Then simply tiled the timber using Liquid Nails as an adhesive, it was simple to do and it leaves a small gap for washing machine movement.

The last job, aside from cleaning up and telling everyone how hard you have had to work as I do, is to fill any pre-drilled holes in the units with the plastic blanks/caps that come with the units.

Below is a selection of images from the kitchen install I mentioned at the start of the article. They show before and after, etc.

Final words

Thank you for reading this far. I hope you have found this guide useful and now have enough confidence to tackle this job yourself. It can be tough at times, but it’s rewarding when you stand back and look at your beautiful new kitchen.

Fitting a kitchen – the tools and equipment you need

• Drill driver
• Wood and masonry drill bits
• Electrician’s screwdrivers
• Power/pipe detector
• Lump hammer
• Bolster chisel
• Spirit level
• Pliers
• Side cutters
• Pump pliers
• Hand saw
• Jigsaw
• Tape measure
• Sealant gun
• Square
• Marker pens

Don’t forget safety equipment such as goggles, face mask(s) and gloves. If you are using 240volt power tools use an RCD protection device.