Fitting an Ikea kitchen?

John_V85

Hi

I've just moved into a new place and was planning on replacing the kitchen shortly. I was thinking of going with Ikea (having put together various combinations and plans), but the thing that concerns me is that there doesn't seem to be any space between the cabinets, with the exception of the cabinets designed for fitting appliances. Instead it seems that pipework should go below the base of the cabinets.

The kitchen current installed is a typical one where the back of the cabinet is actually forward from the wall so the pipework goes behind this at a level above what would be the height below the base of an Ikea cabinet.

I had planned on removing the current kitchen and putting together the new cabinets myself (reasonably competent DIY'er so don't see the need to pay someone to do something I could do) and then getting a fitter/builder to fit them and sort out the pipework (gas, water, electricity) as it's likely some of these will need to be moved from where they currently are. I imagine the kitchen will also need a re-plaster once the old stuff is taken off and I wanted to sort out some lights in the ceiling.

So the question is really what are fitters/builders attitudes to Ikea cabinets that you have experienced? Do they create an unnecessary hassle/expense? The main wall units will be installed onto is solid brickwork so I don't see the possibility of chasing anything.

Thanks in advance.

John

real1314

I fitted my own ikea kitchen about 4/5 years ago. Where i had pipes / electric sockets etc that would have been behind a base unit I simply cut away part of the unit to accomodate the pipes / sockets etc. If you're an ok diy-er you should be able to prepare all the units ready for the builder/fitter, a drill and jig-saw should be all you'll need.

In one case I actually fitted the hardboard back of the unit to the wall behind all the pipes (it was the unit for the sink).

diable

Run the pipework lower down and chase the walls out. I wouldn't start to cut the carcasses out.

alibags

The ikea kitchen I fiited had space behind the unit to allow for waste pipes at 40mm and water pipes. I wouldn't chase the walls myself but if no space you could batten the walls and get one of the wider worktops 66cm I think which should give you the room without cutting the units

John_V85

I did wonder whether the units were designed to be fitted with battons or flush against the wall.

jennifernil

They are designed to go against the wall.

I don't see a problem with running water and waste pipes in the plinth space and then bringing them up through the base of the appropriate unit, we did exactly that when we fitted Ikea units in our Guide Hall and it is very neat. Certainly preferable to cutting the backs of units.

Where are your pipes at present compared to where you want them to be?

Colour_Republic

Running water feeds is not a problem but wastes can be as they cannot always go under the units for obvious gravity reasons!

If you have a lot of plumbing that needs to be changed then you have to weigh up the costs, does it make that IKEA kitchen as cheap as you thought it was?

I would not advise removing the back panels, which whilst thin do offer the unit some structural stability