Becoming a Kitchen Fitter?

theblessedone

Hi All,

I have been doing some research and want to move into the construction industry, as I'm sick of an office job, with no satisfaction at the end of it.

So I saw the role for a Kitchen Fitter, and it really appealed to me. It looked interesting, and something that I had been pondering before and doesn't pay to badly either.

Only problem is, do I take the drop?

I'm on £18,000 at the moment, and I know starting in these industries doesn't pay to well at first, but I am so keen to get into it.

I also want to know, how do I get into it? Do I take the "5 Day Courses for £495" Or go about being a workmans mate for a couple of years?

Do I need to have Electrical and Plumbing experience too, not just fitting worktops etc?

If someone who currently works in the kitchen fitting industry knows anything or has any advice that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

theblessedone

I'm Bumping

neil324

Not really a trade as such, would come under carpentry or general builders fit them. Fitters some times do their own electrical and plumbing work, except gas as is against the law or they can get other trades in to, depends on the prices you charge or the firm you work for. The hardish part of fitting a kitchen is the worktops as they are butt & scribed and can be tricky if the wall are not square. You then need to be competent at tiling and plastering, hence why general builders tend to fit them.

As you can see you need to be competent in various trades so a 5 day course is not much help really. If you can get a job as kitchen fitter labourer and pick up the tools as you go. you don't need qualifications as such just the knowledge and confidence to do it.

Work at the moment in any building trade is depressed, in any recession it's always the first in and last out. You are constantly looking for work and have no security. As with any trade it's down to contacts,job centre or you advertise for your own work.

lincroft1710

theblessedone wrote: »

Do I take the "5 Day Courses for £495"

You could, but I can't see how you would become a "competent kitchen fitter". Fitting and cutting worktops is a real pain (they're xxxx heavy), I helped our kitchen fitter to lift, carry and manoeuvre ours, then he measured, measured again, (measure twice, cut once) cut, put in place, took out, measured, cut, put in place, fitted.

If you like putting flat pack furniture together, great! Because you'll be doing that most of the day, every day. And then you find the kitchen planner has either missed a measurement off the plan, or miscalculated and the units won't fit or there's a gap.

The first thing our fitter said to me was "I bet the kitchen company has either sent an incorrect panel or missed one out" He was right! Most customers will expect you to sort the problem.

Unless you are in imminent danger of redundancy stick with the office job, your salary is moreorless guaranteed.

Hammyman

Have you any joinery, building, flooring, tiling, electrical and plumbing experience? Without them, you're unlikely to get a job fitting kitchens.