How long does it take to have a kitchen fitted?

Richie(UK)

Hi all,

Not being the practical type I'm going to have to bite the bullet and pay somebody to fit our new kitchen (once we've finally decided what we are having!). I realise that this is a bit like the classic 'How long is a piece of string?' but I was looking for an indication of how long it would take to fit.

To provide a little more information on which to base responses we currently have:

Front wall (window looking onto garden): Sink and a half plus draining board, 2-door unit underneath sinks, free-standing dishwasher under draining board.

Left-hand wall: Floor-mounted 2-door unit under worktop (the one nearest the front wall is double-sized but only a single door because of the dishwasher, if you see what I mean). There is an open half-door size shelving unit at the end furthest from the front wall. Two and half wall-mounted units above this.

Right-hand wall: Similar to left but extending further because there is a hob/cooker inserted in the middle (and extractor fan above it).

Utility room: There is also a single-door floor unit in this room and a sink above it (and washing machine next to it).

PS: The cooker is to be replaced.

PPS: There are tiles between the floor and wall units and above the sink units - these are also to be replaced. (I suspect this will add a fair bit of time as it may be necessary to re-plaster the wall depending on how well the tiles are fixed!)

PPPS: Do you trust the workman with run of your house for the duration of the work? Ask a friend/neighbour to be present if they are available? My wife doesn't seem to think its a problem. I guess I must have 'trust issues' as I must confess to being a little reluctant

phill99

Allow a day to remove the old kitchen/tiles and do first fix(ie getting all the pipework in the right place for the new sink etc) on plumbing. Allow one day to plaster. Allow a day or so for the plaster to have partially dried out. 3 - 4 days for the kitchen fitting and second fix (ie plumbing the sink etc in) for plumbing. You need also to factor in any electrical works. Allow 2 days for tiling walls. So really you are looking at 8 working days.

In terms of allowing your fitters unsupervised its your call. 99% of tradesmen just want to get on with the job and get on to teh next one so are not interested in your wifes clothing!! Therte are horror stories as in any profession, but these need to bo put into context.

I have worked in many houses unsupervised and haven't had any problems. Ask freinds and family if they know any decent fitters. Ask for references and speak to past customers and even inspect it if possible. Decent tradesmen will be happy to oblige.

ormus

as a guide, my mate fits kitchens every week and he reckons most are done within 5 days. units/appliances only. no wall tiling or flooring etc...
that would be extra. say a couple of days each.

HelenDaveKids

I've been told 5 days for my kitchen and utility - 26 units in all. Hubbys doing electrics as in trade and got a local plumber to do first fix (new extension).

I've had builders for nearly 4 months, plus now getting more trades in, like roofers, joiner, windows, if I didn't think they were trust worthy I wouldn't want them whether I'm in or out. So yes, I always leave them to it. If its my day off then I just brew frequently and stay out of way.

Leif

Tradesmen should be fine, but if strangers are in and out of the house, it might be advisable to change the locks once they are done. You never quite know who has access to their keys. It is probably overkill though. (My late mother had visits from nurses from a care home, and the keys were hung on a wall where anyone could access them. So I changed the locks after she died. She had some items stolen, so in that case I was not being over cautious.)

I have had my kitchen re-wired, re-plastered and a new boiler installed. I was told to leave the new plaster for 1 week to dry before painting it.

If you have an old fuse box, then you might need it replaced, as I think the installers might otherwise refuse due to regulations. You might also need new sockets putting in, depending on what is already in place. Check the height of existing ones, and the height of the new units plus upstands if any. You might need cables for under cupboard lights. I think a smoke alarm is also required in new builds. I'm not sure about new kitchens, but it is worth getting a smoke alarm anyway.

MaggieBaking

I can't remember how long our kitchen took, I think it was a full week with 2 men doing some building work as well.

If you're paying a day rate then absolutely stay in. Personally, I was there for about 70-90% of the work being done. I might have popped out for a couple of hours in the morning etc. I was glad I stuck around as there were questions I had to ask, they wanted to ask me questions about what height the worktops were, exactly where the extractor fan should sit, the pattern of the tiles, etc.

I wasn't worried from a safety point of view but in my experience it helps to be to hand and to make sure the work is going quickly and to rectify anything you're not happy with as soon as it's being done.

Cash-Cow_3

Mine was done in two full working weeks. This included re-plastering, electrics and flooring. Put simply at the end of the job there were no jobs left to do apart from a very small amount of paint re-touching.

alisont

We have just had the whole house (3 bed semi) rewired last week. My parents went away for the week and I was there but went to work 8.30-5 daily. We left a set of keys with the electrician and he oversaw the whole project - had 2 men working for him and we also had a plumber in fitting a new shower, also needed a roofer and a plasterer at one stage.

I was a lone female there in the evenings whilst they still had a set of keys but felt fine with this - we booked a local sparky - he was registered with the council had a crb check and also registered with Age Uk.

I felt a bit strange being at work the first day, leaving my house all day but it was all fine after that. I was more worried about how the guinea pigs, rabbit and hamster would be but again all fine!

We are looking to get a new kitchen in the next 6-12 months - again I will aim to get parents to go away for a week and I'll stay but go to work in the daytimes. I'd not want to be there with all the noise and dust!

The guy who fitted out new loft ladder and may well get the kitchen job said it takes about a week - main delays are if plastering is needed as that takes time to dry.