fitting a kitchen

dreaddan

Hi, where looking at replacing our kitchen v soon.
I was thinking of fitting it my self rather than get someone else in to do it.
Currently were probably going for a magnet kitchen as the wife refuses to look at any where else now she has seen there's.

From what I can find it's quite simple but time consuming to to get it right.
Cupboard and wall units just screw to the wall, the only thing I cannot find is how to attach the counter top.
From what I can tell it's just screwed into the cupboards, and not the wall. To me that does not seam right..

Thanks
Dan

dreaddan

I do realise it's not a easy job, the plumbing wont be a problem as I can do that. I will need a spark in to add a extra socket and a corgi guy to do the cooker.

greyteam1959

Worktop is fastened onto the cupboards from below using right angled brackets etc.
Obviously make sure that use dont use screws that are too long !!!!!
I have fitted 2 Magnet kitchens myself over the last 20 years.
Most important thing to do is to plan it out carefully before you go and spend your hard earned cash.

dreaddan

cheers, needed to check that.

What about if one end is over a washer/dryer? Should it be supported by a block attached to the wall?

we have the magnet planner coming round on monday to go though it all.

greyteam1959

Yes screw a 2" x 2" batten to the wall and screw up from that......cut the batten shorter than the worktop width so that you dont see it from the front
Best thing I found was to go and get a Magnet price list cos in there are all the specifications of all the units etc etc.
You can then measure up and see what you can fit in.........or let the Magnet man do it for you !!!!

stan747

Hi, i used to fit kitchens for a living, had 2 lads working for me and we did 3-4 a week.
the job is pretty easy but you need to know exactly what you are doing, if you want to save a few quid, get the doors and worktops from magnet if your wife is insistent on their design and the carcasses etc from a local dealer, it will be much cheaper. if you have any specific questions drop me a pm or post here and give me a nudge.
as for the washer, you could cover it up with a door,kickboard and a cable end, or just a gable end if your not bothered about seeing it.you could even have the worktop extend past the washer and put a leg in and use the space for a dustbin/veggie/pan rack or similar. some people opted for a wine rack or open ended unit.

dreaddan

Cheers, will think about just getting the doors it would save so much money.
I'm tempted to get the worktop from someone else as they don't do one that's long enough for one run (345cm) so would have a ~5cm join.

dan

dreaddan

I have another question. I missread the countertop lengths.
There 3mtr rather than 3.4mtr long, so I now need to do a join in a odd place.
I can either join 45cm above a dryer (60cm) which is next to the washer (60cm) or just under the hob, which will be 35cm from the wall.
I expect it will be best to put the join over the dryer - what do you think?

pdrskint

kitchen worktops
you can get 3.6 mtr wortops or even 4.2 this saves a nasty joint

dreaddan

magnet only seem to do 3mtr ones.
dprskint - where would you recommend to get one from? were after just a dark laminate , but needs to withstand a decent amount of use.

dugowly

Dan m8,
from what i've read, bite the bullet get someone in to do it for you and you and your wife can look at it when it's done and say what a lovely job they've done.
It's an easy job if your a kitchen fitter when they have routers, chop saws, decent cordless drills etc.
If you've not done it before it could all far too easily end in tears.
It's extremely easy to make an expensive kitchen look crap just by missing the simple touches a kitchen fitter would do without thinking!

Save yourself some money by stripping the old one out, do the plumbing yourself, organise the sparks and gas guy yourself, that way you arn't paying a mark up

Go to your local Howdens Branch, they are the trade division of Magnets anyway, see something you and the other half like, they always have a board up with local fitters business cards onand ask their advice as to who to ask to fit it.
No I don't work for Howdens either

Hope this reality check works