Flat-pack kitchen fitting in Exeter

Why flat-pack kitchen fitting for an Exeter home?

An Exeter kitchen with uneven floors or walls that are out of true needs the same care whatever the units, and flat-pack carcasses gain most from being squared before they are scribed.

Some people in Devon start building their own flat-pack units, then call in a fitter when the walls, worktops and connections turn out to be the harder part. If your home is in Exeter or close by in Exmouth or Tiverton, the same survey, quote and fitting process applies.

What we cover for flat-pack kitchen fitting in Exeter

Here is what usually goes into flat-pack kitchen fitting, adjusted to your Exeter kitchen after we have measured it:

Laminate worktops cut and jointed, with cut edges sealed around the sink
Carcasses assembled on site on a flat surface and checked for square
Back panels fitted fully into their grooves or fixed as the instructions require
Drawer boxes, runners and hinges assembled, fitted and adjusted to line up
Base units levelled on adjustable legs and fixed to the wall and to each other
Free survey visit to check the plan, the boxes and the room

Guide prices for flat-pack kitchen fitting in Exeter

These guide ranges include VAT at 20% and are adjusted for prices in the South West. We confirm your price in writing after a free survey visit. For the South West, these ranges are close to the national figures.

Guide prices for flat-pack kitchen fitting in Exeter
Typical project	Guide price
Small flat-pack kitchen, built and fittedCarcasses assembled on site, then fitted as a rigid kitchen would be	£1,900–£3,100
Medium flat-pack kitchen, built and fittedAs above	£2,900–£4,300
Large flat-pack kitchen with tall units, built and fittedAs above	£4,100–£5,700

Flat-pack prices include assembling the carcasses on site and fitting units, doors, panels, plinths and laminate worktops with connections to existing points; stone worktops, new circuits, moved services, tiling and flooring are extra. Prices include VAT at 20%.

Local homes and their kitchens

In and around Exeter, homes range across cob and thatched cottages, Victorian terraces, post-war houses and flats and seaside bungalows. Victorian terraces in Exeter and Torbay often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war houses and seaside bungalows usually have a square room that suits an L-shape.

Much of Devon has soft mains water, which is kind to taps and appliances, though some eastern parts are harder, so check with your supplier. Single-track lanes, steep town streets and cottages with no parking can make deliveries slow, so long worktops and tall units need a planned route into the house.

Do you need approval for flat-pack kitchen fitting in Exeter?

Assembling and fitting a flat-pack kitchen needs no planning permission in England; if the building is listed, listed building consent may be needed where the work affects its character. Electrics must meet BS 7671: extra sockets or spurs on an existing kitchen circuit are not notifiable, but a new cooker or induction circuit is notifiable under Part P. Gas hobs are connected only by Gas Safe registered engineers, and any new cooker hood should meet Approved Document F.

Homes within Dartmoor or Exmoor national parks, listed thatched cottages and conservation areas may need consent before a new extractor vent goes through an outside wall.

Planning ahead

Set aside a room next to the kitchen in your Exeter home for assembly, with enough floor space to lay a tall larder carcass down flat.
Keep every instruction leaflet; each one shows the cam, dowel and hinge positions for that unit and saves time during assembly.
If you are building some units yourself before the fit, leave the back panels and hinges for us to check before anything is fixed to the wall.
Look at the back panels supplied; thin backs rely on being fitted correctly into their grooves to keep each carcass square and rigid.

Questions about flat-pack kitchen fitting in Exeter

How much does flat-pack kitchen fitting cost in Exeter?

Guide prices in Exeter are about £1,900 to £3,100 including VAT for a small flat-pack kitchen, built and fitted. The final price depends on the size of the kitchen and what is moving, and is set out in an itemised written quote.

Which parts of Exeter do you work in?

All of them. Our Devon coverage takes in the whole of Exeter, including the EX2 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Exmouth. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

What is the difference between flat-pack and rigid kitchen units?

Rigid units arrive factory-assembled, usually glued and dowelled, so they are ready to fix. Flat-pack units arrive as boards and fittings in a box and are built on site. Both can make a good kitchen. Flat-pack is cheaper to buy and easier to carry into tight spaces, while rigid units save assembly time and come square from the factory, which is why the fitting labour is a little lower.

Are flat-pack wall units strong enough once they are hung?

Yes, when they are assembled and hung correctly. Wall units carry their load through the back panel and the hanging fixings, so the back must be fully fitted and the rail or brackets fixed into the wall with fixings that suit its construction. Plasterboard walls may need timber noggins or specialist fixings behind the board. We check the wall types at the survey and plan the fixings before the fit.

Can you fit a flat-pack kitchen I have already started building?

Yes, usually. We check any carcasses you have assembled for square, tight joints and properly fitted back panels before they are used, and rebuild any that are not right. Units built in another room are moved carefully, as a carcass without its worktop and wall fixings is easy to twist out of shape. We look at them on the survey and price the work accordingly.

Nearby places we cover

The same service is available a short drive from Exeter, including: