Flat-pack kitchen fitting in Gateshead

Thinking about flat-pack kitchen fitting in Gateshead?

A Gateshead 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 Tyne and Wear 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. We cover all of Gateshead, including the NE8 postcode district, and travel out to neighbouring towns across Tyne and Wear.

What we cover for flat-pack kitchen fitting in Gateshead

Every kitchen is different, so we confirm the scope in writing. Most jobs of this kind include:

Back panels fitted fully into their grooves or fixed as the instructions require
Panels, plinths, sink, tap and appliance connections to existing points
Base units levelled on adjustable legs and fixed to the wall and to each other
Drawer boxes, runners and hinges assembled, fitted and adjusted to line up
Wall units hung on hanging rails or brackets fixed securely into the wall
Carcasses assembled on site on a flat surface and checked for square

Guide prices for flat-pack kitchen fitting in Gateshead

As a starting point for Gateshead, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in the North East. Prices in the North East usually come in below the national guide, as labour rates are lower than in the South East.

Guide prices for flat-pack kitchen fitting in Gateshead
Typical project	Guide price
Small flat-pack kitchen, built and fittedCarcasses assembled on site, then fitted as a rigid kitchen would be	£1,600–£2,700
Medium flat-pack kitchen, built and fittedAs above	£2,500–£3,800
Large flat-pack kitchen with tall units, built and fittedAs above	£3,600–£5,000

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%.

Kitchens in homes around Gateshead

In and around Gateshead, homes range across tyneside flats, Victorian terraces, 1930s semis and post-war council-built houses. Tyneside flats often have a narrow kitchen in the rear offshoot, while 1930s semis and ex-council houses tend to have a small square kitchen at the back.

Hardness varies across Tyne and Wear, from fairly soft around Newcastle to harder in parts of Sunderland, so check with your supplier before choosing a filter. Back lanes behind terraced streets can help deliveries, but upper Tyneside flats have their own internal stair, so long worktops need careful handling.

Regulations for kitchen work in Gateshead

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.

In conservation areas and listed buildings, such as parts of central Newcastle and Tynemouth, a new external vent or changes to historic features may need consent.

Getting the most from your flat-pack kitchen fitting

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.
Stack flat-pack boxes flat on a level floor rather than on end, so that long side panels do not bow before they are assembled.
Keep every instruction leaflet; each one shows the cam, dowel and hinge positions for that unit and saves time during assembly.
Clear a space next to the kitchen for assembly; carcasses need a flat floor and room to be checked for square before fitting.

Questions about flat-pack kitchen fitting in Gateshead

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

Flat-pack kitchen fitting in Gateshead typically costs £1,600 to £2,700 including VAT for a small flat-pack kitchen, built and fitted, based on prices in the North East. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Which parts of Gateshead do you work in?

All of them. Our Tyne and Wear coverage takes in the whole of Gateshead, including the NE8 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Newcastle upon Tyne. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

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.

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.

How do you protect a flat-pack sink unit from water?

Mainly by sealing. Cut edges of board near the sink, including the holes for pipes and the waste, are sealed before the unit is fitted, and the worktop cut-out is sealed before the sink goes in. A sink base mat adds a second layer of protection against drips. Isolation valves on the supplies also mean that a later leak can be shut off quickly.

Flat-pack kitchen fitting in neighbouring towns

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