Guides
Kitchen fitting guides
Practical guidance for planning, buying and fitting a kitchen, written for homeowners and landlords.
How much does a new kitchen cost in the UK?
A new kitchen in the UK typically costs £1,500 to £4,500 to have fitted if you have already bought the units, or from about £8,000 for a budget kitchen…
GuideFit only or supply and fit: which is better value for a kitchen?
Fit only means you buy the kitchen and pay an installer for the labour, typically £1,500 to £4,500 including VAT to fit the units, doors, laminate worktops and…
GuideHow long does it take to fit a new kitchen?
Fitting a kitchen usually takes three to twelve days on site: three to five days for a small kitchen, five to eight for a medium one and eight to twelve for a…
GuideFlat-pack or rigid kitchen: what is the difference?
A rigid kitchen arrives with its cabinets already built and glued in a factory, while a flat-pack kitchen arrives in boxes and is assembled on site. Rigid…
GuideWhat happens during a kitchen installation, day by day?
A kitchen installation follows a set order: strip-out and making services safe, first-fix electrics and plumbing, any plastering, fixing the base and wall…
GuideHow do you plan a kitchen layout that works?
Planning a kitchen layout means choosing a shape that suits the room, usually galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island or peninsula, then arranging storage…
GuideWhich kitchen worktop material should you choose?
The main kitchen worktop materials are laminate, solid wood, quartz, granite, sintered stone, solid surface and compact laminate. Laminate costs least and is…
GuideDo you need building regulations approval for a new kitchen?
Fitting or replacing kitchen units does not need planning permission or building regulations approval anywhere in the UK, but parts of the job often do…
GuideCan you move a kitchen sink, hob or extractor, and what does it cost?
Yes, a sink, hob or extractor can usually be moved, but each move means new services. A sink needs new supplies and a waste run with enough fall, typically…
GuideHow much space and planning does a kitchen island need?
A kitchen island needs clear walkways on every side, commonly around a metre, plus room for appliance doors and drawers to open. If it will have a sink, hob or…
GuideShould you replace your kitchen doors or fit a whole new kitchen?
Replacing kitchen doors and drawer fronts makes sense when the carcasses are sound, level and dry and the layout still works. New doors supplied and fitted…
GuideDucted or recirculating cooker hood: which do you need?
A ducted cooker hood draws steam, grease and smells out through a duct to the outside, while a recirculating hood passes the air through grease and carbon…
GuideBuying a kitchen yourself: what should you check before ordering?
If you are buying a kitchen and having it fitted separately, get the room surveyed and the plan checked before you order. Then make sure the order includes the…
GuideHow do you live without a kitchen during a refit?
For a typical refit, expect your kitchen to be out of use for about one to two weeks. Most households manage by setting up a temporary kitchen in another room…
GuideWhat should landlords look for in a rental or HMO kitchen?
A good rental kitchen is durable, easy to clean and quick to repair: hard-wearing doors and worktops, well-sealed edges around the sink, simple appliances and…
GuideWhat is involved in knocking through to make a kitchen-diner?
Knocking through means removing all or part of the wall between a kitchen and a dining or living room to make one open space. If the wall is load-bearing, you…