Guide
How 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, with a kettle, microwave, fridge and somewhere nearby to wash up, planning simple meals, and asking the installer in advance which days the water, power and gas will be off.
How long will the kitchen be out of use?
Around one to two weeks for a typical refit. The sink and cooker are disconnected on the first day, during strip-out, and reconnected near the end, once the units and worktops are in. A small kitchen with no service changes may be out of use for less; a larger job, or one waiting for stone worktops, for longer.
Stone worktops are templated after the base units are fixed and fitted about one to two weeks later, which can stretch the time without a sink. Ask whether a temporary worktop can go in so the sink can be reconnected in the meantime, as this makes a long wait far easier.
How do you set up a temporary kitchen?
Choose a room close to a water supply, such as a dining room next to the kitchen or a utility room, and set up a table as a worktop. Move the fridge there if it is freestanding, or use a small spare fridge. Keep everything you need for simple meals in one place, so you are not searching through boxes at the end of the day:
- Kettle, toaster and microwave, on a sound socket that is not overloaded
- A fridge, or a cool box topped up each day
- A plastic box of everyday crockery, cutlery and a couple of pans
- A washing-up bowl, liquid, sponge and drying rack
- Bin bags and a box for recycling
- Paper towels, a chopping board and a sharp knife
What can you cook without a kitchen?
Plan two weeks of simple meals before work starts. A microwave, slow cooker, air fryer or plug-in single hob can cover most needs, used on a sturdy surface away from curtains and never left unattended. Batch-cooking and freezing meals beforehand saves money compared with eating out every night.
Breakfasts and lunches are easy with cereal, sandwiches and salads. For the busiest days, such as strip-out and the day the worktops go in, it is worth planning to eat out or with family, as the house will be at its noisiest and dustiest then.
How do you handle washing up?
Washing up is often the hardest part. A bathroom basin or bath can work for a few items, though it is worth keeping food waste out of it and cleaning it well afterwards. A utility sink, if you have one, is the easiest option. Some people use disposable plates for the first few days to cut the washing up right down.
Keep washing up small and frequent rather than letting it build up. A washing-up bowl carried to the bath, a drying rack in the temporary kitchen and a set of crockery limited to what the household needs each day all help.
When will the water, power and gas be off?
We plan the job so that the water and power are off for as little time as possible, and we tell you in advance which days will be the most disruptive. Usually the water to the kitchen is capped on the first day, while the rest of the house keeps its supply. Short whole-house shutdowns may be needed when new pipework is connected.
Electrics are isolated on the kitchen circuits during strip-out and first fix, and there may be short periods with the main supply off when new circuits are connected at the consumer unit. A gas hob is capped by a Gas Safe registered engineer. If the boiler is in the kitchen, ask how heating and hot water will be kept running.
How can you shorten the time without a kitchen?
Most of the time without a kitchen comes from the order of the work, not the speed of the fitters. Having the kitchen delivered and checked before strip-out, choosing the appliances, sink and tap early, and booking any stone template visit for the day the base units are finished all shorten it.
Choosing laminate or solid wood worktops removes the templating wait altogether, because they are cut and fitted on site. If you have chosen stone, a temporary worktop with the sink reconnected can give you running water in the kitchen while the stone is being made.
How do you keep children, pets and the house safe?
A kitchen under refit is a building site, with tools, exposed cables, sharp edges and dust. Keep the kitchen door closed, and keep children and pets well away from the working area. Agree with the fitters where tools and materials will be stored overnight, and keep the route to the back door clear.
Dust travels, so move valuables, electronics and soft furnishings out of rooms next to the kitchen. Floors along the route are protected, but it helps to keep a doormat and spare dust sheets handy for the days when tiles are coming off or a duct is being cored through a wall.
How should you prepare the room before work starts?
Empty every cupboard and drawer a few days before, and use the chance to clear out anything you do not use. Run down the freezer so it is easier to move or empty. Unplug and move small appliances. Take down blinds, pictures and clocks, and clear the route from the front door to the kitchen.
Think about parking for the fitting van and skip, and let neighbours know when the noisiest days will be. In a flat, check the building's rules on working hours, lift protection and deliveries before the first day, as they can affect how the job is planned.
Questions
Should I move out during a kitchen refit?
Usually not. Most households stay at home and manage with a temporary kitchen for a week or two. Moving out may be worth considering if the job is part of a larger renovation, if someone in the home has health needs affected by dust, or if structural work means the water or heating will be off for longer.
Will the water be off for the whole job?
No. Normally only the kitchen supply is capped, so the bathroom and the rest of the house keep running water. There may be short whole-house shutdowns when new pipework is connected, and we tell you in advance when they will be. The kitchen sink is reconnected once the units and worktop are in place.
Can the fridge stay connected during the refit?
A freestanding fridge can usually be moved to another room and kept running throughout. An integrated fridge comes out with the old units, so it may be off for some days unless it can be stood elsewhere and plugged in. Running the freezer down before work starts makes this much easier.
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This guide is general information about kitchen fitting in the UK, not legal, tax, electrical or structural advice for your property. Rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; check with your local authority or a qualified adviser before relying on it.