Fitted Kitchens

Corner units in Fitted kitchens are generally available in two configurations, an L-shaped unit, usually 900mm width and a conventional corner cabinet available in sizes from 900mm to 1200mm. If the design allows then one, the other, or both will be suitable for your kitchens.

Adjust the kitchens legs to ensure the cabinet meets the line and, using a spirit level, adjust to ensure the unit is plumb and level. Continue the above method with all subsequent units and clamp together making sure all edges are flush and level.

To connect units together in kitchens, use clamps inside the units to adjoin the kitchens units both top and bottom, ensuring that the front and top edges are flush. When clamping together protect units by using hardboard off cuts or similar behind the clamp jaws.

Remove one screw from each of the kitchens hinge back plates and rotate back plate to expose area behind. Using a 5mm wood bit, drill part way through the first carcass behind the hinge back plate and fix the two together with a cordless screwdriver using 30mm screws for 18mm units and for 25mm screws for 15mm units. Reposition back plate and fix. This will serve to conceal the fixing. If however, both units are connecting on the closing side of the kitchens doors – use the same procedure and cap the screws.

Where ends of Fitted kitchens are not visible it is advantageous to cut off the service void from the bottom of the kitchens units leaving 80mm of the full cabinet depth from the top of the unit. This will serve to overcome any out of true plastering behind the kitchens base units and provide an easy means of running cables behind the units after fitting.

Most Fitted kitchens manufacturers employ a service void of approximately 50mm at the back of base units and this is essential not only for plumbing and electrical services but also for scribing to the walls if necessary. To ensure that no gaps are visible where the last kitchens unit meets the wall you may need to scribe the cabinet. To do this, level the cabinet and clamp it to the adjacent one leaving it 30mm proud of the front edge, clamp the units together, set the compass to 30mm between pencil and point and run the point of the compass down the wall keeping it parallel with the pencil point. The pencil line left on the carcass will act as a guide for cutting with a jigsaw. After cutting, fit the cabinet as described above. This will leave a perfect finish to the wall.

When all the kitchens cabinets are levelled and in place, they will require fixing to the walls. This will only be required at alternate gables. Hold a 25mm right-angled bracket to the wall and against a gable interior. Mark through the bracket with a pencil to the wall and drill at a downward angle. Insert a rawlplug and fix to the wall using a 50mm screw. Fix the bracket to the cabinet gable using a 16mm screw.


Fitting kitchens appliances

An important thing to remember is, when fitting a conventional corner cabinet that has an appliance fitted on the return, to allow sufficient space for the door to open 90o and to ensure that the appliance door has clearance to open without infringing on the kitchens door handle. This may require the fitting of a corner fillet manufactured on site but will ensure that your dishes can be placed into a fully open dishwasher.