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Information
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Kitchens Installation Preparation
1. Remove Kitchens
Preparation should take place a few days prior to fitting
kitchens and provision will no doubt have to be made to visit the local
take-away for the duration. Once the kitchens sink has been removed,
it’s a good idea to fit an angled washing machine valve to the
cold supply for filling the kettle while you’re without a sink.
Fit blanks to all other exposed pipe work.
2. Check your kitchens plumbing and electricity
The ideal time to carry out plumbing and electrical alterations in kitchens is
prior to any re-plastering. As kitchens are the place where most
electrical appliances are concentrated, it is important to check that
your existing wiring is capable of coping with the load placed on
it at busy periods.
If you possess a plan for your new kitchen, obtaining a first fix
preparation layout will help you to determine the position of all
electrical and plumbing services to the nearest millimetre. As well
as reducing installation time, arranging your own first fix should
also reduce installation costs.
Wall socket boxes and tails of cable for sockets below worktop height
can now be positioned where required. Provision should also be made
for ceiling and under-cupboard lighting at this stage.
 Gas
and water services can also be positioned in preparation for cabinet
installation in kitchens, as can any waste pipes or extraction holes.
At this point it is important to refer to the laws relating to work
on kitchens, gas appliances or fittings. Details can be found at the following
web address:
http://www.corgi-gas.com/working_law.asp
Once the pipe-work is in position behind the relevant cabinet/s, fitting
isolating valves will eliminate the need to shut off the house water
supply whilst the kitchens installation is being carried out. Provision to
access these valves can be made later when fitting the cabinets. A
good point to remember at this stage is to ensure any pipe-work passing
behind integrated appliances in kitchens is installed tight to the wall and at
a low level depending on the appliance depth and configuration. Overlooking
this point will mean your integrated appliance doors will protrude
from adjacent kitchen cabinet doors.
This is to be avoided unless you wish to set a new trend!
3. Check your kitchens walls
After removing your old kitchens it’s worth checking the condition
of the plaster.
The finish and strength of the walls ultimately determine how kitchens will look and to ignore it at this stage may spoil the final
appearance.
Fitting kitchens or tiles to perished plastering is like placing your
best china in a fruit-box and I strongly advise any rectification
to be made during preparation, (a sight you won’t relish after installation is the plasterer
standing on your kitchens worktops trying to reach the bare wall above
your new cupboards). You may find that although your walls can be
re-plastered after fitting, your kitchens worktops and sink have more scratches
than an ice rink.
If major plastering is required once you have removed your old kitchens,
be sure to give it sufficient time to dry before fitting any units
otherwise the cabinets will swell due to moisture content
Although time taken on completing the above will of course prolong
the installation, it will ultimately bring you peace of mind and you’ll
be safe in the knowledge that all your surfaces are sound.
4. One final step before installing kitchens
Once you’ve completed the above steps and your plastering
is dry you’re ready to mark levels on the wall.
Firstly, determine the depth of the floor covering and add this measurement
to the height of the units (without worktops). For example: Depth
of tiles = 12mm. Height of units = 870mm. A line will be made at a
height of 882mm. This will allow easy fitting of the kickboard on
completion.
Having completed the preparation it’s now time to begin fitting
the units and providing services have been positioned correctly this
will be a much easier task than you thought.
© Tim Foley 2003
Tim Foley is a writer and expert within the kitchen industry and is project
consultant to ITV's 60 Minute Makeover.
Tim provides reference to the national press and magazines on kitchen related
matters.
Email: info@kitchensfitted.co.uk
Url www.kitchensfitted.co.uk
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