Has anyone fitted their own kitchen?

[iloveblue]

Hi

We have la lovely terraced Victorian house with a tiny (horrible) kitchen.
We have some money from in-laws and are going to spend it on a few projects - one of them being the kitchen.
The aim is to get basic base units, cupboard doors, sink and a nice worktop from B+Q and then have open shelving on the walls.
We will only need 4/5 base cupboards and were wondering if it would be easy enough for DH to do himself (with some help from DB and BIL).
He has fair DIY skills.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's fitted their own and how it went?
Thankyou

[GooseyLoosey]

We've done it twice. It's very hard work and took a lot longer than we thought it would. Both times we got a carpenter in to do the work tops as they went around a corner and we would not have done it well enough.

To be honest we made a better job of it than the professionally fitted kitchen we now have - everything was done very carefully.

Allow a lot more time than you think you need and be prepared to live without a kitchen for several weeks.

Also, if you are attempted by Ikea units, allow even more time as their cabinets come flat pack and are time consuming to assemble.

It's definitely possible though.

[GooseyLoosey]

That should be "tempted" by Ikea units!

[iloveblue]

Thanks gooseyloosey
We did think about getting someone in to do the worktop. We don't have any corners luckily - its a galley type kitchen.

[MrsBlarney]

Easy peasy.

I've fitted mine myself, well I got someone in for the plastering, that was all (and had to get a qualified electrician in for sockets, as we rent and they need paperwork, but that would have been easy too).

I built my own cupboards from solid wood, I hate chipboard, couldn't afford really posh ones so built from timber and some victorian doors. plus fitted a solid oak worktop, ceramic sink, nice tap. Still got to tile the walls, I'm doing it gradually...oh and I gutted it entirely, including knocking up the old floor tiles so that had to be screeded and retiled. I did all of that myself.

Have fun

[MrsBlarney]

Oh yes if you have worktops going round corners you could pay someone to do a posh jointing thing. I only had a straight run to fit so twasn't hard.

[iloveblue]

Wow MrsB - I'm impressed. I would love solid wood cupboards but don't think DH or myself are up to making them from scratch.
My DB is a fine cabinet maker, but has just had twin boys and is feeling ths strain otherwise I would have asked him.

[AnnaBegins]

My DP fitted our kitchen, which was second hand from some friends (but solid wood, so worth it) and so needed some adapting! Goosey is right, it took ages, but was a fun project :) good luck!

[Mammonite]

Yes, it's not difficult but time consuming. If you are careful, can assemble furniture and use a spirit level and attach things securely to your walls you should be fine. There is a great little video that reminds you what's involved .

Out of square floors and walls are the worst enemy.

[lalalonglegs]

I've done it - would recommend the worktop being done professionally but the cupboards really aren't that hard. Buy one of those very long spirit levels and you're away.

[notcitrus]

We put base and wall units in our granny flat - from Ikea, I think 3 base and 6 wall units, and straight counters (Ikea again, so fake granite) with holes for sink and a couple pipes.

Took about 2 days of solid work, then got tiler to tile the walls. We checked we had all the right bits the week before. Certainly well worth doing.

[mylovelymonster]

My DH & BIL did ours (galley) - everything. Units, worktop (no corners but sink & hob cut-outs), electrics, tiling, floor - highly competent DIYers. Did our bathroom too Kept costs down a treat, plus they did a very good quality job - always more care when it's your own home. Real sense of satisfaction.

They did our driveway as well.......................
I am blessed

[GnomeDePlume]

If the electrics are not new then get them checked out/kitchen rewired before you put the new cupboards in. Get a Part P electrician for this as it is notifiable to building control.

We have now done a few kitchens. Allow plenty of time, dont rush it including taking out the old kitchen. We did DM's a few weeks back and set up a basic kitchen in another room for her for the duration.

[ElbowFan]

DH & I did two kitchens, worktops, plumbing the works! Hard work and boy do you need patience (sometimes just not to laugh at the wrong moment!) but I'd do it again. Satisfaction is worth it though!
We had someone in to do the bathroom (as I did not trust DHs plumbing skills to that extent - sink is one thing but loo and basin and bath and shower and all hidden under floorboards..) and I was disappointed in some of the 'botches' that were done in fitting units, tiling, sealant etc where I know we'd have done it slightly differently - and possibly better.

[iloveblue]

Thanks everyone - sounds like it might be doable then.

We can't gor for Ikea as am I right in thinking that there units are deeper? With a tiny galley kitchen - where you can hardly open the fridge properly deeper units are not going to work.
So, if not B&Q or Ikea, where else would you reccommend?

[winterland]

Howdens units are pre built, which will save you a lot of time. All you have to do is put into place, adjust the heights and fix to the wall. Then doors and handles, followed by worktops. You will need a trade account, or find a friend who has one. Not sure where you are based, but we are in the Borders, with an account...

[Mammonite]

Loads of internet suppliers do the PWS type carcases, which are all rigid built and huge choice of doors/colours. e.g DIY kitchens, 3D kitchens. They are quite inexpensive if you buy direct. I think a lot of independent shops use those.

[iloveblue]

Thanks for the tips winterland and mammonite
We're in Shrewsbury wl