Fitting a kitchen tap?

6 replies

wtrurly · 29/08/2019 16:06

Hiya,

DP and I are both very non-DIY, we can paint a wall and can just about put up a shelf.

Our tap broke and DP bought a new one - he thinks he can fit it himself, he's figured out how to turn the water off. I feel uncomfortable as we are in the process of selling our flat so just want to do it properly and get out.

So, do you think fitting a mixer tap is easy/hard? Would someone with no skills be able to do it?

We were quoted £50-60 by 2 plumbers for it and don't have the cash!

OP posts:

MarieG10 · 29/08/2019 18:01

Get a plumber...they are rarely an exact fit from my experience

elephantoverthehill · 29/08/2019 18:05

I replaced my kitchen tap did lots of googling before I did it but I do have quite a lot of DIY skills but if you can turn the water off you basically just follow what was there before. You do need 2 people however, one to hold the tap in place and one to tighten it.

Original poster

wtrurly · 29/08/2019 18:52

Thanks for responses.

DP currently attempting it. Look forward to calling the emergency plumber soon...
It's been an hour so far!

OP posts:

Scholesfan · 30/08/2019 01:41

It's a basic DIY job to be fair. The tap itself should only be held in by a horseshoe and 2 nuts after disconnecting the water fittings.

Much easier to fit/unfit if you have actual tap spanners/sockets and an extendable wrench.

peteneras · 30/08/2019 15:03

I've done this before - bought replacement taps from B&Q and job easily done in less than half-an-hour. You do need special wrench/spanner to access the bottom of the taps under the worktop/cabinet though and you need another person to "steady" the taps whilst removing old taps and tightening new ones while you're "down under". Of course, you need to turn off the mains pipe and the hot water pipe first before you start any work.

PigletJohn · 31/08/2019 10:32

A plumber would have been quicker and probably better.

When you fit a new sink, you turn it upside down first and fit the taps and waste with ease.

Once it is fitted, you have to lie on your back underneath it and work in a dark, constricted space, using twelve of your two-foot long fingers. Quite likely you won't get the new one tightly fitted or perfectly sealed.

Never mind, you'll know next time.

Flip