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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Has anyone fitted there own kitchen

21 replies

Diorinthecountryy · 29/06/2023 20:18

Our new kitchen was delivered a few weeks ago. I am desperate to get it fitted now. The fitter we had booked is now off sick and everyone else I have tried is booked up solid.

So I am wondering how easy it would be for me and dh to fit the kitchen ourselves. All help welcome.

OP posts:

neverenoughchelseaboots · 29/06/2023 20:20

Yes but DH is very handy and tenacious. It was fiddly for sure.

I’d only tackle it if you’re seasoned DIYers with very flat walls.

(We didn’t fit the worktop)

PimpMyFridge · 29/06/2023 20:23

Fitted part of a kitchen once. It wasn't brilliant as the worktop was a long rectangle with 90° corners (as you'd expect) but the house didn't have 90° corners.
We did know that and checked and measured and thought we'd got it right, but not quite... We had a gap between the worktop and the wall at one end.
Luckily we were (just) able to cover the gap with a thick splash back... But it was not the seamless finish we'd aimed for. It was our first home and nothing special so it was good enough, but those are the kind of rooky errors you need to look out for, I'm sure there are many others.
But if you're handy and happy to accept that kind of thing might happen then crack on.

AnxiousShep · 29/06/2023 20:23

We did ours apart from the work top. Was fiddly and plenty of lifting. DH is very handy though and has tools. I was the extra pair of hands and checked all was level. Was hard work but very satisfying when done.

ShowOfHands · 29/06/2023 20:26

We have done it a few times but we are handy, have tools and have been renovating for a couple of decades. It's possible but needs a bit of skill.

cptartapp · 29/06/2023 20:27

DH did but had six months off work at the time. He's pretty handy and had all the relevant tools, laser levels etc.
Specialist fitted the worktop though.

Original poster

Diorinthecountryy · 29/06/2023 21:00

Thanks everyone much appreciated. We are not handy at all and our walls aren't straight. On a plus point we have tools

I would want it to look good once done and the worktops especially cutting for the sink scare me.

I've managed to get a joiner to come out tomorrow to give me a quote.

OP posts:

AlannaOfTrebond · 29/06/2023 21:22

We did ours during lockdown, which was a pleasant diversion!

I'd echo everyone else though and say that we are very handy, own a lot of tools and have plenty of experience.

We didn't do the worktop as we were having granite, but have done melamine in the past.

If you aren't confident you have the skills I wouldn't do it yourselves. You've already spent money on the units and being disappointed with the end result would be gutting.

LibertyLily · 29/06/2023 21:24

Hopefully the joiner will be able to fit it within a reasonable time frame @Diorinthecountryy!

We've fitted several of our own kitchens (and DH fitted one for friends a couple of years back) but like other posters we are experienced DIYers and imho do a very good job. DH can plaster and tile too (although not remotely like his day job) which is handy.

Our current house is really old with very wonky walls but we managed to fit our (not flat pack) cabinets and iroko worktops without too many issues. Having the right tools definitely makes a massive difference.

Original poster

Diorinthecountryy · 29/06/2023 21:53

@AlannaOfTrebond that's true I wouldn't be happy if the end result looked rubbish.

@LibertyLily fingers crossed that he can do it soon.

You are all really lucky to be handy and have handy husband's. I would love to do a project but maybe start small first then build up to bigger things

OP posts:

PimpMyFridge · 29/06/2023 22:03

Fingers crossed this joiner is ok!

Original poster

Diorinthecountryy · 29/06/2023 22:11

I really hope so @PimpMyFridge

OP posts:

neverenoughchelseaboots · 29/06/2023 22:30

@LibertyLily sounds the same as us. I’ve come to realise that it’s a blessing that it’s different from his day job.

I hear everyone say that builders never get round to doing their own houses. It’s quite a nice diversion for DH.

ShowOfHands · 30/06/2023 09:55

neverenoughchelseaboots · 29/06/2023 22:30

@LibertyLily sounds the same as us. I’ve come to realise that it’s a blessing that it’s different from his day job.

I hear everyone say that builders never get round to doing their own houses. It’s quite a nice diversion for DH.

Same here. DH is a copper and today, he's fitting waney edged timber sills and shelving and finishing some tiling. We need to plaster our bedroom asap as well. My friend's DH is an actual builder and joiner and never does stuff at home.

johnd2 · 30/06/2023 18:05

Yeah it was DIY Kitchens so arrived all assembled, I took 2 weeks off work but most of the first week was waiting for the delivery and drilling an external wall and adding a 4 inch soil pipe under the floor.
The actual fitting was pretty easy, just like putting a load of ready made chests of drawers in and lining them up and screwing them together.
The hard parts were the electric points, and getting the gas hob in. Also it was a bit of a faff getting the water and drainage correct.
The only issues was by the time we got the worktops fitted 6 months later, the floor had settled (new extension) so nothing was level by then. Also we didn't peel off the film from the doors in time and they didn't peel off in one piece any more. So at 50 pounds per door we are living with it for now!

Looneytune253 · 30/06/2023 18:15

We've done ours and it was very tricky. Hubby is very very handy too but it took longer than a week full time for us to do. We're doing one in our new house now but we don't have the week off to do it.....

3BSHKATS · 30/06/2023 18:22

The thing is if your walls aren’t straight, what are you expecting a professional to do that you can’t? I’m 99% sure mine arent so I went for pre-built cabinets. And when they come to measure the worktop, I’m gonna expect them to do something magical with that to ensure there’s no gaps. Otherwise, what else can I do? I can’t rebuild the walls

PimpMyFridge · 30/06/2023 19:09

You trim the rear edge to match the profile/angles.

PimpMyFridge · 30/06/2023 19:10

The skill is in getting that right.
The cupboard units themselves have s service void at the back so it didn't matter for those, it's only the worktop it affects

3BSHKATS · 30/06/2023 19:35

The rear edge of the worktops ?

johnd2 · 01/07/2023 06:09

3BSHKATS · 30/06/2023 19:35

The rear edge of the worktops ?

Yes it's called scribing, basically you get the worktop roughly the right shape so the biggest gap is about an inch, then you can either use a scribe or just make your own, small bit of ply with a point and a hole an inch away, then you draw a long line an inch away from the wall, cut along with a jigsaw (or router if you prefer ) and then the worktop should be a perfect fit.
If you have an L shape to put bevelled worktops you can get a router template to do the hockey stick cut and special clamps to put under, but it can be harder to get everything to line up, thick splashbacks can cover your sins!

Original poster

Diorinthecountryy · 02/07/2023 13:32

Update. My kitchen is getting fitted tomorrow and they said it should be finished for Friday. Just trying to pack up the kitchen and realised I have no boxes

The kitchen, plumbing and electrics are getting done this week. The cosmetics getting done later on. I've not even started looking at paint, lights etc.

It's a dark oak kitchen from DIY kitchens. Not sure what colours to go for with accessories etc 🤔

OP posts:

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