I think Ive more or less decided to take the plunge and fit my most of
my own kitchen.

Im starting totally from scratch having never undertaken a job like
this before. As I understand it the bulk of work is flat pack assembly
- this is something that I can do. So the plan is to do all that stuff
myself and sort out the plumbing and then get someone in for what I
perceive to be the more difficult work such as cutting the work tops
etc. Any thoughts?

Whats involved in cutting the plinths and cornices? Ive cut laminated
surfaces before and chipped the laminate which is something I want to
avoid this time. Is there any there any technique to doing this to get
a good cut?

I was thinking about buying a compound mitre saw as Ive got loads of
flooring to lay plus skirting and architrave - using it for the jobs
and I could always sell it on Ebay at the end. Does the high speed
spinning blade guarentee better cuts?

Cheers,

CM.

Hi Charles,

Having recently fitted my own kitchen for the first time the info. below
might be useful. No idea if it's right or not, but it worked for me and the
finish is good. It's not complicated fitting a kitchen providing you think
everything through and don't rush it. Be prepared for it to take around 4
times longer than you think it will take. If you're not a fairly competent
diy-er though, pay someone to fit it for you! :-)

Im starting totally from scratch having never undertaken a job like
this before. As I understand it the bulk of work is flat pack assembly
- this is something that I can do. So the plan is to do all that stuff
myself and sort out the plumbing and then get someone in for what I
perceive to be the more difficult work such as cutting the work tops
etc. Any thoughts?

For starters, check you've got EVERYTHING and nothing's damaged from square
one. Work out exactly what you need to build every unit and make sure
everything's there. The biggest delays I had were due to making umpteen
trips to B&Q to pick up missing handles, replacement units etc.

I started with the floor units at the highest point in the room with the
legs screwed in as far as they go. Get your first unit *perfectly* level.
Mark a level line along the wall for each subsequent unit and work to that,
extending the legs for each subsequent unit as necessary to make up for the
floor not being level (which it almost certainly won't be). Make sure you
don't extend the legs beyond the height of your plinths! If you keep
everything perfectly straight and level you shouldn't run into any problems.
Once you have your base units in you can use them as a guide to get
appropriate positioning of the wall units. If you've got room dry-fit all
of the base units so you can sort any unexpected problems before they're
bolted to the wall. Also make sure the units aren't so far away from the
wall at any point that you'll end up with a gap behind your worktop. The
doors etc. are a piece of cake.

If you've got corner joins in the worktops you're probably best paying
someone to do them unless your handy with a router or have a few spare bits
of worktop to try the joins on. If you want to do it yourself it'll cost
around £30-40 to hire the kit (worktop jig, router, bits etc.). If you
don't have any joins you can do the worktops yourself quite easily - you
really need a circular saw with a sharp blade though.

Seal cut edges of ANYTHING that's likely to get wet with polyurethane
varnish.

Whats involved in cutting the plinths and cornices? Ive cut laminated
surfaces before and chipped the laminate which is something I want to
avoid this time. Is there any there any technique to doing this to get
a good cut?

If you're using a jig-saw make sure you've got new sharp blades. Cut with
the display side downwards so the face is being cut on the up-stroke and you
should get a perfect cut. The cutting stroke should always be *towards* the
display side, if that makes sense.

I was thinking about buying a compound mitre saw as Ive got loads of
flooring to lay plus skirting and architrave - using it for the jobs
and I could always sell it on Ebay at the end. Does the high speed
spinning blade guarentee better cuts?

You'll *need* a compound mitre saw (or at least an electric mitre saw of
some description) to cut the cornice & pelmets. It's nigh on impossible to
get a good join otherwise. Cut them to exactly the right size, glue the
corners together with contact adhesive and then fit with conti-joints or
whatever. I found this bit to be one of the trickiest jobs since even the
electric mitre saw I borrowed wasn't giving perfect 45' cuts! It was a
cheap piece of crap though and in future I'll hire a decent one.

That's about it! As I say I'm no kitchen fitter so doubtless there's better
ways of doing all of this - worked for me though! :-)

Andy

Charles Middleton wrote:

Im starting totally from scratch having never undertaken a job like
this before. As I understand it the bulk of work is flat pack assembly
- this is something that I can do. So the plan is to do all that stuff
myself and sort out the plumbing and then get someone in for what I
perceive to be the more difficult work such as cutting the work tops
etc. Any thoughts?

Bear in mind that it doesn't take an experienced fitter long to knock
together a few flatpack units - the skill and effort is fitting them all
in place so they look good; apart from that, round my way they all buy
the units from Howdens (= MFI units), ie already assembled anyway. So
don't imagine you'll make a huge saving just by presenting a kitchen
fitter with all the units built but not fitted.

I'd say one of the single hardest things to get right, versus the impact
it makes overall on the kitchen, is the worktop - notably fabricating
the right angle joints in the corners with a router (= butt and scribe
joints, or something similar?) - something I can't do and will always
get a pro in to do. I fitted a kitchen before Xmas and did everything
but fitting all the worktops, for which I paid a joiner about 130 quid
(IIRC) which was well worthwhile IMHO, in terms of quality of the finish
and time saved.

If you do your own plumbing that's a big saving obviously, considering a
plumber's charges.

David

Lobster wrote:
Charles Middleton wrote:

Im starting totally from scratch having never undertaken a job like
this before. As I understand it the bulk of work is flat pack assembly
- this is something that I can do. So the plan is to do all that stuff
myself and sort out the plumbing and then get someone in for what I
perceive to be the more difficult work such as cutting the work tops
etc. Any thoughts?

Bear in mind that it doesn't take an experienced fitter long to knock
together a few flatpack units - the skill and effort is fitting them all
in place so they look good; apart from that, round my way they all buy
the units from Howdens (= MFI units), ie already assembled anyway. So
don't imagine you'll make a huge saving just by presenting a kitchen
fitter with all the units built but not fitted.

I'd say one of the single hardest things to get right, versus the impact
it makes overall on the kitchen, is the worktop - notably fabricating
the right angle joints in the corners with a router (= butt and scribe
joints, or something similar?) - something I can't do and will always
get a pro in to do. I fitted a kitchen before Xmas and did everything
but fitting all the worktops, for which I paid a joiner about 130 quid
(IIRC) which was well worthwhile IMHO, in terms of quality of the finish
and time saved.

If you do your own plumbing that's a big saving obviously, considering a
plumber's charges.

David

snip useful advise

My plan was to assemble and fit the units to the walls etc and then get
a joiner or similar to do the worktops. As you say this will be money
well spent. Although Im confident to assemble flat pack (required as
its coming from B&Q) im not confident in doing the surfaces.

Plumbing will be done by myself and a friend who's a qualified plumber
as the advisor.

Electrics - in a nutshell (to avoid reading loads of part P posts) I
need new sockets plus spurs for extractor and cupboard and under
cupboard lighting. Can I do that myself?

Anything else I need to look out for?

Cheers,

CM.

Pecanfan wrote:

snip informative and useful advise

If I got a compound mitre saw (im possibly being thick here) what would
I need the jig saw for?

On the mitre saw what sort of blade to I need to get good cuts?

Also, how did you put the cupboards on the walls - this will probably
be obvious when I take the old ones down?

Last question - whats a conti joint? Is that like the block you can get
with all the screw holes in it?

Bare in mind Im starting totally from scratch here!

Cheers,

CM

Charles Middleton wrote:
Lobster wrote:
Charles Middleton wrote:

Im starting totally from scratch having never undertaken a job like
this before. As I understand it the bulk of work is flat pack assembly
- this is something that I can do. So the plan is to do all that stuff
myself and sort out the plumbing and then get someone in for what I
perceive to be the more difficult work such as cutting the work tops
etc. Any thoughts?

Bear in mind that it doesn't take an experienced fitter long to knock
together a few flatpack units - the skill and effort is fitting them all
in place so they look good; apart from that, round my way they all buy
the units from Howdens (= MFI units), ie already assembled anyway. So
don't imagine you'll make a huge saving just by presenting a kitchen
fitter with all the units built but not fitted.

I'd say one of the single hardest things to get right, versus the impact
it makes overall on the kitchen, is the worktop - notably fabricating
the right angle joints in the corners with a router (= butt and scribe
joints, or something similar?) - something I can't do and will always
get a pro in to do. I fitted a kitchen before Xmas and did everything
but fitting all the worktops, for which I paid a joiner about 130 quid
(IIRC) which was well worthwhile IMHO, in terms of quality of the finish
and time saved.

If you do your own plumbing that's a big saving obviously, considering a
plumber's charges.

David

snip useful advise

My plan was to assemble and fit the units to the walls etc and then get
a joiner or similar to do the worktops. As you say this will be money
well spent. Although Im confident to assemble flat pack (required as
its coming from B&Q) im not confident in doing the surfaces.

Plumbing will be done by myself and a friend who's a qualified plumber
as the advisor.

Electrics - in a nutshell (to avoid reading loads of part P posts) I
need new sockets plus spurs for extractor and cupboard and under
cupboard lighting. Can I do that myself?

Anything else I need to look out for?

Cheers,

CM.

Charles Middleton wrote:
Lobster wrote:
Charles Middleton wrote:

Im starting totally from scratch having never undertaken a job like
this before. As I understand it the bulk of work is flat pack assembly
- this is something that I can do. So the plan is to do all that stuff
myself and sort out the plumbing and then get someone in for what I
perceive to be the more difficult work such as cutting the work tops
etc. Any thoughts?

Bear in mind that it doesn't take an experienced fitter long to knock
together a few flatpack units - the skill and effort is fitting them all
in place so they look good; apart from that, round my way they all buy
the units from Howdens (= MFI units), ie already assembled anyway. So
don't imagine you'll make a huge saving just by presenting a kitchen
fitter with all the units built but not fitted.

I'd say one of the single hardest things to get right, versus the impact
it makes overall on the kitchen, is the worktop - notably fabricating
the right angle joints in the corners with a router (= butt and scribe
joints, or something similar?) - something I can't do and will always
get a pro in to do. I fitted a kitchen before Xmas and did everything
but fitting all the worktops, for which I paid a joiner about 130 quid
(IIRC) which was well worthwhile IMHO, in terms of quality of the finish
and time saved.

If you do your own plumbing that's a big saving obviously, considering a
plumber's charges.

David

snip useful advise

My plan was to assemble and fit the units to the walls etc and then get
a joiner or similar to do the worktops. As you say this will be money
well spent. Although Im confident to assemble flat pack (required as
its coming from B&Q) im not confident in doing the surfaces.

Plumbing will be done by myself and a friend who's a qualified plumber
as the advisor.

Electrics - in a nutshell (to avoid reading loads of part P posts) I
need new sockets plus spurs for extractor and cupboard and under
cupboard lighting. Can I do that myself?

Anything else I need to look out for?

Cheers,

CM.

I'm just in the process of fitting my own B&Q kitchen and have to say
I've been pleased with the flat pack stuff - no missing parts or damage
and the brackets for the wall fittings are great - they allow you to
move the unit up, down, left, right and in and out once hanging from
the bracket (also supplied) on the wall - perfect for dodgy walls!

Kitchen electrics require fitting and certification by a professional -
if you don't you could have trouble when you sell the property and or
if it burns down and your insurer does some digging...

I had a new ring circuit, 5 sockets, 4 spurs, cooker, hood and hob all
fitted, plus undercupboard and ceiling lighting for £500 - well worth
it. Bear in mind you'll need to factor in the time for sparky coming
back to connect it all up and the initial work before you start fitting
the kitchen.

I would suggest you get a compound mitre as Andy suggests - and a
circular saw will ensure accurate and neat worktop cuts. I got both
from B&Q for £20 each any they have been fine. I did my own worktop
joins (two 90 degree ones) - and it was nerve racking and I did the
cuts with a handsaw - took a while but looked great when done. £100
to have it done by a joiner is worth considering though in terms of
time saving alone (took me a full day to do the two myself).

If you're having the kitchen from B&Q and they have been round to
measure up then they should supply you with a drawing that has all the
measurements on - these can take a bit of working out (particularly for
the blanking bits used to fill any gaps in non-unit size rooms! - hint
you usually have to cut them yourself to size from supplied end
panels). B&Q warehouse are also good in that they stock quite a lot of
units etc in case you need something else / make a mess of one - might
be worth checking before you choose the kitchen if the one you want is
one they keep stock of (we went for gloss white which is an in stock
item, though we still had to wait 4 weeks for delivery...?)

Finally, bear in mind that it takes a long time to do unless you're an
experienced fitter and it creates a lot of mess and inconvenience
(washing up in the bath!). But if you are prepared to live with this
you can save a fair amount of money and learn some useful new DIY
skills. B&Q quoted me £2.5k to fit my kitchen - with tools and
electrics it's cost me around £600, so personally I think it's worth
the £1900 saving.

Trust this helps - let us know how you get on.

If I got a compound mitre saw (im possibly being thick here) what would
I need the jig saw for?
You'll need a jig saw for all the awkward cuts - holes in worktops for sink
etc., scribing end panels and plinths to the shape of your wall / floor if
necessary, cuts to let pipework through backs of units, boxing for pipework
(if required) etc etc. I probably used a jig saw more than any other tool -
it was a particularly awkward kitchen though.

On the mitre saw what sort of blade to I need to get good cuts?
A bog standard blade will do providing it's sharp.

Also, how did you put the cupboards on the walls - this will probably
be obvious when I take the old ones down?
These are much easier than they look - as Mitch says, get the mounting
brackets fitted in vaguely the right place and then use the adjusters built
into the unit brackets as necessary.

Last question - whats a conti joint? Is that like the block you can get
with all the screw holes in it?
That's the one!
http://www.screwfix.com/sfd/i/cat/50/p1399250_l.jpg

Sure you'll be fine. My kitchen was B&Q too and the assembly instructions
provided were surprisingly clear - much easier than your average IKEA
flatpack! :-) You'll have to report back with your findings!

Andy

Pecanfan wrote:

snip

You'll need a jig saw for all the awkward cuts - holes in worktops for sink
etc., scribing end panels and plinths to the shape of your wall / floor if
necessary, cuts to let pipework through backs of units, boxing for pipework
(if required) etc etc. I probably used a jig saw more than any other tool -
it was a particularly awkward kitchen though.

Looks like I had better get a jig saw as well !

On the mitre saw what sort of blade to I need to get good cuts?
A bog standard blade will do providing it's sharp.

This is the sort of thing I thought I might need...

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...8369&id=98832#

.... which I can then use for all my other skirting and architrave jobs
as well. Or did you have a different idea of what I needed ? All these
seem to say e.g. 8 inch or 10 inch Mitre saw etc - what does the
measurment apply to ?

snip

You'll have to report back with your findings!

No doubt Ill be "reporting back" before then with lots of messages for
help !!!

Cheers,

CM.

mitch wrote:
I'm just in the process of fitting my own B&Q kitchen and have to say
I've been pleased with the flat pack stuff - no missing parts or damage
and the brackets for the wall fittings are great - they allow you to
move the unit up, down, left, right and in and out once hanging from
the bracket (also supplied) on the wall - perfect for dodgy walls!

Thats good to hear !

Kitchen electrics require fitting and certification by a professional -
if you don't you could have trouble when you sell the property and or
if it burns down and your insurer does some digging...

I'll get a pro in for this then.

snip

I would suggest you get a compound mitre as Andy suggests - and a
circular saw will ensure accurate and neat worktop cuts. I got both
from B&Q for £20 each any they have been fine.

See my last reply to Andy to see if I have got the right type of tool
in mind.

I did my own worktop
joins (two 90 degree ones) - and it was nerve racking and I did the
cuts with a handsaw - took a while but looked great when done. £100
to have it done by a joiner is worth considering though in terms of
time saving alone (took me a full day to do the two myself).

Ill probably get someone in for this. Can any joiner do this sort of
thing? This is the thing that really needs to look "right" so I dont
want any screw ups with it.

snip

Finally, bear in mind that it takes a long time to do unless you're an
experienced fitter and it creates a lot of mess and inconvenience
(washing up in the bath!). But if you are prepared to live with this
you can save a fair amount of money and learn some useful new DIY
skills. B&Q quoted me £2.5k to fit my kitchen - with tools and
electrics it's cost me around £600, so personally I think it's worth
the £1900 saving.

Im only at home on weekends anyway so it wont inconvenience me too
much. Plus it will give me something to do!

Trust this helps - let us know how you get on.

Cheers - will do!

CM.

Pecanfan wrote:
If I got a compound mitre saw (im possibly being thick here) what would
I need the jig saw for?

You'll need a jig saw for all the awkward cuts - holes in worktops for sink
etc., scribing end panels and plinths to the shape of your wall / floor if
necessary, cuts to let pipework through backs of units, boxing for pipework
(if required) etc etc. I probably used a jig saw more than any other tool -
it was a particularly awkward kitchen though.


On the mitre saw what sort of blade to I need to get good cuts?

A bog standard blade will do providing it's sharp.


Also, how did you put the cupboards on the walls - this will probably
be obvious when I take the old ones down?

These are much easier than they look - as Mitch says, get the mounting
brackets fitted in vaguely the right place and then use the adjusters built
into the unit brackets as necessary.


Last question - whats a conti joint? Is that like the block you can get
with all the screw holes in it?

That's the one!
http://www.screwfix.com/sfd/i/cat/50/p1399250_l.jpg

Sure you'll be fine. My kitchen was B&Q too and the assembly instructions
provided were surprisingly clear - much easier than your average IKEA
flatpack! :-) You'll have to report back with your findings!

Andy



Worth having a look at Readers Digest or similar DIY manual for the basics.
IMO best to do the floor first as that goes under wall units
With the base units, don't fix anything to the wall till they're all
bolted together and level. Sounds obvious but...
Then (and only then) put a batten up to support wall units while you're
getting them lined up. Big help, especially if you're working alone. Fix
the units but don't tighten.
Make the gap 18" between worktop and wall units if you can (3 x 6"
tiles). Tall units in the line may not give you that option.
Make the worktop to plug socket height 6" if you can. Again, don't fix
base units till that's done.
As I say, read up a bit first. However well you plan, kitchens are
always a nightmare but the snags are invariably to do with plumbing so
you might escape the worst.

mitch wrote:

Kitchen electrics require fitting and certification by a professional -
if you don't you could have trouble when you sell the property and or
if it burns down and your insurer does some digging...

No, you can certainly diy it, but you need to submit a building notice
to the council and have them (or, more likely a council-approved
professional) inspect it. Part P and all that.

Cost of doing the above may or may not make it more cost-effective to
get a sparks in to do the work.

David

Stuart Noble wrote:

snip

IMO best to do the floor first as that goes under wall units

This is going to be my biggest problem.

Despite being advised not to Im going for Laminate flooring in my
kitchen as the colours will compliment my choice of kitchen very
nicely. What I want to avoid is laying the laninate up to the plinth
and then using edging strip. Therefore what I propose is as follows:

- The base units come on legs so put them down where required (I
presume - B&Q base units come on legs).
- Lay the floor up to the legs of the base units say less 30mm.
- Cut the plinth to take into account the height of the flooring.

Problems I can foresee are ...

- Will need to lay laminate under dishwasher and washing machine so
that when I push them into position they dont drop down the lip
generated by the laminate to the concrete floor.

- Problems with water which will certainly get onto the floor at some
point. Even with click together laminate can I seal it with say PVA in
the joints when I click it together?

Cheers,

CM.

Charles Middleton wrote:

Despite being advised not to Im going for Laminate flooring in my
kitchen as the colours will compliment my choice of kitchen very
nicely. What I want to avoid is laying the laninate up to the plinth
and then using edging strip. Therefore what I propose is as follows:

I've never used laminate flooring myself so won't comment on its
suitability for a kitchen (my guess is that it would be horribly
susceptible to water though?). What I would say is that Carpetright do
(or did) a floor vinyl which is patterned as laminate flooring; I've
used it myself and it looks very good (quite apart from being practical
in the kitchen).

- The base units come on legs so put them down where required (I
presume - B&Q base units come on legs).
- Lay the floor up to the legs of the base units say less 30mm.
- Cut the plinth to take into account the height of the flooring.

That would certainly be the way to lay vinyl. IMHO the decision as to
whether you put down the whole floor covering right under the units, or
to put the units in first as you're proposing, depends on the relative
longevity of the floor covering versus the kitchen - ie which will need
renewing first? Eg, if I were laying yorkstone flags, I wouldn't use
your method, whereas for cheapo vinyl, I would.

- Will need to lay laminate under dishwasher and washing machine so
that when I push them into position they dont drop down the lip
generated by the laminate to the concrete floor.

Yes, I'd lay it right to the back of the gap there. In that regards,
whatever type of floorcovering you use, you need to be careful not to
damage the floor while trying to manouvre the machines in... a Useful
Tip passed on to me by a kitchen fitter is to lay a flat piece of
plywood, exactly the same width as the washing machine gap but a foot or
so deeper, immediately in front of said gap and stand the machine on
that. You then slide the plank into the gap with the machine standing
on it; you can then of course apply as much force as you like to the
front edge of the plank with worrying about tipping/jamming/breaking the
machine or damaging the floor. Once it's fully home, you just slide the
plank out again.

David

Charles Middleton wrote:
- Will need to lay laminate under dishwasher and washing machine so
that when I push them into position they dont drop down the lip
generated by the laminate to the concrete floor.

Put them on pieces of ply.

- The base units come on legs so put them down where required (I
presume - B&Q base units come on legs).
Yes, B&Q units come with legs.

- Lay the floor up to the legs of the base units say less 30mm.
30mm is quite a gap! Lay the floor as close to the legs as you can. The
plinth clips (which fit onto the legs and make fitting the plinth incredibly
easy) and plinth itself are barely 30mm wide.

- Cut the plinth to take into account the height of the flooring.
That's what I did, but with slate floor, no probs (apart from scribing the
plinths to the shape of the slate floor, which was a bitch :-) ).

- Will need to lay laminate under dishwasher and washing machine so
that when I push them into position they dont drop down the lip
generated by the laminate to the concrete floor.
Don't bother - just put the dishwasher and washing machine on some old bits
of wood to raise the legs above the height of the flooring. I ended up
glueing some old bits of mdf to the floor.

Andy