Kitchen Installation
How a kitchen installation works, from survey and first fix to cabinets, worktops and finishing, plus flooring, regulations and timescales.
Before Installation Begins
A smooth installation begins with an accurate survey, a finalised plan and confirmation of every service position before units arrive.
Measure walls, openings, ceiling heights and anything that affects the layout.
Confirm water, waste, gas, boiler and electrical positions.
Agree unit, appliance, socket and lighting positions before site work starts.
Make sure cabinets, appliances, worktops and finishes arrive in the right sequence.
The Kitchen Installation Process
Most projects follow a clear order so each trade leaves the room ready for the next.
Strip-out
Remove the old kitchen and safely isolate services.
First fix
Run new plumbing, electrical cables and ventilation where required.
Preparation
Repair plaster, level surfaces and prepare the room for fitting.
Flooring
Lay flooring at the appropriate point for the chosen system.
Cabinets
Fit, level and secure base units, wall units and tall housings.
Worktops
Fit timber or laminate, or template stone for specialist fabrication.
Second fix
Connect sinks, taps, appliances, sockets and lighting.
Finishing
Complete splashbacks, panels, seals, cleaning and handover.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation
Walls and floors are rarely perfectly straight, so cabinetry has to be levelled and adjusted carefully. Good installation produces straight worktops, even gaps and doors that remain aligned in daily use.
- Level base cabinets before worktops are fitted
- Use fixings suited to the wall construction
- Secure tall housings correctly
- Scribe panels and fillers neatly to uneven walls
- Adjust hinges and runners for consistent gaps
Kitchen Flooring
The best point to lay flooring depends on the material and installation method. Some floors are installed wall-to-wall before units; others are fitted around the finished cabinetry.
Before units
Creates a continuous finish and can make future layout changes simpler.
After units
Uses less material and avoids trapping some floating floors beneath heavy cabinetry.
How Long Does Kitchen Installation Take?
A straightforward installation can move quickly once the room is prepared. Structural changes, specialist stone worktops, plaster drying times and service alterations extend the schedule.
Planning the complete renovation?
See the renovation guide for how installation fits into the wider project.
Useful answers before you begin.
The existing room is surveyed and planned before strip-out. Once the old kitchen is removed, first-fix plumbing and electrical work usually follows.
Laminate and timber can often be fitted during the main installation. Stone is normally templated after the base units are fixed and level.
The programme depends on preparation, number of units, worktop type, drying times and any service or structural work.
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