Expert Eye: 6 Steps to Plan a Hassle-Free Kitchen Installation
Having a clear road map to follow when you're installing a new kitchen can save you time, hassle and money
Putting in a new kitchen is one of the most complex home-improvement tasks you can embark on – mainly because of all the different tradespeople involved. Each step of the process has to be perfectly coordinated so the right experts and materials are where they’re meant to be at exactly the right time. Having a schedule of works that outlines the sequence of tasks and how long each one is expected to take is essential for the smooth running of any kitchen installation.
1. Design and planning
Creating your new kitchen starts with the design. Decisions need to be made right from the get-go as every item you select for your kitchen – from cabinetry and benchtop materials to appliances and flooring – has a bearing on the installation sequence.
Not choosing your finishes in time or not knowing the sequence they need to be installed can see you having to rip out newly installed items – a gut-wrenching waste of time and money.
See more stunning kitchens
Creating your new kitchen starts with the design. Decisions need to be made right from the get-go as every item you select for your kitchen – from cabinetry and benchtop materials to appliances and flooring – has a bearing on the installation sequence.
Not choosing your finishes in time or not knowing the sequence they need to be installed can see you having to rip out newly installed items – a gut-wrenching waste of time and money.
See more stunning kitchens
2. Create a task schedule of works
The best way to ensure that both you and your tradespeople follow the correct sequence is to write down a project task schedule of works. This will tell you who is first off the rank and who is to follow – all the way through to the completion of your kitchen.
Your task schedule will also include other important details, such as:
The best way to ensure that both you and your tradespeople follow the correct sequence is to write down a project task schedule of works. This will tell you who is first off the rank and who is to follow – all the way through to the completion of your kitchen.
Your task schedule will also include other important details, such as:
- Which items need to be ordered.
- When items need to be on-site.
- When specific trades need to be on-site (bear in mind that some of them may need to return twice, such as your plumber and electrician).
- Which trades need to coordinate with each other in order to complete their tasks.
3. Produce a time-management schedule
You’ll save considerable time by letting everyone involved in your kitchen installation know exactly when they are required. If you’re not experienced at time scheduling, ask each of the trades and suppliers how long they will need to perform their tasks and make a note in your time schedule.
You should then let the trade who follows know their predecessor’s timing expectations so they can lock your job into their work program.
You’ll save considerable time by letting everyone involved in your kitchen installation know exactly when they are required. If you’re not experienced at time scheduling, ask each of the trades and suppliers how long they will need to perform their tasks and make a note in your time schedule.
You should then let the trade who follows know their predecessor’s timing expectations so they can lock your job into their work program.
4. Don’t overshare
The schedule of works document is a roadmap for the project coordinator or the homeowner who is responsible for having the kitchen installed. Sharing it with all the tradespeople involved in the build is unnecessary and can lead to confusion as individuals are likely to start making their own decisions as to when they are required.
Keep the document close, be decisive and lead the way. Follow your recipe and make sure everyone is informed well in advance as to when they are needed on-site.
Room of the Week: Kitchen Contracts for Couple, Caters for Crowds
The schedule of works document is a roadmap for the project coordinator or the homeowner who is responsible for having the kitchen installed. Sharing it with all the tradespeople involved in the build is unnecessary and can lead to confusion as individuals are likely to start making their own decisions as to when they are required.
Keep the document close, be decisive and lead the way. Follow your recipe and make sure everyone is informed well in advance as to when they are needed on-site.
Room of the Week: Kitchen Contracts for Couple, Caters for Crowds
5. Be flexible
In an ideal world, your time schedule will outline the perfect start-to-finish timeframe for completing your kitchen. However, this assumes that everyone is available when they say they will be, and that your suppliers will have everything on-site exactly as ordered. Things don’t always work out that way.
With so many trades involved in your kitchen installation, there are bound to be delays here and there, whether it’s someone turning up late, taking longer than expected to finish their task, or the appliances you choose being out of stock. This can throw out your entire schedule if it’s too tightly packed. It’s a good idea to include a little breathing room in the schedule, and be prepared to shift timings as the job progresses.
In an ideal world, your time schedule will outline the perfect start-to-finish timeframe for completing your kitchen. However, this assumes that everyone is available when they say they will be, and that your suppliers will have everything on-site exactly as ordered. Things don’t always work out that way.
With so many trades involved in your kitchen installation, there are bound to be delays here and there, whether it’s someone turning up late, taking longer than expected to finish their task, or the appliances you choose being out of stock. This can throw out your entire schedule if it’s too tightly packed. It’s a good idea to include a little breathing room in the schedule, and be prepared to shift timings as the job progresses.
6. Stay calm
Don’t panic if your time and work schedule goes out the window. It happens. Just take another look at your schedule and start making contact with all the subsequent trades as soon as possible so they can rearrange their work commitments to fit into your newly adjusted timeframe.
The most important thing is to follow the right sequence when you’re re-jigging your schedule. Get this right and your project will stay on track, whatever the delays.
Don’t panic if your time and work schedule goes out the window. It happens. Just take another look at your schedule and start making contact with all the subsequent trades as soon as possible so they can rearrange their work commitments to fit into your newly adjusted timeframe.
The most important thing is to follow the right sequence when you’re re-jigging your schedule. Get this right and your project will stay on track, whatever the delays.
The correct sequence of works for a kitchen renovation
7 Ways to Warm Up a Contemporary White Kitchen
- Have your kitchen designed and your drawings and specifications prepared.
- Pre-select all your fixtures, fittings and appliances.
- Pre-order benchtop and cabinet materials.
- Create a project task schedule of works.
- Create a project time-management schedule.
7 Ways to Warm Up a Contemporary White Kitchen
Engage trades in the order they are required
Most kitchen installations follow this sequence of trades and tasks:
Most kitchen installations follow this sequence of trades and tasks:
- Carpenter straightens out walls.
- Plumber moves existing pipes or adds new plumbing.
- Electrician runs wiring.
- Plasterer rectifies walls as required.
- Confirm cabinet maker to measure up the space and commence manufacturing cabinetry.
- After cabinets have been installed, the stonemason can pick up templates to make the benchtops.
- After benchtop installation, glass or tile splashbacks can be installed.
8. Call back plumber to install all plumbing appliances and fixtures.
9. Call back electrician to fit all power points, lighting and electrical appliances.
10. Engage caulker to seal gaps between benchtops and vertical surfaces.
11. Call painter to complete job as required.
12. Final clean up.
9. Call back electrician to fit all power points, lighting and electrical appliances.
10. Engage caulker to seal gaps between benchtops and vertical surfaces.
11. Call painter to complete job as required.
12. Final clean up.
Tell us
Did you find this story useful? Tell us why in the Comments below. And remember to like and save this story for future reference and save your favourite images. Join the conversation.
More
Find a kitchen designer near you
Did you find this story useful? Tell us why in the Comments below. And remember to like and save this story for future reference and save your favourite images. Join the conversation.
More
Find a kitchen designer near you
Here are the six key steps in a kitchen installation: