There is lots to consider when you are renovating a property. Installing a new kitchen in an old property means lots of preparation work and some careful planning. The kitchen hasn’t always been the heart of the house and older properties might show this.
When you install a new kitchen it is usual that you contact a supplier and ask them to design your kitchen for you depending on your dimensions and space. Alternatively you can put together a design yourself. If you are planning on buying an ex-display or used kitchen you can reconfigure the kitchen to suit your needs.
Some Things to Consider
Start with a list of everything that is essential in a kitchen. This includes an oven, hob, sink and fridge freezer. Then add anything else you would like to include. How much storage do you need? Think about how many people are in your household and what you will need to store. What else will happen in the kitchen apart from cooking? Will you eat there? Will the kids do their homework in the kitchen? Do you need to make space for the dog? Will you be entertaining in the kitchen? Will you need a full size kitchen table and chairs or will a breakfast bar be enough?
Removing Your Current Kitchen
Have you considered selling your kitchen on rather than sending it to landfill? This can give you some extra money to spend on your new kitchen and appliances. If you like this idea give Used Kitchen Hub a call on 0203 002 0005 and we will let you know the best way of selling your kitchen.
Remember that the more careful you are when removing your old kitchen, the easier it will be to install the new one. Remove all internal shelves first. The take down the wall units so you can balance them on the base units to make it easier.
Before removing the sink ensure you have turned off the water. The stopcock is usually located in the kitchen and this will let you turn off the cold water. The hot water should be turned off using the hot water value, usually found in the airing cupboard. It is essential to know where to switch off the water before getting started or you will end up with a costly mess.
Once you have taken the sink out you should remove the worktops. Make sure you don’t damage any pipes in the process. Lastly remove the base units. Do them carefully, one at a time so you don’t damage any pipework or cabling.
With all the cabinets now removed, it is time to take off the tiles and take up the flooring. Always wear safety goggles when you are chipping off tiles.
More to Think About
How are you going to ventilate and heat your new kitchen? Good ventilation is essential to remove steam and smells. You will need to install an extractor hood or fan to take care of this. For heating you should consider again what you will be using the kitchen for. If you will spend much of the day there then you will need some form of heating.
A radiator is the easiest way of heating your kitchen but it will take up wall space. Modern plinth heaters are less obtrusive and fit into the space between the bottom of the base cupboards and the floor. Underfloor heating is another choice to consider.
Getting Your Electrics Checked
Before installing your new kitchen you should get your electrics checked by a qualified electrician. If it is an older property the electrics might not be up to modern standards and you might need to rewire. Plan where you need the electrical sockets to be and add more if possible.
Plumbing is another area that might need an expert. You will need a hot and cold water supply for the kitchen tap and waste water will need to feed outside. Your washing machine will need to be connected to the hot and cold water (sometimes just cold) and the dishwasher will need a cold water connection only. If you are changing the configuration of your kitchen it might be cheaper to remove all the plumbing and start again. You should have a look at the joints if you are keeping your current pipework. If you can see green then you have a leak. Make sure this is sorted before the new kitchen goes in.
Lighting
How much natural light comes into your kitchen? Is there a way of increasing this by adding a roof lantern or putting in a bigger window? You need the kitchen to be well lit and it is good to have adjustable lighting if you are entertaining there. Recessed light fittings are good in a kitchen or use downlights and adjust them to point into corners and dimmer areas.
Choose Your Flooring Carefully
The flooring in a kitchen needs to be durable and withstand spills. You might have an existing floor, such as quarry tiles, that just needs restoring. Other floorings to consider in your kitchen are ceramic tiles, lino, vinyl, wood or stone.
Next Steps
If you are interested in buying a quality ex-display kitchen or used kitchen have a look at our website or give us a call on 0203 002 0005. We are happy to advise you and will do what we can to find a kitchen to suit your budget and space.
