Kitchen Installation Tips – Part 2
In this part, we’ll cover the importance of accurate measurement and what appliances and lighting you might need and where to put them.
Schedule – Section 2
New design: the same or different?
o Take a look at the LAYOUTS chapter in Part 1 of the Kitchen Guide to see the 5 most common kitchen layouts. Your room will almost certainly allow you to use one of these as a starting point for your plan. Although you may keep the same basic layout as before, say, a galley or u-shaped kitchen, you may want to use different units and/or place your appliances in different places (this is where we come back to thinking about kitchens). needs of your family or the ‘cook’ of the house!)
Measurement
o Measure twice and cut once is a well-known saying of carpenters and other tradesmen. It is very true. Take your time here, as errors can be difficult and expensive to correct later. Start by drawing the basic shape of the room on a piece of paper, and then transfer your measurements onto it. Anyone who remembers pre-decimalization may want to use feet and inches, but to avoid confusion, use millimeters (all units and devices are measured this way).
o This sketch does not have to be a masterpiece; later you will make your own plan with Microsoft Word. Accurate measurements are all we need at this stage. When measuring walls, measure at the height of the floor and then about 900mm up (approximately the height of the worktop), then use the smaller of the two (this compensates for walls that may taper in or out).
Necessary appliances and better locations: built-in or freestanding?
o What appliances you need (this could be a trade-off between closet space in smaller rooms). If you are a budding chef you may want a range cooker for example which tend to be between 900 and 1000mm wide and are often a focal point of the room when used with a chimney extractor fan. and a stainless steel dashboard.
o Most fitted kitchens these days are specified with integrated appliances. These can be built into one unit, for example a fridge/freezer in a tall pantry-style cabinet, or they can be installed under a worktop and placed on the floor (typically these are washing machines, dishwashers, and individual fridges and freezers). Built-in appliances are fitted with a door to match the surrounding units.
Ovens are worth mentioning here because their description often causes confusion: a built-in oven is housed in a unit and sits under the counter; it can be a ‘single’ or ‘double built-in’ oven. Single ovens can also be ‘built-in’ into a tall pantry-style casing, as can ‘double built-in’ ovens. (Double ‘built-in’ ovens are typically 700mm high, while double ‘built-in’ ovens are 900mm high). Ok, I hope that cleared that up 🙂
o Extractors can be very simple or very elaborate (and expensive). However, most share the option of recirculating waste air and cleaning it with filters, or venting it outside. If you plan to vent outside, budget to cut a 4″ hole in the exterior wall. On ‘island’ installations, check to see if you can run conduit between the ceiling joists and the exterior wall, if not you will need to use the filter option.
Advice: If you intend to use built-in appliances, make sure there are no obstructions such as water pipes or drains behind them as they need to be placed against the wall. This is a common problem with washing machines and dishwashers which tend to be installed on either side of the sink. Ask your plumber to move the pipe before installation if necessary.
Location of existing outlets and light switches – do they need to be moved or added for appliances?
o When you have your room outline sketch ready, it is worth adding the location of all existing electrical outlets, light switches and other electrical faceplates. You may need to install additional outlets for appliances or move some to accommodate appliances (remember there is no clearance behind built-in appliances). The easiest to forget is the power for an exhaust fan if there wasn’t one before, so make a note of it on your sketch. Likewise, the power for the board’s igniter is often overlooked, especially if the board is located in an island unit.
o If you’re specifying an electric oven or freestanding stove or range, make sure your wiring is up to the job. These appliances typically require a much heavier wire, usually on their own circuit directly from the fuse box. Look for an existing kitchen control point (usually a larger faceplate with a big red switch on the wall next to your oven). Seeing this would suggest you have the proper cable installed, but it’s worth checking.
Turning on
o Lighting can transform a kitchen, almost regardless of the color or type of cabinets and countertops you’ve chosen. It can be used to create a certain atmosphere (for example, at parties) or flood the kitchen area with light if necessary.
It is now common to replace individual ceiling lights with halogen bulbs and then add under-the-wall lights to illuminate work surfaces. Another cool idea you may like is using plinth lights to cast light at floor level, very effective on their own or combined with subtle lighting under the wall unit to create a ‘mood’. Ask your electrician to change them independently so they can be used alone or all together. Don’t forget that most exhaust fans (built-in or chimney-type) usually come with integral lights too, and right where you need them: on the cooktop.
Suppliers – furniture and appliances
o Your choice of provider may dictate your choice of units and devices to some extent. However, if you are designing and buying your own kitchen, you have the greatest freedom of choice, as you will not be restricted to what a local kitchen company can supply.
You may find that buying your kitchen online is a viable alternative to shopping locally. Online stores should be able to offer better prices due to lower overheads, fast order fulfillment, and a wide range to suit different tastes and budgets.
As long as you know what units and accessories you need, it shouldn’t be any more difficult to order online than anywhere else. However, look for sites that offer sample doors, so you can see what your choice of door will look like in your own home (ideally, they’ll discount the cost of your kitchen sample if you place an order).