Before the fit: planning and ordering
A good kitchen starts with a survey and a plan: where the units go, where the appliances sit, where you need sockets and lighting, and what has to move to make it work. Getting this right first saves days on site, because cables and pipes end up where the units need them instead of being rerouted around finished cabinets.
Then comes ordering. Lead times vary a lot between suppliers and ranges, so ask about them early and don't fix a start date until you know when the kitchen will arrive. We can order everything for you or fit a kitchen you've bought yourself. Either way, one team handles the planning, ordering, fitting and completion, so the whole timetable stays in view.
A typical kitchen fit, stage by stage
Every room is different, but most fits follow the same order.
Strip-out: usually a day
The old kitchen comes out, services are made safe and the room is cleared back to walls and floor. This is when hidden problems show up, such as damp, rotten boards or tired wiring behind the old units.
First fix: one to two days
Cables for new sockets, appliance circuits and lighting are run while the walls are open. If the layout changes, this is also when any pipework is moved. Walls that have been chased are made good before the units go in.
Units: two to four days
Base and wall units are set out, levelled and fixed. Older Norfolk houses rarely have straight walls or level floors, so this stage takes care: units are packed and scribed to the room so the doors line up and the worktops sit true.
Worktops: it depends on the material
Laminate and solid wood worktops are usually cut and fitted on site in the same week. Quartz and stone are different. They're templated once the base units are in, then made off site, which typically adds a week or two. Plan for that gap, because the sink and hob can't be fully connected until the worktops are down.
Second fix and finishing: two to three days
Sockets, switches and lights are fitted, appliances are installed and connected, and doors, drawers, plinths and panels are adjusted. The electrical work is tested and certified. Sealing and trims finish the job.
What makes a kitchen fit take longer?
- A change of layout, which means moving cables, pipes or waste.
- Stone or quartz worktops, which need templating and making.
- A new cooker circuit, or extra power for an island or range cooker.
- Problems found during strip-out, such as damp or damaged flooring.
- Plaster, flooring or tiling that needs time to dry or set.
- Items that arrive late or damaged.
Living with the work
Most people stay at home while their kitchen is fitted. It helps to set up a temporary kitchen in another room with a kettle, microwave and fridge, and to expect a few days without the sink. We agree in advance what will and won't be usable at each stage, protect floors and surrounding rooms, and tidy the site at the end of each day.
Electrics: the part you don't see
Modern kitchens draw a lot of power. An induction hob or range cooker may need a new dedicated circuit, and an island or peninsula needs a properly protected supply. Older Norwich terraces often still have a cooker circuit sized for an older appliance. Because Phillip is a qualified electrician, the electrical work is designed into the plan and tested and certified at the end, instead of being handed to a separate contractor.
Gas is the one exception. Gas connections must be made by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and we'll always say so up front. Where off-the-shelf units won't fit an awkward space, our carpentry and joinery side can build bespoke cabinetry to suit.
Getting a realistic timetable
The fairest way to judge a timetable is to have it in writing alongside the quote: when the fit starts, roughly how long each stage takes and which days you'll be without water or power. We give a realistic sequence and timescale with every quote, not an optimistic number to win the job. See our kitchen fitting service, browse kitchens we've fitted or ask for a free quote.
