How Long Does It Take to Fit a Kitchen?

Renovating your kitchen is an exciting task to undertake, but there can be many elements to juggle. From deciding whether to keep any of your existing fittings to choosing units, you’ll want the process to go as smoothly as possible. The time it takes to fit a new kitchen largely depends on the size of your space, your design and the extent of work to be carried out. 

In this blog, we’ll go through the stages of designing and fitting a kitchen and time estimates so you can get a better sense of how long your kitchen installation will take to complete.

Planning and Preparation for Kitchen Renovation

The planning stage is where you get to let your creativity run free and dream up your perfect kitchen. The time involved will depend on the size and shape of your kitchen and the extent of changes you want to make. If you’re looking to just replace your units, then it shouldn’t take too long. However, if you want to change the layout of your kitchen or add new features, then the planning stage can take a few weeks. It’s often better to take your time at this stage so you can be sure to include everything you want. 

During this time, you can visit a showroom to get an idea of the options available to you and the best kitchen brands out there. At this stage, you’ll also have the chance to speak to a member of the kitchen design team to discuss your ideas and get their professional advice. You can also conduct your own research, read blogs and browse other customer kitchens for inspiration.

Once you have a general idea of what you’d like your kitchen to look like, you can make a consultation appointment to narrow down the plan with one of our designers. Once your happy with the design and price our kitchen surveyor will check the measurements and design in your home and confirm all aspects of your new kitchen.

Preparing for the new kitchen

Pre-installation work

Before your new kitchen can be installed, the space needs to be prepped, your existing kitchen will need to be removed, then the new kitchen installation can begin.

Prepping the space

To make the fitting process easier, prepping the space is key. You need to clear out your kitchen beforehand by removing everything from the shelves, cupboards, countertops and walls. A kitchen renovation is the perfect opportunity to have a good spring clean and get rid of anything you don’t need.

You’ll also need to prepare for dust. The kitchen area can be closed off with sheets to ensure the dust is contained. For obvious reasons, you also won’t be able to use your kitchen. This means setting up a temporary kitchen. We’ve written a comprehensive guide on surviving renovation challenges and how to set up a makeshift kitchen while your dream kitchen gets redone.

Removing the existing kitchen

The next task is to remove your old kitchen. If you’re simply removing old fittings and flooring, then this should only take your installer a couple of hours, longer if there are existing stone worktops. However, if you’re changing your layout and require extra work such as knocking down walls, this will add time to the job.

First fix

The first fix involves bringing in an electrician, gas engineer and plumber to check existing systems and wiring and install any necessary new fittings based on your new layout. For instance, if your sink is going to be in a different spot, plumbing will have to be repositioned. If you’re having a kitchen island with a hob installed, you’ll need to move the necessary electrics or gas supply lines. If you’re installing new lighting fixtures, your electrician will need to take care of the electrical outlets and other matter as well. 

After the first fix, you may need to hire a plasterer to patch up any holes to ensure you have a blank canvas for your new kitchen makeover. The plaster will need to dry before your kitchen can be fitted and your kitchen designer will advise you on how much time this will take.

Kitchen installation process

Fitting the kitchen

Once your kitchen furniture has been delivered, installation will begin which can take around one working week. 

Below is the average time frame you can expect to see each element of your kitchen fitted, but keep in mind that this is only an estimate. Your kitchen designer and our surveyor will be able to give you a better indication based on your specific kitchen design.

Base and corner units will be the first elements to be fitted. This will usually take around two to three days. This is the part of the job where you’ll see your kitchen take shape.

Cabinets

Your cupboards and kitchen cabinets will be the first elements to be fitted. This will usually take around two to three days, including the wall and base kitchen units and door and drawer fronts. This is the part of the job where you’ll see your kitchen take shape.

Worktops 

After your base and wall kitchen units have been fitted the solid worktops usually come next. Quartz worktops have to be templated first, measured precisely in your home and then allow 1/2 weeks for these to be cut off site, returned to your home and installed. 

Appliances

With most of your kitchen in place, if not done so already your installer will now add the appliances. This includes any integrated kitchen appliances such as a hob, oven, dishwasher or fridge.  The final connection for the sink and tap is made after the solid worktops have been installed. 

Tiling 

If you opt for a full remodel, tiling will take around two to three days. This includes setting the tile, drying and cleaning up. However, intricate tiling can take longer than this.

Flooring

The amount of time to lay new flooring is dependent on the size and layout of your space as well as the type of flooring you’ve chosen. Two professional installers can usually lay 1,000 square feet of wooden flooring in a single day. Or if you’ve chosen tiles, one person can lay around 40 square feet in a day. Your kitchen fitter will be able to give you an estimated timescale for your particular job.

Finishing Touches

Once your kitchen is complete, you can add the finishing touches. If you’re painting your kitchen walls, this can take a day or even less. Most paints take within three hours to dry so you’ll need to take this into account along with any additional coats. Then you can start adding any other decorative accessories and start making the kitchen your own.

Final Inspection and Handover

We’ll do all the final checks and ensure you’re happy with your new kitchen. At KDCUK, we’ve been designing kitchens since 2004 so we understand German kitchens very well and believe in their quality and reliability. So you can rest assured that your new kitchen will last a lifetime!

Factors Influencing Kitchen Fitting Timelines

It’s important to be aware of the factors that impact your kitchen fitting timeline as there’s no straightforward answer to the question “how long does it take to fit a kitchen.”

• Kitchen Size 
• Complexity of Design
• Pre-Installation Preparation
• Product Availability
• Installation Team

Use Professional Kitchen Fitters

When you work with a professional kitchen fitter like KDCUK, we take care of everything from the design and furniture to the installation. We offer a personalised service where you’ll be communicating with the same designer throughout the kitchen design stage and the same surveyor through installation to post-installation. We’ve also been working with the same highly experienced fitting teams for many years and offer a 2-year fitting guarantee on your new kitchen.

Visitour kitchen showroom to view our range of German kitchens, or contact us today!