Kitchen Installation -
Section 3
Kitchen Appliances
·
Now that
the plumber and electrician have finished the power and piping for all the
appliances, these can now be installed. When installing washing machines
and dishwashers make sure your connections are leak-free before going any
further (sounds obvious I know, but the last thing you want is to have to
lift flooring and remove plinths etc. to repair a leak later on).
Tip:
to save you having to unscrew the height-adjustable
legs too much on floor-mounted integrated appliances, sit them on an
off-cut of worktop if need be – they will be a lot more stable that way.
Now put the doors on
·
You’ve
probably been desperate to attach the doors on the units, but your
patience was well worth it. Not only did it make installing the wall and
base units easier (because they were lighter and the door didn’t wedge
your hand when you lifted them), but they were less likely to get
damaged. The kitchen can be a busy environment during install time with
tools and materials lying around and it would be a shame to damage a real
oak or walnut door because you couldn’t wait.
If you’re doing the installation yourself then take your time to align the
doors properly – nothing detracts more from a finished kitchen than if the
gaps between the doors are uneven. There are adjustment screws on the
hinges which I suggest you have a dabble with to see what they do – up,
down, left and right.
·
Now is
also the time to hang the doors on any integrated appliances you might
have. They’re usually attached with screws and brackets which have to be
in a precise position, so follow the instructions closely and if a
template is supplied then use it.
·
If you
haven’t done so already then also attach the cornice and pelmet if
supplied. These are decorative mouldings that finish off the top
(cornice) and bottom (pelmet) of the wall units. Cornice would also be
used around the top of a larder unit or dresser if fitted. If you have a
manual or electric mitre saw then great – have a go. Measure the lengths
you need and note them down on a quick line drawing. Cut your pieces to
size then use mitre glue to join them (this is a very strong ‘super glue’
and ‘activator’ which dries quickly and produces a very strong joint). If
your joints are accurately cut and the glue has been applied properly it’s
possible to lift the full length of cornice or pelmet and fit it in one
piece.
Tip: if you’re not confident doing this then, as with
worktops, pay a professional to come in and do it – it’s not worth ruining
the look of an otherwise good kitchen installation with poor detailing.
Splashback
·
You can
buy individual stainless steel splashbacks for use between the hob and
extractor. In this case though, I’m referring to the area between the
kitchen worktops and the underside of the wall units. Like worktops and flooring
this can be a large area and one you can use to visually ‘tie’ various
elements of the kitchen together. Some manufacturers of laminate worktops
also supply matching splashback panels, which can look very
effective. They can be a bit expensive though, but at least they’re
relatively easy to fit so long as you measure accurately.
·
Of course
you could just have this area papered or painted along with the rest of
the walls, but these finishes tend to mark easily and don’t wipe clean.
Tiling is probably the most common surface to choose because of the huge
variety available at prices to suit every budget (I give some handy
pointers for any would-be tilers in the Kitchen Guide).
Sparky’s back…
·
Assuming
the splashback is now finished it’s probably safe to get the electrician
back and have him install your lights, switches and sockets. If you are
installing stainless steel appliances then I would recommend fitting
stainless steel faceplates to match. They’re a bit more expensive but the
overall effect is far better. These are normally supplied with either
white or black switch inserts which you can specify to match your worktops
– light colour: white, dark colour: black
Flooring
·
Now that
the units and appliances are fitted it’s time to have the flooring laid.
Do this prior to fitting the base unit plinth so that the flooring
can be laid underneath it (looks better and is easier to do). Once this
is done you can then fit the plinth for the finishing touch. Unless of
course you have used a ‘decorative leg’ system which is designed to be
seen (unlike the usual black plastic ones). In this case your
floorcovering will have to go all the way back to the wall and would have
to have been done prior to the units being installed.
Tip: If you are ceramic tiling on top of a wooden floor,
lay a base of 6mm plywood first, nailed at 4 inch square intervals.
That’s an awful lot of nails I know, but this will stop the new floor
moving and cracking the grout or tiles. (I’m dubious of these ‘Tile on
Wooden Floors’ type adhesives as I’ve still seen tiles crack if not laid
on top of a sheet of ply first).
Decoration
·
Even if
installing appliances and units is beyond you then decoration is one DIY
task most of us can accomplish ourselves. Just remember preparation is
the key to a good finish here and cutting corners will only show up
through the paper or paint.
Try to balance dark doors and worktops with a lighter colour on the walls
– otherwise it might feel like the room is coming in on you.
Stand back and admire
your dream kitchen!
·
Okay, I
think that’s about it! You should now be able to stand back and admire a
beautiful kitchen and an asset to your home.
Like I said at the start it might seem like a daunting task, but when you
break it down into manageable chunks it becomes ‘do-able’ and something
you can play a significant part in achieving.
That brings this series of kitchen design and installation tips to a close
and I really hope you’ve learned something.
Because we’re an offline kitchen company as well as online, we often come
across situations which need experience and some creative thinking. So if
there’s a tip to pass on that might assist you I’ll be sure to do so. If
I can be of any further help in the meantime then
drop me a line.
All the very best with your project.
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