Being able to design, plan and fit a kitchen takes a great deal of experience, time and above all skill. If you are not an experienced DIYer then you should leave fitting a Kitchen to the professionals. It's also worth bearing in mind that in the UK it is illegal for none qualified Plumbers and Electricians to be involved and complete such work. This means that even experienced DIYers will have to call in the professionals to help with plumbing and electrical work.
The main trade skills involved with fitting kitchens are,
Electrical
Plumbing
Carpentry
Tiling
For the more adventurous, who are determined to carry out much of the work themselves, there are various safety factors to consider such as,
wear safety equipment, eg safety goggles
checking for electrical cables
checking water pipes
RCD protection with using electrical power tools
It is also important that you are well prepared for you Kitchen fitting project. There are a number of tools and equipment that are prerequsites for your work aside from all the Kitchen units, worktops, taps, sinks etc
Chisels
Claw Hammer
Crow Bar
Drill & Bits
Screwdrivers
Gloves
Hammer
Handles
Masking Tape
Measuring Tape
Plan of Kitchen
Pliers
Wood Glue
Safety Goggles
Saw
Sealant (Silicone)
Spanners
Spirit Level
Wire Pipe & Power Detector
You need to have a detailed plan in centimetres of the room with the new kitchen, this is often drawn on graph paper to make it more accurate. You also need to be aware of,
Doors and which way they will open to make sure the dimensions of the room caters for this.
The room may not be exactly the same height throughout, so make sure you make several measurements in different places.
Existing Air Vents, Gas supply, existing pipes, power points, plumbing points, radiators, boilers all need to be marked on the plan.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING YOUR KITCHEN :
You need to make sure that you kitchen is well spaced out. It is often considered good practice to have your sink, fridge and cooker in a triangle; this ensures that you have plenty of workspace area. When positioning cabinets, use the full height of the room, to ensure enough storage space is available. This is especially important in small galley kitchens.
You need to take into consideration many other things, such as
Extractor Fans need to be position above Cooking Hobs (at least 75cm above)
Keep all your plumbing together; locate both sink and dishwasher next to each other.
Tall units need to be positioned at the end of a row of Kitchen Cabinets, to give symmetry
Plan for appliances and power points to be in the corner of the room.
Ensure that hobs have workspace at either side, to cater for Kitchen pans,
A sink next to a window will provide both light and a view
Never locate your cooker near kitchen window curtains for obvious reasons.
electrical cable near your cooker needs to be heat/fire proof
Fit a smoke alarm just outside your kitchen near the kitchen door
Position electrical sockets a minimum distance of 150mm above worktops.
.
Finally consider the Finish!
The finish of your Kitchen can make all difference in terms of adding value to your property. Splash backs, floor tiles, cabinet handles skirting boards, electrical sockets, cornices and painted walls are all important to get right. Allow a reasonable budget for finishing off your Kitchen as you wouldn't want to ruin all your hard work by making you amazing new Kitchen look average.
Kitchen Fitting