Where to start for first time renovator?

[deerimene]

Hi guys, I'm looking at doing my first kitchen reno. And I'm lost on where to start. We have the kitchen unit we'd like to put in place, but I'm working with a 1950s home. It's been more than I expected. Any tips??

[EricL]

Hello @deerimene

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's fabulous to have you join us, and thank you for sharing your question about your kitchen renovation.

There is nothing like the excitement of putting in a new kitchen. Before I make any recommendations would it be possible for you to post a picture of the old kitchen and the kitchen you want to put in? Can you also please include the measurements of the area. This will give our members a chance to assess the area. We can then make recommendations on how to proceed with your installation.

I suggest having a look at this guide - How to plan a kitchen renovation by @Adam_W. This should help you with the basics of making your own plan on how to tackle your kitchen renovation. My number one suggestion is to plan your steps before you disassemble anything. It can be very stressful not having a place to cook and wash dishes in the house. 

If you have any other questions we can help with, please don't hesitate to post them.

Here is a link for ideas and inspiration: Top 10 most popular kitchen projects

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[deerimene]

Hello. Eric, I am enclosing photos of old kitchen, new kitchen and measurements.

 

 

[deerimene]

 

[EricL · Accepted solution]

Hello @deerimene

Thank you so much for posting the photos and measurements of your kitchen. One of the best things about renovating a kitchen is the almost endless choice of colour and materials. But in reference to your earlier question, If you have a qualified installer, they will be managing the trades for you. They will schedule when the builder will start demolishing the kitchen, when the electrician comes in and when the plumber comes in. If you have your own tradies, you'll have to coordinate with your installer for dates and times when the trades will come in. 

Think of it as a series of events that need to happen in the correct order. If one part is delayed it will impact the rest of the events that need to follow.

Here is a general idea of how the events should happen:

• A start date has been agreed upon and your kitchen along with appliances and accessories should arrive a few days before the start date. It could be in flatpack form or the installer arrives with the cabinets pre-built. 

• Your old kitchen gets demolished. Any wall or floor repairs that need to be carried out happen on this day. The area is prepared to receive the base and wall cabinets. The cabinets are now placed into position.

• Before the cabinets are permanently fixed to the wall the electrician will now install power points for all the appliances and any extra power points you have requested for the area. The plumber now dry fits the plumbing fittings for the sink and dishwasher.

• The cabinets now get fixed into place. The benchtop now gets installed followed by the appliances and sink. This will be the return visit of the trades and if everything is in order all electrical appliances and plumbing fixtures should now be working.

• Your splashback now gets installed. Depending on what you've chosen this could take 3 to 4 days.

• The final items to be installed will be the cabinet doors and handles. Once they are fitted and balanced your kitchen is now officially installed.

At this point, the flooring is usually installed and your kitchen is ready for use. I've drawn up your kitchen in the Kaboodle cabinet system just to give you an idea of what it might look like. If you wish to have it quoted just show them the kitchen drawing and measurements to the In-Store Kitchen Specialist and they will be able to quote the kitchen. Please note that if you wish to use the store's installation service make sure to inform the kitchen specialist so that they will include it in the quote.

Because you have so much space I was able to place a breakfast bar island. If you wish to see your kitchen in another configuration, please let me know, I'll be more than happy to redraw it for you.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[MikeTNZ]

Hi @EricL,

If only it worked like that.

I try and stay away from Domestic electrical work.

Usually, you get rang the same day as the kitchen fitters turn up, the customer gives you the nice pictures, no dimensioned drawings, find the kitchen fitters were there the day before and cut all the wires to the old oven and sockets, the cables are still live.

Our plans are different to theirs, run new cables and get out of their way.

Come back the next day, the tiler (!!) has covered all the flushboxes we put in the day before and there is a nice stainless steel splash-back that needs to be Earthed.

Kitchen fitters return with the benchtop they didn't have the day before.

"Ohh by the way, we need this range-hood vented out through the roof and hooked up, thanks!"

[EricL]

Hi @MikeTNZ

I totally understand your pain, as a former kitchen installer, it was a nightmare getting the trades to play together as they all wanted to be first on-site and their plans had to take priority. It was a juggling act that turned my hair white. 

I always padded my work estimates with at least three weeks so that there was enough time to get everyone's plans to work together. I can count on my fingers the number of installs I've had that worked to perfection. There was always something located in the wrong area or this access had been blocked off too early oh and the tiler showed up a day early!

Nothing like the good old days.

Eric

[MikeTNZ]

Hi @EricL ,

Yeah, unfortunately, domestic work of any kind is rather "cut-throat" these days and tradies just want to get in and out as fast as they can to actually make any money on a job.

That in itself can cause a bit of friction, like I said, I try and avoid domestic work unless it's for friends or family.

I have to say though, I have a lot of respect for most kitchen fitters, especially when the kitchen room itself isn't square or the walls aren't plumb

(like that would ever happen!!).

Cheers,

Mike T.