Installation is the moment your kitchen stops being drawings and samples, and becomes the room you will cook, gather, and live in every day. It is also the phase most homeowners feel apprehensive about — understandably so. A kitchen project touches plumbing, electrics, flooring, and the daily rhythm of your household.
Knowing what happens during installation, and in what order, makes the process far less daunting. Our kitchen installation team manages the entire fit from delivery to final detail, so you are not left coordinating trades or chasing loose ends.
Before installation begins
Installation does not start the day the first cabinet arrives. By the time our team sets foot in your home, the design will already be signed off, cabinetry manufactured, and any preparatory building work completed.
If your project includes structural alterations — removing a wall, relocating pipework, or levelling an uneven floor — that work happens first. Attempting to fit precision cabinetry onto an unprepared shell creates problems that are expensive to fix later.
We confirm the installation programme during design and keep you updated as manufacture progresses. You will know roughly when to expect delivery, how long the kitchen will be out of action, and which rooms the team will need access to.
Day one: protection and preparation
The first priority on site is protecting your home. Floors are covered, adjacent rooms are sealed where dust could travel, and access routes are agreed so the team can move cabinetry safely without marking walls or door frames.
We then verify measurements against the approved drawings. Even in well-surveyed properties, site conditions can differ slightly from the plan — a wall that is not quite plumb, a ceiling that dips, a floor that falls away. Catching these early allows adjustments before units are fixed in place.
A well-run installation feels methodical, not chaotic. Every day has a purpose.
Fitting the cabinetry
Cabinetry installation follows a logical sequence. Base units are set first, levelled, and secured to the wall. Wall units follow, aligned to the bases and to each other. Tall housings — larder cupboards, appliance towers, utility cabinets — are positioned and plumbed into the overall run.
Because our kitchens are handmade to your specific dimensions, filler panels and awkward gaps are minimised. The cabinetry is designed to fit your room, not adapted from standard module sizes.
During fitting, we also prepare for services — routing for plumbing, cable runs for integrated appliances, and ventilation requirements. Our installers work closely with your electrician and plumber, either coordinating trades we have arranged or liaising with contractors you have appointed.
Worktops: templating and installation
Worktop installation is typically a two-stage process. Once base cabinetry is fitted and level, templates are taken for stone, quartz, or porcelain surfaces. These are precision measurements — a worktop that is even slightly out will show at every joint and edge.
Templating usually happens mid-installation, with worktop fitting following a few days later once the slabs are cut. We manage this sequencing so you are not left with a long gap between cabinetry and usable surfaces.
Appliances and integration
Integrated appliances — ovens, fridges, dishwashers, wine coolers — are fitted once cabinetry and worktops are in place. Each appliance has specific ventilation, electrical, and plumbing requirements that must be met before the surrounding doors and panels are hung.
We check clearances, hinge alignments, and door gaps so that integrated units open smoothly and sit flush with adjacent cabinetry. This is detail work that separates a polished installation from one that looks almost right.
Plumbing, electrics, and finishing
With the major elements in position, second-fix trades connect water supplies, waste pipes, lighting, and sockets. Splashbacks or tiling are completed, silicone is applied at worktop junctions, and hardware is fitted to doors and drawers.
We then walk the kitchen with you for snagging — identifying any adjustments needed before sign-off. Door alignments are fine-tuned, soft-close mechanisms checked, and any minor marks touched in.
How long does installation take?
For a straightforward cabinetry replacement within an existing layout, installation typically takes five to seven working days. A full kitchen renovation with structural work, new flooring, and multiple trades may take two to three weeks.
We discuss realistic timelines during your design consultation so you can plan temporary cooking arrangements and access for the team.
Living through installation
We will not pretend it is effortless. During installation, your kitchen will be out of action. There will be noise, dust, and days when the space looks worse before it looks finished. What we can promise is a team that respects your home, communicates clearly, and works to complete the project as efficiently as the scope allows.
Ready to discuss your installation?
If you are planning a bespoke kitchen in Hertfordshire and want a team that designs, makes, and installs under one roof, we would be glad to talk through what installation would look like for your home.
Book a design consultation — we will walk you through the process from first visit to final fitting.
