Installing a kitchen: DIY or professional? How to choose

A new kitchen is one of the biggest jobs in the house. With good preparation you can often fit cabinets, worktop and finishing yourself. But connections for water, electricity and gas are not a DIY job. In this blog we help you choose what to do yourself and what to leave to a professional.

👷 For connecting electricity, gas and water, call a qualified installer. That is not a superfluous luxury but a condition for a safe and reliable kitchen. You can also have the measuring and fitting of a complete kitchen done by a professional if space or time is short.

What can you do yourself?

• Measuring and marking out the kitchen.
• Fitting base and wall cabinets, if the wall is suitable.
• Fitting plinths, fronts and handles.
• Sealing seams with neutral sanitary silicone.
• Finishing the surrounding area.

What do you call a professional for?

• Electrics: connecting hob, oven, extractor hood and sockets.
• Gas: connecting or moving a gas connection.
• Water: connecting tap, drain and appliances.
• Worktop: cutting stone or composite worktops to size.
• Complex layouts: corner layouts, tall units or cabinets that must fit against an uneven wall.

What do you need to fit the cabinets?

• A tape measure with auto-lock, a carpenter pencil and a 120 cm spirit level for marking out.
• A cordless drill driver with screws for wood and chipboard and a screwdriver set for fitting.
• universal expansion plug for brick walls and plasterboard plug for plasterboard. Also read our blog on resealing a bathroom with new silicone for sealing.
• A multifunction wall detector to find pipes before you drill.
• A hand saw for cutting plinths and small parts to size and a sealant gun for finishing.
• work gloves with nitrile coating, safety goggles and knee pads for working on the floor.

How to proceed

1. Measure the room and draw the layout. Take connection points into account.
2. Set the base cabinets at the right height and level. Start with the corner unit.
3. Fix the cabinets to the wall and to each other.
4. Hang the wall cabinets on a solid substrate and check them with the spirit level.
5. Have the connections made by a qualified installer.
6. Finish plinths and seams.

💡 Mark the cabinet heights on the wall with a long spirit level. That keeps the worktop and wall cabinets straight.

Working safely

Wear gloves and safety glasses, lift heavy cabinets with two people and watch for pipes in the wall. You will find more tips in our blog on safe working on the construction site. For accurate measuring, read our blog on tape measures and measuring tools.

Frequently asked questions

Can I install a kitchen completely myself?

The cabinets and finishing often yes. Leave the connection of electrics, gas and water to a qualified installer.

When do I have a professional install the kitchen?

With a complex layout, an uneven room, heavy worktops or if you want to be sure everything is right.

Where do I start?

With accurate measuring and a clear drawing, including the connection points.

Where can you find everything for this job?

At Saniso, the online store for DIYers and professionals, you will find tools, materials and personal protective equipment for your job.

• Browse our construction tools and our workwear and safety.
• Create a customer account and order easily.
• Working on a bigger project or want to hand over the job? Request a project quote.
• Book a showroom visit, at least 24 hours in advance.
• Not sure which material suits your job? Get in touch with us.

In doubt about the approach? Feel free to call in a professional.

Read also: How to install a kitchen cabinet and custom cabinet: have it made or build it yourself.

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