Category: Refurbishment

KITCHEN APPLIANCES

KITCHEN APPLIANCES

Fridges,Washing machines and dishwashers are necessary in any kitchen. Dishwashers are automatic,available as top or front loaders, though front loaders are by far the more popular. They are also easier to load and unload, as with top loaders it’s easy for crockery and cutlery to slip to the bottom of the machines. It’s a simple matter to stack a dishwasher with dirty crockery direct from the meal table and then turn it on before going to bed at night. Standard size dishwashers measure 85 x60 x60 cm. Smaller Dishwasher or Slimline Dishwasher are available, measuring 81 x45 x60 cm.

dishwasher

The machines need a permanent connections for both the water supply and the waste outlet. In most kitchens this should be a fairly easy task, provided you have room for the machines in the first place. As far as the capacities of washing machines and dishwashers go, you don’t really have much choice. Washing machines have a capacity of about 4-5kg (9-111b) and dishwashers will function quite happily provided you stack them up within the obvious tray limitations. It’s important to follow the manufacturers’ instructions for day-today maintenance. Many washing machines need their outlet filter cleaned regularly, as do dishwashers. They may also need regular doses of salts, not to mention rinse aids.

Fridges, need a fresh water supply for ice making.

There are a number of ways in which you can arrange the water supply. One of them is sure to suit your plumbing system or the layout of your kitchen or utility room. A washing machine may need a hot and cold supply; dishwashers and some washing machines need only a cold supply. Let’s first consider the conventional means of plumbing in – the means that a professional plumber would almost certainly adopt if you called him in to do the job for you. It is likely to be most satisfactory where the machine is to be positioned in the immediate vicinity of the kitchen sink and the 15mm (1/2in) hot and cold supply pipes to the sink taps are readily accessible and in close proximity to each other.

The technique is to cut into these two pipes at a convenient level, after cutting off the water supply and draining the pipes, and to insert into them 15mm compression tees. From the outlets of the tees lengths of 15mm (1/2in) copper tube are run to terminate, against the wall, in a position immediately adjacent to the machine. Onto the ends of these lengths of pipe are fitted purpose made stop-cocks. These are usually provided with back-plates that can be screwed to the wall after it has been drilled and plugged. The outlets of the stop-cocks are designed for connection to the machine’s inlet hose or hoses. As an alternative, which is best used where the hot and cold water pipes in the kitchen are in close proximity to the position of the machine, you can use a special patent valve. This is a ‘tee’ with a valve outlet designed for direct connection to the washing machine hose. There are compression joints at each end of the tee and the valve is particularly easily fitted because there is no tube-stop in one of these joints. This cuts out the difficult business of ‘springing’ the cut ends of the pipe into the tee.

washing dishwasher machine waste supply

Dealing with washing machine or dishwasher drainage is done taking the waste pipe to connect directly to the trap of the kitchen sink and this course of action should be suggested at DIY centres and by plumbers’ merchants staff.

Kitchen Refurbishment Cost

Cost for a Kitchen Refurbishment

kitchen london

When refurbishing a Kitchen, the cost of the refurbishing is calculated by separating the Labour Cost and Material Cost.

Labour Cost

It is very likely that a Refurbishing Kitchen Project will involve the following tradesmen :

Labours – to demolish the old kitchen, remove old tiles, tide up the building site, and do unqualified works. This type of work can be done as DIY job.
kitchen

Electricians – the electrician must be NICEIC Qualified Electrician. The electrician will install new plug points, power points, lights, connect the electrical appliances.
electrician

Plumbers – if you have a Gas Hob, or Gas Oven, the a Gas Safe Registered Plumber will be needed. The plumber will make sure that the Gas pipes and appliances are installed, fitted and connected correctly and safely.Any plumbing that will go into the walls, must be done before the plastering. The plumber will fit and install the kitchen sink, run the plumbing pipes, hot and cold water supply, waste pipes.
plumbers

Plasterers – if the walls needs to be re-plastered or skimmed.Uneven walls or damaged plaster,must be repaired before the kitchen installation can proceed. Wet and humid walls can damage the kitchen units, the plastering should be done well in advanced and after the electricians has installed the sockets and other power points.
plastering kitchen

Carpenters – the carpenter will install and fit the Kitchen cabinets and units.If the worktop is made of wood, the carpenter will cut out the worktop for the kitchen sink, cooking hob and fit the worktop too.
kitchen installers cabinets

Tilers – the tiler will have the job of laying floor tiles and wall tiles. A good tiling finish is paramount for any kitchen refurbishment.
kitchen tiles

Painters and Decorators – the painters and decorators will ensure a good finish paint job.Because the kitchen is exposed to constant vapours and humidity, sometimes an acrylic based paint is recommended, and these types of paint are notoriously difficult to work with.
painter decorator

Materials Cost

There are numerous shops and kitchen suppliers from where you can buy a kitchen. The prices and quality can range from very cheap to very expensive, and from good quality kitchen to terrible. For example, a medium sized kitchen can cost from £1900.00 to well over £27000.00, for the same number of kitchen units, appliances and size.

Kitchen Cabinet Units – the quality cabinets are made of solid stain grade wood,cherry, maple, oak, etc. A much cheaper version of cabinets material is made of melamine foil covered boards. MDF cabinets can be made by carpenters for custom made kitchens.
kitchen cabinets

Kitchen Doors – the kitchen doors are the kitchen,the most important element in the appearance of your kitchen. The quality of finish on the doors should be very durable, scratch resistant, easy to clean. And of course, very aesthetically pleasant.
kitchen doors

Worktops and Countertops – worktops are exposed to heavy traffic,spills, hot pans and sharp knives. Granite is a good choice when durability and elegance is important. Other types of worktops are made of; Wood, Acrylic,Stone,Laminate and Glass. Custom made worktops are more expensive than standard worktops, which can be cut and fitted by the carpenter.
worktop

Kitchen appliances – cooker hobs, extractor hoods, ovens, dish washers,fridges, kitchen sinks, etc. The cost for kitchen appliances, can be major, as much as the kitchen cabinets, doors and worktops, and sometimes even more.
kitchen coffee maker integrated

Robuild London Kitchen Fitters and Installers, can offer a Full Kitchen Refurbishment Service, from Kitchen Design to installation and fitting.