New Kitchen Advice

[Fade and Die]

Work progressing nicely - old kitchen ripped out and knocked through to new utility, stud wall frames in and first fix plumbing mostly all done too. Windows and doors should arrive in the next week or so, so we can get plasterboard on.

This is current design, which I think we're mostly settled on now. Gives us worktop space and frames off the kitchen space from the dining area. Ignore the terrible doors they've put in, ours are at least 3 metres wide (we've also got a metre wide coffee cupboard behind this viewpoint, which will have the coffee machine, microwave etc among other things in there). The first pic is taken from in front of the new kitchen window, for perspective - looking back to old kitchen/new hallway, and the utility can (just) be seen through the new stud wall through that opening.

I will say, having to wash up in the bath is already wearing thin - hopefully they can get the utility into a state of usability sooner rather than later (once units arrive in a few weeks!) View attachment 57852View attachment 57853

View attachment 57851

Love the groovy Claret and Blue floor tiles in the old kitchen

 

[Aztecs27]

Love the groovy Claret and Blue floor tiles in the old kitchen

Haha. It was covered by laminate.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Love the groovy Claret and Blue floor tiles in the old kitchen

Thought it was the toilet

 

[Aztecs27]

Thought it was the toilet

Sadly, that was the size of our old kitchen....hence the need to extend.

 

[Fade and Die]

Haha. It was covered by laminate.

Best thing to do is cover them up again. That type of tile often contains Asbestos.

 

[Aztecs27]

Best thing to do is cover them up again. That type of tile often contains Asbestos.

Oh, don’t worry, there will be tiles going down asap.

 

[Aztecs27]

They only come with the connector to the hood. The ducting is independant of the hood.
All too often the wrong size is used which results in poor performance and on a hood that big you will need the full diameter ducting.Either out the wall behind it or up through the ceiling to outside.

Thanks for this btw. Checked the provisional internal hole they drilled today and it’s 120mm diameter…the installation spec for the Stoves hood we have requires 150mm ducting.

So will have a word with them tomorrow to make it bigger

EDIT: Spoke to the sparky today and the hole for ducting is now massive

No issues not fitting the 150mm ducting in there.

 

[Aztecs27]

Getting to the point of stressing about decisions we've made (or not made, as the case may be)

Windows and doors were delivered this morning. We were expecting two flat, fixed roof lights, but there were a lot of triangle shaped panes of glass - so it turns out we're getting two lanterns. Ended up being a happy accident that we perhaps weren't 100% clear with the builder....but seems roof lanterns tend to let in more light, so we actually are a bit relieved

They're all being fitted today now the UFH heating pipework has been laid and the screed put down and set last week. Then onto the plasterers, so we might actually have a utility room to wash up and have the washing machine plumbed in to wash our clothes in the next week or two, which I'll be buzzing for. Wren due out to do final measurements at the end of this week so we can get the kitchen ordered (finally).

Then just got to finalise flooring.

 

[Bratty]

Getting to the point of stressing about decisions we've made (or not made, as the case may be)

Windows and doors were delivered this morning. We were expecting two flat, fixed roof lights, but there were a lot of triangle shaped panes of glass - so it turns out we're getting two lanterns. Ended up being a happy accident that we perhaps weren't 100% clear with the builder....but seems roof lanterns tend to let in more light, so we actually are a bit relieved

They're all being fitted today now the UFH heating pipework has been laid and the screed put down and set last week. Then onto the plasterers, so we might actually have a utility room to wash up and have the washing machine plumbed in to wash our clothes in the next week or two, which I'll be buzzing for. Wren due out to do final measurements at the end of this week so we can get the kitchen ordered (finally).

Then just got to finalise flooring.

You may now need to consider automated blinds if you've got lanterns! Just to pee on your chips!

 

[Aztecs27]

You may now need to consider automated blinds if you've got lanterns! Just to pee on your chips!

Absolutely not. I don't need to make it dark in there for any reason, so we'll just live with it

 

[Bratty]

Absolutely not. I don't need to make it dark in there for any reason, so we'll just live with it

Oh brother. Hope we don't get the heatwaves then!

 

[Aztecs27]

Oh brother. Hope we don't get the heatwaves then!

Fair point.

My in laws have an absolutely massive lantern in their open plan living/dining/kitchen and it seems alright in the summer...we'll play it by ear.

Windows and door fitted today - just sliding doors to come.

I started an Imgur post to document the build and update as we go in case anyone's interested:

https://imgur.com/a/jyOirRO

 

[Golfmmad]

M

Fair point.

My in laws have an absolutely massive lantern in their open plan living/dining/kitchen and it seems alright in the summer...we'll play it by ear.

Windows and door fitted today - just sliding doors to come.

I started an Imgur post to document the build and update as we go in case anyone's interested:

https://imgur.com/a/jyOirRO

My daughter and son in law have a lantern in their kitchen /dining room. It gets really hot and very glary when the sun is out.
I've recommended that they get a pleated blind to fit below the lantern. Rectangular, then it can be pulled over when required to keep the glare out. Once the blind is retracted you would hardly notice it.

 

[Aztecs27]

M

My daughter and son in law have a lantern in their kitchen /dining room. It gets really hot and very glary when the sun is out.
I've recommended that they get a pleated blind to fit below the lantern. Rectangular, then it can be pulled over when required to keep the glare out. Once the blind is retracted you would hardly notice it.

I can't even imagine what this would look like haha. But will look into it since two of you have mentioned it.

Also, turns out the door fabricator completely ignored the fact we want the utility exterior door to open outwards, so builder has had to tell them what a bunch of whoppers they are and get them to make another one. Not a massive issue, but just delays the utility room plastering being finished which means more of a delay on us having a sink to actually do stuff in. Oh well

 

[Aztecs27]

Nearly there!

Kitchen was delivered this morning and fitter was starting on it straight away (my own fitter, not some noddy from Wren).

Have started an imgur thread for photo updates, but in short;

- Utility units fitted and we have a working sink downstairs. Tiling done, just grouting to do.
- washing machine plumbed back in
- base coat of painting all done (not visible in pics as I've not taken any photos for a few days) - thanks to the wife and mother in law.
- floorboards in hallway have had ply put over the top to level (only finished today)
- correct utility door installed

Turns out we will be tiling ourselves as I'm not paying the £3500-£4k I've been quoted to have someone do it (mostly because I don't have that money spare and also we may need to upgrade our boiler/hot water system as we have a gravity-fed system currently and hot pressure in the utility taps (and therefore, likely the kitchen too) is absolute bobbins).

But we can't tile for at least another month once the concrete screed has fully cured.

But hopefully kitchen install will be done by monday/tues next week so we can get templaters out to do worktop fitting so that can be made whilst we're on holiday and other than tiling and the door frames/skirting, we'll be pretty much there.

Pics here if interested: CLICK HERE

 

[Mudball]

We went thru a few ups and downs with our kitchen co - including them going bankrupt - but finally got the kitchen a few months ago. Love the thing and absolutely works for us. A few weeks ago, they came around and shot videos and photos for their website. its on their instragram (which i dont have) and facebook.

Most comments are very flattering. But there are some snarky ones out there with negative comments. Not sure what they get for it. The kitchen is just perfect for us. Told the Mrs to ignore comments and just look at the videos. every once in a while, i will look at comments.

Now i understand what people feel when they are get into chasing likes and then get social media disapprovals. Must be painful

 

[Aztecs27]

Tiling is hard work...but I'm not paying £4000 to someone to do it (mostly because I don't have £4k having had to upgrade the boiler, as mentioned previously)



Fortunately, my FIL, who's pretty handy, is retired and down for a few days to help us out. Hoping to get the kitchen finished today so we can grout tomorrow before he leaves (although that's the easier part in the grand scheme of things).

Had a few tricky things to overcome (floor level differs slightly from one end to another, and despite being a brand new build, the walls are far from straight), but it is what it is. I still can't get my head around how underfloor heating works when you have 65mm of concrete screed, adhesive, decoupling matting, more adhesive and then tiles....Logically, I know it's because they're all heat conducting, but my head is still thinking "how on earth does the heat get through all that

Worktop being fitted Tuesday, with the sink and dishwasher to be plumbed in same day or next day at worst, so by this time next week, our kitchen will be functional at the very least....which will be nice (finally).

Doorframes, skirting boards and some last bits of plastering to do, then it's all cosmetic stuff pretty much.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Tiling is hard work...but I'm not paying £4000 to someone to do it (mostly because I don't have £4k having had to upgrade the boiler, as mentioned previously)


View attachment 58795
Fortunately, my FIL, who's pretty handy, is retired and down for a few days to help us out. Hoping to get the kitchen finished today so we can grout tomorrow before he leaves (although that's the easier part in the grand scheme of things).

Had a few tricky things to overcome (floor level differs slightly from one end to another, and despite being a brand new build, the walls are far from straight), but it is what it is. I still can't get my head around how underfloor heating works when you have 65mm of concrete screed, adhesive, decoupling matting, more adhesive and then tiles....Logically, I know it's because they're all heat conducting, but my head is still thinking "how on earth does the heat get through all that

Worktop being fitted Tuesday, with the sink and dishwasher to be plumbed in same day or next day at worst, so by this time next week, our kitchen will be functional at the very least....which will be nice (finally).

Doorframes, skirting boards and some last bits of plastering to do, then it's all cosmetic stuff pretty much.

Please tell me you've tiled all the way under your appliances

 

[Aztecs27]

Please tell me you've tiled all the way under your appliances

Haha, all but the dishwasher, because nightmare to remove it now the kitchen is fully installed. It's a Bosch so hopefully will be reliable and we won't need to do anything with it before we move sometime in the future.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Haha, all but the dishwasher, because nightmare to remove it now the kitchen is fully installed. It's a Bosch so hopefully will be reliable and we won't need to do anything with it before we move sometime in the future.

If it's been installed correctly, it should be a doddle to remove.
I hope then the feet have been extended and the tiling, grout and glue is clear of the front feet as well as it not needing any warranty work.