Access and parking
The fitter and the delivery driver both need a clear route from the front door to the room. Units, worktops and boxes of tiles are heavy and awkward, so move shoe racks, bikes, pushchairs and hallway furniture out of the way. Mention tight stairs, low ceilings or narrow doorways when you first get in touch, because long worktops and tall units may not get round them. Parking close to the house saves a lot of carrying, so sort out a permit or a reserved space early if you need one. In a flat, ask the building manager about lift booking and when noisy work is allowed.
Clear the room and protect the rest of the house
Empty the room completely, including the insides of cupboards and drawers. A kitchen packed into boxes at the last minute is far more stressful than one cleared gradually, so start sorting early. Take down pictures, mirrors and shelves, and move anything fragile out of neighbouring rooms too. Stripping out a kitchen or bathroom makes fine dust that finds its way everywhere.
We lay protection on floors along the route through the house and in the working room, and keep doors closed to limit dust, but it helps if hall rugs and loose items are already lifted. Cover or take down curtains, and put sheets over furniture in adjoining rooms. If any flooring is staying, tell us, so it is protected properly rather than assumed to be coming up.
Temporary kitchen and washing arrangements
Plan for a kitchen that does not exist for a while, or a bathroom you cannot use. A little organisation is the difference between a minor inconvenience and a house that feels unliveable, and it takes the pressure off the fitter too, because nobody is rushing to give you a working room back before it is properly finished.
- Kitchen: set up a kettle, microwave, toaster, small table and washing-up bowl in another room
- Kitchen: move the fridge, or a cool box, out of the work area, and keep a few freezer meals and disposable plates to hand
- Bathroom: agree where everyone will wash, and which toilet will be used if the house only has one
- Tell us if anyone in the house has mobility needs, so access and washing can be planned around them
Pets, children and the rest of the household
A working room has tools, offcuts, adhesive and open doors, and none of that mixes with pets or small children. Keep them out of the work area and away from the route to it. If a dog or cat might slip out while doors are open for deliveries, shut them in a room or arrange for them to be elsewhere. Warn anyone who works from home or needs quiet for naps, because drilling, cutting and stripping out are noisy. Tell us if anyone has breathing difficulties, because dust is part of the job.
Water, electric and deliveries
You do not need to turn the water or electric off. We do that ourselves, and we will tell you in advance when a supply is going off so you can plan around it. What helps is knowing where the stopcock and consumer unit are, and showing us when we arrive. Think about the freezer, the broadband router and anything you work from. If the water will be off for a stretch, fill a few containers for drinking and flushing.
Deliveries need a dry, secure place to sit, such as a garage or spare room. Keep worktops flat and supported, and never leave units out in the rain. Check each delivery against the order for damage and missing parts as soon as it arrives, and keep the packaging until the fit is finished so any problem can be reported to the supplier.
Decisions to make before start day, and what happens on site
Most delays on site come from decisions not yet made. Settle the tile layout and grout colour, handle and tap choices, shower valve and towel rail positions, socket and switch heights, and where the bin and appliances will sit. If you change your mind, say so before that stage is built, because hidden work is hard to redo.
A normal working day follows a rhythm. We arrive at the agreed time, lay protection, carry on with that stage of the job, then clear up and sweep before leaving, with water and power back on wherever possible. We tell you what is happening next and anything we have found. You do not need to supervise, but keep a phone nearby for quick questions.
Next steps
Walk the route from your front door to the room, note any tight turns, and photograph it along with the room itself, the stopcock and the consumer unit. Add measurements and send them to us on WhatsApp, with a note of anything about pets, children or working from home that we should know. We will talk through the plan and give you a free, no-obligation quote.
Quick answers
Do I need to turn off the water and electric before the fitter arrives?
No. We turn the water and electric off ourselves when the work needs it, and we tell you in advance so you can plan around it. It helps if you show us where the stopcock and consumer unit are when we arrive.
Can I stay at home while my kitchen or bathroom is being fitted?
Usually yes. You need a temporary kitchen or washing arrangement, and pets and children kept clear of the work area. Dust and noise are part of it, so some people prefer to be out. Tell us your circumstances and we will plan around them.
What should I do with my old kitchen or bathroom fittings?
Tell us before the start whether you want anything kept, such as units to reuse or fittings to sell. Everything else is stripped out, and who takes the waste away should be agreed when the quote is given.