Planning a Kitchen Renovation: Where to Start

A new kitchen is one of the most used and valued rooms in any home. Getting the renovation right requires planning — not just the design, but the sequence of work, the tradespeople involved, and the budget. Here is a practical guide.

Start With the Layout, Not the Units

Before choosing units, worktops, and finishes, consider whether the existing kitchen layout works for you. The most expensive part of a kitchen renovation is usually the work — altering services, relocating plumbing, and making structural changes. If the layout is not right, no amount of new units will fix it.

Questions to consider: - Is there enough storage? - Does the work triangle (sink, hob, fridge) work efficiently? - Is there enough light — natural and artificial? - Could removing a wall (subject to structural feasibility) create a better space? - Is there an obvious route to extend, if more space is needed?

Understand What the Work Involves

A full kitchen renovation typically involves several trades working in sequence:

1. *Strip-out* — removing old units, tiles, and flooring 2. *Structural work* — any wall removals, new openings, or making good 3. *First-fix plumbing* — relocating or extending water supply and waste pipes 4. *First-fix electrics* — new circuits, sockets, and lighting positions 5. *Plastering and making good* 6. *Second-fix plumbing* — sink, dishwasher, and appliance connections 7. *Unit and worktop installation* 8. *Tiling* 9. *Second-fix electrics* — sockets, switches, under-cabinet lighting 10. *Decoration*

The sequence matters. Units cannot be fitted before plastering is complete; tiling follows units; sockets and switches go in last. A builder coordinating all trades ensures the work progresses in the right order.

Kitchen Suppliers and Fitting

There is a range of approaches to sourcing kitchen units:

- *Flat-pack (self-assembled)* — budget-friendly but requires time and care to assemble correctly - *Rigid-built (pre-assembled)* — more expensive but generally stronger and easier to fit accurately - *Bespoke joinery* — highest cost, made to measure

We can fit units from any supplier, or discuss sourcing options. The cost of fitting is often comparable regardless of where the units come from — good fitting requires care and skill, whatever the quality of the unit.

Budget Realistically

Kitchen renovation costs vary enormously depending on the scope of work, the quality of units and worktops, and the extent of services alteration required. Do not budget solely based on the cost of the units — labour, services work, tiling, plastering, and decoration are often comparable or greater than the units themselves.

Talk to Us

Think VPV carries out kitchen renovations across Sheffield and South Yorkshire. We carry out the full scope of work — from strip-out to decoration — or can work alongside a kitchen supplier's fitters on the services and structural elements.