How to Choose the Right Tradies for a DIY Kitchen Renovation

How to Choose the Right Tradies for a DIY Kitchen Renovation

Having ordered a DIY kitchen, you’ve already saved thousands of dollars. Our last post covered how to prepare for a kitchen renovation, the next step is to organise the removal of the old kitchen in a cost-effective and safe way.

Once the kitchen is ordered, you have completed a big part of your new kitchen project. You’ve spent hours designing the layout, choosing the style, colour and finish of each component. You know exactly how the new kitchen will look, down to the last detail.

Now it is time for some serious planning and, if inclined, a bit of grunt work. The space needs to be prepped for the new kitchen installation. Almost everything can be outsourced to professionals, but if you want to save money, you may want to consider getting professionals for some jobs and doing the easier bits yourself.

For a new build, life’s uncomplicated. All that needs to be done is to mark where the utility points such as gas, electricity and power need to be and organise for qualified professional electrician and plumber to take care of it. Once the new kitchen is delivered the installer can slot it in.

If the new kitchen is part of a renovation, there’s the task of removing the old kitchen. There are two key parts to a kitchen removal – removing the cabinetry from the walls and disconnecting and removing the old appliances.

There’s a couple of different ways to handle it:  One, outsource the removal entirely, or outsource it in parts. There is no way to do the removal and installation entirely on your own. Removing cabinets can be done by the homeowner, but all electrical and plumbing work must be done by licenced professionals and must be accompanied by a certificate of compliance.

1. Using professional removalists:

If you’ve decided to outsource the task, ask your kitchen company if their recommended installers will also remove the kitchen. At Kitchen Shack, all our installers also offer an old kitchen removal and disposal service. Their team will have the required licences, they will take everything off safely, and leave the place neat and clean. It would be a good idea to:

  • Get a couple of quotes
  • Take a good look at the reviews and ask for references
  • Speak to friends or family who may have used similar services to understand the pricing and see if they can recommend someone.

2. Organising the trades:

If you have decided to do the removal yourself, there are two occasions when you will need licenced professionals – while disconnecting the utilities and reconnecting them. At Kitchen Shack we can provide you with recommended trades who are not only highly qualified and licenced – they have years of experience working for our customers, who have gone on to use them for other jobs around the house.  Here’s why it is important to use the right skills:

  • Electrical wiring in the kitchen is a part of a more complex and independent electrical network. It, therefore, must be done with precision and an understanding of circuits and loads, to protect appliances, and for the overall safety of the residents.
  • Electricians typically have specialisations. Some specialise in new builds, others in cabling and wiring. And that’s why we only recommend professionals who have years of experience working on our projects.
  • With plumbing too, there has to be an understanding of the network, type of pipes, water or gas pressure etc. to do a safe removal and installation. Also, it’s important to get the right plumber – one that works on kitchens, rather than say, roof plumbing or sewerage expert.
  • Don’t go by cost alone. Cheap plumbers or electrician may do a shoddy job, not using the right tools and cutting corners. Use ones that have built a solid reputation and have been part of the industry for many years. They may cost a bit more, but they are worth every extra penny.
  • Ask for a written guarantee on the work and material supplied and for a certificate of compliance. This will ensure that the work is to a high standard and meets regulatory guidelines.