Kitchen renovations are the most popular home improvement in the UK — and the most expensive to get wrong. The average UK kitchen renovation costs £8,000-£15,000 for mid-range, but I've seen people spend £25,000 on a kitchen that a better-planned £12,000 kitchen would have beaten. Here's how to do it right.
How Long Does a Kitchen Renovation Take?
A realistic timeline for a full kitchen renovation: 2-3 weeks for a straightforward replacement where the layout stays the same. 4-6 weeks if you're moving plumbing or electrics. 6-10 weeks if there's structural work like removing a wall to create open-plan. Add 2-3 weeks of lead time for kitchen units to be delivered after ordering — IKEA is usually fastest at 1-2 weeks; bespoke kitchens can be 6-12 weeks.
The Correct Order of Work
This is where the money is saved or wasted:
Week 1: Strip out and structural. Remove old kitchen, strip walls, remove flooring. If removing a wall, this is when the builder installs the RSJ. Always get a structural engineer's report first (£300-£500).
Week 2: First fix. Plumber routes hot/cold supply and waste to new positions. Electrician runs cables for new socket positions, lighting, extractor, and oven supply. Gas engineer moves gas supply if the hob is relocating. All of this MUST happen before plastering.
Week 3: Plaster and dry. Plasterer skims all walls. Allow 48 hours minimum for plaster to dry before any further work.
Week 4: Kitchen installation. Kitchen fitter installs base units, wall units, worktops, and integrated appliances. If you're having stone worktops, the templater visits after units are fitted, then the stone is fabricated (1-2 weeks) and installed.
Week 5: Second fix and finishing. Plumber connects sink, dishwasher, washing machine. Gas engineer connects hob. Electrician fits sockets, switches, lighting. Tiler does splashback. Flooring goes down. Painter finishes the job.
Where People Waste Money
Over-specifying for the neighbourhood. A £30,000 kitchen in a £180,000 house will never add £30,000 to the value. Budget 5-8% of your property value on the kitchen.
Changing their mind mid-project. Moving a socket after plastering is done means re-plastering. Deciding you want the sink on the other side after plumbing is fitted means re-plumbing. Every change mid-build costs 3-5x what it would have cost in the planning stage.
Buying the kitchen before finalising the layout. Measure twice, plan three times, buy once. IKEA's free planning tool is excellent. Use it. Or use our Project Planner to understand what trades you need and in what order.
IKEA Kitchen vs Bespoke: The Honest Comparison
IKEA kitchens (METOD system) offer genuinely good quality at 30-50% of the cost of mid-range bespoke kitchens. The carcasses are solid, the hinges are Blum (industry standard), and the drawer runners are excellent. Where they fall short: the doors and worktops are where you notice the price difference. The solution? IKEA carcasses with aftermarket doors from companies like Plykea, Husk, or Superfront. Best of both worlds.
Full bespoke makes sense if you have unusual dimensions, want specific materials (solid oak, hand-painted Shaker), or need integration with period features. For everyone else, IKEA with upgraded doors is the smart play.
Plan Your Kitchen Renovation
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