Kitchen fitting basics plus 12 kitchen fitting tips

This is the first video in the “how to fit a kitchen” playlist, there should be approximately 20 videos in this playlist doing the majority of kitchen fitting tasks. I installed this Symphony kitchens linear matt concrete back in 2022, but have only just started to edit the hundreds of hours of footage into watchable videos. You can see more pictures here- www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/fo...

[@ultimatehandyman]

I installed this kitchen in 2022. It was a very trying experience! I’m glad to say that I won’t be fitting another kitchen for the foreseeable future. Much respect to all kitchen fitters and joiners, that do this type of job on a daily basis. I hope everyone has a great Sunday 😉

[@ToolTimeToday]

ahhh the good old days of kitchen fitting. not done one for a while tbh but yeah they are a pain when you do everything for the customer and they change things half way through the build. ive also had the misfortune to get damaged unit's, boy that was fun as well. Great video btw, very informative for those who have no clue. Look forward to more informative content buddy.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Yeah, this was a complete pain in the backside. I had no involvement at all until the kitchen was purchased, I was then given the plan and asked to fit it. It was an hours drive in each direction, and there was no electricity installed until after the kitchen was installed. I’m so glad I’m not a kitchen fitter, I can imagine it being an absolute nightmare, when the customer keeps changing their mind about flooring, and units being damaged etc. Definitely not my idea of fun! Thanks for the comment 👍

[@gerrym4377]

Cracking video Chez! I’ve fitted a few kitchens in my own home, always a testing experience! The last one I ripped out here just after we moved in, the kitchen fitters who installed it had written ‘kitchen from hell’ on the rear of the backsplash 😂

[@ultimatehandyman]

I think I’ve installed about 5 kitchens, mainly in my own homes, and one that I installed for the girlfriends late father. I’ve never had problems like I had on this job, it really tested my patience! Kitchen from hell 😂 😂

[@gerrym4377]

@@ultimatehandyman ah hour drive at either end of the job is a nightmare in itself, I can well imagine your patience getting very worn out!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Yeah, also a few times there were accidents on the M65 or the M6 and I got stuck in traffic! I’m glad that I don’t have to commute to work each day, that would be my worst nightmare! I’ve only got a sink to install in the utility room now. I went over to cut out the worktop and fit it on Friday. I drove over, got the sink and placed it on the worktop and it was the wrong size sink! The unit is 900mm and the sink is 1000mm. I should also mention that there is no mobile phone coverage at the house, so I had to walk across the road and telephone the girlfriend. I could not check stock at screwfix from my phone, so drove to screwfix, only to find that they didn’t have the correct size sink- until the next day! I just packed up all my tools and drove home, and cracked open a few cans of cider 😂

[@gerrym4377]

@@ultimatehandyman mate that sounds an absolute nightmare! I am fitting a new bathroom at the moment and was at Screwfix 3 times in one day due to having or getting the wrong sized things!

[@youubik]

Thanks for the video. I am looking to install my own kitchen soon, so will keep an eye out for other videos. I think explaining the problems you had is very helpful

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome 👍 It might be a while before they are all edited and uploaded, as there are 24 videos on my list now 😂

[@loafersheffield]

Tip 2. Absolutely!👍 Loafer's tip. Never let the customer measure, design and then just go buy the carcasses off the shelf. Especially if there is a L shaped run, as they will not allow for the gap in the corner, nor the corner post. Or a double sink when a wash mac is going right next to the sink unit.😆

[@ultimatehandyman]

Great tip!

[@Rickh4]

Your humble, honest and helpful attitude is just brilliant and helps me out time and again. Cheers from Wigan.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Awesome, thank you!

[@Mike_5]

Learnt a lot from this Thanks Pal

[@ultimatehandyman]

I’m glad you found the video useful Thanks for the comment 👍

[@TheStevenWhiting]

Another idea we're thinking of is not buying the kitchen carcass but instead just making them out of wood. Then putting on whatever fronts you wish. Did this on George Clarks show recently I believe.

[@ultimatehandyman]

My next-door neighbour did that last year, he bought plywood and cut it down himself and made his own units. His kitchen is now bombproof! He did a really good job 👍 Thanks for the comment 👍

[@ZeeWatcher1000]

Requires chippy level skills

[@stupossibleify]

Really look forward to your videos. One thing I'm always curious about is how to confidently fix the wall mounted cupboards, given they are heavy even without being full of stuff.

[@ultimatehandyman]

That’s great to hear, I’m glad you find the videos useful 👍 There will be about 20 videos in this playlist, which should cover almost everything. I’m editing the one about fitting wall units, but it will be a few weeks before that is uploaded, I’ve done a video on joining units together, which should be next weeks video. Joining the wall units together properly really helps to distribute the weight of all the units! Thanks for the comment 👍

[@alanmullock381]

A lot of good tips!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😎😎😎😎

[@ultimatehandyman]

Glad you think so! 👍

[@ZeeWatcher1000]

Fantastic!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment 👍

[@mikedolman7056]

U/ h thanks for your video came at right time for me as I will be doing some work in my kitchen.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Good stuff 👍

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍Thank you. Yes it is very useful.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks 👍

[@michaelplays2449]

Great video !! thank You 😊😊😊😊😊😇😇😇😇😇

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for watching!

[@karlforster4907]

Impressive!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks 👍

[@Petertronic]

Wouldn't be my choice of finish, but great nonetheless! 😆 Looking forward to more on this project!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Yeah, the next-door neighbour had a similar kitchen, but it was a dark colour, and had composite worktops, that looked really good 👍 I think this kitchen was much cheaper 👍

[@jamesknightreading]

I've got a tip: If you have to assemble the units yourself, put some woodglue on the edges of the back panel. Makes the cabinets stronger, and stops the back panel coming out when clouted with a big box of washing powder. :)

[@ultimatehandyman]

👍

[@nathangroves3177]

Hi UH, you mention in this video that you have a video on installing the decorative rain on cabinets without handles but I can't find it. Is it up yet? Amazing videos too 😊

[@ultimatehandyman]

Sorry, I’ve not got around to edit that video yet. I’m currently in the middle of shutdown, so have been working 10-hour days, for the last nine days, and have another 7 or so days to work before I can even start to look at editing more videos. Hopefully I’ll get it edited when I get chance 🙏

[@Toolswithmatt1]

I will look forward to the rest of the videos looking back on a kitchen I had done there is things I would had done different I loved The color of the units from start to finish how long did it take you to do great video as always 👍

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks 👍 It took me months from start to finish, as I was not doing it full time. It took me an hour to dive there and an hour back each time. During the winter months it was going dark at 3pm and there was no electricity, so I was working with the Dewalt work light! I was also installing multi-panels in three of the bathrooms at the same time, pictures of one of the bathrooms here- www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/viewtopic.php?t=106960 I could fit the units quite quickly, once I got started, but I was filming the whole job too, and that adds hours onto the job. I’ve not got hundreds of hours of footage to edit into watchable videos. I have been putting the job of editing off, but decided to start it a few weeks back 👍

[@nickayivor8432]

Very helpful video. Thank you very much Enjoy your Easter 🐣 Ultimate Handyman QUICK-WITTED ULTIMATE HANDYMAN From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧 ⏰️ 08:35am

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks Nick, much appreciated 👍

[@SuperWayneyb]

🤘😎🤘

[@ultimatehandyman]

👍

[@waynekerrr9027]

Wow..those new kitchen carcasses need to go straight to the skip..use Howdens , not the rolls Royce of units, but pretty good

[@ultimatehandyman]

I don’t think the girlfriend would be happy about that 😂

[@baird37]

HI can you help me Looking for advice for a new decking .

[@ultimatehandyman]

Just be aware that decking will eventually rot, so it has a limited lifespan! Unless of course you use composite decking. Here are some articles from a deck that I installed a few years back- www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/how-to/table/decking/

[@lazylad8544]

Tip 1 on fitting a kitchen. Get some other bugger to fit it cos it's a nightmare.

[@ultimatehandyman]

I agree 😂