10 Things to Consider Before Moving a Kitchen in a London Refurbishment
Moving a kitchen can completely change how a property works. In many London homes, relocating the kitchen creates better natural light, improves the connection with a garden, opens up the main living space or allows an additional bedroom to be formed elsewhere.
But moving a kitchen is rarely just a question of relocating cabinets.
Drainage, ventilation, plumbing, electrics, structure, flooring, approvals and programme can all be affected. The further the new kitchen moves from the existing services, the more coordination the refurbishment is likely to require.
Before committing to the new layout, it is worth understanding what the change actually involves.
1. Check Whether the Drainage Route Works
Drainage is often the first technical question.
A sink, dishwasher and sometimes washing machine all need suitable waste connections. Unlike water supplies, waste pipes need sufficient fall, so they cannot always be routed wherever the design suggests.
This becomes particularly important when moving a kitchen across a flat or into a room far from the existing soil stack.
A proposed kitchen may look perfect on the floor plan but require raised floors, boxing or a different layout once the drainage route is considered.
Early inspection of the existing pipework can therefore prevent expensive redesign later.
2. Understand How Far the Services Need to Move
A kitchen requires considerably more services than many clients initially expect.
Typical requirements can include:
- Cold and hot water supplies
- Sink waste
- Dishwasher connections
- Washing-machine connections where applicable
- Appliance supplies
- Dedicated electrical circuits
- Socket outlets
- Lighting
- Extractor ventilation
- Heating alterations
Moving a kitchen a few metres within the same room may be relatively straightforward.
Moving it to the opposite end of a property is a different project.
The cost is not simply the new kitchen itself. It is also the construction work required to make the new location function properly.
3. Consider Ventilation Before Finalising the Layout
Cooking produces moisture, heat and odours, so ventilation should be considered early.
The position of the hob can influence how easily an extractor can discharge externally.
A short, simple duct route is usually easier to coordinate than a long route through ceilings, cupboards or several rooms.
Where direct external extraction is difficult, the design may need further consideration before the kitchen order is placed.
Ventilation can also interact with lighting, ceiling details and structural elements.
This is exactly the kind of issue that is cheaper to resolve on drawings than once cabinetry has already been manufactured.
4. Check the Electrical Requirements
Modern kitchens place significant demand on the electrical installation.
Ovens, induction hobs, dishwashers, boiling-water taps, microwaves, refrigerators and other appliances all need to be considered alongside general sockets and lighting.
An older property may also need upgrades before the proposed kitchen can be supported properly.
The electrical design should ideally be coordinated with the final kitchen layout before first fix.
That means confirming appliance positions, island locations and socket requirements rather than leaving them until installation.
Late changes can mean opening finished walls or altering newly installed cables.
5. Think About Structure and Wall Removal
Kitchen relocations are often part of a wider plan to create an open-plan kitchen and living area.
If walls need to be removed, establish whether they are structural.
A load-bearing wall may require structural engineering, temporary support and steelwork before the new opening can be formed.
That can affect:
- Cost
- Programme
- Ceiling finishes
- Floor repairs
- Electrical routes
- Pipework
- Fire-safety details
Structural alterations are entirely normal in refurbishment work, but they should form part of the project plan from the beginning rather than being discovered once strip-out starts.
6. Make Sure the New Kitchen Actually Improves the Property
Not every kitchen relocation produces a better layout.
Sometimes a design gains a large kitchen but creates poor circulation, reduces useful storage or leaves the living space awkwardly proportioned.
Before committing, think about how the room will work once furniture is installed.
Allow enough space around islands and dining tables. Consider door swings, fridge access and the relationship between cooking, dining and seating areas.
Natural light also matters.
In many London refurbishments, the strongest reason for relocating a kitchen is to place the most heavily used space in the best part of the property.
The layout should justify the cost of moving it.
7. Check Whether Permissions Are Required
The physical work is only one part of the decision.
Building Regulations may apply to various elements of the refurbishment, particularly structural work, electrical alterations, ventilation and drainage.
Leasehold properties can introduce further requirements.
The lease or freeholder may place restrictions on alterations, and significant changes to the internal layout or services may require formal approval.
In managed buildings there may also be working-hour restrictions, protection requirements and rules governing contractors.
These issues should be checked before the construction programme is fixed.
8. Allow for the Work Around the Kitchen
Clients sometimes budget for the kitchen units and worktops but underestimate everything needed around them.
Relocating a kitchen can involve substantial making good.
Depending on the project, the surrounding works may include:
- Floor preparation
- Plastering
- New ceilings
- Decorating
- Electrical first and second fix
- Plumbing
- Tiling or splashbacks
- Joinery
- Skirtings
- New lighting
- Repairs to the original kitchen area
The old kitchen location also needs to be dealt with.
Once cabinets and services are removed, floors, walls and ceilings may need repair before the room can be converted to its new use.
9. Order the Kitchen at the Right Stage
Ordering too late can delay the project.
Ordering too early can create a different problem if the dimensions are still changing.
Where structural openings, new walls or extensive plastering are involved, final dimensions may not be available immediately.
Bespoke cabinetry, worktops and specialist components can also carry significant lead times.
The project therefore needs a procurement strategy.
The kitchen design can be developed early, but the timing of final surveys, manufacture and installation should be coordinated with the construction programme.
Stone worktops, for example, are commonly templated only once the base units are installed accurately.
That sequence needs to be allowed for.
10. Understand the Full Cost Before Approving the Move
The price difference between replacing a kitchen in its existing location and moving it elsewhere can be significant.
The extra cost may come from several relatively small packages rather than one obvious item.
Drainage alterations, additional electrical work, floor repairs, structural changes and making good can accumulate.
That does not mean relocating the kitchen is poor value.
In the right property, the change can transform how the whole home works.
The important thing is to compare the benefit against the complete project cost rather than only comparing kitchen-supply prices.
A proper scope of works or early cost plan is particularly useful when different layout options are being considered.
Plan the Kitchen as Part of the Whole Refurbishment
A kitchen should not be designed in isolation from the rest of the building work.
Its position can influence structure, plumbing, electrics, ventilation, flooring, joinery and programme.
The earlier those elements are coordinated, the less likely the project is to encounter expensive changes once construction is underway.
For larger refurbishments, the strongest approach is usually to develop the proposed layout, investigate the existing building and cost the associated construction work before committing to manufacture.
That gives the client a much clearer understanding of what the kitchen relocation is actually buying them.
Bayocorp works with homeowners, landlords and property professionals across London and the South East, providing refurbishment, cost planning, estimating, pre-construction, project management and construction delivery.
If you are considering moving a kitchen as part of a wider refurbishment, getting the construction implications reviewed before finalising the design can help protect both the budget and programme.
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