Kitchen Installation Project Kelvedon

Summary:

The brief was to turn a separate kitchen and two adjoining rooms into a single, practical kitchen-diner with improved flow and light. We provided end-to-end delivery: design coordination, structural alterations (two load-bearing walls removed), full building services, installation, and finishing – managed to a clear programme and budget.

Pre-construction & Coordination

Ahead of works, we coordinated the moving parts so the client didn’t have to bringing design, structure and programme together into a single plan. Our aim was a smooth, hands-off experience: we handled kitchen design liaison, structural engineering for the steels, and sequencing of trades so the build could progress without delays.

• Design: Recommended Howdens for layout and specification; coordinated client sign-off on cabinetry, appliances and storage.
• Structure: Appointed our structural engineer to calculate and specify RSJ steels for the removal of two load-bearing walls; obtained beam design sign-off.
• Programming: Sequenced services first fix, steel install, plastering, second fix and templating/fit of finishes to achieve a four-week programme.

Scope Of Work

Strip-out & enabling works
Careful removal of the existing kitchen, appliances, units and floor coverings, with dust protection and temporary isolation of services. Opened trial holes to confirm wall construction and joist directions; protected circulation routes and adjacent rooms before heavy works began.

Structural alterations (two load-bearing walls)
Propped ceilings/floors with Acrows and strongboys to maintain stability, then formed openings by removing two load-bearing masonry walls. Installed specified RSJ steels with padstones and bearing checks per engineer’s details, levelled and packed, and bolted any splice plates as required. Issued photographic records for sign-off before closing up.

First-fix electrics
Re-wired the new kitchen diner to current regs, including dedicated circuits for oven, hob, extractor, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and microwave; ring main reconfiguration; new RCD/RCBO protection at the consumer unit where required. Set out and chased positions for sockets above worktops, island power, under-cabinet lighting feeds and ceiling lighting points.

First-fix plumbing & heating
Re-routed hot, cold and waste to suit the new sink/dishwasher run; pressure-tested new pipework; provided isolation valves. Adjusted radiator positions to free up wall space for cabinetry; prepared capped connections for any boiling tap/filtered water system if specified by the client later.

Make-good & plastering
Blocked up redundant openings, installed moisture-resistant boards in splash zones, taped and jointed new ceilings/walls, then fully skimmed to a paint-ready finish. Formed straight, true reveals around the new structural openings to visually integrate the space.

Kitchen installation
Set out and levelled base units and larders; fixed wall units to suitable substrate with appropriate anchors; scribed end panels and fillers for tight joints. Aligned appliance housings, installed carcasses and doors to manufacturer tolerances, and set service voids for future access.

Worktops & appliances
Templated for quartz after final cabinet alignment; coordinated off-site fabrication; fitted worktops with accurate cut-outs for sink and hob, sealed joints, and installed upstands. Fitted and commissioned integrated appliances, checked clearances/ventilation, and provided user guidance.

Wall tiling & flooring
Prepared substrates, set out tile grid to centre lines and key sightlines; installed splashback tiling with matching trims and silicone sealing at junctions. Prepared subfloor (self-levelling where needed) and fitted client-selected flooring (e.g. LVT/engineered wood/porcelain), including thresholds and acoustic underlay if specified.

Second-fix electrics & lighting
Installed sockets, switches, spur plates and fused connection units; fitted downlights and pendants over island/dining; connected under-cabinet lighting to dimmable control where specified. Tested and certified the installation with an Electrical Installation Certificate.

Second-fix plumbing
Installed sink, tap and wastes; pressure-tested and checked for leaks; re-commissioned heating circuit after radiator moves; balanced if required. Demonstrated isolation points and provided care guidance.

Decoration & finishing
Applied mist coat to new plaster, followed by two finish coats on walls and ceilings; prepped and painted woodwork; colour-matched any made-good areas to existing. Final snag pass to adjust doors, handles and hinges, silicone neatness, caulking and paint touch-ups.

Compliance, certification & handover
Issued electrical certification, provided any manufacturer warranties/Howdens paperwork, and recorded structural steel installation against engineer’s design. Final client walkthrough with operation guidance for appliances, care advice for quartz and flooring, and maintenance notes.

Outcome

The two structural openings transformed a previously segmented layout into a single, practical kitchen–diner with clearer sightlines, better circulation and more usable wall runs for cabinetry. The project met the four-week programme and was completed at the agreed £14,700 + VAT, with variations managed proactively so there were no last-minute surprises. Quality checks at each stage particularly around steel bearings, electrical testing and substrate preparation, meant second-fix and finishes went in cleanly with minimal snagging.

Overall, the home gains a brighter, more social ground floor anchored by a robust, regulation-compliant kitchen. The work adds tangible daily value – more storage, better workflow, improved lighting while laying solid groundwork for future upgrades without invasive rework.