How to Begin the Big Kitchen Makeover – Starting Your Makeover
If you’ve been dreaming of giving your kitchen a complete overhaul but don’t have the funds to hire a professional team to do it for you, have you ever considered doing it yourself? You’ve tried calling all sorts of suppliers and fitters, who are charging way more than you’re willing to pay, so you decide to take on the task yourself. Besides, you’ll end up saving a lot more, anyway.
Flipping through all the DIY magazines gives you all the inspiration you need to start right away. Besides, it wasn’t too hard for you to install the curtains in the living room, and the shelves you installed in the bathroom are holding up just fine. What could possibly be so difficult about making a kitchen worktop surface?
If you’ve already tried to make your dream kitchen, you’ll remember how difficult and stressful that time was. In fact, some of you may be in the process of giving your kitchen a facelift right now. This is why we’ve come up with a series of articles to help you along your journey of the Big Kitchen Makeover.
Installing a kitchen on your own isn’t easy. There are lots of things you must research on, including safety rules before handling certain tools and materials. Since a lot of the tools are power tools, look into the possibility of hiring professionals to handle the equipment for you. Another thing to note is that the quality of your kitchen’s finish depends largely on the tools you use, so here is a list of the tools you will need when installing your brand new kitchen.
If you’re planning on fitting cornice/pelmet or if you plan to mitre your worktops for an expert finish, here are the tools you will need.
Hand tools: hammers, chisels, screwdrivers and slotted heads of variable size, wood and brick, a file, combination square, pliers and grips, a countersink.
Spirit levels: 600mm and 1200mm
Jigsaw
Heat gun or iron
Electric planer
Electric power drill and masonry bits
Electric cross cut mitre saw
A� inch electric router
Worktop jig
Of course, there are more tools that can be used in installing your kitchen, although most of them will require continual use, warrant buying or hiring. Some of the materials commonly used in kitchen installation include silicone sealant, contact adhesive, screws of variable size (unless provided by the manufacturer) two part mitre adhesive and masking tape, which is essential when working with dark materials.
When installing your kitchen, safety issues must be considered when working with some of these tools. The use of safety goggles, masks and gloves are necessary when handling some of the tools.
Having said all this, the next big step towards your new kitchen is the preparation, and it is also the most important part of helping you achieve your dream kitchen. In the next few articles, we will show you how to prepare for the Big Kitchen Makeover.