To help keep your home in good condition we replace kitchens when they come to the end of their life.

To plan when you might need a new kitchen, we carry out a survey of all homes. We’ll give you plenty of notice when your kitchen is scheduled to be replaced.

Having your kitchen replaced can be disruptive if you don’t know what to expect. So, we’ve put together a timeline guide below to show you what will happen at each stage of a typical kitchen installation – from survey and design right through to completion.

Sometimes kitchen installations may follow slightly different timelines but we’ll keep you updated if this is the case.

What happens before your kitchen installation?

What happens during the kitchen installation?

The installation phase usually takes around 15 working days to complete. Our kitchens are installed by our own contractors, Arthington Property Services (APS).

Sometimes, once we start work, we may uncover things we couldn’t see before – like hidden damage or older pipework. If that happens, we’ll always explain things clearly to you and take the time needed to put it right. The timeline below shows a typical example of what might happen each day during the installation phase.

Day 1: Clearing the space

Our team arrives, introduces themselves, and talks through the plan for the day. We carefully remove the old kitchen, keeping everything as tidy as possible.

Day 2: Plumbing first fix

We adjust the pipework to fit the new layout. We’ll tell you about any anticipated short disruptions to water.

Days 3 and 4: Electrical first fix

We upgrade wiring and get everything ready for the appliances. We’ll let you know about any power interruptions in advance.

Days 5 and 6: Plastering

Depending on the condition of your walls, we may need to replaster them to make sure they’re suitable for decorating. We might not need to replaster all the walls or the ceiling; it depends on how much damage the plumbing and electrical work has caused to the current plaster.

Day 7: Floor preparation

Depending on the type of flooring, we’ll either install a plywood covering or a screed that will provide a good base for the new floor.

Day 8: Base units go in

The new kitchen starts to take shape as we carefully and neatly fit the base units.

Day 9: Wall units, worktops and plumbing second fix

We install the wall units and worktops, bringing the kitchen closer to completion. We also connect up the new kitchen sink and taps.

Days 10 and 11: Wall tiling

We install ceramic tiles above your worktop to protect your walls from splashes. If you have a freestanding cooker, we’ll also tile the cooker space.

Day 12: Electrical second fix

We fix your kitchen sockets back to the tiles. We’ll turn them back on, test them and check they’re working OK. We’ll also refit your appliances and check they all work.

Day 13 and 14: Decoration

We paint your walls and ceiling in the colour you chose during the planning stage. We’ll gloss your woodwork in white.

Day 15: Finishing touches

We lay the flooring and complete all the final details to make the space feel clean and welcoming.

Final checks and handover

We carry out all final checks and make sure everything is working as it should. We then walk you through your new kitchen to show you how everything works and make sure you feel at home using it. This may be a couple of days after we’ve completed the work.

What happens after the kitchen installation?

Once we’ve completed the work, we stay in touch with you to make sure everything is settling in well. If anything comes up, we’re there to help. The kitchens have a two-year warranty period to pick up any issues.

Outcome and feedback

By the end of the process you’ll have a brand new, energy-efficient kitchen that helps make your house a home.

We’re always trying to improve the service we offer so we’ll ask you to complete a survey. We really appreciate any feedback you want to share.

• Find out about other scheduled improvements we make to homes