Kitchen Planning Do's and Don'ts

Do's:

Do double check your requirements before ordering any items

Do check everything has arrived safely and correctly before commissioning trades people to start work

Do, wherever possible, use the same width door for a base unit as on the wall unit so that the doors line through

Do place the washing machine and / or dishwasher close to the sink to minimise plumbing work

Do position tall larder / oven housing units at the end of worktop runs, so as not to split the working areas

Do remember that an inset sink does not have to be in a 1000mm base unit as long as the unit is big enough to accommodate the bowl e.g.: 600mm will house a 1 ½ bowl

Do plan hob / freestanding cooker in a position which will minimise having to carry hot pans across walkways in the kitchen

Do use an end support panel when positioning built under appliances on the end of runs

Do allow a minimum of 300mm clear space at each side of a hob to allow for pan handles which may protrude over the side of the hob

Do ensure there is a minimum of 750mm between the bottom of a wall unit and the top of any hob (for minimum distance required between hob and extractor refer to the appliance manufacturers guidelines)

Dont's

Don't locate a cooker or hob beneath a window where curtains might catch fire or where it is dangerous to reach over the hob to open or reach a window

Don't put wall units above a cooker / hob without an extractor

Don't put worktop joints near an inset sink

Don't have worktop joints over appliance spaces (where there is a joint you will need to support it)

Don't put wall units either side of an eye level grill

Don't plan a hob next to a housing or a wall (remember, a space is required to allow for pan handles. The minimum should be 300mm)

Don't plan a hob or cooker at the end of a run or next to a door, protruding pan handles could easily be caught by a passer by

Don't plan an extractor above a cooker with eye level grill

Don't plan an oven housing next to a fridge or freezer

Don't forget to take handles into account when planning the kitchen layout (e.g. will the handles hit the wall next to the unit, will the door on a corner unit be obstructed by the handle of the unit next to it etc)

This advice has been made available to us with the express permission of Direct Electricals, http://www.callde.co.uk/

Direct Electricals are based in Bedfordshire.

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You can contact Direct Electricals for Sales and Support on this Number: 08454 500697