By sunny 
A common question during kitchen remodelling is: do I install the appliances or the countertops first? This question may seem simple, but in practice it requires a combination of factors to be considered. Today, I will combine my own experience to share a comprehensive kitchen remodelling guide, which I hope will help you to make fewer detours in your kitchen renovation.
First, the basic order of kitchen remodelling
Kitchen remodelling is a complex process that needs to be done in a certain order. Here is a basic remodelling sequence for your reference:
- Confirm kitchen appliances and size
- Confirmation of kitchen and bathroom plumbing
- Plumbing and electrical remodelling + drilling holes
- Order kitchen doors in advance + whole-house customisation
- Tiling + installing non-return valves
- Determine kitchen ceiling materials
- Seam sealing
- Installation of kitchen door + gas connection
- Installation of gas water heater + cooker hood
- Ceiling
- Cabinet installation
- Countertop Installation
Second, the detailed step-by-step instructions
Next, we will explain each step in detail, in order to answer the key question ‘first install appliances or countertops’.
Confirm kitchen appliances and size
Before carrying out kitchen plumbing and electrical remodelling, it is important to determine which built-in appliances are needed in the kitchen, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, steam ovens and so on. Confirm the installation location and size of the appliances in advance, you can not buy them first, but the size must be accurate. This step is very critical, because the subsequent plumbing and electrical transformation and cabinet design need to be around these appliances.
Confirmation of kitchen and bathroom plumbing and electricity walk
Communicate with the electrician, to confirm the whole house in advance of the plumbing alignment, that is, whether the water pipes and wires go to the top or to the ground. Different ways have different advantages and disadvantages, the choice needs to be considered in conjunction with the actual situation.
Plumbing and electrical remodelling + drilling
Plumbing transformation is the basis of the kitchen renovation, need to consider the positioning of water and electricity, pre-buried pipes and the whole house to play holes and other issues. Before tiling, you need to make holes in the whole house in advance, so as not to destroy the wall in the later construction.
Kitchen door + whole house customisation in advance
If it is not an open kitchen, it is recommended to determine the style of the kitchen door and whether it needs to be pre-buried in advance. Whole-house customisation at this stage can start doing layout design and planning in advance, so that the subsequent construction is smoother.
Tiling + installation of non-return valve
Kitchen tiling, to let the master mason to help the flue non-return valve installed, to prevent the later oil smoke backflow. This step is simple, but very important, related to the ventilation effect of the kitchen.
Determine the kitchen ceiling materials
After the mason retired, to determine the ceiling material, whether to choose gypsum board ceiling or aluminium button board ceiling. Different materials have different construction methods and precautions, the choice needs to be considered in conjunction with the actual situation.
Seaming
After the mason retired, wait a week for the cement to dry, you can start to do the first batch of seam. Kitchen and bathroom, such as water consumption, will be covered in the first batch of seam, to ensure the beauty and practicality.
Install the kitchen door + turn on the gas
Before turning on the gas, you need to install the kitchen door. Open kitchens can be fitted with collapsible doors, which are removed after the gas is turned on. Once the kitchen door is installed, you can book the gas company to come to your home to turn on the gas.
Installation of gas water heater + cooker hood
Gas water heater and hood have a part of the pipeline needs to be hidden inside the ceiling, so it is more convenient to install the ceiling master to open the hole before the ceiling. Gas water heater can do homework in advance before installation, self-prepared installation materials, easy to achieve 0 yuan installation.
Ceiling
On the question of whether the first ceiling or first cabinet, opinions vary. My suggestion is that the first ceiling, cabinet design to hide the top sealing plate in the door plate, cabinet top ceiling installation, so that you do not have to worry about the top sealing plate exposed. My family stepped on the pit here, resulting in the kitchen to reveal the ugly top sealing plate, almost want to let the ceiling master to remove and redo.
Cabinet installation
After the ceiling, the cabinets will be installed. If this time to buy a good embedded appliances, can also be about the same day to install together, easier to achieve a seamless. Cabinet installation is an important part of kitchen remodelling, and you need to make sure that it is the right size and firmly installed.
Countertop Installation
Now back to our original question: do you install the appliances or the countertops first? The answer is to do the countertop installation after the ceiling and cabinets are installed. Kitchen countertops should be prepared before the installation of the stove and sink, more convenient for stone masters to open holes. This step requires special attention to size measurements and joint treatment to ensure that the countertops are beautiful and functional.
Third, about the kitchen built-in appliances
The installation of built-in appliances is an important part of kitchen remodelling. Here are some precautions:
- Kitchen space should be enough: the aisle should be kept at least 1.2 metres after the cabinets are done to ensure ease of use.
- Determine the size of the appliances in advance: before customising the cabinets, it is recommended to determine which embedded appliances, as well as their dimensions, to facilitate the retention of space and installation of electrical wiring and so on.
- Choose a reliable brand: it is recommended to try to choose a more reliable brand, and the best choice of appliances are the same brand to ensure the unity of style.
Fourth, all kinds of embedded appliances installation precautions
Oven precautions
- Installation location should not be placed below the gas stove, so as to avoid two high heat dissipation of the cooker put together easy to damage parts, shorten life.
- Do high cabinets, the installation of the oven is recommended to install the location of some high, easy to bake and clean.
- The cabinet where the oven is installed should be made of professional high-temperature-resistant material, and the refrigerator should not be designed to be placed next to the oven.
- Please purchase a front cooling oven and make sure that there is a certain gap between the front panel of the oven and the door of the cabinet to allow air flow.
- Cabinets with ovens can be installed without back panels to ensure a wider space for installation.
- It is recommended that the outlet be installed on the side of the oven cabinet for ease of use.
Microwave Oven Precautions
- It is best to choose a microwave oven with front air outlet for heat dissipation.
- For built-in microwave oven, it is recommended to reserve 10cm at the top and 5cm at the left and right respectively to ensure smooth ventilation.
- In the back of the microwave oven, it is recommended to install a ‘microwave oven socket’.
- Built-in microwave oven is generally installed in the hanging cabinet or floor cabinet, it should be noted that the depth of the microwave oven is generally larger than the size of the hanging cabinet, so the microwave oven may be exposed part. 3.
Steriliser notes
- Embedded disinfection cabinet is generally installed in the gas stove below, the distance from the gas stove should be kept at least 15cm.
- After the cabinet should open a ventilation hole of about 12 * 12cm to facilitate ventilation and heat and moisture removal.
Refrigerator precautions
- Embedded refrigerator need to pay attention to is the problem of heat dissipation, refrigerator on both sides of the proposed leave a space of about 10cm, and the back of the box can not be close to the wall, should also leave a distance of about 10cm of heat dissipation.
Gas cooker
- It is recommended to open a small ventilation hole at the bottom of the cabinet to ensure that the gas stove can work properly.
- It is recommended that the built-in gas cooker must be equipped with flame failure protection device in case the gas cooker suddenly goes out or backfires and gas leakage or gas leakage occurs, the flame failure protection device will close the gas valve.
Fifth, kitchen countertop installation precautions
Kitchen countertop installation is the last important part of kitchen remodelling. Here are some things to consider:
Measurement:
Measurement is definitely the top priority before countertop installation! It is recommended to find a professional master to measure at home to avoid errors. At the same time remember to confirm the size of the gas stove and sink in advance, so that you can openings in the factory in advance.
Learn to identify the real quartz stone: If you choose quartz stone countertops, be sure to use a knife to scratch, there is a white powder is granite, appear faint black marks and can be wiped off is quartz stone. Or drop white vinegar, there are bubbles is fake quartz stone or granite.
Install the kitchen door in advance:
Installing countertops is really dusty, try to do the parts that can be cut outdoors or the dust will float all over the house.
Seamless finish:
A great seam finish can make a worktop look almost invisible, as if it’s moulded in one piece. So when choosing a construction team, be sure to confirm their level of expertise in the seam process.
Over-counter basins are carefully considered:
Water basins are divided into on-counter basin, in-counter basin, under-counter basin. Basin on the installation of simple but easy to form a health corner; basin in the beautiful and easy to clean but complex installation; under the counter basin can be directly on the countertop water into the sink, but the load-bearing capacity is weak. It is recommended to choose the right type of basin according to individual needs and the actual situation.
Don’t install water stopper if you can’t:
Water retaining strip usually look thicker, and reduces the use of part of the countertop area. Now most of them will block the water cancelled, so that the countertop looks more neat.
under the hanging according to the situation of their own choice:
Underhanging serves two purposes: to hide the ugly and waterproof. The ugly means that if there is a mat and honeycomb board under the countertop, there will be a two-centimetre gap, which needs to be covered by the underhanging of the countertop. Waterproof means that the water on the countertop will not flow into the cabinet. Nowadays, it is generally recommended not to do under hanging or under hanging height of 2-4cm.
Don’t let the dust contaminate the glue:
Never open the window after the countertop installation, and do not rush to clean up, wait for the next day after the curing of glass glue and then clean up, so as not to dust floating to the glass glue.
Sixth, the summary
Kitchen remodelling is a complex and detailed process that requires comprehensive consideration of several factors. In the process of remodelling, the first installation of appliances or countertops is a problem that requires special attention. Through the introduction of this article, I believe you have a better understanding of the basic order and considerations of kitchen remodelling. Hopefully, these shares will help you create a perfect kitchen that is both functional and good-looking!
During the process of kitchen remodelling, you may want to refer to some kitchen remodelling guides and combine them with your actual situation. I believe that if you put your heart and soul into it, you will be able to create a satisfying kitchen space. Whether you install the appliances or countertops first, as long as you follow the right order and precautions, you can ensure that the remodelling results will meet your expectations. We hope that the sharing in this article will be helpful and wish you a smooth kitchen remodelling!