Everything that makes a kitchen work happens in the wall, before the plaster.

The plumbing

The water supply, hot and cold, renewed in multilayer, with isolating valves accessible under the sink. The waste from the sink and dishwasher, in 40 or 50 mm with the right fall, to the stack. Moving the sink two metres is often possible; moving it to the other side of the room is a question of fall and stack, and we check beforehand. Gas, if you keep a gas hob: compliant connection, valve, and the inspection that goes with it.

In 1900 houses, the original waste is often cast iron or lead: we replace it up to the stack when we touch it.

The electrics

A modern kitchen needs dedicated circuits: one for the induction hob (often 32 A), one for the oven, one for the dishwasher, one for the fridge, and worktop socket circuits separate from the lighting. The panel must follow: 30 mA residual current device, suitable breakers, and sometimes a new panel when the original dates from the 1960s.

The sockets go 15 cm above the worktop, grouped where you plug in, never above the hob or behind the sink. The lighting: a ceiling light or spots for the room, and an LED strip under the wall units for the worktop, on its own switch.

Inspection by an approved body is compulsory when the installation is modified: we plan it in the quote with the diagram.

The extractor

A recirculating extractor filters the grease and sends the air back into the room; it extracts nothing. An extractor ducted to the outside takes the smells, the steam and the grease out, through a 125 or 150 mm duct and a core-drilled hole in the façade wall or an existing flue. In an open kitchen, it decides whether the living room smells of frying. We check at the visit whether a route is possible; in a co-owned building, drilling the façade needs approval.

What it costs

In our quotes, excl. VAT: kitchen plumbing renewed 600 to 1,800 € depending on the moves; kitchen electrics with dedicated circuits 1,500 to 3,500 €, plus 1,250 € if the panel is replaced and 450 € for the inspection and diagram; extractor ducted outside with core drilling and duct 350 to 800 € excluding the hood itself; under-unit lighting and spots 45 € per point fitted, excluding supply.