--- title: "Kitchen Installation Timeline East Lothian - How Long It" description: "Find out how long kitchen installation takes in East Lothian, from a 5-day basic fit to 14 days for a full bespoke kitchen." url: "https://eastlothian.kitchen/kitchen-installation-timeline-east-lothian/" --- # How Long Does Kitchen Installation Take in East Lothian ## The Kitchen Installation Timeline East Lothian Homeowners Should Expect A full kitchen installation in East Lothian typically takes between 5 and 14 days from strip-out to completion. That range reflects the genuine variation between a straightforward terraced house in Musselburgh and a larger, more complex kitchen in a period property in Haddington or North Berwick. Bespoke joinery, structural work, or a full replumb can push a project beyond 14 days. Understanding what sits inside that window helps you plan realistically rather than being caught out. The 5-day end of the scale suits smaller kitchens where the layout stays roughly the same, plumbing and electrics need only minor adjustments, and the units are standard flat-pack or semi-bespoke. At 14 days you are looking at larger open-plan spaces, fully bespoke cabinetry, tiling, underfloor heating, and a complete electrical rewire of the kitchen circuit. Most East Lothian homes land somewhere in between. ## What Happens on Each Day of the Installation ### Strip-Out and Preparation Day one is almost always dedicated to removing the existing kitchen. Cabinets, worktops, appliances, and sometimes flooring all come out. Plumbers and electricians isolate the relevant services before any physical removal begins. Skipping proper isolation is how accidents happen, so a competent fitter will not rush this stage. Once the room is empty, any replumbing or electrical first-fix work takes place. This stage can add one to three days depending on how much pipe routing or rewiring is needed. In older East Lothian properties, particularly Victorian sandstone cottages common around Dunbar, walls sometimes conceal lead pipework or undersized electrical circuits that require upgrading before the new kitchen goes in. ### Unit and Worktop Installation Carcase fitting generally begins once the first-fix trades have finished and any new flooring or wall preparation is complete. Base units go in first, then wall units, followed by any tall housing. A skilled fitter works methodically across the room rather than jumping between sections, which keeps alignment consistent. Worktop templating and cutting follows carcase installation. Solid stone, quartz, and granite worktops are usually templated on site and cut off site, which introduces a lead time of three to seven working days depending on the fabricator. Laminate worktops are cut on site and can go straight down. That fabrication gap is often the single biggest variable in a kitchen installation timeline. ### Finishing Trades and Snagging Second-fix plumbing connects the sink and any integrated appliances. Second-fix electrical fits sockets, switches, and under-cabinet lighting. Tiling, if included, typically happens after worktops are fitted so the tiler can cut accurately to a fixed surface. Allow two to three days for a full wall of tiles behind a cooking range or around a large sink run. The final day covers door hanging, handle fitting, plinth and cornice installation, and a full snag check. A thorough snag pass at this stage prevents callbacks. Any remedial work identified during snagging is resolved before the kitchen is handed over. ## How Long Does a Minor Kitchen Refurbishment Take **A minor refurbishment, such as a cabinet respray, worktop swap, or single appliance installation, takes 1 to 3 days.** A full cabinet respray of an average East Lothian kitchen, where all doors and frames are prepared and resprayed on site, is usually complete within one to two days. Worktop replacement, supplying and fitting per linear metre, sits at the lower end of that window unless stone fabrication is involved. A worktop-only project in a standard galley kitchen might mean one day of measurement, a few days off site at the fabricator, and one day of fitting. Plan for that gap when you book. Appliance installation for a single unit, connecting and testing it, typically takes a few hours rather than a full day. ## Factors That Extend the Kitchen Installation Timeline Several specific variables push a project toward or beyond the 14-day mark. **Stone worktop fabrication** is the most common cause of mid-project delays. Once templates are taken, you are waiting on the fabricator's own schedule. Booking a fabricator before installation starts, rather than after templating, shortens this gap considerably. **Gas appliance installation** requires a Gas Safe registered engineer. Coordinating that visit within the main installation window needs forward planning. If a gas hob or range cooker forms part of the project, confirm the engineer's availability when you book the main fit. **Structural or building work** sometimes surfaces unexpectedly. Opening up a wall for a kitchen extension, moving a doorway, or discovering a damp issue behind old units adds days. East Lothian's mix of stone-built and timber-framed properties means wall construction is not always predictable until the strip-out is done. **Bespoke cabinetry lead times** can range from four to twelve weeks depending on the manufacturer. The installation window itself may only be 10 days, but the overall project from first measurement to finished kitchen could run three months. Flat-pack units from retailers such as IKEA or B&Q are typically available within days, which is one reason they suit tighter timelines. ## Planning Around the Timeline in East Lothian Most East Lothian homeowners arrange temporary kitchen facilities for the duration of the installation. A microwave, kettle, and small tabletop hob in a dining room or utility space covers basic meal preparation. Discuss access to water with your fitter early, since the sink is usually one of the last connections made. If you are also having new flooring laid, sequence matters. Hard flooring under units requires the floor to go in first, before the carcases. Flooring that runs up to the units goes in after the kitchen is fitted. Getting this sequence wrong adds time and cost to correct. Submitting an enquiry to Kitchens East Lothian generates a response within 48 hours, and the free, no-obligation quote visit is when a realistic project timeline is confirmed for your specific home. The quote accounts for existing layout, plumbing positions, and your chosen materials, all of which shape the final day count more than any rough estimate can. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How Long Does Kitchen Fitting Take? **Kitchen fitting typically takes between 5 and 14 days for a full installation, depending on kitchen size, layout complexity, and the materials chosen.** Smaller kitchens with minimal plumbing or electrical changes sit closer to 5 days, while larger or bespoke projects can reach or exceed 14 days. ### How Long Does Kitchen Installation Take? **A full kitchen installation in East Lothian takes 5 to 14 days from strip-out to handover.** Minor refurbishments such as a cabinet respray or worktop replacement take 1 to 3 days. Stone worktop fabrication, gas appliance connections, and bespoke cabinetry are the most common factors that extend the timeline. ### What Is a Typical Kitchen Installation Timeline? **Day one covers strip-out and service isolation.** Days two to four handle first-fix plumbing and electrics. Unit fitting follows over two to four days, then worktop installation, tiling, and second-fix trades. The final day is reserved for finishing work and a snag check. Stone worktop fabrication can add three to seven days in the middle of this sequence. ### Does Kitchen Size Affect How Long Installation Takes? **Yes, kitchen size is one of the primary factors.** A compact galley kitchen in a flat may be fitted in five days, while a large open-plan kitchen with an island, extensive tiling, and bespoke cabinetry will need closer to 14 days or beyond. The number of appliances, amount of plumbing, and extent of electrical work all scale with size. ### How Far in Advance Should I Book a Kitchen Installation in East Lothian? **Booking four to eight weeks ahead is advisable for most standard installations.** If you are choosing bespoke cabinetry, lead times from manufacturers can range from four to twelve weeks, so the overall project may need planning three months or more before your preferred start date. Submitting an enquiry to Kitchens East Lothian gets a response within 48 hours and a free no-obligation quote that confirms realistic dates for your project.