How long does a kitchen installation really take in Glasgow?
If you are planning a new kitchen, one of the first questions you will ask is how long your home will be “upside down” while the work is done. The good news is that with an experienced team like Fully Fitted Kitchens, a typical kitchen installation in Glasgow or East Kilbride is normally measured in days rather than months, and you will have a clear idea of timings before any work starts.
This guide walks through each stage, from the first design visit to the final clean, so you know what to expect and how to plan around it.
From first design visit to fitting day
The overall timeline for a new fully fitted kitchen has two big parts: planning and installation. Planning is where you sit down with a designer, choose your layout, cabinets, worktops, and appliances, and agree a price and schedule. Installation is when the old kitchen comes out and the new one goes in.
For most homeowners in Glasgow, the process with Fully Fitted Kitchens starts with a free in home kitchen design visit. A designer will come out to your home, measure the space accurately, chat through how you use the room, and sketch options that suit your budget. This visit usually takes 1 to 2 hours.
After that, you will receive a clear, itemised quote. Depending on how quickly you make decisions and confirm the design, this planning stage can be as short as a few days, or take a couple of weeks if you want time to think about finishes and colours. The key thing is that you are not rushed, and you know exactly what your fitted kitchen in Glasgow will cost before you commit.
How long does a typical kitchen installation take?
Once everything is agreed and your cabinets, worktops, and appliances are ordered, a start date is booked. For most standard fitted kitchens Glasgow homeowners can expect:
2 to 5 working days on site for a straightforward replacement kitchen
5 to 10 working days for larger projects or where layout, flooring, or electrics are being changed
A “straightforward” kitchen installation in Glasgow might involve replacing like for like in the same layout, with new cabinets, worktops, and tiling. A more involved project could include knocking through walls, repositioning appliances, or updating the ceiling lighting and flooring.
Because Fully Fitted Kitchens handles the full supply and fit service, including all trades, you have one team managing the schedule, so the work flows sensibly from one stage to the next.
Day by day: what actually happens during installation?
While every home is different, most kitchen fitters in Glasgow follow a similar sequence when installing a fully fitted kitchen. Here is a typical outline of what happens on site.
Day 1 – Protecting your home and removing the old kitchen
On the first day, the team will protect your floors and any areas they need to walk through. The old cabinets, worktops, and appliances are removed, and services such as water, electrics, and gas are safely isolated as needed. Rubbish and old units are cleared from the property as the work progresses, so you are not left with a skip outside for weeks.
Day 2 – First fix plumbing and electrics
If your new layout includes extra sockets, new lighting, or moving the sink or appliances, this is usually when the electrician and plumber carry out their “first fix” work. In older Glasgow and East Kilbride homes this can also be a good time to bring wiring or pipework up to modern standards. Because Fully Fitted Kitchens manages all trades, you do not need to organise separate contractors.
Day 3 to 4 – Fitting cabinets and units
Once the room is cleared and services are in the right place, the new cabinets start to go in. This is where your fitted kitchen really starts to take shape. Base units and wall units are levelled and secured, tall housings for ovens and integrated fridge freezers are installed, and any feature units for breakfast bars or peninsulas are fixed in position.
For an average sized kitchen in Glasgow, most of the cabinet work is completed in 1 to 2 days. Larger or more complex layouts can take a little longer, especially if there are awkward corners or sloping ceilings.
Day 4 to 6 – Worktops, tiling, and finishing touches
Laminate worktops can often be cut and fitted on the same day that cabinets are finished. Solid surfaces such as quartz or granite sometimes involve a separate templating visit and then a return visit to fit, which can add a few days to the overall timetable. Your designer will explain this clearly at the design visit stage so you know what to expect.
Wall tiling, splashbacks, and finishing trims are usually completed after the worktops go in. At the same time, the electrician will return to complete the “second fix” of sockets, switches, and lighting, and the plumber will reconnect sinks, dishwashers, and washing machines.
By this point, your new kitchen installation Glasgow project is nearly complete. Appliances are tested, doors and drawers are adjusted so they line up neatly, and any minor snags are dealt with before the team leaves.
What about flooring, plastering, and decorating?
If you are having new flooring, plasterwork, or decorating as part of your kitchen renovation in East Kilbride or the wider Glasgow area, that can add a few extra days. Some homeowners choose to have flooring laid before the new kitchen goes in. Others prefer to fit it afterwards. The right order depends on the material and your room layout.
An experienced team like Fully Fitted Kitchens will talk this through during your free kitchen design visit so that flooring, plastering, and decoration are built into the schedule, rather than becoming an afterthought that delays you getting your room back.
Factors that can make a kitchen project longer or shorter
Not every project will match the example above. A compact flat in Glasgow city centre might take fewer days, while a large open plan kitchen diner in Newton Mearns could take longer. Some of the most common factors that affect timescales are:
Size and shape of the room
Whether walls are being moved or opened up
Age and condition of existing electrics and plumbing
Choice of worktop material
Whether you are also updating a nearby bathroom or utility room at the same time
If you are also planning to refurbish a bathroom, it can often be efficient to have the same team handle both rooms in one project. Fully Fitted Kitchens also supplies and fits bathrooms across Scotland, which means one company can coordinate both spaces, and you only have to plan for disruption once.
Will you be without a kitchen the whole time?
A big worry for many homeowners is how they will cope while the kitchen is out of action. No one wants to live on takeaway food for two weeks. Good kitchen fitters in Glasgow understand this and will try to keep disruption as manageable as possible.
In many cases, a temporary sink and a small area of worktop can be kept available for part of the project. Some people choose to move a kettle, microwave, and toaster into another room for a few days. The key point is that you will know in advance which days are most disruptive, so you can plan around them.
Because Fully Fitted Kitchens provides full project management and all trades, there are fewer gaps where nothing is happening. That helps reduce the total time your kitchen is out of use, compared to trying to coordinate separate trades yourself.
How far in advance should you book your kitchen installation?
Lead times can vary through the year. Busy periods for kitchen fitters in Glasgow are often spring and late summer, when many people plan home improvements. As a guide, it is sensible to allow:
A few weeks from design visit to fitting date
Longer if you are planning around holidays, building work, or other projects in the house
During your initial kitchen design visit, Fully Fitted Kitchens will discuss your preferred timings and give realistic guidance based on their current schedule and the complexity of your project. With over 40 years fitting fully supplied kitchens and bathrooms across Scotland and over 100 five star reviews, the team understands how important clear communication is when you are making changes to the heart of your home.
How to get a clear timeline for your own home
Every home in Glasgow and East Kilbride is different, so the best way to find out how long your kitchen installation will take is to arrange a free in home design visit and quote. The designer will:
Measure your space accurately
Listen to how you use your kitchen day to day
Talk through options that match your style and budget
Explain the likely timescale for your specific room
Provide a clear written quote with everything included
If you are ready to explore fitted kitchens Glasgow wide, you can contact Fully Fitted Kitchens to arrange a convenient time. Knowing the likely start date and how many days the team will be on site makes it much easier to plan around work, school, and family life, and means your new kitchen should be an exciting upgrade rather than a stressful disruption.