Ok this is the question. Do I buy a new kitchen or do I get my hubby to build a new kitchen? I wouldn?t say he is the greatest handyman but he?s convinced he could do it.

Anyone out there had any kitchen nightmares DIY sessions and what the pit falls I should look out for if he decides to do this himself.

Help me !!??

Will he give you in writing how long he will take to finish it ;-)?

This one is for you to decide girl, no one else can help you :-)!

Mamta

let him do it!

Then you get a perfect kitchen designed by cooks who know what they are doing, rather than people who want to sell you kitchen units!

Do remember the golden triangle, though, cooker-fridge-sink. Get these close, also a chopping/cutting area very near to the cooker.

Is he a carpenter or fitter by trade?

Is he intending to build each and every cabinet and shelf and surface by hand from scratch or will he buy some pre-made units which he will then assemble and make his own doors for?

Has he created a detailed plan and design for you to judge?

I don't think creating a bespoke kitchen with a really high quality finish from scratch is as easy as it sounds unless you are already an experienced carpenter but fitting a pre-built one and adding one's own touches would probably be easier!

Making a new kitchen is probably the most expensive work you can do in your house. Bear this mind when you decide. He has to be more than just a 'handyman' to finish it professionally.

Tani

If he's only a reasonable handyman and hasn't worked with other doing kitchens before your best bet is too get someone in to do you a free quote, plans etc and then see what he could do himself.

There is a lot of hidden work in doing a kitchen that the average DIY'er doesn't realise. Get any of this wrong and you could be looking at expensive repairs, things not working, or things dropping to bits after a little time has passed.

You must consider that electrics often need moving which means a qualified installer, same goes for gas and more often than not water and drainage.

Putting up the basic frames from flat packs is the easy bit, but planning how this will interact with the flooring, where spacers need to go between cabinets to make sure everything opens without straining, how you are going to route the water outlet, if you need extra lighting, will you need any sort of brick work doing and will it be properly sealed and damp proofed etc etc isn't always as obvious...

And the last thing thats a real pain is doing the work tops correctly... getting them to fit isn't a simple operation as you have to use proper jigs (that can be hired) and you cut with a router (not a saw) but this creates a perfect 90 deg angle but your walls probably won't be so you need to allow for adjustments etc.... otherwise a great looking kitchen will look poor quality by an ill fitting work top...

You could do frames and cupboards but get in someone to do work tops and such ?

Steve