Work involved in moving kitchen

[spada01]

I've got a 1 bedroom flat in almost shell condition and am considering putting the kitchen at the end of the lounge making a lounge/diner and getting another room. I can deal with all the wiring changes but my main concern is having to replumb all waste to the outside wall where the old kitchen was. Will I need to use a macerator (about 4 metres to travel) and is the pumbing likely to be tricky?

 

[Richard C]

Presumably you own the flat?

I can deal with all the wiring changes

Are you qualified to do this work? You need to be either a Part P certified Electrician or a registered Competent Person & able to test the work & sign it off; if your not, the only other legal way of doing it is under submission to your local Building Control dept.

but my main concern is having to replumb all waste to the outside wall where the old kitchen was. Will I need to use a macerator (about 4 metres to travel) and is the pumbing likely to be tricky?

If you cannot get sufficient fall on the waste runs, then a Macerator is probably your only option but they are not ideal; personally, I would avoid one at any cost. Building Regulations restrict the maximum length of a 40mm unvented waste run to 3 metres. Like anything else, plumbing & drainage is not difficult if you understand & know what your doing; if you’ve not done it before then you may well find it difficult.

Forming a new kitchen is notifyable work which must comply with Building Regulations with regard to Electrics, drainage, forced extract (fan) &, without knowing the layout, possibly others. As it’s a flat, then presumably its leasehold & there may well be restrictions on what type of work you can do without the consent of the freeholder. If you cannot produce the necessary compliance certification for the work that’s been done, your new kitchen could seriously jeopardise your ability to sell the flat rather than enhance its value. No intention of deflating your enthusiasm but I would advise you research what’s involved thoroughly before starting your project; this is a good a place as any to start.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1115315273728.html

& the relevant sections of this Forum of course.