Removal & preparation
Removal of agreed units and finishes, with wall and floor preparation assessed before your new kitchen arrives.
01 / Kitchens / London
Kitchen fitting and
renovation in London.
A kitchen should work for the way you live. AVX helps you plan installation, removal and preparation around the room you have and the products you choose. Explore the scope, compare budget options and send your plans for an assessment. Howdens kitchens can be ordered through our trade account, with supply and installation priced individually for your project.
Request a Free Assessment ↗Fitting or preparationCustomer-supplied kitchens welcome for assessment.
A programme for your jobOrdering, preparation and time on site shown separately.
Supply kept separateUnits, appliances and worktops need a clear allowance.
What to include
The details behind a better kitchen
Kitchen fitting
Installation of customer-supplied cabinets, doors, panels, plinths and handles to the agreed supplier layout.
Worktops & finishing
Discuss worktop type, cut-outs, upstands and finishing details. Stone worktops and specialist fabrication need separate arrangements.
Kitchen removal and preparation can be a separate job. You do not have to book a complete refit.
A clear way forward
Plan first. Then get to work.
Your layout
Share the supplier plan, room measurements and photographs of the existing kitchen.
The practical details
Discuss deliveries, access, protection, waste and any plumbing or electrical changes.
Your written scope
Agree the fitting work, preparation, exclusions and any specialist work before setting a start date.
Kitchen cost guide · London · 2026
A realistic budget starts with a defined scope.
Start by deciding what the figure needs to cover. An installation quote for cabinets you own cannot be compared directly with a complete room renovation that includes buying furniture and appliances. Use the guide below to choose a project type, then ask for a written breakdown for your property.
Whole-project planning budgets
These London market benchmarks include the kitchen purchase and installation work described. They are a starting point for discussion, not a fixed AVX offer.
| Project type | Indicative total | Budget scope |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh the existing kitchen | £8,000–£15,000 | Retain the layout and appliances; replace doors and worktops and refresh finishes. |
| Complete mid-range renovation | £20,000–£40,000 | New cabinetry, worktops and appliances, with room finishes and installation. |
| High-specification renovation | £40,000–£75,000 | Higher-specification furniture and products, with a more involved renovation scope. |
| Luxury bespoke project | £75,000+ | Individually commissioned cabinetry and specialist design; major building works require a separately defined scope. |
These indicative budgets assume a kitchen of approximately 10–15 m² and include allowances for labour, materials and VAT. The final price depends on the products, preparation and installation work agreed for your property.
Already bought your kitchen?
Cabinet fitting reference: £4,200–£9,600 including an illustrative 20% VAT allowance. This comparison is for installation labour; it excludes buying the kitchen, worktops and plumbing or electrical services. A small cabinet-only job, removal-only job or partial update should be assessed separately.
Fitting price basis and tax assumptions
The fitting-only comparison uses a labour allowance of £3,500–£8,000 before VAT. An illustrative 20% VAT allowance produces the £4,200–£9,600 range shown above. Your AVX quotation will confirm the actual VAT treatment. Do not add VAT again to a budget already shown as inclusive.
Your AVX quotation. Tell us your intended spend and what you have already purchased. We can then identify the work to assess. Price, product allowances, exclusions and availability must be confirmed for your project before you book. Premium examples do not mean AVX manufactures bespoke cabinetry.
Labour cost guide · London · 2026
Typical daily labour rates.
These indicative day rates help you plan the labour allowance. The total depends on the specialist, time required and agreed scope. Your written quotation confirms the price for your project.
| Specialist | London rate / day | Work to define in your quote |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen fitter | £300–£450 | Cabinet assembly, fitting and adjustment within an agreed installation scope. |
| Plumber | £300–£500 | Agreed sink, water and waste connection work. |
| Electrician | £280–£450 | Agreed appliance supplies, sockets and lighting work. |
| Tiler | £200–£350 | Agreed splashback or floor tiling. |
| Plasterer / decorator | £200–£350 | Agreed surface repairs and decoration. |
These daily rates are indicative planning allowances for individual trades. They are not fixed AVX tariffs or a complete project price. Confirm the scope, number of days, materials and applicable VAT in your written quotation.
VAT and inclusions: Confirm whether VAT applies and whether it is included before comparing day rates with a project quotation. Materials, products, waste, parking, specialist equipment and additional visits need their own stated inclusions. Agree the hours covered by a working day, team size and any minimum attendance charge before booking.
Pay for the agreed scope
A fixed project price can cover several trades and stages. Ask which work is included, which items you supply, and how extra work is approved. An hourly visit, short job or emergency attendance may use a different charging basis from a full planned day.
Avoid counting labour twice
These rates help explain the labour already allowed for in a full quotation. They are not an extra charge added to the project budget. Count each specialist’s actual attendance separately; a three-week programme does not mean every specialist works for three full weeks.
Make the numbers clear
An example budget that adds up.
The following £30,000 allocation is an illustrative planning exercise created for this guide. It is not a completed AVX project, a supplier quotation or a package price. Each pound is assigned once so you can see what remains available for decisions.
| Budget heading | Example allocation | What the allowance represents |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetry and components | £9,000 | Supply only: units, doors, panels, handles and storage fittings. |
| Worktop package | £3,500 | Supply, measurement and fabrication/installation allowance; excluded from cabinet-fitting labour below. |
| Appliances, sink and tap | £4,000 | Purchase allowance only. Final model selection can change it. |
| Cabinet installation | £4,500 | Cabinet assembly, fitting and adjustment only. |
| Plumbing and electrical work | £2,500 | A separate specialist-work allowance, subject to the actual scope. |
| Removal and surface preparation | £2,000 | Strip out and making surfaces ready; disposal and final finishes below. |
| Flooring and splashback | £1,500 | Combined product and installation allowance for these finishes. |
| Decoration and waste | £1,000 | Painting and agreed waste disposal allowance. |
| Unallocated reserve | £2,000 | Held in the household budget; not an automatic contractor charge. |
| Total planning budget | £30,000 | All allocations together, including the unspent reserve. |
Treat every row as a proposed total customer spend, including any applicable VAT. Replace each allowance with an actual quote before committing. If you increase the worktop budget by £1,000, either reduce another allocation by £1,000 or increase the total to £31,000. A reserve does not authorise extra work without your agreement.
Products and specification
Choose the details before they become decisions on site.
Bring your supplier’s specifications to the first discussion. A product name or showroom photograph is useful, but the installer also needs sizes, fixing details and installation instructions.
Standard cabinets or made-to-measure?
For a supplier-designed kitchen, send the final numbered plan and matching order. Identify any custom items separately and confirm who measures, makes and installs them. AVX’s fitting scope should not be assumed to include designing or manufacturing furniture.
A drawing should show how the kitchen meets the actual room: door openings, windows, ceiling changes and service positions. Resolve these interfaces before ordering a replacement part becomes the only option.
Worktops: specify the complete package
Ask whether the worktop quote includes measurement, fabrication, delivery, installation, joints and cut-outs. State the sink and hob models, edge profile, splashback or upstand, and any island overhang. An attractive material price alone does not describe the installed result.
Obtain the manufacturer’s care instructions for your chosen product. Heat, cleaning and maintenance guidance should follow that specific specification.
Appliances: check model numbers
Create a short schedule listing each model, its dimensions, delivery date and connection requirements. State whether the item is integrated or freestanding and whether a furniture door or special fitting kit is included in the order.
If you change a model, send the replacement specification before work reaches that position. Identify who is responsible for the connection and commissioning in the quotation.
Finish the specification
Choose handles, plinths, panels, lighting positions and visible joints alongside the main cabinets. Record which walls receive tiles, which are painted and where finishes stop. Keep samples or product references with the agreed drawing.
This makes the finishing appointment easier to check: you can compare the installed work against one agreed list rather than a collection of changing messages.
Worktop budget references
| Material | Published planning range | Reference basis |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | £800–£1,500 | Supply and fitting reference |
| Solid wood | £1,500–£3,000 | Supply and fitting reference |
| Quartz or granite | £2,500–£5,000 | Supply and fitting reference |
| Marble | £4,000–£8,000 | Supply and fitting reference |
These worktop allowances assume approximately 4–5 linear metres. Confirm measurements, fabrication, cut-outs, installation and VAT with the chosen supplier. Where worktops are included in your whole-project budget, do not add this allowance a second time.
Allow enough time
A fitting date is only one part of the plan.
Plan both the time the room is unavailable and the full period from ordering to completion. The indicative periods below cover on-site work; supplier lead times and any pre-start approvals must be scheduled separately.
| Scope | Indicative time on site | Planning consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic update | 1–2 weeks | Check which existing fittings remain usable during each stage. |
| Complete mid-range renovation | 3–5 weeks | Allow for preparation, fitting, specialist connections and finishing. |
| Complex high-specification project | 6–10 weeks | The programme depends on the building work and commissioned products. |
These timescales are general planning estimates. Your installation dates and programme will be confirmed for the agreed scope. Cabinet fitting or preparation alone requires its own schedule.
Check the order
Review the supplier drawing, unit list and appliance models. Confirm missing items, delivery access and storage. A delivery promise is not the same as having all parts ready for installation.
Prepare the room
Agree removals, service disconnections, wall and floor repairs and the position of any new supplies. The room needs to be ready for the actual kitchen layout, not just emptied.
Coordinate the final visits
Schedule cabinets, worktop arrangements, appliance connections and finishing. A templated worktop may require a later visit, so agree what can be used while the remaining work is completed.
Ask for the expected period without a usable kitchen as well as the overall completion date. Changes to drawings, damaged deliveries, unsuitable walls or delayed specialist items can alter both. The AVX programme is confirmed after the scope and supply arrangements are checked.
A more useful specification
Set out exactly what the fitter is taking on.
Removal and preparation
A separate preparation job is useful when another supplier will install the kitchen. The handover condition needs to be specific.
- List units, tiles, worktops and flooring to remove.
- Identify anything to keep and how it will be protected or stored.
- Specify waste removal, wall repairs and service disconnections.
Cabinets and appliances
A complete order is more than the visible doors. Small finishing components and appliance dimensions can determine whether the layout fits.
- Include end panels, fillers, plinths, handles and internal accessories.
- Provide model details for integrated appliances, sink and hob.
- Confirm who supplies missing parts and who connects each appliance.
Worktops and finishes
Different worktop materials need different installation arrangements. Treat fabrication and the finishing trades as named parts of the scope.
- Confirm material, thickness, edges, joints, cut-outs and upstands.
- Identify any separate templating and installation appointments.
- Include splashbacks, flooring, plaster repairs and decoration where needed.
Services and access
Raise room services and property restrictions while the plan can still be adjusted.
- Provide proposed socket, lighting, sink and appliance positions.
- Confirm the appropriate specialist for gas and electrical work.
- Agree deliveries, permitted working hours and access in flats.
Avoid unclear extras
Agree what changes the price.
A useful quotation makes assumptions visible. Before comparing two totals, check that both allow for the same starting condition, access and finish.
The room after removal
Photographs cannot show every surface behind existing units. Ask which repairs are allowed for and what happens if further work is discovered. Record the finding, the proposed solution, its price and the programme change before authorising additional work.
Deliveries and access
Provide the floor number, lift arrangements, loading access and any building working hours. Tell us if materials must pass through occupied rooms or shared areas. Parking, carrying, storage and waste arrangements should be addressed for the property, rather than hidden in a generic postcode surcharge.
A changed plan
Once a scope is agreed, keep one dated drawing as the working version. A request to add units, change an appliance or move a connection should be checked against work already completed. Ask for the cost and time implications before approving the revision.
Items outside the quotation
Confirm whether decoration, rubbish removal, floor protection, specialist visits and return appointments are included. If you employ a separate supplier or tradesperson, record where their responsibility starts and ends. Structural design and bespoke manufacturing require their own confirmed arrangements.
Have a smaller budget? Tell us which result matters most and what must stay. We can assess a narrower scope: preparation for another installer, fitting supplied cabinets, or a defined finishing job. The whole-renovation examples above are not a minimum charge for every AVX enquiry.
Your home and access
Plan the work around the property.
A room survey connects the design to the building. Tell us what you know about previous alterations and provide relevant drawings or building-manager instructions with your enquiry.
Existing houses
Record the current room dimensions, changes in level, visible service routes and the walls you intend to keep. If your design changes the room layout, identify the parts requiring specialist assessment before agreeing a start date.
The quote should distinguish visible preparation from an allowance for conditions that cannot be inspected until removal. Agree how discoveries will be photographed, priced and approved.
Flats and shared buildings
Send the floor number, lift dimensions, permitted delivery route and any written restrictions supplied by the building manager. Confirm arrangements for keys, parking, protection of communal areas and waste collection.
Identify any permissions or third-party reviews needed for your particular project before booking disruptive work. Their availability and charges should be confirmed with the relevant party.
Living at home during the work
Agree the periods when the sink, hob and appliances will be unavailable. Discuss a suitable temporary food-preparation arrangement before the old kitchen is removed, including access to water and agreed appliance use.
Keep household essentials outside the work area and agree daily access arrangements. Tell us about children, pets, home working or other needs that affect how the room can be isolated.
Deliveries and missing parts
Keep an order checklist covering panels, handles, hinges, plinths and appliance fittings as well as cabinets. Record damage or missing items when deliveries are checked and confirm who contacts the supplier.
Decide how a delayed component affects the installation sequence and whether it requires a return visit. This should be discussed before treating the job as ready for handover.
A scope that fits your needs
Not every kitchen needs a complete renovation.
Small kitchen, precise brief
For a compact room, send a numbered cabinet list and photographs showing every wall. Include the positions of doors and windows and anything you want to retain. Room area alone is not enough to set a fitting price; the order and the work required are the useful starting point.
Preparation for another installer
Ask the incoming installer to confirm the required handover condition. Share that specification with AVX: what must be removed, which surfaces need attention and where supplies need to be left. Put the inspection or handover date in the plan so responsibility is clear.
Choices and priorities
Manage the budget before work begins.
Choose where to spend after defining the result you want. Ask for alternatives against the same written brief so you can see what each change actually saves.
Keep decisions visible
Separate essentials from optional upgrades. An internal storage accessory, decorative panel or different appliance model can be priced as an option while keeping the main specification unchanged.
Record the selected option before ordering. Product discounts are only useful if the item fits the design and arrives when needed.
Review what can stay
Identify cabinets, appliances or finishes you hope to retain. Their condition, dimensions and compatibility need checking before reuse is included in the price.
For a partial update, agree the junction between existing and new finishes. The quote should state what will be made good and what remains as it is.
Phase the project carefully
Ask for a written handover point between stages, including which surfaces and connections must be ready for the next appointment. Price any repeated setup, protection, storage or return visits explicitly.
Review whether a proposed first-stage purchase will still suit the final design. Replacing it again can remove the benefit of spreading the work.
Hold a separate reserve
Keep a household reserve distinct from the contracted work. Its size should reflect how much of the room has been inspected, how settled the design is and which product prices remain provisional.
A reserve is money you retain for decisions. Additional work still needs a description, price and your agreement; it is not automatically spent.
Your project, your scope
What goes into
your quotation?
The number of units is only part of the picture. Layout changes, uneven walls, worktop materials, appliance connections and waste removal can all change the cost. The quotation should show what is included and what you are supplying.
Before you book
Know what your quotation covers.
Use this checklist when reviewing the written proposal. Each responsibility should be clear enough that you can check it against the finished kitchen.
| Item to agree | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Products and supply | Numbered drawing, product references, quantities and the buyer of each item. | Prevents an installation price being mistaken for a supply-and-fit total. |
| Work and exclusions | Removal, preparation, fitting, connections, finishes, waste and separately commissioned work. | Shows the full route from the existing room to the agreed finish. |
| Allowances and VAT | Any provisional amounts, their basis and the total customer price including applicable tax. | Makes different quotations comparable. |
| Payments | Amount or percentage, due date, corresponding milestone and payment recipient. | Makes the payment schedule explicit before booking. |
| Variations | Written description, revised price and effect on dates before extra work proceeds. | Keeps changes separate from the original agreement. |
| Completion and aftercare | Inspection, outstanding-items list, relevant handover documents and contact route. | Clarifies what remains to be finished and how to raise a concern. |
Product warranties and workmanship terms should be set out in your quotation or contract, with the provider, duration, coverage and exclusions. Keep these alongside invoices and installation documents.
Before you start
Your questions, answered.
What should be separated in a kitchen quotation?
Cabinet fitting, removal, preparation, worktop work, appliance connections and finishing should be identifiable. The supply list should show what you buy and what is included, with optional items and tax treatment clearly stated.
Should I book installation before the kitchen arrives?
Discuss a provisional sequence early, then confirm readiness with the supplier. Missing cabinets, panels or appliances can interrupt the job. Tell us about delivery uncertainty before agreeing removal of the existing kitchen.
Can I keep using part of the kitchen?
It depends on the work and the safety of the remaining facilities. Explain what you need for daily cooking and washing. Any temporary arrangements and interruptions should be agreed before the start.
What if the supplier changes the design?
Send the revised drawing before the affected work starts. Changing unit sizes or appliance positions can also change preparation, services, worktop details, price and timing. Keep one agreed version of the plan for everyone to use.
Can you fit a kitchen I have already bought?
Yes, you can enquire about fitting customer-supplied kitchens. Include the supplier plan and product details so compatibility, preparation and the fitting scope can be checked.
Can I book removal and preparation only?
Yes. Explain what needs removing and what condition the room needs to be in for your fitter. Waste, making good and any service disconnections should be listed in the quotation.
Are plumbing and electrical changes included?
Only where they are expressly included in the agreed scope. Share the proposed appliance and socket positions early so any specialist work can be planned.
How long will the job take?
Use the timescale section as an initial guide: a cosmetic update and a full renovation have different programmes. AVX confirms dates after checking the work, deliveries and specialist appointments. Ask separately how long cooking and washing facilities will be unavailable.
Are these fixed AVX prices?
No. The figures are indicative budgeting examples. The example allocation is a planning exercise, not a completed AVX project or a package for sale. We confirm the scope, price and availability in your written quotation.
Does the full-renovation budget include buying the kitchen?
Yes, the whole-project examples allow for furniture and the other products described. The cabinet-fitting reference is different: it is an installation-labour comparison. Identify items you have already purchased so they are not counted twice.
Can I send a budget before I have a final design?
Yes. Give your intended total spend, anything already ordered and your main priorities. Mark ideas that are still flexible. A budget helps frame the conversation; it does not replace measuring the room or confirming the specification.
How do I compare quotations fairly?
Make a shared checklist of products, installation work, preparation, specialist connections and finishes. Compare the totals only after checking tax, exclusions, allowances and who supplies each item. Ask for clarification where a line is missing.
What should I send for a first assessment?
Send your postcode, a short description, room photographs and a supplier plan if you have one. The form accepts up to five files: photos or PDFs up to 10 MB each, MP4 or MOV videos up to 100 MB each, and 200 MB combined. A full address can be confirmed before a visit.
Will you quote more because my property is in an expensive area?
The assessment should reflect the work and the actual delivery conditions. Tell us about access, travel, parking, restrictions and handling needs so those can be considered explicitly. This guide does not apply an automatic percentage uplift by borough.
Can I buy the cabinets and appliances myself?
Yes, send the supplier plan and order list for assessment. Agree delivery, checking, storage, missing parts and returns with the supplier and installer. The quotation should identify exactly which products you supply and which work AVX is taking on.
Is the lowest headline price the cheapest complete option?
Compare the same finished result. Check whether buying the kitchen, worktops, connections, preparation, waste and tax are included. A lower fitting price may cover a smaller scope, so request the missing items before comparing total costs.
Will removing the old kitchen reveal extra work?
It may reveal conditions that were not visible during the initial assessment. Ask what preparation is included and how any additional finding will be recorded. The proposed work, price and programme impact should be agreed before proceeding.
Can I spread the work across separate stages?
Ask for a plan with a clear handover condition for each stage. Include any extra visits or storage costs and check that early product choices still fit the final design. The timing and price need to be agreed for your property.
What happens at completion?
Arrange a joint review against the agreed specification. Record outstanding items, who will resolve them and the expected date. Collect the relevant product information and handover documents, and retain the agreed aftercare contact details.
Get in touch
Request a Free Assessment
Select the kitchen service you need and send the supplier plan, unit list and room photographs if available. For removal and preparation only, describe the condition required for the next installer.
Tell us about your project ↗You can also email info@avxcontractors.com.