Moving Kitchen Stuff Around

[TheScullster]

Hi all

I am trying to update a kitchen whilst keeping as much equipment functional as possible. But I will soon reach the point of needing to move cumbersome bits like the washing machine, fridge/freezer etc.

I am considering tiling the floor by doing the exposed area first, then moving stuff onto that to do the hidden arease IYSWIM. Not ideal, but I don't think I can afford the luxury of moving everything out for as long as it takes me to tile, finish first fix electrics, do preparatory plumbing etc etc.

So does anyone have any handy hints on easy moving of the larger items, it is likely this will be a single handed excercise.

Thanks

Phil

[Toby]

When our kitchen was being renovated, I installed the Washing machine, dishwasher and tumble drier, stacked on that order (WM at the bottom), in the bathroom, moved the fridge, freezer and microwave into the conservorary, yes it wal all in the way, and far from ideal, but it all worked perfectly well while the kitchen was out of action.

Is there no way you could move you appiances into another room for a while - even a garage - you can feed the WM with a garden hoze easily (Thats what I did) - you must know someone who can give you a hand to move them out and then back in again, surely!?

Toby...

[Andrew May]

I bought a set of these:

the Ideal Home Show about twelve years ago and have used them for moving things, including washing machines, single handedly. Seem to do what they say on the tin. Better over carpet than tiled floors though.

Andrew

[Andrew Gabriel]

When doing parents' kitchen, I saved a double unit and moved it into the dining room, with microwave and kettle on top, and fridge/freezer next to it. Was just enough to get by with (and more than some flats have), but at least the kitchen could be gutted.

When I did my kitchen, I kept the sink unit which also has the dishwasher in it, but I detached it from the wall, with the taps connected using the washing machine fill hosts, and a large bucket under the sink waste. That was remarkably useful.

[pete]

If you have any under-the-worksurface appliances, there are two things to consider. First of all, if you take the appliance out will you be able to get it back under the work surface again, since you'll have raised t the height of the floor by the thickness of the tile. Second, if you decide th skimp and save some tmies and time by not tiling under the appliances, will you be able to remove them, given the ridge that will form between the untiled floor they're standing on and the tiled "proper" part of the kitchen floor. Similarly, toe kick boards under the cabinets. If you remove these to tile under the cabinets, the TKBs will now be too tall to fit back in place.

[Jim]

And leave enough room for appliances to go in. A friend moved into a rented house recently with a brand new kitchen when the fridge wouldn't go into a 60cm recess because of a door architrave and the dishwasher door couldn't open due to a radiator.

[dave]

In my experience, I have used two or three pieces of thin MDF or hard board to do this. Tile as much of the floor as you can, but leaving a gap in front of the appliances you want to move. Move them out from the wall a little, place board on the floor and tilt appliance back and push under the board until you hit the back feet. (You need the right soles on your footwear for this.) Tilt appliance forward and pull, It should then slip easily over the board.

If you can't get what you are moving, to where you want it, put another board under the first one and slide again. The boards have to be wider that the appliance and be able to fit the gap it is coming out of.

I had a job as site supervisor at a primary school. I did this when the b*ggers ordered MDF cased cupboards. I couldn't even pull them over to move them on a sack truck and their destination was onto a carpeted classroom floor, so no chance there of sliding them into position there.

Dave

[Mike Clarke]

I use the poor mans equivalent - a sheet of hardboard shiny side down.

[soup]

That's what sons are for. Mine are nearly 18 and 16½ both over 6' tall and built like brick ****houses (they must be the milkman's I am only

5'3" :-))

[Dave Liquorice]

But easily cured by the use of a saw. Not so easy to cut down an appliance though.

[TheScullster]

Thanks to all for suggestions/comments Yes I have a 6' tall son, but there's more fat on a greasy chip! He's weaker than I am (and I drive a desk for a living).

Phil

[Man at B&Q]

Once the floor is covered in something reasonable smooth, an old blanket works well for sliding heavy appliances around.

MBQ

[S Viemeister]

We have a few bits of carpet offcuts, kept for this purpose.

[Man at B&Q]

The beauty of a blanket is that they are 6' long or more leaving plenty to tug on.

MBQ

[Owain]

Not so easy if you want it to work afterwards, no.

Beware of kitchen fitters bearing hacksaws.

Owain