1. Use a steel measuring tape. Write down the measurements to the nearest centimetre - i.e. “152cm.” All kitchen units are specified and sold in centimetres these days.
2. Draw a floor plan of your kitchen room including doors and windows. It doesn’t need to be to scale, but it should include all the features of the room.
3. Measure from wall to wall at waist height. This is the height at which the worktops will sit on the walls.
4. Then measure from wall to window, the width of the window, the window to the next feature, and so on along the wall. It is good practice to check the total of these individual measurements with the overall wall width. If there is a discrepancy, go back and check that each is correct.
5. Complete this exercise for each wall around the room. Again, it is good practice to check that the widths of opposing walls tally. Assuming the room is relatively square; this will ensure that you have not missed a measurement. The distance between the floor and the window sill is important, because there is a standard height at which worktops are placed. Also note the height of the window on the plan.
6. Please make a note of the ceiling height. Take two or three height measurements and write down the lowest one. There is no such thing as a ‘standard height’ ceiling and kitchen wall units vary in height to accommodate a variety of ceilings.
7. Soil Stack: mark on the plan the position of a soil stack (with boxing) that may come down from a bathroom or WC above.
8. RSJ supports: mark on the plan the position of any RSJ support(s) – the position along the wall and the thickness of the support will be useful if these details are known.
9. Keep in mind where your existing waste exit is. Mark this on the plan with the icon provided in our planning software. If you are planning an extension, please advise us if the waste exit can be placed anywhere, or if there are any limitations on the waste exit’s positioning.
10. Finally, always check and double check your measurements – a little more time spend here will prevent a lot of time wasting later!