How to install a kitchen island

Kitchen islands with hobs are great for adding into a triangle of activity in the kitchen. Whether overhung by lights or a cooker hood to get rid of cooking fumes, these islands all provide more worktop space to get your food prepped. What's more, most will also provide additional storage in the form of drawers, cupboards or cubby holes. In terms of equipment, you can fit your island with a built-in cooktop or oven, a sink or even a dishwasher if you have the space! Usually fitted in L-shaped kitchens, kitchen islands are also ideal for informal dining or just grabbing a quick bite.

Steps 

1. Marking out a spot for your kitchen island

2. Assembling the kitchen island

3. Installing and securing the kitchen island 

4. Fitting your appliances

Kitchen islands can be used to complete a kitchen work triangle. In this case, the island needs to incorporate a worktop, cooker or sink, and mustn't block access to any appliances. 

• You'll need to leave at least 80 cm around the island and a minimum of 120 cm in front of an oven, dishwasher or fridge.

• Before installation, you can mark out the outline of your island on the floor using a pencil or chalk to help you find the right spot.

If your kitchen island comes in a flatpack kit, you simply have to follow the assembly instructions. Start by laying out all the parts and going through the inventory. It can help to separate the parts (e.g. panels, hardware, drawers, etc.) before you begin. You can then set about assembling the island taking care to follow the instructions carefully.

If you notice any weak points as you are assembling – for example, around the corners or drawer supports – you can always strengthen the structure using your own hardware. If the island doesn't come with a central post, you can buy one separately or slide a worktop support under the worktop to strengthen your set-up. This should help to make the island more stable and prevent it from caving in if you overload the worktops.

Not all kitchen islands have to be secured in place. Some are simply fitted on legs while others are mounted on wheels. However, if you want more stability you can fix your island to the floor using L brackets or by fitting some battens to the floor. The brackets may come with your kitchen island or they may have to be purchased separately.

• Put your kitchen island in the position you've chosen. Check that you've left enough clearance space around the island and that the surfaces are level.

• Mark out where the brackets will go and pencil in your drill holes. 

• Drill holes using the correct size of drill bit for your fixings and insert plugs into your drilled holes.

• Secure the island to the ground by inserting screws into the plugs.

• Fit skirting boards, if required.

If the island isn't designed to be secured to the ground, you can always strengthen the structure by fixing a middle post or leg and securing this to the ground using brackets.

Depending on what you want and need in the kitchen, your kitchen island can be fitted with a hob, sink or dishwasher. In this case, you will need to ensure that your island is fitted with a power supply, water supply and drainage pipes.

To do so, you'll need to tap into the closest water feed and run your plumbing lines under the floor of the kitchen. It's best to call in a plumber to branch off the supply lines and you will need to leave any electrical work to a qualified electrician. If you have a tiled floor, you may have to cut chases to feed through cables and drainage pipe before patching up and replacing the tiles. Remember that you need a slope of about 3% for your drain pipe. Finish off by connecting your equipment and fitting any finishing trim.

If you really don't want to cut chases in the floor, you can always build a wooden platform to hide your cables and pipes. Make sure that the platform is tall enough to account for the drainage pipe fall which needs to drop about 3 cm per metre. 

Required skills 

To fit a kitchen island you must be able to: 

• use a drill and pick the right drill bits;

• take accurate measurements;

• use a spirit level;

• pick the right fixings for your surface;

• follow assembly instructions;

• use hand tools such as a screwdriver and spanners.

Time required 

4 hours

Number of people required

1 person

Tools and equipment

• Drill and drill bits

• Wall plugs and screws

• Hammer

• Screwdriver

• Spanner

• Tape measure and pencil

• Spirit level

Safety and workwear

• Safety shoes

• Protective gloves

• Safety goggles

• Hearing protection

• Protective clothing

Please note: this is a non-exhaustive list; be sure to match your personal protective equipment to the job at hand.