Basics to Kitchen Refurb - DIY Extension Series. 19th Sept 2026

Overview A practical, beginner-friendly workshop teaching participants how to plan, dismantle, install, and refurbish small-to-medium kitchens. The session combines demonstrations with hands-on practice, focusing on safe techniques, DIY-friendly tools, and budget-conscious options such as reuse and upcycling. It is recommended that the participants have completed a Home DIY workshop. Learning outcomes Participants will be able to: • Plan a small-to-medium kitchen layout and budget. • Safely dismantle old fixtures and prep walls/floors. • Fix, plumb-line, level, and anchor base/wall cabinets. • Measure, cut, join, and fit laminate/timber worktops; cut a sink/hob opening. • Install/seat a sink and tap set (dry fit) and apply silicone correctly. • Reface/refresh cabinets; tile and grout a splashback; select/fit basic lighting upgrades. • Diagnose common alignment and sealing issues and know when to call a licensed pro. Session flow 1) Introduction & Planning • Welcome, WHS briefing, PPE; tool demo & lab rules (RCDs, dust, noise). • Kitchen workflow overview (measure → design → services → install → finish). • Activity: Measure a mock space; check plumb/square with level & laser; sketch a plan. • Budgeting basics; reuse options (salvaged cabinets/doors, upcycling hardware). 2) Dismantling & Preparation • Demo: Safe removal sequence (doors → drawers → benchtop → base units → wall units). • Identifying live services; isolation/lock-out concept (demo only). • Surface repair: packing studs, wall repairs, primer/sealer. • Hands-on stations: • Remove/label hinges & hardware. • Patch & sand wall defects. • Locate studs/services; mark fixing lines. 3) Installation Fundamentals (Cabinets & Worktops) • Set a level datum; install base units, shim and clamp; fix to studs/masonry. • Scribing to uneven walls; corner units and fillers. • Hands-on: Teams install a short cabinet run + one wall unit; verify level, square, reveals. • Worktops: measuring cut lines/overhangs/joins; track saw & jigsaw techniques. • Sink/hob cut-out on sacrificial board; dry-fit sink and tap (no live connections). 4) Refurbishment Techniques • Cabinet refacing: clean/degloss, prime, paint; replacing doors; stick-on veneers. • Hands-on: • Degloss → prime → top-coat on sample doors (quick-dry demo paints). • Drill & fit new handles with a jig. • Backsplash tiling: substrate prep, layout, adhesive choice, trims. • Demonstrate: Tile a 600×300 board; cut a tile; grout and sponge finish. • Lighting upgrades overview: under-cabinet LED strips (plug-in/low-voltage kits), switching options (theory only). 5) Finishing & Troubleshooting • Silicone sealing best-practice: masking, tooling, curing. • Hands-on: Apply and tool a silicone bead on demo sink/worktop and upstand. • Door/drawer alignment: 2-way/3-way hinge adjustments; runner tweaks. • Issues clinic: • Gaps/out-of-square → fillers & scribes. • Benchtop edges & end-caps. • Splashback lippage/pinholes; grout repairs. • Plumbing/electrical red flags → when to call a pro. Capstone Practical Teams complete a mini-install: • Set two base units + one wall unit • Dry-fit benchtop with cut-out • Seat sink, install handles • Tile a small panel, silicone perimeter • Trainer checks fixings, level, finish quality. Wrap-up • Personal project consults (quick plan/photo desk-crits)