Do Kitchen Fitters Remove the Old Kitchen?

What Kitchen Strip-Out Involves

Kitchen strip-out involves carefully removing all existing units, worktops, plinths, and cornices without damaging the walls, floor, or services behind them. Appliances must be disconnected by the appropriate trades before removal. The stripped kitchen must then be removed from the property and disposed of responsibly — either via a skip, a licensed waste carrier, or a recycling centre. This is a skilled and physically demanding task that is typically charged separately.

Is Strip-Out Included in My Quote

Strip-out is not automatically included in most kitchen installation quotes. It is commonly itemised separately because the time and disposal cost varies significantly depending on the size of the existing kitchen and access to the property. At Install My Kitchen, strip-out and disposal is quoted as a clear separate line item after the pre-installation survey. Typical additional cost is £200–£400 depending on kitchen size. This avoids any ambiguity on project day.

Asbestos Awareness in Older Kitchens

In properties built before 2000, there is a possibility of asbestos-containing materials in floor tiles, ceiling tiles, or textured coatings behind existing units. If your property is of this age, an asbestos survey is advisable before any strip-out work begins. This is a legal requirement for certain building types and a sensible precaution in any older home. Install My Kitchen can advise on this during the survey visit.

Step by Step: What Happens During Strip-Out

Strip-out follows a set sequence to avoid damaging surfaces the new kitchen will rely on. First, worktops are removed, followed by wall units, then base units, working from one end of the run to the other. Plinths, cornices and any decorative end panels come off next. Tiling is left in place unless the new layout requires it removed, since retiling is a separate job. Finally, the empty units and worktops are broken down where necessary to fit through doorways and loaded for disposal.

Cost Breakdown by Kitchen Size

Strip-out and disposal pricing scales with the number of units and access difficulty: a small kitchen (8–12 units) typically costs towards the lower end of the £200–£400 range, while a large kitchen (21+ units) with more cabinetry and potentially an island sits at the upper end. Properties with restricted access — flats above ground floor, or narrow hallways — can push costs higher due to the extra time needed to remove waste safely.