Hello everyone - another career changer

[bigsteve]

Hello,

First of love the forum, what a wealth of information.

I joined this forum with a view to learning to build high end kitchens (similar to Neptune etc) and fit them myself. I am 35 an ok DIYer and when I left school started but didn't complete a joinery apprenticeship. I had my eyes on a couple of courses in cabinet making a kitchen fitting.

Turns out I might be being a little over optimistic From what I have gathered so far it can take years to learn to fit kitchens, not to mention designing and building them.

Do you guys, just install to plans provided by the customer/manufacturer or do you get involved with building/sourcing/designing kitchens yourself?

what is a typical daily rate for a kitchen fitter? I live in merseyside if that makes a difference.

I have loads more questions but won't do your heads in too much from my first post

Thanks in advance

[chip off the block]

What you class as high end because think of a figure and quadruple it

[Fitter Steve]

I wonder if for a fitter in that market its think of your wage and quadruple it?

[Alex Morley]

What you class as high end because think of a figure and quadruple it

Mmmmmmm.......Smallbone......verrrry nice!!

I think if you don't know what your looking at anything canlook good. I can't design for toffee, but I only fit to plans given to me by my boss.

Regarding years.......not sure I agree. It's more like

20% skills
20% tools
20% patience
25% experience


That doesn't take 30 years in the tool belt.

IMO though I'm sure many would agree. Most is knowing how to maintain level while overcoming problems.

[PREM]

Alex is right about overcoming problems and issues, completely wrong with his maths.

Welcome Ste, we have a mixed bag of talent on here. Most design and install, some just design and delegate we even have a mad jock who put his wells on and digs the foundations of the building he is going to put a quality kitchen in. You know who you are.

There is no typical day rate, especially when you are starting off. You have to go for a figure that works for you and your area. A kitchen on Parliament road in Toxteth won't pay 250 a day but southport will.

[Woodchippie]

You will have to gain a few kitchen installs to see what's people are prepared to pay in your area.
What some will think is resonable others will think your expensive.
You will need to judge your cleint as to what there prepared to pay.
If it's a job that looks a nightmare, put a bit extra on if you can, or if your want the work, go in on a reasonable rate.
I tend to charge a daily rate, cause you can get caught out on some jobs, especially if the customer has sourced their own kitchen, and things are missing or damaged. If pricing I used to tell the customer that if I had to leave and return due to something missing etc they would have to pay extra.

On the subject of high end, I've worked for Siematic and Clive Christian, some were 40k up to 120k, a lot of money for a kitchen I know. CRAZY..

Regards john

[snezza]

My advice would also be to learn to walk before you learn to run.

Fitting smaller, cheaper kitchens to start with will allow you to gain experience of how things work and go together, how to solve the problems that will inevitably arise. If you make a mistake, its not going to cost you your mortgage to put it right, but it certainly will if its a Smallbone type kitchen!!!!!

Making/building your own kitchens/ cabinets is a different ball game entirely. The cost of machinery, workshop facilities, staff, buying in the raw materials, let alone all the experience & knowledge you physically need to build the stuff.......the list goes on and on!

There are a couple of threads on here about other people that have looked into changing their occupation and got into kitchens. Do a search and you will find a lot of advice and information.

Snezza.

[bigsteve]

What you class as high end because think of a figure and quadruple it

Thanks for the reply, sorry not sure if I understand you, do you mean think of the price of a neptune kitchen and quadruple it? and thats what high end is i.e. smallbone?

---

What you class as high end because think of a figure and quadruple it

Mmmmmmm.......Smallbone......verrrry nice!!

I think if you don't know what your looking at anything canlook good. I can't design for toffee, but I only fit to plans given to me by my boss.

Regarding years.......not sure I agree. It's more like

20% skills
20% tools
20% patience
25% experience


That doesn't take 30 years in the tool belt.

IMO though I'm sure many would agree. Most is knowing how to maintain level while overcoming problems.

Haha cheers, and 20% math ;)

---

What you class as high end because think of a figure and quadruple it

Thanks for the reply, sorry not sure if I understand you, do you mean think of the price of a neptune kitchen and quadruple it? and thats what high end is i.e. smallbone?

---

What you class as high end because think of a figure and quadruple it

Mmmmmmm.......Smallbone......verrrry nice!!

I think if you don't know what your looking at anything canlook good. I can't design for toffee, but I only fit to plans given to me by my boss.

Regarding years.......not sure I agree. It's more like

20% skills
20% tools
20% patience
25% experience


That doesn't take 30 years in the tool belt.

IMO though I'm sure many would agree. Most is knowing how to maintain level while overcoming problems.

Haha cheers, and 15% math ;)

---

My advice would also be to learn to walk before you learn to run.

Fitting smaller, cheaper kitchens to start with will allow you to gain experience of how things work and go together, how to solve the problems that will inevitably arise. If you make a mistake, its not going to cost you your mortgage to put it right, but it certainly will if its a Smallbone type kitchen!!!!!

Making/building your own kitchens/ cabinets is a different ball game entirely. The cost of machinery, workshop facilities, staff, buying in the raw materials, let alone all the experience & knowledge you physically need to build the stuff.......the list goes on and on!

There are a couple of threads on here about other people that have looked into changing their occupation and got into kitchens. Do a search and you will find a lot of advice and information.

Snezza.

Thanks, yeah I think I may have under estimated the task until reading the kitchen fitters forum.

I have read a couple of the threads regarding career changers and they have helped.

---

Alex is right about overcoming problems and issues, completely wrong with his maths.

Welcome Ste, we have a mixed bag of talent on here. Most design and install, some just design and delegate we even have a mad jock who put his wells on and digs the foundations of the building he is going to put a quality kitchen in. You know who you are.

There is no typical day rate, especially when you are starting off. You have to go for a figure that works for you and your area. A kitchen on Parliament road in Toxteth won't pay 250 a day but southport will.

Haha thanks bud, your right not sure I would be charging £250 per day in Parliament St.

So do the lads who design and install make there own kitchens, or get them in from trade only suppliers? would you need a showroom to design and install?

Cheers.

Steve

[Alex Morley]

Alex is right about overcoming problems and issues, completely wrong with his maths.

So it would appear. I only got a "C" in maths. and I had to sleep with the teacher to get that.


Seriously though, a lesson for all, proof read your damn posts.



On a slight side thought, I know a few guys who went to magnet, b&q and smaller local firms asking if the needed a guy for on "ADHOCK" basis. Good way to feel yourself in get the experience up.

A lot are pretty simple designs, and often is a state your price.

Money wise.....goes up with experience IMO. If you ask £200+ pd and do a 5h1t job your gonna look like a mug.