Gas hobs need a Gas Safe engineer
Installing or moving a gas hob is gas work, same as a boiler, and legally needs a Gas Safe registered engineer, not just a kitchen fitter or general plumber. If you're switching from electric to gas (or vice versa) as part of a refit, this needs coordinating separately from the general fitting work.
Cabinet handles and hardware, a small but real cost
Handles, hinges and drawer runners are a small line item individually but add up across a full kitchen, and soft-close mechanisms cost more than standard hinges — worth clarifying what's included as standard in a quote versus what's an upgrade, since this varies between fitters.
Replacing just the doors and worktop
If existing cabinet carcasses are structurally sound, replacing only the doors and worktop can transform a kitchen's look for significantly less than a full refit — worth asking a fitter to assess carcass condition before assuming a complete replacement is necessary.
Kitchen fitting in older properties
Older properties sometimes have uneven floors and walls, or original chimney breasts and alcoves that affect standard unit layouts — a fitter working on a period property will usually survey these carefully before quoting, since standard-width units don't always fit cleanly into non-standard spaces.
Understanding the labour vs materials split
Units, worktop and appliances are often the largest share of a kitchen's total cost, but fitting labour, old kitchen removal, and making good around new services add up too. A cheap quote is worth checking against the same unit/worktop spec as competing quotes, not just lower labour.
Kitchen lighting layers
A well-lit kitchen usually combines general ceiling lighting, task lighting (under-cabinet lights over worktops, where most food prep happens), and sometimes accent lighting — a single central ceiling light alone often leaves worktops in shadow. Worth planning lighting circuits before, not after, unit installation.
Energy-efficient kitchen choices
A-rated appliances cost more upfront but less to run over their lifetime — worth weighing against how heavily an appliance will actually be used. LED under-cabinet and ceiling lighting also cuts running costs compared to older halogen fittings, with no real trade-off in light quality.
Kitchen electrics need a registered electrician
A kitchen refit usually means new dedicated circuits for higher-draw appliances (oven, hob, dishwasher) rather than sharing a ring main, plus RCD protection near the sink — this is notifiable work under Part P. If your kitchen fitter isn't a registered electrician themselves, ask who handles this part and whether they're NICEIC or NAPIT registered.