Should Brick Slips Be Installed Before Kitchen Units Are Fitted?
When embarking on a kitchen renovation, there are many decisions to make, and one of the most important is when to install brick slips. These stylish, versatile materials are a popular choice for kitchen walls, providing a chic, rustic, or industrial look. But the timing of their installation can have a big impact on the final result. Should kitchen brick slips be installed before or after the kitchen units are fitted? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of both options to help you make an informed decision.
Why Install Brick Slips Before Kitchen Units?
1. Clean and Seamless Finish:
One of the main advantages of installing brick slips before fitting the kitchen units is the opportunity to achieve a clean, seamless finish. By starting with the wall, the brick slips can extend all the way to the edge, ensuring that they cover the entire surface behind the kitchen units. When the kitchen units are placed, they sit perfectly on top of the wall finish, which means no gaps or awkward edges where the units meet the wall.
Additionally, you’ll avoid the need to cut bricks to fit around the cabinets, ensuring a neat and consistent look across the entire kitchen. The overall aesthetic is more polished, as the full wall is covered, and there’s no visible separation between the wall and the units.
2. Easier to Achieve Precise Alignment:
Installing brick slips on an empty wall allows you to better align them with your design vision. Without the constraints of kitchen units, you have complete flexibility to plan the brick layout, ensuring that the pattern or design flows as intended. This is especially beneficial if you’re working with a feature wall or specific design details where precision matters.
3. Reduces the Risk of Damage:
If you fit the kitchen units first, there’s a risk that you might accidentally damage the newly installed brick slips while handling the cabinetry, appliances, and fixtures. Installing the brick slips first means that the units will be placed after the wall is already finished, and you don’t need to worry about scratches, scuffs, or knocking the bricks during the fitting process.
Why Install Brick Slips After Kitchen Units?
1. Protection for the Brick Slips:
By installing the kitchen units first, you provide a layer of protection for the walls and the brick slips. Kitchen renovations can be messy, and having the units in place first can shield the walls from accidental damage or debris. This is particularly useful if you’re working with appliances, plumbing, or electrical installations, which can often cause splashes, dust, or tools to come in contact with the walls.
2. Easier to Cut Around Units:
If you install the kitchen units before the brick slips, you have the flexibility to cut the slips around the units. This means that you only need to install brick slips in the visible spaces, such as the areas between units, and avoid having to brick the entire wall behind cabinets or appliances that will hide the slips. This can save time and materials, especially if the kitchen units cover a large portion of the wall.
3. Saves Time and Cost:
If your kitchen design includes bulky units like base cabinets or full-height appliances, there may be no need to install brick slips behind them. Installing the units first allows you to focus on only the areas where the brick slips will be visible. This can cut down on both time and cost, as you’ll need fewer brick slips and less adhesive compared to installing them across the entire wall.
Which Option Is Best for You?
The decision to install kitchen brick slips before or after kitchen units largely depends on your kitchen design, the layout, and your priorities. If you want a seamless, high-end finish and have the time and resources to dedicate to covering the entire wall, installing brick slips before the kitchen units might be the best option. It’s ideal for those who want their brick slips to be a prominent feature in their kitchen and prefer precision.
However, if you’re looking for efficiency and cost-saving, installing the kitchen units first might be the way to go. This is particularly useful if large sections of the wall will be hidden behind units or if you’re working with a tight budget and need to minimize the amount of materials used.
Ultimately, both options can produce stunning results, so it’s important to consider your priorities, the layout of your kitchen, and the final aesthetic you want to achieve. Whether you choose to install brick slips before or after the kitchen units, proper planning and careful execution will ensure your kitchen looks fantastic.