The Ultimate Guide to More Efficient Kitchen Fitting for Tradespeople

The trend for home improvement, rather than moving house, is caused by a number of different factors, from the rising costs associated with selling and buying homes to the uncertainty in the market due to the recent coronavirus pandemic.

More than ever before, our homes are safe havens for their owners. Consumers are keen to improve and update their properties so that they’re not only stylish, but are fitted out in a way that is quick, stress-free and at a price point which reflects value.

Kitchens are consistently high on the list of rooms homeowners want to transform. Whether you’re helping them to identify where clever storage could help save space or promoting innovative materials, which come at a fraction of the cost of traditional options, tradespeople can help to inform and inspire consumers on how they can transform their interiors.

On top of this, we know from speaking to our customers that tradespeople like you are increasingly striving to work more efficiently – whether that’s due to greater demand for your skills, a workforce shortage or simply a desire to improve your profitability. In response, we have developed new products and added new ranges for installers who have speed and efficiency firmly in mind. 

These innovative products are all designed to help fitters transform and install kitchens more quickly and efficiently. Included within this round-up are new tools and hardware to make tasks easier, industry-leading kitchen design technology, as well as systems and solutions that allow multi-trades to fit more elements of the kitchen themselves, rather than outsource to a specialist subcontractor. 

Knowing more about these products, completing online training, and even getting to grips with samples now, will put you in a good position to maximise future income. Here, we take you through the products Häfele has available to help you do just that.

1. Create cabinets tool-free

One of the biggest challenges in the world of kitchen cabinetry is constructing furniture with many elements quickly, but also robustly, giving the customer the solid finish they expect.  

To help improve this process for you, we have focused on making furniture construction as tool-free as possible. Ixconnect CC 8/5/30, for example, is our claw connector for wooden drawers that can be used without dowels. 

Because it has an innovative claw, it compacts the chips in the front panels of wooden drawers for quick fixing of panels and sides. When combined with a rear panel connector that clamps the rear panel with the side walls, Ixconnect CC 8/5/30 reduces the number of drill holes needed, cutting down assembly time. It’s also entirely concealed once in place.

2. The Axilo plinth system

 

As well as thinking about ways to make it easier for trades to achieve a high-quality finish quicker, we have also also explored the ways we can help you to make lighter work of heavy tasks.

Anyone who’s fitted a kitchen knows that levelling cabinetry is a repetitive, back-breaking task, which takes time to get right. The Häfele Axilo plinth system removes this problem. It allows you to adjust the height of kitchen units without having to bend down, rotating the arm and mechanism by hand or using an electric drill. This simple tool is a great way to improve on-the-job efficiency, enabling you to get through more work in less time, and saves you from bending down constantly.

3. Furniture lighting

Certain new product lines allow you as a tradesperson to expand your services, improve profitability, diversify your income and remove the need to subcontract work out to others. Furniture lighting is one area where this is the case. 

Systems like Loox engineered by Häfele, for example, which is an app-controlled LED furniture lighting range, offers plug and play technology and fitting, meaning you can fit the system quickly and easily to create a real standout look for your client.

Our new Lighting Design Service also lets you submit basic plans to one our experts, who will create you a bespoke lighting design and send you your lighting plan, product list and priced quote, saving you time and hassle. If you want to save even more time, then use the Service Plus Customised service to cut, finish, assemble and pack the lighting system too, then all you have to do is fit it in situe. 

4. Splashbacks and online training

Some splashbacks such as glass or tiles require certain skills, meaning if you’re not experienced in these areas you might need to bring in subcontractors to fit them. However, newer product ranges mean you don’t have to. Aluminium-based splashbacks, for example, are an alternative to glass, acrylic and tiled splashbacks and are simple and straightforward to fit. Innovatively designed, you can v-groove and fold around corners without joints and cut holes for sockets with ease.

Basic training for products like AluSplash can be completed through BiKBBI online, or you can see a step-by-step guide here, making it a great way to get ahead on the techniques and theory to outsmart your competitors.

Being truly effective and efficient means using the time available to us to learn more about our industry. Doing so will enable you to understand new and emerging products, complete online training and even use some of these products to complete jobs around your own home, meaning you’re armed and prepared to tackle future jobs quickly and efficiently.