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Trade Guide - Fit a new kitchen tap

  • Writer: Robert Costart
    Robert Costart
  • May 29
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jun 4



🔧 Scope of Works


  • Isolate hot & cold supplies at service valves (or main stop-cock) and release pressure.

  • Clear the under-sink cupboard and remove any back panel for access.

  • Disconnect flexible tails/compression joints and undo the fixing clamp or back-nut that holds the old tap.

  • Lift out the old unit, de-scale and clean the sink or work-top seating.

  • Fit the new mono-bloc or bridge-style kitchen tap with fresh seals/gaskets and manufacturer’s fixing kit.

  • Connect new braided or copper tails, trimming or adapting pipework if lengths/bores differ; fit/upgrade isolation valves if missing.

  • Restore water, flush debris, set the spout alignment, and pressure-test for leaks through full hot-cold range.

  • Re-fit cupboard panels, silicone around the tap base where required, wipe down and tidy.

  • Remove old tap, packaging and any off-cuts for recycling or licensed disposal.




💷  Typical Cost (incl. VAT, 2025)


Charge type

Low £

High £

Notes

Call-out / minimum

70

140

Standard first-hour attendance; Checkatrade quotes £100–£120 nationwide, £40–£150 band for first hour

Labour per hour

40

90

UK average £40–£60; London premium £80–£90

Materials

40

180

Budget mixer £40; mainstream brands £80–£150; designer/pull-out taps £150–£300+

Disposal

0

15

Small metal/plastic item – many plumbers remove free; some charge nominal fee.

Extras (new valves, seized fixings, pipe alterations, pull-out hose kits)

20

100

Only applied if required.

TOTAL (most jobs come in here)

180

480

One-visit swap with mid-range tap and no complications.


 🕓 Time on Site


  • 1 – 2 hours for a straightforward like-for-like replacement.

  • Allow up to 3 hours if:


    • Back-nut or tails are corroded/seized, requiring cutting out.

    • No working isolation valves (system drain-down needed).

    • Pipework needs altering to suit different tail spacing or pull-out spray hoses.

    • Branded cartridge or filter kit has to be collected off-site.    




❓ Questions to Ask Your Tradie


  1. Is your quote fixed-price or hourly after the first hour—and does it include VAT?

  2. Do you supply the tap, hoses and isolation valves, or should I buy them in advance?

  3. Will water be isolated only under the sink, or will the whole house be off—and for how long?

  4. Are my existing isolation valves/service stops serviceable, or do they need replacing?

  5. Will you seal the tap base with silicone or a gasket to prevent leaks under the work-top?

  6. How long is your workmanship guarantee and what warranty applies to the new tap?

  7. Is disposal of the old tap and all packaging included in the price?




✅ How to Avoid Surprises


  • Clear the cupboard under the sink for knee-space and tool access.

  • Match the spec: check tap hole diameter, pressure rating and tail length before ordering.

  • Test shut-offs: make sure the main stop-cock and under-sink valves actually turn off.

  • Provide parking or a visitor permit close to the property.

  • Flag complications (water softener, filter, boiling-water module, granite work-top) in advance.

  • Confirm out-of-hours rates if you need evening or weekend attendance.



 💡 With these points you’ll know exactly what the plumber will do, what it should cost in 2025, and how to keep your new kitchen-tap install on time and on budget.

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