The tenant paid for a fitted kitchen: hanging cabinets, base units, a stone worktop, a built-in hob and an extractor fan over it. Now the lease is ending, the landlord says the kitchen can go with the tenant, and nobody has thought about how a wall of cabinets travels. Ten minutes in, somebody is holding a cabinet door and a screwdriver and wondering where the screws went.
A fitted kitchen is part furniture, part electrical work and part plumbing. Take it apart in that order of care, and do the risky bits before the truck arrives.
Start with power, gas and water
Everything that connects to the wall comes off first, and in the right order.
- Switch off the power at the breaker, not only at the socket. A hob or oven on a dedicated circuit may stay live.
- Close the gas cylinder valve and disconnect the hose from the cooker or hob. Follow the manufacturer's guidance, and if the gas fitting is fixed to the wall, use a qualified technician.
- Close the water supply valve under the sink before removing taps or pipes. Have a bucket ready.
- Unplug the extractor fan, take a photograph of the wiring, and remove it only when the power is confirmed off.
If you are not sure about any wiring or gas fitting, do not guess. An electrician or the person who installed the kitchen should do it. Our guide on disconnecting electrical appliances before a move shows the same switch-off and label routine.
Label before you unscrew
Before any cabinet comes off the wall, number it. Put a strip of masking tape on each unit, write the number and its position (for example "Top 1, left of window") and take a wide photograph of the whole kitchen. Keep hinges, screws and shelf pins in a bag taped to the unit they belong to.
This is the step people skip, and it decides whether the kitchen goes back together in one day or in one week.
Taking the cabinets down
Start at the top. Empty every cabinet and take out the shelves and drawers. Remove the doors if they unclip, and wrap them separately.
Hanging cabinets are fixed to the wall at the top rail. Have a second person hold each unit as the last screw is removed, because the whole thing drops suddenly. Base units are usually screwed to the wall and to each other. Work from one end.
Many kitchens in Nigeria use chipboard or MDF carcasses, and these chip at the edges and swell with water. Handle them gently and keep them dry.
Worktops, sinks and stone
A stone or granite worktop is very heavy and brittle. It should be carried on its edge by several people, never flat and never by one corner. If it is glued or bonded to the cabinets, it may not survive removal in one piece, so ask a fitter before you decide to take it. A laminate worktop is lighter and easier to transport. Stainless steel sinks go separately, wrapped, with the taps and waste fittings in a labelled bag.
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Loading the truck
Panels travel best standing on their long edge against the cab wall, padded with blankets and strapped tight. Do not lay heavy things on top of cabinet doors. Put the hob, the extractor and the glass panels in a padded corner that will not move. Boxes of screws and fittings go in the cab with the owner. Our driver guide on padding and protecting furniture explains why corners and edges need the most blanket.
Refitting at the other end
Look at the new kitchen before the truck arrives. Measure the wall, the height of the windows and the position of power and water. A kitchen that fitted one wall may not fit another, and a carpenter should check the plan first. Pair this with our notes on packing a kitchen for the plates and pots.
How to do this on Sphere
Open the Sphere app, choose a truck or a pickup van and add the pickup and drop-off. In the load description, list the units: "6 base cabinets, 5 hanging cabinets, 1 granite worktop, 1 hob, 1 extractor fan, sink and taps". Mention stairs or tight access. Propose a price. Nearby verified drivers accept or send counter-offers, and you choose. Agree loading and offloading help with the driver before you accept.
See also house moving in Lagos and truck hire in Lagos.
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove the hob and extractor myself?
Only if you are comfortable and the power and gas are fully off. If not, use a qualified electrician or technician.
Will the cabinets survive the move?
Usually, if they are labelled, padded and kept dry. Chipboard edges are the weakest point.
Should granite worktops come with me?
Only if a fitter confirms they can be lifted whole. They are heavy and crack easily.
Is a pickup van enough for a fitted kitchen?
For a small kitchen, possibly. Describe the units and the worktop so drivers can offer accurately.
What should I do with the screws?
Bag them by unit, tape each bag to the unit and carry the bags yourself.
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Request a truck or van on Sphere
Choose your vehicle, propose your price, and verified drivers in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan accept or send a counter-offer.
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