Cabinetry, plumbing, and electrical all meet in one room. So does the risk.
Fitting a kitchen means coordinating benchtops, cabinetry, and appliance connections in a room that gets used every single day once it's handed over. When something in that mix fails, water, weight, or a wiring connection, it tends to fail somewhere hard to miss. Cover that matches the range of what actually goes into the job.
Where a kitchen fitter actually gets exposed
The exposure spans the physical cabinetry and benchtop installation, and the appliance and plumbing connections that go with a modern kitchen fit-out.
The cabinetry that gave way
Wall-mounted cabinetry you installed comes away from the wall under normal use, months after the kitchen was finished, damaging the benchtop and whatever was stored inside.
The dishwasher connection that leaked
Connecting plumbing for a new dishwasher as part of the fit-out, a fitting isn't fully secured. The leak isn't noticed until it's damaged the cabinetry and the flooring beneath it.
Damage during removal of the old kitchen
Pulling out an old kitchen as part of the job, you damage a wall, floor, or service that wasn't visible until the old cabinetry came out.
Who's going to ask you for it
Renovation clients expect this before the job starts
Kitchen fit-outs are a significant renovation spend, and clients and builders increasingly expect proof of cover as standard:
- Head contractors and renovation companies typically want $10M public liability before subcontracting kitchen work.
- Body corporates want proof of cover before kitchen renovation in shared buildings.
- Homeowners on larger renovations increasingly ask for a certificate of currency directly.
The exclusion kitchen fitters assume is covered
Cabinetry that fails or a connection that leaks after the job is a defect in completed work, not an on-site accident. That's a product liability claim. It's also worth checking who's licensed to do the electrical and gas connections for appliances, since work outside your own licensed scope needs to be referred to the right trade, both legally and for cover to respond. Gas connections specifically are usually only covered where the work is carried out by the insured or an employee who holds current gas fitting registration; a policy written to exclude gas work altogether won't respond if you connect a gas cooktop yourself without that licence.
Common questions
Cabinetry I installed came away from the wall months later. Is that covered?
Only if product liability is included, not just public liability. A defect discovered after handover is a completed-operations claim.
Can I connect appliances like dishwashers and cooktops myself?
It depends on the state and the specific connection, plumbing versus gas versus electrical each have different licensing requirements. Gas connections in particular are typically only covered if carried out by someone holding current gas fitting registration. Work outside your licensed scope should go to the right trade.
What if the benchtop supplier's installation team damages something, not me?
As the coordinating fitter, you can still be the first point of contact for a claim, so it's worth being clear with clients about which parts of the job different trades and suppliers are responsible for.
Do I need higher cover for high-end kitchen renovations?
Often, yes. Higher-value cabinetry, benchtops, and appliances mean higher potential damage costs if something goes wrong, so it's worth reviewing your limit as your average job value grows.
I mostly do small kitchen updates, not full renovations. Do I still need this?
Yes, even a smaller update involves cabinetry and appliance connections that carry the same categories of risk at a smaller scale.