Are you cozy in your kitchen with a warm cup of tea, daydreaming about a little makeover?
If you feel like it might be time for a kitchen renovation, you’re not alone! But where do you even begin? With many exciting choices like lights, benchtops, cabinets, and appliances, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the kitchen renovation costs. And let’s not forget about the skilled tradespeople who will help bring your vision to life!
The crucial question behind your wish for a new kitchen is: How much does it cost to renovate a kitchen?
Many kitchen renovation contractors keep their prices hidden. Why? Because costs can change based on the type of work needed.
Some clients dream of luxury kitchens with two island benchtops. Others prefer a simpler, more elegant design. As a result, there’s no set price for kitchen renovations.
Now, before you start your kitchen renovation ideas. We’re excited to share a helpful breakdown of kitchen renovation costs. Where you can save and where you can splurge. Let’s dive in to see how you can get the most out of your kitchen renovation.
Kitchen Renovation vs. Kitchen Remodel: Cost and Scope
The difference between a kitchen renovation and a remodel. A renovation means taking everything out and starting over. It focuses on a redesign of your layout to create a more functional space. For example, you could place the fridge closer to the kitchen bench to make cooking easier. Or place the dishwasher near the sink to make rinsing and loading more hassle-free. In basic terms, your kitchen layout should reflect what makes your cooking experience more pleasurable.
If you’re happy with your current kitchen layout, you may want to consider a kitchen remodel. A kitchen remodel can make your space look new. It usually includes simple updates like fresh paint, new tiles, updated cabinets, or a new benchtop. The average cost of a kitchen remodel is around $10,000 if you do it yourself, or about $20,000 if you hire help.
Tip: It’s important to note that in some cases a remodel of your existing kitchen can cost up to 70-80% of the cost of doing a complete kitchen renovation, meaning the value gained from getting the complete renovation can often be the best long-term investment.
If you have a tight budget, you can consider DIY flat-pack cabinetry, laminate benchtops, and affordable appliances. These options can make a big difference to your kitchen renovation costs without breaking the bank.
If you’re planning a kitchen renovation, it’s best to understand your budget. The average cost of a kitchen renovation ranges from $30,000 to $100,000 or more. This all depends on the design, materials, and work required. This covers the materials, trades, removal and installation.
Your Guide to Kitchen Renovation & Design
While there are some nice cookie-cutter flat-pack options available nothing beats a custom-made kitchen. Let’s deep dive into what a kitchen renovation involves and why hiring professionals is the best option.
Kitchen Design: The Value of a Kitchen Design Expert
Hiring a kitchen designer who gives you expert help in creating your kitchen is a game changer. They understand your needs and style to design a space that fits your budget.
A good kitchen designer assists with design, planning, and overseeing the entire project. They should partner or work for a kitchen renovation company. While a fully licensed, kitchen renovation company will be able to contract all trades. When you receive a quote from a kitchen renovation company this quote should include all trade contracts. This helps to maintain transparency and seamless workflows.
Tip: It is important to note not all kitchen renovation companies are licensed to include trades within their contracts, which is a process to be mindful of.
A dedicated designer keeps your kitchen renovation as their main focus from start to finish. They guide you in choosing materials, taking measurements, ensuring compliance, managing costs, and setting timelines. This way reduces your stress and allows you to sit back and watch your kitchen renovation unfold.
Kitchen Renovation Costs: Choosing the Right Kitchen Appliances
Just like a car needs an engine, your kitchen needs good appliances to function. Appliance costs can vary based on your preferences. You can choose high-end models or stick to more affordable options that work just as well. We recommend budgeting between $2,000 and $6,000 for general appliances and more for high-end brands.
The Beauty of Custom Cabinetry: Made to Fit
Quality cabinets are a lasting investment. Features like soft-close hinges and well-crafted finishes can make a difference in your overall kitchen cabinet renovation. This cost covers a skilled cabinet maker who ensures everything fits your space perfectly.
Note: several factors affect cabinet costs, such as size, materials, and extras like lighting. For example, laminate is usually cheaper than a fancy-painted door style. Your kitchen designer can help you decide which options fit your budget and vision for your new kitchen.
Kitchen Renovation Cost Guide for Kitchen Benchtops
Since your kitchen benchtops get a lot of use, it’s worth spending a bit more on this part of your kitchen. As a guide see the list of benchtop options in order of most to least cost-effective below:
- Laminate Benchtop
- Engineered stone
- Timber Benchtop
- Stainless steel Benchtop
- Porcelain or Sintered Stone
- Natural Stone Benchtop (Granite)
- Natural Stone Benchtop (Marble)
Your kitchen benchtop is a personal preference, the best thing you can do to select a kitchen benchtop is go to a kitchen showroom. At a kitchen showroom, you can see, touch, and feel the selection of benchtops. This helps you feel confident in the quality and choose the best product based on the surface’s features and style.
Essential Trades for a Kitchen Renovation
Creating a fantastic kitchen is a team effort, and the tradespeople you bring on board are absolutely essential! While their services typically make up about 40-50% of your renovation budget. This is an investment worthwhile. So, let’s dive into the different trades you might need to bring your dream kitchen to life!
#1 Demolition Team
Demolition teams can charge anywhere between $1,000 and $5,000 based on the extent of the work required. This price should include disconnecting any live wires or sealing any plumbing concerns. It also covers the cleanup, which means hauling away your old cabinets, appliances, tiles, and any other debris left behind after demolition.
If you’re thinking about recouping some of your kitchen renovation costs, you may want to sell your existing kitchen. To make things easier, it’s a smart idea to hire a demolition team with a qualified carpenter. It might cost a bit more at first, but it can save you trouble later and help you sell your old kitchen more easily.
#2 Electrician & Plumber
Keeping your current layout is one sure way to keep your kitchen renovation costs down. This can help you avoid the costs of moving plumbing and electrical lines to fit a new kitchen layout.
For your kitchen renovation, having a great electrician and plumber on your team is super important. The plumbing and electrical costs involved in a kitchen renovation are based on the scope and can vary greatly. For example, moving the kitchen to a completely different room in the house vs utilising the existing kitchen space better will cost more.
Their process of kitchen renovation involves two important steps: the rough-in and the fit-off. During the rough-in, they will install the pipes and wiring according to your kitchen design. After the cabinets and benchtops are installed, they will return for the fit-off. At this stage, they will connect everything, including the sink, dishwasher, taps, power points, lighting, and cooktop.
#3 Plasterer
Plasterers are one of those trades you don’t know you need until you need them. As kitchen renovations include removing old cabinets or fixtures and adding new cabinets, cables, and plumbing, you need someone who can repatch and repair the walls to ensure a smooth finish.
#4 Installation Team
Usually, your installation team is the same as your demolition team. They ensure the cabinet assembly and will work with your licensed plumbers and electricians. They are the heroes who come in at the end to make sure your kitchen design and installation match perfectly.
Tip: a great kitchen installation team will stick around until everything, from your kitchen drawers to your cooktop, is working perfectly and just how you imagined it.
Kitchen Renovation Costs: Prepare for the Unexpected
A good rule of thumb is to always prepare for the unexpected. You don’t know what you don’t know. Some existing faulty wiring could be an unexpected cost that nobody can prepare for. We always recommend to our clients to set aside an extra 10-20% as a buffer for these unexpected expenses.
Kitchen Renovation Tips from a Kitchen Renovation Contractor
Kitchen renovation costs can quickly spiral out of control. However, we’re here to show you that you can achieve a sophisticated look while being budget-conscious. Here are our top three recommendations for items to save on and items to spend more on.
✅ If you opt for a slab-based benchtop surface (porcelain, natural stone, engineered stone) utilise the entire slab! You can do this by adding a cohesive flow from the benchtop to the splashback.
✅If you are confident and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, consider completing the demolition yourself.
✅Choose cost-friendly hardware. You can easily replace the handles in your kitchen. These days there are quality, budget-friendly options that do not compromise on style.
💰 You will thank yourself later if you select quality kitchen cabinets. Not only are they durable, but they also don’t date quickly, meaning you get more bang for your buck.
💰Choose qualified and insured professionals for your kitchen renovation. Highly recommend!
💰Choose the right kitchen renovation contractor. Someone who can ease your stress and guide you through your kitchen renovation, from concept to budget to installation and beyond.
If you’re now looking for a kitchen renovation company – here we are! At Harrington Kitchens, we’re here to help you every step of the way through your kitchen renovation process —from crafting a beautiful kitchen design to setting a realistic timeline that coordinates all the trades on your behalf. We’re committed to delivering a fabulous kitchen along with a reassuring after-sales service. Think of us as your go-to partner for your entire kitchen renovation in Sydney, Camden, Narellan, Bowral, the Southern Highlands, and more!
Don’t forget to check out our online kitchen design gallery for some fun inspiration on kitchen renovation projects!
Next, contact one of our friendly team of custom kitchen renovation experts and skilled builders who can help bring your dream kitchen to life. Feel free to book a consultation with our design team, or stop by our showrooms in Narellan and Bowral! We can’t wait to meet you!
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