Is it time for a full renovation?
A full renovation is usually the right call when:
- The layout does not work. The fridge door blocks the walkway, there is no bench beside the cooktop, or the kitchen is closed off from the family room.
- The cabinets are failing. Swollen particleboard under the sink, sagging shelves, drawers that will not run straight.
- The services are old. Limited power points, tired wiring, old pipework or a gas line where you want induction.
- You want to open it up. Removing a wall between kitchen and dining is one of the most common requests in older Coast homes.
If the layout is fine and the carcasses are sound, a kitchen makeover may do the job for less.
The order of works
- Design and selections — layout, cabinetry, benchtop, splashback, appliances, lighting and power points.
- Written price — itemised, with appliance allowances or your chosen models listed.
- Cabinet manufacture — built in the workshop while your old kitchen still works.
- Asbestos check for homes built or renovated before about 1990.
- Removal — old kitchen out, services capped safely.
- Rough-in — plumbing, gas, electrical and lighting in their new spots.
- Walls and floors — patching, any structural changes and flooring.
- Cabinet installation — levelled and fixed.
- Benchtop template, fabrication and install.
- Splashback, sink, tapware and appliances.
- Painting, clean-up and handover.
The renovation steps page has typical durations.
Opening up older Coast kitchens
Plenty of 1960s to 80s homes on the Coast have a separate kitchen with a doorway through to the dining room. Taking out that wall gives the open, connected space most families want. If the wall is load-bearing, a structural engineer designs a beam and approval may be required. Services inside the wall, such as plumbing vents and wiring, get relocated.
Services worth upgrading while the walls are open
- More power points — at the island, inside the pantry and for charging phones.
- Dedicated circuits for the oven, induction cooktop and dishwasher.
- Under-cabinet task lighting so you are not chopping in your own shadow.
- A rangehood ducted outside rather than recirculating, which helps in humid coastal homes.
- Water to the fridge if you want filtered water or ice.
Coastal considerations
Humidity and salt air are hard on some materials. Moisture-resistant boards, well-sealed edges and quality hinges and runners last better near the water. See cabinetry and storage.
Units and townhouses
In strata properties, owners corporation approval is generally needed before work starts, and by-laws set working hours, lift use and waste handling.
Costs
Full renovations typically run from $18,000 for a straightforward replacement to $85,000 or more for a large kitchen with a butler's pantry. See the cost guide.
Call 02 4307 6053 or send your kitchen details through.
Questions people ask before they commit
What is included in a full kitchen renovation?
Generally design and selections, removal of the old kitchen, any wall or floor changes, plumbing and gas, electrical and lighting, cabinetry manufacture and installation, benchtops, splashback, sink and tapware, appliance installation, and painting and making good.
Can we use appliances we already own or buy ourselves?
Yes, as long as exact models are confirmed during design. Cabinetry is built to the appliance dimensions, so a late change can mean gaps or refitting. Appliances need to be on site before installation day.
Do we need council approval to renovate a kitchen?
An internal kitchen renovation in a house is generally exempt development when no structural change is involved. Removing a load-bearing wall or extending the house needs the right approval through Central Coast Council or a certifier. Units need owners corporation approval.
Can we switch from gas to induction?
Usually. The gas is capped off by a licensed gas fitter and a dedicated circuit is run for the induction cooktop. Older homes may need a switchboard upgrade to handle the extra load, which is checked at the site visit.