Kitchen Renovations in Melbourne

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q1. How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Melbourne?

A cosmetic refresh keeping the existing layout is typically $20,000 to $30,000. A full mid range kitchen renovation with custom cabinetry, stone benchtops and new appliances runs around $35,000 to $55,000. Kitchens with structural change, an island with services, or premium natural stone go past $65,000. Cabinetry quantity, benchtop material and appliance selection are the three biggest levers. We quote fixed and itemised after an on site measure.

Q2. How long does a kitchen renovation take?

Four to eight weeks on site for most Melbourne kitchens. A refit keeping the existing layout is four to six weeks. Structural changes, relocated services or fully custom joinery push it towards eight. Stone benchtops add a fixed delay of their own because they cannot be templated until cabinetry is installed and level, then take around a week to fabricate. We build that into the program upfront rather than telling you about it later.

Q3. Can I still use engineered stone for my benchtop?

No. Engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs have been banned nationally in Australia since 1 July 2024 because of the silicosis risk to the workers who cut them, with an import ban following in January 2025. The alternatives are excellent: sintered stone and porcelain contain no crystalline silica and are extremely hard and non porous, natural stone such as marble and quartzite is unmatched for character, and solid surface, timber and laminate all have their place. We will walk you through the differences at the design stage. Any builder still offering you engineered stone is not operating legally.

Q4. Can I stay in my home during a kitchen renovation?

Most people do. You will be without a kitchen for the majority of the build, so plan a temporary setup somewhere else in the house with the fridge, microwave and kettle. We will tell you which day the old kitchen comes out and which day the new one is usable, so you can plan around it rather than guess.

Q5. Do I need a permit for a kitchen renovation in Victoria?

A like for like kitchen replacement with no structural change generally does not need a building permit. You will need one if you are removing or altering a load bearing wall, changing the building footprint, or making significant structural alterations. Plumbing and electrical work must be done by licensed trades and comes with compliance certification either way. We assess this at quoting and handle any applications.

Q6. Does a new kitchen add value to my home?

Generally yes. Kitchen renovations are consistently rated by Australian agents as the single most impactful improvement before sale, with returns commonly quoted in the 60 to 80 per cent range. The caveat matters more than the number: the return depends on your suburb's price ceiling and on the rest of the house. A high end kitchen in a home with dated bathrooms and tired flooring will not recoup its cost. If resale is the goal, tell us at the first meeting and we will spec accordingly.

Q7. Can you renovate a small kitchen or an apartment kitchen?

Yes. Small kitchens are about buying back centimetres, so we look at full height cabinetry, drawers instead of doors, integrated appliances and slimline units before anything else. In apartments, if the work touches plumbing running into common property you will need owners corporation approval first. We will tell you what they are likely to ask for and provide the scope and drawings to support the application.

Q8. Who supplies the appliances and fixtures?

Either way works. Most clients prefer us to supply everything so there is one point of accountability if something arrives damaged or does not fit, and we can often access trade pricing. If you would rather buy your own appliances, that is fine, we just need the specifications early so cabinetry is built to the correct dimensions. Appliances delivered late are one of the most common causes of delay on a kitchen job.