thisplace.com.au - Kitchen Renovations

A kitchen renovation worth $10,000 to $15,000 will get you a basic kitchen with all costs included. The total cost includes installation, labour, appliances, flooring, paint and wall-covering.

The Renovating Recipe

Labour costs include

stripping existing cupboards and appliances
removing tiles and flooring
demolishing and rebuilding walls (if expanding space)
rendering and re-plastering
gas fitting and re-wiring
removing pipes and plumbing
installing new cupboards and appliances
laying tiles and flooring

Where your money goes

On a average kitchen this is where your money goes

60% cupboards and benchtops
20% appliances
20% labour

Extra costs include window treatments, floor coverings, lighting and paint. Remember, the proportion of costs spent on labour will depend on the amount of structural work.

Save, Save, Save

If your demolishing an old kitchen or part of the house, recycle some materials if you can
You may save 30 - 40% off normal retail prices by scouring discount appliance stores
Buy all appliances from one outlet and save hundreds of dollars by negotiating a bulk-buy discount. Or look for an appliance package
Keep old appliances if they're in good working order. If they look a bit dated, you could design the new kitchen to hide them
Choose low-pressure laminate or timber for low to medium budget cabinet doors and benchtops
Avoid expensive gadgets like waste disposal units
Choose fewer, but larger, cabinets and drawers
Rip out your own cupboards and remove the rubbish yourself, to save upwards of $500

Tip - never spend more than 7 per cent of your home's purchase price on renovating your kitchen.

Source: Brochure from Australian Home Beautiful in association with the Commonwealth Bank