How Much Does A Kitchen Renovation Cost In Adelaide?

Managing your budget is one of the most important parts of a successful renovation, but even for seasoned renovators, knowing how much to expect your kitchen renovation to cost can be tricky. There are a number of variables that will affect the final cost of your project and there are some clever choices you can make to maximise every dollar in your available budget so we’ve put together this handy guide to help you understand what to include in your kitchen renovation budget.

1. Benefits of kitchen renovation
2. How much should you spend on renovating a kitchen?
3. What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?
4. What to expect cost wise during the kitchen renovation process
5. How does kitchen style affect the cost of the kitchen
6. Average cost of kitchen renovations
7. Costs of renovation your kitchen – cost factors
8. Choosing the right kitchen renovation company

The cost of your kitchen renovation will not only depend on the overall scope and your choices of fixtures, finishes and equipment, but also on the way in which you plan to carry out the renovation. For example; Are you planning a DIY project? Will you manage the project and outsource main components while completing some tasks yourself?  Or will you work with a full-service, professional kitchen renovation company?

Benefits of kitchen renovation 

Most homeowners undertake a kitchen renovation to add value to their home and improve their lifestyle. It’s common for families to put up with an older-style, dysfunctional kitchen for far too long so, by the time they come to renovate, they are very ready for a new, family-friendly space. Today’s kitchens are more than just a room in which you can prepare a meal. The kitchen has truly become the centre of family life, so the space needs to incorporate a variety of functions, often including socialising, homework, home office and home administration.

The benefit of a kitchen renovation is that it allows you to set up the space to perfectly suit the needs of your household and include functionality that works for the way you live. A custom kitchen design is created specifically for you and your family, and takes into consideration how you live, relax, cook and entertain.

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How much should you spend on renovating a kitchen?

We need to speak in general terms here because there are a number of variables that can impact on the final cost. The key factor is for you to can see value in the finished product and that you feel the design is going to enhance your lifestyle. Another consideration is your future goals and how long you plan to stay in the home. Remember that, on average, kitchens are renovated every 20-25 years, so it’s important to consider the quality of the materials used and whether they will stand the test of time. A key factor in your decision will also be the end goal – for example, are you renovating to get your home ready to sell or are you looking to improve your lifestyle, or have your family needs changed?

What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?

Apart from the cabinets themselves, which will usually be the single biggest cost item, this very much depends on your choices of fittings, fixtures and materials. For example, if you choose a premium marble benchtop, that could become the most expensive item in your kitchen remodel. Or maybe you want to invest in top-of-the-range kitchen appliances? Our advice is to invest in the features that are most important to you and look for where savings can be made in areas of less importance. Likewise, if major structural alterations are needed, they will be a significant cost factor.

See our Guide To Kitchen Cabinets, Cupboards and Drawers.

This is the area in which your specialist kitchen designer can be a real asset and can provide valuable expert advice on making smart choices that suit your budget, with an understanding of your unique needs and preferences.

What to expect cost wise during the kitchen renovation process

During any renovation, unforeseen costs can arise so it’s always recommended to have a “buffer” allocated in your budget. Any quality renovator will inspect the area carefully before they provide you with a design and quotation, but even then, there will always be parts of the home that are not revealed until the renovation has started (usually when the old kitchen is removed). Particularly with older homes, this might be the realisation that the structure of the home is not as solid as thought and repair works will need to be carried out to allow the renovation to be completed as planned.

So, in terms of what to expect, you should always expect clear and reliable communication from your renovator – not just about the schedule and any tweaks that are being made, but also about anything that arises during the renovation that might impact the budget. Always insist on a written variation document that stipulates the work to be carried out as well as the costs involved. Don’t ever rely on a verbal discussion to ensure that both parties clearly understand what is being proposed and what is agreed to.

How does kitchen style affect the cost of the kitchen 

The kitchen style you choose can affect the final cost of the kitchen, particularly when it comes to materials for your cabinetry and benchtops. Different door profiles can be more or less complicated to manufacture so costs will vary. If you fall in love with a classic kitchen style such as Hamptons (which is very popular) you’ll need a specific style of door (Shaker) in order to create the look, which also calls for more expensive vinyl or paint finishes. A really contemporary kitchen might require a handle-less option which may necessitate a motorised push-to-open system inside the drawer units – again, this will impact the cost. Timber veneer and solid timber finishes will add warmth – and cost. If you’ve chosen a large island bench, then you’ll need to consider if that will require two slabs of stone to complete.

A kitchen that looks “simple” from the outside is often not as simple inside. Inner-drawer and inner-cabinet functionality is a major consideration for many homeowners so the more organisational components or pull-out/lift-up components you add, the more this will add to the price.

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Average cost of kitchen renovations

We’re often asked what is the average cost of a kitchen renovation and, while that’s difficult to quantify, we know it’s important to have a guide when you’re starting your kitchen renovation journey. So, let’s keep it simple and break it down into three areas: budget, mid-range and high-end.

A budget kitchen will usually be $25,000 – $35,000 and savings will often be made by keeping and re-using existing appliances. To keep to this lower price range, the kitchen will often have cupboards instead of drawers and cabinet finishes will be chosen from the most cost-effective materials such as melamine board. Benchtops will be laminate (no stone) and splashbacks will be tiled. A budget kitchen renovation will be DIY or self-managed. The average lifespan of a budget kitchen is usually 10-15 years.

A mid-range kitchen will usually cost $40,000-$55,000 and in this price range homeowners can start to specify a wider variety of fittings and fixtures. At this level of investment, you should include professional design and project management. For a mid-range kitchen, homeowners will be able to include functional items such as soft-close drawers and inner-drawer organisers, engineered stone benchtops, good quality new appliances, and glass splashbacks. A mid-range kitchen should last a good 20-25 years.

A high-end kitchen can really cost as much as a homeowner wants to spend but these spaces will generally start at around $50,000 and go up from there. In this high-end bracket you’ll see natural stone and solid surface benchtops, polyurethane or hand-painted cabinetry, glass or stone splashbacks, premium appliances, and tech inclusions such as motorised components, smart controls, feature lighting and charging stations. 

Costs of renovation your kitchen – cost factors.

It’s important to understand all the variables that can contribute to the cost of your kitchen renovation. This is especially relevant when it comes to comparing quotations from different companies as businesses rarely quote in the same way.

For example, cabinetmaker will usually only quote on the cost of the cabinets while a full-service renovation business will include design, trades and project management. Cabinetry is a significant part of any kitchen renovation but it’s certainly not the only variable that will impact the cost.

Here are all the elements of a kitchen that should be included on any quotation (these don’t necessarily need to be itemised on the quote as long as there is an allowance within the price):

• Design
• Structural changes
• Cabinetry
• Internal fit-out
• Benchtops
• Splashbacks
• Appliances
• Trades
• Project Management
• Flooring
• Painting
• Lighting
• Removal of old kitchen
• Waste disposal
• Cleaning

Size is often the biggest impact on price so the space you need to fill also needs to be considered. Plus, if you are wanting to add a butler’s pantry or scullery in addition to the main kitchen then that will also add to the cost.

While savings can be made by doing some of the above functions yourself, it’s important to realise that any delay on your part (whether you are running late with demolition, for example, or your trades do not show up on the day they are booked) can severely impact the schedule and end up costing you a lot more money than you have saved through your DIY efforts.

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Choosing the right kitchen renovation company 

Choosing the right kitchen renovation company is possibly the most important part of the overall success of your renovation. It’s important to choose a renovation business that fits with what you are looking for. In general, you have three options:

• DIY – Do It Yourself: Where you do most of the renovation work yourself, buying prefabricated or flat-pack cabinets and you might bring in essential trades only for specialist jobs, such as plumbing and electrical
• DIWY – Do It With You: Where you manage the project entirely yourself, outsourcing and coordinating all fabrication and most trades work. This may include some DIY or trades assistance.
• DIFY – Do It For You: Full Service, where you outsource the design, project management, all building work and fit-out to a full-service company that will deliver the finishes product ready to use.

It is easy to be fooled by the idea that full or partial DIY is a way of saving money but too many homeowners don’t realise that this can be more costly until it’s too late. A huge part of a smooth-running renovation is the schedule and the management of all the trade/delivery/installation components that keep a renovation on track. With a DIY or DIWY project, you are in charge of organising all your own trades and, as experienced as you may be, there are some tasks that can only be undertaken by a licenced tradesperson. One missing component in the schedule can impact the entire timeline and throw your renovation into chaos.

you benefit from their years of experience, expertise in their field, project management abilities and relationships with a wide variety of quality tradespeople to get the right solution for you and your family, delivered professionally. You can take advantage of the specialist designers on staff who provide a wealth of knowledge and expertise to ensure your new kitchen not only looks amazing, but functions just as well.

An experienced kitchen designer will consider the needs of the whole space and will consider how your lifestyle may change in the future as well as whether any structural alterations might enhance your use of the space.

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, working with a full-service kitchen renovation company can actually save you money and avoid any budget blow outs. First of all, having a clear process will help you consider things in a logical and constructive order, hence avoiding many pitfalls of wasted time and money. Your kitchen designer can provide expert advice on where to invest your money on feature items that will make all the difference and help you identify which elements should be on your “must have” list. Key relationships with suppliers mean your designer is always up to date on the latest products and technology and can make recommendations based on their intimate knowledge of your circumstances.

When you work with a professional kitchen renovation company, they bring their in-house construction expertise as well as access to all required trades, plus will provide you with a warranty. You can rest assured that their tradespeople are properly licenced and all on-site workers are correctly trained and specialists in what they do. You’ll also know that they’ve been briefed correctly on what work needs to be carried out to ensure the next stage of the renovation can take place. Responsibility for your project is all in one place and there won’t be any finger-pointing if issues arise. A full-service kitchen renovation company will be your single place of contact for all warranty issues, whereas DIY/DYWY warranty is limited and scattered.

At Brilliant SA we’ve been renovating kitchens for happy Adelaide homeowners for more than 20 years and we’ve built a reputation for excellence in customer service, specialist design and quality workmanship. In addition to our class-leading Warranty, we provide all our customers with a Brilliant SA Guarantee which means we take full responsibility for every detail of your renovation project

If you’d like to learn about the benefits of renovating with a full-service kitchen renovation company, then talk to us today.