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Kitchen renovation - what to ask before you buy

If you're thinking of renovating your kitchen, but you're not sure what questions to ask before you start, here are some suggestions to help you decide. See also Stovetop and Dishwasher.

Click on a question below for more information.

Cost: How much will it cost to renovate the kitchen?
Planning: What kind of planning should I do before I renovate the kitchen?
Shape: What shape of kitchen is best?
Bench top: What kind of kitchen bench top should I use?
Bench space: How much kitchen bench top space do I need?
Doors: What kind of doors should I put on the kitchen cupboards?
Splashback: What kind of splashback should I include in the kitchen renovation?
Storage: What about storage options in the kitchen renovation?
Lighting: What lighting should I include in the kitchen renovation?
Flooring: What kind of flooring should I use in the kitchen renovation?
Contractor: What if I employ a contractor to do the kitchen renovation?

1. How much will it cost to renovate the kitchen?

Work out your budget carefully. Kitchen renovation can expand to suit the available budget (and beyond!). The budget for an investment property that you plan to sell in the near future will probably have a lower budget than a home you plan to live in for years.

Here are some ideas for reducing costs:

If you can, do some of the labour yourself - for example, removing rubbish and cleaning up. Note: If you are renovating an old kitchen, find out if the surfaces contain asbestos or lead. If they do, get a professional to remove them as they can be a serious health hazard.
While you might be considering marble and granite bench tops, new laminate finishes with rolled edges look great too and are much less expensive.
Sheet vinyl flooring is available to look like stone or timber as is easy to keep clean.

When you estimate the cost (or request a quote) for the kitchen renovation, make sure you've also accounted for the cost of:

any new appliances (stove top, oven, dishwasher)
sinks,
water filters (plus installation cost if under sink water filter)
plumbing (taps, drainage, dishwasher, water filter)
electrical work (stove, lights, and extra power outlets if required - e.g. for dishwasher if not already there) and the cost of new electrical switch covers (can make a huge difference for relatively small cost)
wall tiling, or glass or laminate splashback
flooring, including adding tiles/vinyl under dishwasher if not there already
other unexpected costs.

On the upside, a new kitchen should add to the sale value of your home.

2. What kind of planning should I do before I renovate the kitchen?

Plan the sequence of events in your kitchen renovation to minimise disruption. For example, work out times/dates for removing the old kitchen, having cupboards and appliances delivered, having them installed, finishing off. Allow for some unexpected delays.
Accurately measure the area you have to work with and draw up a floor plan including the placement of appliances/sink/pantry and any table/seating.
If your kitchen is large, you may like to incorporate an island bench either as a food preparation area, or as a place for the stove or sink.
Carefully measure the size of your kitchen appliances too (stovetop, oven, dishwasher, exhaust fan, microwave etc.), to make sure they will fit in the space allocated. If they won't, increase the space before you order your kitchen cupboards.

Some kitchen cupboard manufacturers provide useful planning tools for identifying what cupboards are needed and where to place them, for example a brochure with a grid and stickers, or an online design application.

3. What shape of kitchen is best?

If you are renovating an existing kitchen:

Unless you a doing a complete makeover, the position of the main items has probably already been determined and changing this may be costly. However, if it will make a real difference to your enjoyment of the kitchen, factor in the cost of changing it. Sometimes the cost is minor compared to the improvement in functionality of the kitchen.

If you are starting from scratch:

The options for sink placement are generally fewer than for fridge or stove (due to the location of water pipes, windows, drains), so choose the spot for the sink first.
Work out the distance between the main work areas. If it's too far, you'll spend a lot of time walking about the kitchen; if it's too close, it could get cramped if more than one person is involved in the food preparation. The total distance from fridge-to-stove-to-sink shouldn't be more than 7 metres, or less than 3 or 4 metres.
The main styles for kitchens include L-shape, U-shape or galley - the shape will often be determined by the shape of the room, its doors and windows, and through traffic.

4. What kind of kitchen bench top should I use?

There's a huge range of materials for kitchen bench tops, including:

laminate - inexpensive, huge range, fewer joins; don't put hot saucepans on laminate; can be curved up to the splashback.
tile - the grout between the tiles can get dirty
granite - expensive; durable, but needs regular re-sealing; actual material may not match sample
marble - not durable, expensive, and requires regular re-sealing
stone (man made) - durable; expensive
stainless steel - expensive, hygienic; can put hot saucepans on stainless steel; can be moulded; can get dented
timber - requires regular re-sealing, expensive
man-made solid surfaces - can be moulded; expensive

The main things to consider are that the bench top should be:

easy to maintain
resistant to damage/scratching/heat
installed with the minimum of joins
affordable
before choosing, check the samples in various types of light (fluorescent, natural, economy) to be sure it's what you want

Bench heights are usually standard (around 900mm or so) but if you plan on using the kitchen for many years, it may be worth making the benches slightly higher or lower to suit your height. Making major changes to bench heights, however, may be a disadvantage when you come to sell your home.

Bench depth should be around 600mm.

5. How much kitchen bench top space do I need?

As much as possible! At least make sure:

there is space near the fridge for you to put things as you take them out (300- 450mm);
that there is space near the stove for you to put saucepans (at least 450mm) ; and
that you have enough clear space for basic food preparation, preferably near the sink, for preparing vegetables etc.(allow 600-900mm, or more if two people will be preparing food at the same time).

6. What kind of doors should I put on the kitchen cupboards?

The doors don't need to be as hard wearing as the bench tops. Laminate is stronger than melamine, but both are durable and easy to clean. The difference is that the laminate is created under greater pressure than the melamine, making it more resistant to damage.

Other options include:

timber (solid or veneer)
lacquered or polyurethane
vinyl wrapped (may deteriorate with heat)
stainless steel
glass (solid or inset), or
pretty much any other product that works (e.g. narrow gauge corrugated iron has been used to good effect in some kitchens).

7. What kind of splashback should I include in the kitchen renovation?

The options include:

tiles (large or mosaic) - keep in mind that the grout may need to be cleaned periodically
laminate - easier to clean than tiles; smooth clean lines
stone - expensive
toughened glass - easy to clean but pricey
stainless steel - can be difficult to keep clean (unless it has a brushed finish); expensive.

8. What about storage options in the kitchen renovation?

You'll work out the number and size of the cupboards required when you plan your kitchen. Some other things you may like to consider are:

What kind of handles should I have on the kitchen cupboards? Simple is better - easier to keep clean. Do I want them vertical or horizontal?
Should I have drawers or shelves? Drawers allow easier access to the back of the cupboard. Make sure the drawers are designed to take the load (for example, if you have a set of cast iron saucepans!). A carousel insert can help with access to difficult to reach spots. Sliding wire baskets can also help here.
How wide will the cutlery drawers be? Wider drawers make it easier to see the contents.
Cooking implements can be hung on the wall
Knives can be stored in specific knife holders

9. What lighting should I include in the kitchen renovation?

For general lighting, it's a good idea to have the sink near the window.
Use light colours to make the area appear larger.
Use neutral colours (e.g. white or cream) so that you can change whatever 'highlight' colours you use without having to completely change the kitchen
Use small downlights or spotlights for specific lighting, for example over the stovetop or workspace.
The main light doesn't have to be the standard fluorescent tube - economy light globes can now closely match incandescent lighting,giving a more cozy feeling to the kitchen
Add a dimmer to the main light to add atmosphere.

10. What kind of flooring should I use in the kitchen renovation?

Possibilities include:

glazed ceramic tile - durable unless they chip when something is dropped on them
terra cotta tile - are porous so stain easily
vinyl (tile or sheet) - easy maintenance
cork - relatively high maintenance but soft to walk on
timber - pre-finished hardwood can be installed over existing timber or concrete floors

11. What if I employ a contractor to do the kitchen renovation?

Take your time to check the contract and associated drawings to make sure it includes everything you want and nothing else.

Check that the price is what was agreed.

Ask if the contractor has references from previous customers.

Check that the contractor is reliable, preferably a member of a professional association, and has appropriate insurance cover if the job value is over a specified amount. For example, in NSW, Home Warranty Insurance is required for contracts over $12,000. See the Department of Fair Trading website for your state for more information.