Scope and scale
Is my kitchen worth renovating, or should I just replace the doors? If the home was built from around 2010 and the layout works, a targeted upgrade is usually the better spend: new fronts, new drawer gear, better internals and a new benchtop over sound carcases. If the carcases are swollen, the layout is wrong, or the kitchen is closed off from the rest of the house, a full renovation makes more sense. Both directions get priced at the measure so the gap is visible.
Can you move the kitchen to a different part of the room? Often, but it is the decision that drives the price. Moving the sink changes the waste line and its fall, which in a slab-on-ground home is the real constraint. Moving the cooktop changes the gas or electrical run and the rangehood duct route. None of it is exotic; it is simply a bigger job than keeping the services where they are.
Can you open the kitchen into the living area? Frequently. Whether the wall is load-bearing, where the roof trusses bear and what runs inside the wall all have to be checked, and a structural engineer is engaged where a beam is needed.
Do you do sculleries and outdoor kitchens as separate jobs? Yes, though they are cheaper arranged alongside indoor work because the trades, the fabricator and the delivery are shared. See butler's pantries and alfresco and outdoor kitchens.
Materials and rules
Why can I not get engineered stone? Engineered stone benchtops were banned across Australia from 1 July 2024 because cutting and grinding high-silica engineered stone caused silicosis in the workers doing it. The ban covers supply, manufacture and installation. Current options are porcelain, natural stone, solid surface, timber and laminate. See benchtops and splashbacks.
Which benchtop should I choose? There is no single answer. Porcelain is extremely hard, heat tolerant and needs no sealing. Natural stone has real depth and needs periodic sealing. Solid surface joins invisibly and can be sanded if scratched. Timber suits an island and needs oiling. Laminate is far better than its reputation and is the sensible choice when the budget is better spent elsewhere.
Is there a best cabinet door finish? Two-pack polyurethane is the premium option and the only one that can be properly re-sprayed later. Laminate with ABS edging is the most forgiving in a busy family kitchen. Thermolaminated doors are good value but dislike sustained steam at the edges.
Time and disruption
How long does the whole thing take? Commonly eight to twelve weeks from first call to finished kitchen for a full job, most of which is design, selections and off-site manufacture. On-site time is usually two to four weeks.
How long are we without a kitchen? The real gap is between strip-out and the benchtop being fitted — often a week to ten days — plus a few days for splashback, tapware and appliances. A temporary fridge, kettle and microwave arrangement is set up before the strip-out. See how the job runs.
Can we stay in the house? Almost always. Dust protection goes up and services are isolated only when needed.
Money and protections
What deposit can be asked for? The maximum deposit for residential building work in NSW is 10 per cent of the contract price. Where the contract value requires it, home building compensation cover must be in place before a deposit is requested. The threshold figure and the guide price bands are on the cost page.
Will the price change during the job? Only for a variation you agree to in writing, or for something genuinely concealed — an unlevel slab, ducting hidden in a bulkhead, old vinyl that needs testing, or a switchboard that cannot carry a modern kitchen. The measure exists to find those first.
Why is there no price on most pages of this site? Because a figure without a site visit is a guess. All the pricing guidance sits on one page so it stays current and in context.
Safety and compliance
What about asbestos? Homes built before 1990 can contain asbestos in wall sheeting, tile backing boards and vinyl flooring. Suspect material is sampled and tested before demolition, and a positive result is removed by a separately licensed asbestos removalist, not by the kitchen trades.
Who carries out the work? Kitchen renovation work is carried out in partnership with Coastal Renovation Group, a licensed NSW builder. Licence and insurance details are provided on your discovery call, or whenever you ask.
Is the electrical and plumbing work certified? Yes. Licensed trades carry out their own work and issue the relevant certificates, which are handed over at completion along with appliance documentation.
Still unanswered
Call 02 4601 3179 or send your question through with your kitchen details.
Questions people ask before they commit
Do you charge for the measure and quote?
No. The on-site measure and the itemised written quote are free and carry no obligation. What you receive is a measured plan, an appliance schedule, a services mark-up and a priced scope you can compare against anyone else's.
Do I need council approval for a kitchen renovation?
A like-for-like kitchen replacement inside an existing room is normally exempt development. Approval becomes relevant when a load-bearing wall is altered, the footprint changes, a new roof structure is added over an alfresco area, or the property is heritage-listed or in a conservation area. Parts of Camden and Elderslie fall into that last category.
Which council covers my suburb?
Camden, Elderslie, Narellan, Narellan Vale, Mount Annan, Currans Hill, Spring Farm, Oran Park and Harrington Park sit within Camden Council. Gregory Hills straddles the Camden and Campbelltown City Council boundary, so the applicable authority is confirmed against your specific lot before anything is lodged.
Can I keep my existing appliances?
Usually, and it is often sensible. Bring the model numbers. Cabinet openings, clearances and ventilation are designed around the real appliances rather than generic sizes, which is exactly how a fridge cavity ends up too small when it is done the other way around.
What is the warranty on the work?
Residential building work in NSW carries statutory warranties under the Home Building Act, and they apply regardless of what any contract says. Appliances and tapware carry their own manufacturer warranties, which are handed over at completion. Specific terms for your job are set out in the contract before you sign it.