Kitchens &
Renovations

The build side, meaning strip out, first and second fix, plastering, flooring and tiling, runs roughly 1,500 to 2,500 pounds per square metre. Units and appliances are separate and vary enormously: 8,000 to 14,000 for solid trade units and standard appliances, 14,000 to 22,000 for better carcasses and stone worktops, and 22,000 upward for bespoke or high end brands.

A structural opening with a steel, calculations, propping and making good is typically 3,500 to 7,000 pounds depending on the span and whether the wall is load bearing at more than one level. It needs building control sign off and a structural engineer's calculation. Anyone quoting to do it without either is a serious problem.

Roughly 200 to 450 pounds per square metre for a cosmetic refresh, 650 to 1,100 for a medium renovation with a new kitchen and bathroom and partial rewire, and 1,100 to 1,800 for a full gut back to brick including a rewire, replumb and new heating. For a typical three bed semi at around 90 square metres that means 60,000 to 90,000 at the lower end and 140,000 plus for a full structural renovation.

During a cosmetic refresh, yes. During a full gut with a rewire and replumb, honestly, it is miserable. There will be days without power, water or heating and a great deal of dust. We will tell you plainly which category your job falls into rather than letting you find out in week three.

Either. Plenty of clients buy their own from a supplier they like and we fit them, which works fine as long as the order is right and it lands on time. We can also supply through our own trade accounts, which usually costs less than the retail price and means one person is responsible if something arrives damaged.

If a property has been empty for two years or more immediately before work starts, a VAT registered builder can charge the reduced rate of 5 percent on most of the work instead of 20 percent. On a 60,000 pound renovation that is a substantial saving. It has to be applied at the time and cannot be reclaimed afterwards, so it is worth raising before you sign anything, with us or with anybody else.

Four to eight weeks for most kitchens depending on whether structural work is involved and how long the units take to arrive. Lead times on units are frequently the thing that sets the date rather than the building work, so we order early and build the programme around the delivery.

Yes, through our own team and long standing subcontractors. Electrical work in a kitchen is notifiable under building regulations and has to be certified. You get the certificates at handover, which is what your solicitor will want when you eventually sell.