Stage 1 — First visit and measure
A visit to the house or apartment to understand how the kitchen is used and what is wrong with it. The room is measured properly: walls at several heights, floor and ceiling levels, windows, doors, plumbing, gas, switchboard and extraction routes.
This visit also flags the questions that can derail a job later:
- Is the house a heritage item or in a conservation area?
- Is it a strata property, and what do the by-laws say?
- Was it built or renovated before about 1990, meaning asbestos testing is needed?
- Is any wall to be removed load-bearing?
- How will materials get in and out?
Stage 2 — Design
Plans and elevations are drawn to the measured dimensions. Layout options are compared, appliances are selected by model, and the lighting and power plan is set. Expect two or three rounds of revision. See design and layout.
Stage 3 — Selections and the fixed quote
Joinery finishes, benchtop material and slab, splashback, sink, tapware and hardware are chosen and written into a schedule. The quote is built from that schedule, so it names materials rather than describing them.
Everything is locked here. A change after this point is still possible, but it becomes a priced variation and may affect the program.
Stage 4 — Contract, deposit and approvals
A written contract is signed. In NSW, the deposit can be no more than 10 per cent, and for work over $20,000 home building compensation cover must be in place before a deposit is requested.
Where needed, approvals are obtained now:
- Owners corporation approval for apartment kitchens
- Engineer's design for wall removal
- Council consent where external or heritage-affected work requires it
Stage 5 — Manufacture
Joinery is made off site to the drawings. This is usually several weeks, longer for veneer and specialist finishes. The old kitchen stays in use throughout.
Before demolition, asbestos testing is completed for older homes, appliances are confirmed as delivered or scheduled, and the temporary kitchen is set up.
Stage 6 — Demolition and rough-in (about week 1)
The old kitchen comes out and waste is removed. Any asbestos found is removed by a licensed removalist before other demolition proceeds.
Then the rough-in: plumbing and waste, gas where retained, new circuits, lighting positions, rangehood ducting and data. Any structural work, such as a beam, happens at this stage.
Stage 7 — Walls, ceilings and floors (about week 1–2)
Sheeting, patching, cornice repairs, levelling and any new flooring. In period houses, this is where walls that are out of plumb and floors that fall are dealt with properly, so the joinery can be installed level.
Stage 8 — Joinery installation (about week 2)
Cabinets are installed, levelled and fixed. Tall units, panels and fillers are fitted. Integrated appliance housings are checked against the actual appliances.
Stage 9 — Benchtops (about week 2–4)
The benchtop fabricator templates the installed cabinets, then cuts and polishes the benchtops. This is often the longest wait of the on-site period. Some fabricators offer temporary benchtops so the sink can be connected in the meantime.
See benchtops and splashbacks.
Stage 10 — Splashback, fit-off and handover (about week 3–5)
Splashback installation, sink and tapware connection, appliance installation, electrical fit-off, painting, adjustment of doors and drawers, a final clean and a walk-through. Care instructions for benchtops and finishes are handed over with appliance documentation.
Keeping the program on track
- Lock selections early and avoid changes after ordering
- Order appliances so they arrive before install week
- Test for asbestos before demolition
- Start strata conversations before design is final
- Plan access for slabs and panels on steep or apartment sites
Payments
Progress payments should follow completed stages, such as rough-in, joinery installation and benchtop installation, rather than calendar dates.
See the 2026 cost bands and the FAQ.
Call 02 5657 4821 or send your kitchen details through.
Questions people ask before they commit
How long does a kitchen renovation take from first visit to handover?
Commonly three to five months overall for a house, and longer where strata or council approval is needed. Design and selections take several weeks, joinery manufacture several more, and the on-site period for a kitchen that keeps its footprint is typically three to five weeks.
When do I need to choose my appliances?
During design, before joinery drawings are finalised. Cabinet widths, ventilation gaps, power circuits and the cooktop cut-out all depend on the exact models, so changing an appliance after ordering can mean remaking cabinets.
Can we live in the house during the renovation?
Usually yes. A temporary kitchen — a microwave, kettle, bar fridge and a laundry sink — gets most households through the on-site weeks. Dust and noise are heaviest during demolition and rough-in.
What delays kitchen renovations most?
Selections changed after ordering, appliances arriving late or discontinued, stone slabs unavailable, approvals taking longer than expected, and hidden conditions such as asbestos, rotten floor framing or inadequate wiring. Locking selections early and testing for asbestos before demolition remove the most common causes.