Kitchen Renovations

A kitchen renovation is a chain of dependent jobs. The layout decides where the plumbing and wiring go, the cabinets have to be installed before the counters can be measured, and the backsplash waits for the counters. Getting that order right, and making each decision before it holds up the next step, is most of what separates a steady kitchen project from a stalled one. We build kitchens in houses and condos across Toronto and the GTA, from new cabinetry in the existing footprint to a full rebuild that joins the kitchen to the dining room.

Our part of the kitchen, and the licensed trades' part

Our team handles demolition and protection, framing changes, drywall and ceiling repairs, cabinet and island installation, trim, backsplash and floor tile, other flooring and painting. Licensed trades do the rest: an electrician runs the new circuits and installs the pot lights and under-cabinet lights, a plumber moves the sink and dishwasher lines, and a gas fitter hooks up a gas range. If the wall between kitchen and dining room carries load, an engineer designs the beam and a building permit is needed, just as in any main-floor renovation. Moving the sink or adding new plumbing generally calls for a permit too, and we tell you early when one is likely. We plan the cabinet layout, framing and drywall around those trades so nobody has to undo anyone else's work.

From first measurements to the first meal

1. Measure and listen — we measure the room, note where the drains, vents and electrical panel are, and ask how you cook, store and entertain.
2. Estimate and orders — you receive an itemized written estimate; once cabinets and finishes are chosen, orders go in so materials are on hand when tear-out ends.
3. Tear-out and rough-ins — the old kitchen comes out behind dust barriers, framing changes are made, and the trades rough in their work.
4. Walls, ceiling and floor — drywall is closed, taped and primed, and any tile or nail-down floor that will sit under the cabinets goes in.
5. Cabinets, then counters — cabinets are hung, levelled and fastened, the countertop fabricator makes templates, and the counters are installed.
6. Finishing — backsplash, the trades' final connections, trim, touch-ups and a walkthrough with you.

Three to six weeks, and what decides where you land

Most kitchens take three to six weeks from tear-out to walkthrough, depending on size and scope. Replacing cabinets and counters in the same layout sits at the shorter end. Moving the sink to an island, removing a wall or rebuilding a condo kitchen under building rules pushes toward the longer end. The biggest single variable is often the wait between cabinet installation and countertop installation, because stone tops cannot be cut until the cabinets are set and templated. Ordering cabinets early, and confirming your appliance models before that order is placed, keeps that wait as short as it can be.

Where a kitchen budget goes

A kitchen's price follows its layout and its materials. Keeping the sink, range and fridge where they are avoids most of the trade work; moving them adds plumbing, electrical and sometimes gas changes, plus patching wherever lines are rerouted. Cabinets range from stock boxes to semi-custom and fully custom, and door style and interior fittings add to the total. Countertops vary by material, whether laminate, quartz, granite or another natural stone, and by the number of seams and cut-outs. Condition matters too: sagging floors, crooked walls or old wiring the electrician has to replace often show up once the old cabinets are off, and any work beyond the agreed scope is discussed and approved before we do it.

Details worth settling before the old kitchen comes out

• Floor under or around the cabinets — tile and nail-down hardwood can run under the cabinets, while floating floors such as laminate and vinyl plank are normally laid after them so the floor can expand and contract.
• The range hood route — a hood that vents outdoors needs a duct path through cabinets, ceiling or an outside wall, and that path is far easier to plan before cabinets are ordered.
• Drawers or doors — deep drawers in the lower cabinets are easier to use for pots and everyday dishes than shelves hidden behind doors.
• Outlet positions — decide where the kettle, coffee maker and mixer will live so the electrician can place receptacles to suit before the backsplash goes up.
• Room around the island — leave enough space for an open dishwasher, an open oven door and someone walking past at the same time.

A rough sketch or a few photos, plus a list of what frustrates you about the current kitchen, is all we need to start. Send them our way, and after a visit to measure we will prepare a free, itemized written estimate.