budget for new kitchen & new bathroom

Luana

I'm planning to do a complete refurbishment of my kitchen and bathroom in my flat and I'm trying to understand budget. I've initially planned £15K for both, but in speaking with my neighbours I realise that might be a bit too optimistic. I booked some local tradesmen to come and give me some quotes next week - using a Benchmarx kitchens range, not sure about bath yet - but would like to have an idea how much should things cost before they come in.

My kitchen isn't that small for a flat, roughly 10"x10" and U-shaped design, and bathroom is 6"x8". It's an apartment, not a house - so layout-wise it will stay roughly the same, not moving plumbing. Price-wise I'm looking for mid-range for everything, not the cheapest - but not the most expensive either. Say Bosch or AEG appliances and quartz worktops.

How much should I expect to pay for everything, including supply, fitting, associated labour (plumbing, electrical, painting) materials, cabinetry, all appliances (except washing machine, which already I have in a cupboard), disposal of old stuff. Is £15K a realistic budget for both kitchen and bath, or is it too low? If too low, would £20K cover both?

I live in SW greater London so not exactly the cheapest area...

TA

bris

15k should be more than enough. The kitchens are about the same price as Howdens so for the materials price it should be no more than 3k for your size of room, that's if you go for mid range appliances and worktops. You can expect the same again for fitting.


Again bathrooms are also on what level you want to go for but a decent bathroom at cost for materials and labour should be no more than 4k.


You live in the London area so tbh I have no idea what the premium labour rate would be above the norm.
But by sourcing the materials your self you can save even more. You can pick up a good bathroom suit for under £500, wall panels or tiles etc another £500 and a weeks work for a fitter should be about £1500 so it all depends really on how you want to do it.


Getting firms in is an expensive way to go as they just show you stuff and give you an eye watering price.


Not sure how easy it would be for you to find fitters to give you a day rate for fitting though, some take the supply and fit only option, some will fit what you have. Ask family and friend if they know anyone, theres usually someone who can point you in the right direction.

andyhop

bris wrote: »

15k should be more than enough. The kitchens are about the same price as Howdens so for the materials price it should be no more than 3k for your size of room, that's if you go for mid range appliances and worktops. You can expect the same again for fitting.


Again bathrooms are also on what level you want to go for but a decent bathroom at cost for materials and labour should be no more than 4k.

You live in the London area so tbh I have no idea what the premium labour rate would be above the norm.
But by sourcing the materials your self you can save even more. You can pick up a good bathroom suit for under £500, wall panels or tiles etc another £500 and a weeks work for a fitter should be about £1500 so it all depends really on how you want to do it.


Getting firms in is an expensive way to go as they just show you stuff and give you an eye watering price.


Not sure how easy it would be for you to find fitters to give you a day rate for fitting though, some take the supply and fit only option, some will fit what you have. Ask family and friend if they know anyone, theres usually someone who can point you in the right direction.

8-9m of 30mm quartz, templated, manufactured and fitted will be the best part of 3k

Your prices do not get you a good finish with decent materials

£500 bathroom suites get you bottom end goods with a 5yr life

Doozergirl

A decent bathroom should be no less than £4k, not the other way around. We just did our own bathroom and there was at least 11 days labour in there.

OP, I think if you know what you want in the kitchen then it's a case of comparing prices. I think your budget may end up looking a little more like £20k for what you're calling mid-range but you can try different places to see what your money buys. DIY kitchens (online) comes with a good recommendation and transparent pricing so that would be a good comparison for Benchmarx at least.

If you only have £15k then you cut the cloth accordingly.

You can price up all your appliances yourself tonight! You could even measure your existing units and do a rough budget from DIY kitchens.

Luana

Thanks all. The fitters (2 of the 3 I called) were recommended by friends and neighbours and they have good ratings on checkatrade, and I've also seen some of their work. I need everything supplied and organised and I'm really looking for a 1-stop shop experience if I can... I'm a single mum working full time and I don't drive so...

I initially considered Magnet but the tradesmen, when I spoke with them over the phone, pointed me to Benchmarx and Howdens and a local bathroom supplier, so I went and visited and so far I'm leaning towards Benchmarx for the kitchen.

I booked design appointments with both Benchmarx & Howdens next week, and the bathroom supplier is coming in as well, with catalogues. Then the fitters are coming in after that. I wanted some cost indication though, before they all come in.

I plan to get at least 3 quotes from the local fitters and go from there.

SuzieSue

If you're in London, I think that you will be looking at between £10k and 15k for the kitchen alone especially if you want quartz worktops.

With the bathroom, the labour cost will depend on whether you are having the whole bathroom tiled or not. Tiling is very expensive. If you are having the bathroom tiled then I think you are looking at between £5k and £10k depending on the quality of the sanitaryware.

As mentioned below, take a look at DIY Kitchens.

bris

andyhop wrote: »

8-9m of 30mm quartz, templated, manufactured and fitted will be the best part of 3k

Your prices do not get you a good finish with decent materials

£500 bathroom suites get you bottom end goods with a 5yr life

I missed the point about the quartz worktops, I saw mid range everything. That points to benchmarx as they are mid range, you can of course pay top dollar for the quartz worktops.


£500 for a bathroom suit is certainly not bottom end, it's again mid ranges and 5 years life? Your having a laugh.


I might be spoilt because I have accounts with Howdens, Trade- point and a local builders merchants who do the Bechmarx range so know what everything costs. As well as being able to do my own fitting. It's the labour costs that are the real eye opener.


Project managing yourself can save a good few quid, I certainly wouldn't be paying someone 10k for the fitting, even in London 15k for a mid range small kitchen is staggering.

Doozergirl

This person wants decent stuff, bris. If she wants Bosch, then she probably doesn't want £15 a metre tiles (which is what your £500 allows for in fully tiled bathroom). I'm not sure what you're expecting for £500 in fittings but mid-range is not a contract range bath with a mixer/shower attachment, pedestal basin and a close-coupled loo.

That's budget, not mid-range. A mid range bathroom suite certainly does not come for the same price as one Bosch oven.

Of course people can do things for different budgets, but if they're comparing to the neighbours and the neighbours know how much they paid then sure, the OP can aim lower for the same finish as a target, but it isn't going to be cheap.

andyhop

We so mid range bathrooms for the average Joe

I get materials at cost price plus 6% from City Plumbing due to having friends work there

Never have I spent as little as £500 on a suite , it’s not even something a reputable trader would want to supply or fit given the origin would be questionable

phill99

I fit bathrooms and kitchens for a living.


The quartz alone will cost you £2500 plus. So realistically, with appliances, tiling, electrics, plumbing etc, your £15k is in your kitchen. Allow £6K - £8K for your bathroom.

Beenie

We had our bathroom refitted a couple of years ago. We used good qualiy ranges (Roper Rhodes, Aqualisa, specially made shower cubicle due to awkward room shape, Geberit toilet-flushing system, and HansGrohe taps) and fully tiled with Porcelanosa, walls and floor. Not much change from £10K.