Cost of updating rather than replacing kitchen...

RainbowsInTheSpray

... by using one of these firms who supply new frontages and worktops to the existing units.

I'm trying, without much success so far, to get some, even very rough ballpark figure for getting this done. Is there anyone here with experience able to shed light?

Robin9

You should be able to find material cost  at your local DIY shed. 

A days labour for 2 - £1500

Sundries £500

VAT 20%

Anthony147

Robin9 said:

You should be able to find material cost  at your local DIY shed. 

A days labour for 2 - £1500

Sundries £500

VAT 20%

@robin9 £750 per person, per day + VAT.
Is that now considered a reasonable day rate - serious question (what does that rate get you)?

Robin9

Perhaps a little high but I've just had an engineer charging £300 for a 1/2 day

Anthony147

Robin9 said:

Perhaps a little high but I've just had an engineer charging £300 for a 1/2 day

I’d say £500 / £600 is reasonable for an engineer / sparks or otherwise qualified and regulated trades but general or multi skill, unqualified or unregulated - I see as £250 / £400 range being reasonable (I could however be out of touch)  given some quotes I’ve refused to go ahead on for household work (garage roof replacement, gate install, fencing) which I assumed were simply do not want the job pricing as opposed to market rates - hence the question.

RainbowsInTheSpray

So I take it that getting an actual firm in - as suggested in my OP - would be more expensive than sourcing the labour and materials separately..?

jennifernil

We replaced worktops and unit doors in our utility room,  but my OH is great at DIY so we did it ourselves.     Would that be a possibility for you?    Or even just fit doors yourself and get a joiner to do the worktops if they are other than just straight pieces.

Plenty of places on line sell replacement doors, either standard sizes or made to measure, you can get samples sent out.    They will also drill the hinge holes if you supply accurate measurements.   There are also local places, to us anyway, that advertise supply and fit of doors and worktops, so you should be able to get some prices.

We bought the doors on line and ordered a custom made worktop, L shape, from Ikea as they have good deep ones.   It was not difficult to install, but OH has done worktops before.

You could ask locally for suggestions for good joiners.

RainbowsInTheSpray

jennifernil said:

We replaced worktops and unit doors in our utility room,  but my OH is great at DIY so we did it ourselves.     Would that be a possibility for you?    Or even just fit doors yourself and get a joiner to do the worktops if they are other than just straight pieces.

Plenty of places on line sell replacement doors, either standard sizes or made to measure, you can get samples sent out.    They will also drill the hinge holes if you supply accurate measurements.   There are also local places, to us anyway, that advertise supply and fit of doors and worktops, so you should be able to get some prices.

We bought the doors on line and ordered a custom made worktop, L shape, from Ikea as they have good deep ones.   It was not difficult to install, but OH has done worktops before.

You could ask locally for suggestions for good joiners.

Very grateful for this reply.

Slinky

We had a quote for replacement worktops with a stone effect cover top, new sink, 3 replacement cupboards, new doors and drawer fronts for 11 doors and 9 drawers, some other bits and bobs, came in at over £13K. From a company specialising in replacement doors/drawers.

We went for new laminate worktops and sink, kept all the existing cupboards and drawers spray painted came in at £4K. This was about 2 years ago. Our kitchen was a good quality German one only installed a few month before the homeowner died. It was just the worktop and colour choice that wasn't to our taste and we would liked to have put a full size dishwasher in, instead of the small one. It's not a large kitchen.

RainbowsInTheSpray

Slinky said:

We had a quote for replacement worktops with a stone effect cover top, new sink, 3 replacement cupboards, new doors and drawer fronts for 11 doors and 9 drawers, some other bits and bobs, came in at over £13K. From a company specialising in replacement doors/drawers.

Wow, that's not encouraging.

silvercar

15 years ago I paid about £3k for granite worktops to replace existing ones from one of these companies. 

You’ll save time and mess compared to having a new kitchen, I doubt you’ll save much money.