29 June 2020

Kitchen renovation and more - looking for good companies

| catada
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Hi, My kitchen is in serious need of a facelift, but I am worried about finding a good company. I am on a budget, I don’t need luxury or high fashion but I still want it to be done properly and look nice. I want to find someone who will advise me on a cost effective and durable solution. I have the opportunity to buy a 2nd had kitchen, I haven’t got a price on installing it yet, maybe I should get it resurfaced, has anyone tried Ultimate Resurfacing? or maybe I should just get a kit or just get the doors and benchtops replaced rather than getting a new kitchen. I rent the house out as I currently live away, but still how I would like it to look if I come back.

I have lots of other work that needs doing as well – replace the driveway, trees removed, fit new vanity, painting etc, so I am thinking of First Man Trade Services. Has anyone used them?

Any ideas are welcome.

Thanks Cate

If you’re also thinking about renovating your kitchen, check out our recently updated article on the best kitchen renovation companies in Canberra.

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batmantrilogy6:17 pm 18 Dec 15

Hi Mate,

Got a face lift done for our kitchen and had contacted few companies but finally got it done with http://www.vibrantkitchens.com.au . The mob was good , told what they were going to do and actually over delivered and the best bit was they were on time.

Would surely reckon you give them a call.

Hi, I have also used The Kitchen Company for a facelift and couldn’t be happier!. The moment I walked in their showroom and spoke to them I knew I would be getting exactly what I wanted. My kitchen looks like a modern magazine photo shoot. I love it!

I heard a radio ad a few weeks ago about kitchen facelift which is part of the kitchen company. I had them out last week for a quote and I’m really happy with them so far. I can choose anything I want for my doors and benchtops, just like a new kitchen, which is great for us because we really wanted a caesarstone benchtop! The are also adding on a new pantry for me! Ive been wanting to update my kitchen for ages but I didn’t want that fake granite so I’m happy I waited…. Has anyone else used kitchen facelift?

catada said :

I have no qualms in spending a few dollars on petrol to find a good company.
I have found tradesmen that do not want to come across town to do a quote so I wanted more south side companies in case they don’t want to do it.
I would think that there were good people in Fyshwick and Queanbeyan, and I am on the East side of Tuggeranong so it takes 12 minutes to get to Fyshwick 17 minutes to get to Queanbeyan (I have commuted to both for work) and about 45 or so to get to Mitchell.

While Simplicity Kitchens are in Mitchell, Dave lives in Lanyon so has no problems doing quotes on the southside. A benefit is that he will make an appointment outside of normal hours.

I would really recommend looking further afield that southside based trades. Some are a bit gun-shy about travelling, but that seems to be a general Canberra trait.

MightyJoe my kitchen is pretty big, so I was happy with $11k. A new kitchen would have cost well over $30k given the size of the room. The plumber charged $750 to remove and reinstall a dishwasher and gas oven (which he later conceded included someone else’s bill as well) but the end result of $600 for less than an hour’s work was outrageous! I will be encouraging my children to become plumbers if that’s what they earn!

Always worth shopping around though.

Agreed! I used their plumber and it was 300+ for removal of the gas cooktop / install of the new one…

and then proceeded to tell me that it costs 300+ for install of new taps in my bathroom

11k Pear!!!!, I paid 8k for mine (u type not too large)

OP def shop around, Canberra’s not too large and as others have mentioned better to drive an extra 10mins to save money and get better quality that spend on poor quality.

Pear said :

I’ve used Granite Transformations. For $11k they replaced all cupboard doors, kick boards, splash backs and bench tops. A beautiful job and completed in 2 days. I would suggest you use your own plumber though – the one they provided was obscenely expensive (to remove dishwasher and oven). Also be very careful that your quote reflects exactly what you want. Overall I would recommend them.

I’ve used Granite Transformations. For $11k they replaced all cupboard doors, kick boards, splash backs and bench tops. A beautiful job and completed in 2 days. I would suggest you use your own plumber though – the one they provided was obscenely expensive (to remove dishwasher and oven). Also be very careful that your quote reflects exactly what you want. Overall I would recommend them.

I am still looking for someone to do my kitchen, has anyone else used Granite Transformations or Ultimate Resurfacing? What do you think of the idea of refacing rather than replacing?

I have no qualms in spending a few dollars on petrol to find a good company.
I have found tradesmen that do not want to come across town to do a quote so I wanted more south side companies in case they don’t want to do it.
I would think that there were good people in Fyshwick and Queanbeyan, and I am on the East side of Tuggeranong so it takes 12 minutes to get to Fyshwick 17 minutes to get to Queanbeyan (I have commuted to both for work) and about 45 or so to get to Mitchell.

Exactly. A kitchen reno will cost thousands and you are quibbling about going to Mitchell to talk to a recommended company??

We are looking at a kitchen reno this year, two of the companies we are considering aren’t even in the ACT.

The difference from Tugg to Qbn and Tugg to Kippax is about 10 kms. If people are recommending good companies, take the time to spend an extra dollar in petrol to go and talk to them.

Otherwise you could spend hundreds or thousands more on a crap job.

Plus search elsewhere on this website. Kitchen renovations has been discussed a number of times and you may find other recommendations in other threads.

I know what I’d do.

Thanks for that, They sound good, I see Mark Foley is at Kippax and Simplicity is in Mitchell. I am in Tuggeranong so Fyshwick or Queanbeyan are closer. I see Granite Transformations are in Fyshwick.
I will get in contact with them. Still I would like more options particularly Southside. Thanks

Simplicity Kitchens. I can’t recommend them enough. The owner, Dave, is the head chippie and does a lot of the design work as well. I was coordinating with other trades and made a mistake with a booking; he got on the phone and organised one of his tradies at a good rate on short notice.

Granite transformations recently did my Kitchen, well priced. They reused my frames just did the doors, kick panels and a few bits and pieces.

I used Mark Foley kitchens last year and was really happy. I got three quotes and his was the cheapest and made all the cabinets here in Canberra. I wanted to fit quite a bit in our tiny space and he made the most of every corner and even accommodated a slim line dishwasher (now the source of my happiness). He installed it over 4 days and took out the old one, got electricians, plumbers and plasterers. Absolutely no dramas whatsoever (other than us not being able to find the off tap for the cold water in our apartment complex).

He doesn’t have a showroom, but if you know what you want then its fine.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Foley-Kitchens-Joinery/335179641437

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