Kitchen refurbishment in Chatham

Is kitchen refurbishment right for your Chatham kitchen?

Landlords across Kent often refurbish rather than replace between tenancies, because new doors, worktops and a sink can be fitted in days and the units underneath are rarely the problem.

People preparing to sell a home in Kent sometimes refresh the kitchen instead of replacing it, so viewers see clean doors, a sound worktop and modern lighting without a full refit bill. Homes right across Chatham are covered, as are nearby places such as Gillingham, Rochester and the villages in between.

What we cover for kitchen refurbishment in Chatham

Here is what usually goes into kitchen refurbishment, adjusted to your Chatham kitchen after we have measured it:

Free survey visit to check every carcass for water damage, level and fixings
New handles drilled and fitted, with hinges and drawer runners adjusted or replaced
Under-cabinet and ceiling lighting updated by an electrician and tested to BS 7671
Sink and tap replaced on the existing supplies and waste
New doors, drawer fronts, end panels and plinths fitted to the existing units
Damaged units or tired appliances swapped where the rest of the kitchen is sound

What should you budget for kitchen refurbishment in Chatham?

As a starting point for Chatham, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in the South East. Expect costs in the South East to sit somewhat above UK averages, reflecting local labour rates.

What should you budget for kitchen refurbishment in Chatham?
Typical project	Guide price
New doors, worktops and handles on sound unitsCarcasses kept, everything you see replaced	£2,900–£6,900
Refresh plus sink, tap, splashback and lightingA full visual refit without moving services	£4,600–£10,400
Partial refit with some new units and appliancesDamaged units swapped, new appliances fitted	£6,900–£16,100

Guide ranges assume the existing layout and services stay in place with laminate or wood worktops; stone worktops, moved services, new circuits, flooring and plastering are priced as separate lines. Prices include VAT at 20%.

House types around Chatham and what they mean for a kitchen

Typical homes in this part of Kent include Victorian terraces, weatherboarded cottages, 1930s semis and oast house conversions. Victorian terraces in the Medway towns and along the coast often have a narrow back-addition kitchen, while 1930s semis usually have a small kitchen beside a separate dining room.

Water across Kent is hard, so limescale builds up quickly on taps and boiling water taps, and a scale-reducing filter is worth considering. Seaside terraces, permit parking and narrow village lanes can each make deliveries slower, so the route for long worktops is best checked at the survey.

Building regulations, electrics and gas in Chatham

Refurbishing a kitchen in England needs no planning permission or Building Regulations approval in itself, though a listed home may need listed building consent before historic features are removed. Swapping light fittings or adding sockets on existing kitchen circuits is not notifiable under Part P but must meet BS 7671; a new circuit is notifiable. A gas hob must be disconnected and reconnected by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Listed weatherboarded and timber-framed cottages, oast conversions and homes in conservation areas such as historic Canterbury may need consent for new external vents.

Tips before you start

If your Chatham kitchen has a tiled splashback, decide early whether it stays; removing old tiles often damages the plaster behind and adds a day of making good.
Before booking a refurbishment for your Chatham home, empty the sink cupboard and check the base for swelling or soft spots, as it decides whether that unit stays.
Plan meals for the days the worktop and sink are out in your Chatham home; a kettle, a microwave and a washing-up bowl in another room make those days easier.
Open the sink cupboard and look for swollen board or staining; water-damaged carcasses should be replaced, not hidden behind new doors.

Questions about kitchen refurbishment in Chatham

How much does kitchen refurbishment cost in Chatham?

Kitchen refurbishment in Chatham typically costs £2,900 to £6,900 including VAT for new doors, worktops and handles on sound units, based on prices in the South East. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Do you work near Chatham as well?

Yes. As well as Chatham itself, we cover the rest of Kent and nearby towns such as Gillingham and Rochester. The process is the same wherever the kitchen is.

Will a refurbished kitchen look like a new one?

It can come very close, because doors, worktops, handles and the splashback make up most of what you see. The differences show inside the cupboards and in the layout, which stays the same. Matching new end panels, plinths and cornice to the doors matters, because old panels left in place give the age of the kitchen away.

Can I keep my existing appliances during a refurbishment?

Usually, yes. Built-in ovens, hobs and integrated appliances can stay if they work well and suit the existing housings. If you replace one, the new appliance must match the housing dimensions and door-fixing method, and a larger oven or an induction hob may need a new cooker circuit. We check model numbers and sizes at the survey, before you buy anything.

Is it worth refurbishing a kitchen rather than replacing it?

Often, yes, if the carcasses are sound and you are happy with the layout. A refurbishment keeps the hidden structure and spends the budget on what you see. It stops being good value when several units are water-damaged, when you want to move the sink, hob or walls, or when the units are an unusual size that new doors will not suit.

Nearby places we cover

Neighbouring towns where we offer kitchen refurbishment: