Kitchen refurbishment in Gwent

Thinking about kitchen refurbishment in Gwent?

Some Gwent households want a new look but cannot face two weeks without a kitchen; a refurbishment keeps the services in place and shortens the time the room is out of use.

After a leak under the sink, some Gwent homeowners find only a few units are damaged; swapping those and refreshing the fronts can cost far less than starting again.

What does kitchen refurbishment in Gwent include?

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

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

How much does kitchen refurbishment cost in Gwent?

As a starting point for Gwent, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in Wales. Labour rates in Wales are generally lower than in London and the South East, so these ranges are a little below the national guide.

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%.

Kitchens in homes across Gwent

You will find valley terraces, Victorian villas, post-war council-built houses and new-build estates throughout Gwent. Valley terraces often have a small kitchen in the rear extension, while Victorian villas in Newport and post-war houses in Cwmbran tend to have a separate kitchen and dining room.

Water across most of Gwent is soft to moderately soft, which is kinder to taps, though some areas are harder, so check with your supplier. Steep valley streets, terraces with steps up to the door and limited parking can make carrying long worktops difficult, so access is checked at the survey.

Valley terraces often have the kitchen in a narrow back extension, so a galley layout with good storage usually works best. Owners of newer estate houses tend to want a straight replacement with integrated appliances and an island or peninsula.

Rules for kitchen refurbishment in Gwent

In Wales, a kitchen refurbishment needs no planning permission, though a listed building may need listed building consent. Electrical rules are stricter than in England: extending an existing circuit within a kitchen is notifiable under Part P, so new under-cabinet lighting or extra sockets added during a refit are usually certified through a competent person scheme or building control. Gas hobs must be reconnected by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

The northern edge of Gwent falls within Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, and listed buildings or conservation areas elsewhere may need consent for new external vents.

Before you start

• Open the sink cupboard and look for swollen board or staining; water-damaged carcasses should be replaced, not hidden behind new doors.
• Measure replacement doors against your carcasses rather than the old doors, as widths, hinge positions and drawer box sizes vary between ranges.
• Check whether the hinges and drawer runners can be reused; worn or mismatched fittings can stop new doors from sitting straight.
• Keep appliances that fit their housings, but check that any new integrated appliance matches the existing gap and door-fixing method.
• Plan meals for the days the worktop and sink are out in your Gwent home; a kettle, a microwave and a washing-up bowl in another room make those days easier.
• If your Gwent 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.

Questions about kitchen refurbishment in Gwent

Kitchen refurbishment in towns across Gwent

Choose a town for local guide prices and postcode coverage:

• Kitchen refurbishment in Newport, Gwent
• Kitchen refurbishment in Cwmbran
• Kitchen refurbishment in Pontypool
• Kitchen refurbishment in Ebbw Vale
• Kitchen refurbishment in Caerphilly
• Kitchen refurbishment in Risca
• Kitchen refurbishment in Gelligaer
• Kitchen refurbishment in Blackwood

Kitchen refurbishment in nearby areas

• Kitchen refurbishment in South Glamorgan
• Kitchen refurbishment in Mid Glamorgan
• Kitchen refurbishment in Bristol
• Kitchen refurbishment in West Glamorgan
• Kitchen refurbishment in Somerset