Kitchen refurbishment · Scotland
Kitchen refurbishment in the Lothians
We carry out kitchen refurbishment across the Lothians, from Livingston to the smaller towns, with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote as standard.
Why kitchen refurbishment for a Lothians home?
Plenty of homeowners in the Lothians have kitchens with solid carcasses and tired fronts, and a refurbishment lets them keep the layout they are used to while replacing everything they see each day.
Some Lothians 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.
What does kitchen refurbishment in the Lothians include?
Every kitchen is different, so we confirm the scope in writing. Most jobs of this kind include:
- 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 the Lothians?
The figures below are guide prices for the Lothians, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across Scotland. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Prices in Scotland usually come in below the national guide, as labour rates are lower than in the South East.
| Typical project | Guide price |
|---|---|
| New doors, worktops and handles on sound unitsCarcasses kept, everything you see replaced | £2,400–£5,600 |
| Refresh plus sink, tap, splashback and lightingA full visual refit without moving services | £3,800–£8,500 |
| Partial refit with some new units and appliancesDamaged units swapped, new appliances fitted | £5,600–£13,200 |
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 the Lothians
The housing mix across the Lothians includes former mining village terraces, stone cottages, new town houses and new-build estates, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Livingston's new-town houses often have a compact L-shaped kitchen, while older stone cottages and mining-village terraces tend to have a small kitchen at the back.
Homes across the Lothians generally get soft mains water, so limescale is rarely a big problem and taps and boiling water taps tend to stay cleaner. New-build estates usually have good access for vans, while older village streets and terraced rows can have tight parking close to the front door.
Many newer homes across the Lothians have builder-grade kitchens that owners replace with better storage, integrated appliances and an island or peninsula. Older stone cottages and mining-village terraces bring thick walls, small windows and uneven floors, which usually mean careful scribing, levelling and a well-planned lighting scheme.
Rules for kitchen refurbishment in the Lothians
In Scotland, replacing doors, worktops, a sink or light fittings in a house does not normally need a building warrant, and most electrical work in a house does not either, but it must meet the building standards and BS 7671, so ask for an electrical certificate. A listed building may need listed building consent before historic features are removed. Gas hobs are disconnected and reconnected by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Listed buildings and conservation areas in older towns such as Musselburgh and Linlithgow may need consent for new vents, and flat owners may need neighbours' agreement.
Before you start
- If several units are damaged, the layout no longer suits you or services need moving, a full new kitchen may be better value.
- Keep appliances that fit their housings, but check that any new integrated appliance matches the existing gap and door-fixing method.
- Check whether the hinges and drawer runners can be reused; worn or mismatched fittings can stop new doors from sitting straight.
- Stone worktops are templated once the old tops are off and fitted about one to two weeks later, so plan for a gap without full worktops.
- If you let a property in the Lothians, book the refurbishment between tenancies and choose durable finishes such as laminate worktops and wipe-clean splashbacks.
- Collect appliance model numbers before the survey so housing sizes and door-fixing kits can be checked against anything you plan to keep or replace.
Questions about kitchen refurbishment in the Lothians
How much does kitchen refurbishment cost in the Lothians?
Kitchen refurbishment in the Lothians typically costs £2,400 to £5,600 including VAT for new doors, worktops and handles on sound units, based on prices in Scotland. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.
Do you cover the whole of the Lothians?
Yes. We carry out kitchen refurbishment across the Lothians, including Livingston, Musselburgh, Bathgate and Bonnyrigg. Every job starts with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote.
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.
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.
How do you check whether my kitchen units are sound?
At the survey we check the carcasses one by one. We look for swollen or flaking board around the sink, dishwasher and kettle area, staining from old leaks, sagging shelves, damaged hinge holes, loose wall fixings and units that have dropped out of level. Sound carcasses are kept, and damaged ones are listed on the quote as replacements so nothing is left to chance later.
Kitchen refurbishment in towns across the Lothians
Choose a town for local guide prices and postcode coverage:
- Kitchen refurbishment in Livingston
- Kitchen refurbishment in Musselburgh
- Kitchen refurbishment in Bathgate
- Kitchen refurbishment in Bonnyrigg
- Kitchen refurbishment in Penicuik
- Kitchen refurbishment in Broxburn