Kitchen refurbishment in Shaftesbury

Who usually needs kitchen refurbishment in Shaftesbury?

Landlords across Dorset 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.

A kitchen fitted ten or fifteen years ago in a Shaftesbury home may have good units let down by a chipped laminate worktop, faded doors and a stained sink. We work throughout Shaftesbury (SP7) and across the wider Dorset area.

What does the job involve?

Your written quote lists everything included. For kitchen refurbishment, that normally means:

Sink and tap replaced on the existing supplies and waste
Under-cabinet and ceiling lighting updated by an electrician and tested to BS 7671
Tiled, glass or panel splashback fitted once the new worktops are in
Old worktops removed and new laminate, wood or stone worktops fitted
Damaged units or tired appliances swapped where the rest of the kitchen is sound
New doors, drawer fronts, end panels and plinths fitted to the existing units

Kitchen refurbishment prices in Shaftesbury

The figures below are guide prices for Shaftesbury, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across the South West. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Prices across the South West are broadly in line with UK averages.

Kitchen refurbishment prices in Shaftesbury
Typical project	Guide price
New doors, worktops and handles on sound unitsCarcasses kept, everything you see replaced	£2,600–£6,200
Refresh plus sink, tap, splashback and lightingA full visual refit without moving services	£4,100–£9,300
Partial refit with some new units and appliancesDamaged units swapped, new appliances fitted	£6,200–£14,400

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%.

Local homes and their kitchens

Across Dorset you will often find thatched cottages, Victorian and Edwardian villas, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Edwardian villas in Bournemouth often have a separate kitchen and scullery, while 1930s semis and bungalows tend to have a compact room at the back.

Most of Dorset has hard water, so limescale on taps, sinks and boiling water taps is common, and a scale-reducing filter can help. Flats in converted villas may have no lift and shared hallways, and narrow village lanes can make delivering long worktops difficult.

Regulations for kitchen work in Shaftesbury

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.

Thatched and listed cottages may need listed building consent for internal changes, and owners of flats in converted houses usually need the freeholder's consent before work starts.

Tips before you start

Before booking a refurbishment for your Shaftesbury home, empty the sink cupboard and check the base for swelling or soft spots, as it decides whether that unit stays.
If your Shaftesbury 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.
If you let a property in Shaftesbury, book the refurbishment between tenancies and choose durable finishes such as laminate worktops and wipe-clean splashbacks.
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.

Questions about kitchen refurbishment in Shaftesbury

How much does kitchen refurbishment cost in Shaftesbury?

For new doors, worktops and handles on sound units, budget around £2,600 to £6,200 including VAT in Shaftesbury. That reflects typical costs in the South West; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.

Can you measure up in Shaftesbury before quoting?

Yes. Every quote starts with a free, no-obligation survey visit to your home in Shaftesbury. We measure the room, check the walls, floor and service positions, then send an itemised written quote.

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 long will I be without a kitchen during a refurbishment?

Usually two to seven days on site. New doors and handles can often be fitted in a day or two with the kitchen usable between visits. Replacing worktops, the sink and the splashback takes longer, and stone worktops add about one to two weeks between templating and fitting. Ask about a temporary worktop so the sink can stay in use during that gap.

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 near Shaftesbury

The same service is available a short drive from Shaftesbury, including: