Kitchen Renovation in Orkney

Design and cabinet order first (longest lead time), then strip-out, then first-fix plumbing, gas, and electrical, then walls, ceilings, and flooring, then cabinet installation, then benchtop templating and fitting (often a 1-2 week gap for stone), then appliances, splashback, and second-fix. The benchtop templating gap surprises most first-timers — plan interim use around it.

Appliances are the easiest item to self-supply because they are standardized and heavily discounted in sales — just lock in exact models before cabinets are ordered, since cabinet openings are built to them. Let the contractor handle anything built-in that affects warranty or gas/electrical certification, and agree in writing who is responsible if a self-supplied appliance arrives late or damaged.

Cabinetry — it typically consumes 30-40% of the budget, more than appliances or benchtops. After cabinets: whether you move plumbing or gas, appliance tier, benchtop material, and layout changes. A same-layout renovation with mid-range cabinets is routinely half the price of a relocated kitchen with custom joinery.

Kitchen companies bundle design, cabinetry, and installation — convenient, mid-to-premium pricing, but their trades coordination varies. A general contractor suits kitchens with structural or layout changes. Buying cabinets yourself and hiring an installer plus plumber and electrician is cheapest but makes you the project manager. Match the model to how much rework your kitchen needs, not to the showroom experience.

Set up a temporary station before demolition: microwave, kettle, and a portable induction hob near a sink you can still use (bathroom or laundry). Keep the old fridge running in another room. Budget realistically for more takeaway meals across the 2-6 kitchen-less weeks — it belongs in the project budget alongside tiles.

All-inclusive kitchen renovations typically run R63,000-R190,000, with cabinetry at R25,000-R55,000 and countertops R8,000-R25,000 of that; luxury projects in major metros reach R280,000-R450,000. The rand's effect on imported appliances makes local-brand choices the main budget lever.

Many owners add gas hobs for load-shedding resilience — but the installation must be done by a SAQCC-registered gas practitioner with a certificate of conformity, and cylinder placement rules apply. Budget the certified installation and CoC, not just the appliance.