The complete kitchen renovation guide

A full kitchen renovation in Bolton typically lands between £8,000 and £35,000+ depending on size, spec and structural work. Here's how those numbers usually break down:

• Cabinets & worktops: 40–55% of budget
• Labour (strip-out, fitting, plastering, tiling): 25–35%
• Appliances: 10–20%
• Plumbing, electrics, flooring: 10–15%

The biggest mistake we see is people budgeting for the kitchen but forgetting the renovation — the plastering, electrics, flooring and decoration that surround it. Always plan a 10% contingency.

Most full kitchen renovations take 3–5 weeks on site. A like-for-like refit can be 2 weeks; a structural reconfiguration with extension can run 8+ weeks.

A typical week-by-week:

• Week 1: Strip-out, first fix plumbing/electrics
• Week 2: Plastering, flooring substrate
• Week 3: Cabinet install, worktops templated
• Week 4: Worktops fitted, tiling, second fix
• Week 5: Decorating, snagging, handover

The right layout depends on how you actually live — not what looks good on Instagram. The four classic configurations:

• Galley: Two parallel runs. Brilliant for narrow spaces and serious cooks.
• L-shape: The most flexible — works in nearly every room.
• U-shape: Maximum storage and worktop, needs space.
• Island: Social, sociable, but eats floor area. Need 1m clearance all around.

• Cabinet carcasses: 18mm minimum. Avoid 15mm — they sag.
• Drawer runners: Soft-close, branded (Blum, Hettich). They'll outlive the rest.
• Worktops: Quartz or sintered stone for daily-use kitchens. Laminate is fine but choose properly.
• Hinges & handles: The cheap bits you touch every day. Spend a little more.

• Choosing the cheapest quote — it's almost always the most expensive in the long run.
• Skipping the plastering. Bad walls = bad-looking kitchens.
• Forgetting extraction. Recirculating hoods do almost nothing — vent externally.
• Not planning sockets early. You always need more than you think.

• Are you VAT registered and fully insured?
• Who actually does the work — you, or subcontractors?
• Can I see three recent jobs and references?
• Do you handle plumbing, electrics and plastering in-house?
• What's your snagging and aftercare policy?
• Will I get a written, itemised quote?