Kitchen update or replace?

eimaj · Aug 13, 2007 2:35 pm

Hi everyone,
Fantastic forum with great tips and info. This is my first post !!
We have moved to a 17 year-old house in Melbourne's east, with Blackwood timber kitchen that has seen better days (worn/scratched/stained cupboard doors). The actual carcasses are very solid and in good condition. The benchtop is laminex with timber edging. It all looks a bit daggy and dark
We are considering two options
1 Update all the timber cupboard doors/drawer fronts with something more attractive (laminex or vinyl wrap), and get the existing laminex benchtop replaced. We're not confident in doing it ourselves, so would anyone know where to go to get this done? Also replace sink and hotplates.
or
2. Would there be much cost difference in just ripping it all out, and getting a new kitchen put in. All the appliances/plumbing could stay in the same spot as the existing layout is quite ok. We would keep the oven (A St.George double oven, and the dishwasher (which we bought) but get a new sink and hotplate.
Would be grateful for anyone's ideas on this
Eimaj

Strumer · Aug 13, 2007 3:49 pm

Hi Eimaj,

A significant part of the cost on a new kitchen is in the doors and the benchtop.

My advice for a 17 year old kitchen would be to remove the whole lot and get a new carcass set in as well as doors and tops.

There are some very nice hinge and drawer runner solutions available now that probably weren't around when your kitchen was built and you may well wish to incorporate some of these.

Go for a set of nice colourboard doors - if you like the gloss of vinyl maybe consider one of the new generation Sheen colourboards instead, it is stronger, cheaper and will last longer than vinyl.

Put on some good looking handles and maybe consider a slightly thicker laminated benchtop (38mm instead of 34mm).

It is alwyas worth your while to get comparative quotes between facelifting and replacing, but you could be suprised how little the difference is considering you will be getting a completely new kitchen.

Cheers,

Earl

eimaj · Aug 13, 2007 4:32 pm

Thanks Earl

Sorry to ask a dumb question - is colorboard like laminex, and can you get it with a routed design at all?
Eimaj[/b]

parker · Aug 13, 2007 4:47 pm

Yep.... Board with coloured laminate on each side.
Routed design = no.

eimaj · Aug 14, 2007 11:48 pm

Thanks Parker and Earl .
Which are the best types or brands of colorboard to look for? Are there any surface materials for cupboards you would recommend we avoid (it seems some vinylwraps are not made well).
I think we'll go with laminex-type benchtops, but do you know what the difference is between all the brands (eg duropol, wilsonart, laminex and the others?
Thanks guys

Eimaj

eimaj · Nov 27, 2007 3:44 pm

[quote="Strumer"]Hi Eimaj,

A significant part of the cost on a new kitchen is in the doors and the benchtop.

My advice for a 17 year old kitchen would be to remove the whole lot and get a new carcass set in as well as doors and tops.

There are some very nice hinge and drawer runner solutions available now that probably weren't around when your kitchen was built and you may well wish to incorporate some of these.

Go for a set of nice colourboard doors - if you like the gloss of vinyl maybe consider one of the new generation Sheen colourboards instead, it is stronger, cheaper and will last longer than vinyl.

Put on some good looking handles and maybe consider a slightly thicker laminated benchtop (38mm instead of 34mm).

It is alwyas worth your while to get comparative quotes between facelifting and replacing, but you could be suprised how little the difference is considering you will be getting a completely new kitchen.

Hi Earl,
We've finally got around to getting quotes for facelifting the kitchen - and you were absolutely right - there was very little difference in replacing cabinets rather than just getting new doors. Looks like our large kitchen could be done for well under $15,000.
Thanks for your advice and help with this!!! We are going to replace a lot of the cupboards with large drawers, and reconfigure the pantry with recessed shelving for better access.
We quite like the Albedor doors/drawer fronts recommended by 2 companies quoting. What do you think of using this?
Thanks again for your tips Earl

Eimaj

Strumer · Nov 27, 2007 5:00 pm

Hi Eimaj,

Thank you for your feedback; it is always nice to hear a positive recommendation!

Albedor, like all other thermolaminate suppliers I have encountered offer a 7 year REPLACEMENT warranty (with conditions).

The reason I point out REPLACEMENT is simply as advice to all consumers that this does not include labour to replace.

So if you are going for thermolaminate be very sure that all precautions recommended by the supplier regarding heat shielding et cetera are followed to the letter, and even then, bear in mind that if the vinyl next to your oven peels off they will only provide you with new board(s) not the labour to remove old and install new.

Albedor is attached to Nover (or vice versa) who are a very reputable product supplier from whom I regularly procure kitchen hardware and have no hesitation in doing business with.

As you might have gathered I am personally not a great fan of Vinyl Wrap in kitchens; I don't believe that it is a material best suited for a cooking environment or that seven years is enough of a warranty.

BUT, it is your kitchen and you have to be happy with your choices.
I have designed and supplied vinyl kitchens to very happy customers and will continue to do so if that is their choice...after I have explained the various pros and cons of the different materials available.

You should have a great time enjoying your new kitchen and if you have nay further questions feel free to contact me.

Cheers,

Earl