Compare Canberra kitchen renovation quotes

Quote basics

The quote identifies the legal business name, ABN, contact details and the person responsible for site supervision.
It states a fixed price including GST, or clearly says which items are provisional sums or allowances.
The cabinet count, drawer hardware, door finish, benchtop material, splashback and appliance allowance are written down.
Demolition, rubbish removal, protection, plaster repair and painting are either included or excluded in plain words.
The quote says who supplies appliances, sink, tapware, tiles and handles.

Licences, certificates and standards

The ACT construction occupation licence or relevant trade licence can be checked before you pay a deposit.
Plumbing work is by a licensed plumber and is consistent with AS/NZS 3500 where it applies.
Waterproofing or wet-area work is specified to AS 3740 where the job creates a wet-area obligation.
Electrical work is by a licensed electrician, with safety switch and circuit requirements allowed for.
The quote does not include banned engineered stone for new benchtops.

Payments and variations

The requested ACT deposit is explained, and anything above 10 percent is justified by documented materials or staged ordering.
For Queanbeyan or NSW work, the deposit does not exceed 10 percent of the contract price.
Progress payments match completed stages: demolition, cabinets, benchtop, services, splashback and final defects.
Variations require written approval before the work is done, with labour and margin rates stated.
The final payment is due only after practical completion and a defects walk-through.

Red flags - walk away if you see these

A large cash deposit with no detailed contract, no company details or no receipt.
A quote that says "kitchen renovation" but does not list cabinetry, benchtop, trades, splashback or appliances.
The person quoting cannot explain whether building approval is needed for a structural wall change.
They offer to reuse or install banned engineered stone as a cheap shortcut.
They pressure you to sign before you have checked licences, insurance or the material schedule.
Every risk is pushed into "owner to arrange" with no practical plan or timing allowance.

What a compliant written quote should state

For a kitchen, the written quote needs enough detail that you could hand it to another competent builder and get the same scope priced. "New kitchen supplied and installed" is not a scope. A good quote names the cabinet construction, door finish, drawer hardware, kickers, panels, handles, benchtop material, sink, tap, splashback, flooring interface, plastering, painting, appliance installation and trade coordination.

It should also say what happens with plumbing, gas and electrical work. Canberra kitchens often move from gas cooktops to induction, which may require a dedicated electrical circuit and a gas cap-off. If the quote does not include those licensed trades, ask whether they are excluded entirely or just being charged as a later variation. You can also compare the inclusion list against our full kitchen renovation and kitchen design pages to see what a managed job normally covers.

For benchtops, the quote should never specify conventional engineered stone for new work. Since 1 July 2024, the Australian ban has pushed new kitchen work toward laminate, porcelain, sintered stone, stainless steel, natural stone and other compliant products. If you are unsure what the allowance means, read our benchtop service guide before you compare prices.

What is usually excluded and later charged

The most common kitchen variations are not tricks, they are unknowns that were not tested before demolition. Hidden water damage under the sink, out-of-level floors, asbestos-containing splashback sheet, undersized electrical circuits, blocked waste lines and rotten wall framing can all be real. The quote should explain how those items will be investigated and charged if they appear.

Good exclusions are specific. "Asbestos removal excluded, testing quoted separately if suspected" is clear. "Any extra work excluded" is not. Ask for day rates and hourly rates for carpentry, plumbing, electrical and tiling. Ask whether margin is added to subcontractor invoices. For a $35,000 to $65,000 Canberra kitchen, even a small wording gap can become a $3,000 surprise.

There is also a cheaper-option reality here. If your goal is a clean rental kitchen in Gungahlin or Tuggeranong, you may not need custom joinery. A budget kitchen makeover with door replacement, handles, laminate top and splashback refresh may be the right call. If a quoting business only sells full renovations and will not say that, the advice is incomplete.

Deposits, licence checks and the Canberra edge case

The ACT is different from some states because there is no fixed statutory limit on the initial deposit for building work. ACT Government guidance says industry practice is usually up to 10 percent of the total contract price. In plain terms, a $42,000 kitchen deposit around $4,200 is normal. A $20,000 deposit on that job is not normal and should be challenged before you transfer money.

Queanbeyan is different again because it is in NSW. NSW Government guidance says the deposit must not exceed 10 percent of the contract price for residential building work, and larger jobs have home building compensation rules. If your property is across the border, the paperwork and licence checks should follow NSW rules, not ACT habits.

Licence checking is simple and worth doing. Ask for the builder or construction occupation licence, then check it through Access Canberra for ACT work. For NSW work, use the NSW licence check. The name on the licence needs to match the contracting party, not just a person who once worked for the company. Electrical, plumbing and gasfitting are separate licence questions. A cabinetmaker who says they will "sort the wiring" is not giving you a compliance plan.

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Quote comparison questions

How many kitchen renovation quotes should I get in Canberra?

Get 2 or 3 itemised written quotes for a kitchen renovation over about $15,000. More than 3 can become confusing unless the scopes are identical. A useful quote comparison checks inclusions, exclusions, payment stages and licence details, not just the final number.

What deposit is normal for an ACT kitchen renovation?

The ACT does not set a fixed maximum initial deposit for building work, but ACT Government guidance says industry practice is usually up to 10 percent. For a $45,000 kitchen, that means about $4,500 is normal. A request for 30 to 50 percent up front should be treated as a serious risk unless there is a clear staged material reason in writing.

What should be excluded from a written quote?

A good quote may exclude unknown asbestos removal, hidden water damage, owner-supplied appliance defects and structural engineering until inspected. The problem is not an exclusion by itself, it is a vague exclusion with no rate or process. Ask for hourly rates, call-out rates and variation margins before you sign.

How do I check a Canberra builder or trade licence?

For ACT work, ask for the construction occupation licence details and check them through Access Canberra or the ACT licensing register. Plumbing, gasfitting and electrical work should be done by appropriately licensed trades, not by the cabinet installer. For Queanbeyan work, check the NSW contractor licence as well.

Why can 2 quotes for the same kitchen be $20,000 apart?

A $20,000 spread is common when one quote includes custom cabinetry, stone or porcelain, plumbing, electrical, splashback, painting and project management, while another only includes cabinets and basic installation. Compare the number of cabinets, drawer hardware, benchtop allowance, appliance allowance and trade certificates. If those are not listed, the cheaper quote may become variations later.

When should I choose the cheaper quote?

Choose the cheaper quote when it has the same scope, licensed trades, proper materials and clear exclusions as the dearer quote. For a rental or pre-sale kitchen, a $12,000 to $22,000 makeover can be smarter than a $45,000 custom renovation. Do not choose cheap if the quote avoids plumbing, electrical or compliance paperwork.

Compare Canberra kitchen renovation quotes without getting burnt