Kitchen benchtop replacement

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gregmcc

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#279621 28-Oct-2020 18:43

We are having some insurance repairs done in our kitchen, we thought that at the same time we would get the benchtop replaced as it's a bit worn out (not part of the insurance repair).

We asked the kitchen installer for a price and we quite shocked by the price, but maybe I'm just out of touch on the real cost.

So anyone recently got a kitchen benchtop replaced?

for a bit of clarity, the benchtop is in 2 'L' shaped sections, Laminate tops

section 1, 3630mm along the long edge, 980mm along the short edge, covered up stand 150mm, 600mm wide. There will be a new end panel 580x870mm

section 2, 980mm along the long side, 600mm along the short side, 600mm wide - no upstand

We were quoted $3500 incl gst.

Cheap or expensive or am I out of touch with reality?

djtOtago

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#2592873 28-Oct-2020 18:51

Would help if you state what kind benchtop you are looking at getting.
Stainless steel, Wood, Stone, Acrylic.

I did an Acrylic one about 5 years ago, similar size to yours, was about $1200.00 from memory.

gregmcc

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#2592875 28-Oct-2020 18:53

37mm Laminate, PVC edges

Jase2985

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#2592876 28-Oct-2020 18:56

djtOtago:

Would help if you state what kind benchtop you are looking at getting.
Stainless steel, Wood, Stone, Acrylic.

I did an Acrylic one about 5 years ago, similar size to yours, was about $1200.00 from memory.

i thought laminate gave enough information there

given the large sizes of some of the panels i would suspect it will cost a little more. Most do 600 or 900mm as their standard sizes. and you dont see many with an upstand these days

blackjack17

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#2592879 28-Oct-2020 19:13

Seems quite expensive (but I have no idea)

You could replace with engineered stone for cheaper (although I didn't understand what you meant by an upstand)

https://www.incrediblekitchens.co.nz/engineered-stone-benchtops/

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gregmcc

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#2592880 28-Oct-2020 19:18

an upstand is the along the wall edge of the bench top, it curls up kind of like a splash guard

Fred99

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#2592996 29-Oct-2020 08:33

blackjack17:

Seems quite expensive (but I have no idea)

You could replace with engineered stone for cheaper (although I didn't understand what you meant by an upstand)

https://www.incrediblekitchens.co.nz/engineered-stone-benchtops/

IMO that's remarkably cheap - or I should say inexpensive. I'm looking for a catch - the only obvious one is 20mm thickness (30mm is an option) and maybe limited colour range.

Yogi02

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#2593024 29-Oct-2020 09:00

Is he quoting for the whole replacement?

This can include removal and disposal of old one.

Plumbing included, removal of tapware, drains and reinstallation?

Is there a new sink included in price?

Retro-fitting a new benchtop is quite a bit more work than installing a new one onto new cabinetry in a new build

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gbwelly

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#2593033 29-Oct-2020 09:13

gregmcc:

We were quoted $3500 incl gst.

Cheap or expensive or am I out of touch with reality?

No, you're not out of touch, I don't know if there are so many new builds going on that kitchen installers are just quoting so high to make you go away. I got quoted $3372.32 and then shopped around and finished up at $1335.79, both including the same $200 sink.

That was for 5302mm of linear bench.

gregmcc

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#2593487 29-Oct-2020 16:56

Yogi02:

Is he quoting for the whole replacement?

This can include removal and disposal of old one.

Plumbing included, removal of tapware, drains and reinstallation?

Is there a new sink included in price?

Retro-fitting a new benchtop is quite a bit more work than installing a new one onto new cabinetry in a new build

Re-use existing sink, excludes plumbing/electrical, so basically take the old one away, drop new one on, drop sink insert into cutout

WinNZ90

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#2593516 29-Oct-2020 18:47

When it comes to a bench top it really depends on what the finish is on the timber but then there is the option you don't replace it?

Has it got any water damage? I have done a bit again bench tops and I know you can buy cans of paint a third to half the price of a new bench top that you just paint on 3 coats and it sets solid and it can give a stone top finish, you just apply over top the original bench top. However if there is water damage then just replace it.

$3500 is a little pricey, you'd be looking at the fact your top isn't standard, its a custom made top, just what I can gather from the posts on this thread. And depending on how old you sink is they might not have the pattern readily available to cut the hole out, which will add more time.

mattwnz

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#2593529 29-Oct-2020 19:23

gregmcc:

We are having some insurance repairs done in our kitchen, we thought that at the same time we would get the benchtop replaced as it's a bit worn out (not part of the insurance repair).

We asked the kitchen installer for a price and we quite shocked by the price, but maybe I'm just out of touch on the real cost.

So anyone recently got a kitchen benchtop replaced?

for a bit of clarity, the benchtop is in 2 'L' shaped sections, Laminate tops

section 1, 3630mm along the long edge, 980mm along the short edge, covered up stand 150mm, 600mm wide. There will be a new end panel 580x870mm

section 2, 980mm along the long side, 600mm along the short side, 600mm wide - no upstand

We were quoted $3500 incl gst.

Cheap or expensive or am I out of touch with reality?

I suspect most will be labour, but they can be very easy to fit. Last year I installed a new small kitchenette and ordered some kitchen units with quality blumm fittings and got them delivered. The purchased a bench top from a local kitchen manufacturer, who actually makes the units and tops. The top was about 2.5 meters long and 650 wide, They also did a cutout for the sink and fitted it and sealed around edge. It was a grey Formica with a square bullnosed edge and was $500, picked up from their factory.I thought that was an ok price. All I had to do was screw it on from under the units.

A corner maybe more difficult and more labour. I try to avoid ending up with corners in kitchens due to the amount of wasted space, and needing more work dealing with joins in benchtops