Frequently Asked Questions

Most North Brisbane kitchen renovations through builders in our network land between $25,000 and $60,000 fully fitted. A budget refresh (cabinet doors, benchtop, splashback, no layout change) starts around $12,000-$30,000. Mid-range full renovations run $25,000-$60,000. Premium kitchens with custom joinery, natural stone and integrated appliances run $45,000-$94,000 or more. Brisbane prices have run roughly 10-15% above the national average since 2024 due to trades scarcity around the 2032 Olympics build-up.

It is possible at the very bottom of the budget tier - door swaps, a laminate or budget-stone benchtop, a tiled splashback, with no layout change and reusing the existing appliances. Below $12,000 most reputable builders in our network will not quote, because the QBCC contract overhead, materials, and labour minimums add a baseline to any project. The matched builder will tell you honestly whether your budget supports the scope you are after.

Labour is the single biggest driver - around 30-40% of the total budget. Custom cabinetry (versus modular), natural stone or porcelain benchtops (versus laminate), integrated appliances, and butler's pantries are the next-largest drivers. Layout changes that move plumbing or electrical add real cost. Queenslander or character-home complications (asbestos removal, uneven floors, structural assessments) add 10-20% on average.

Nothing. We are a referral platform - the builder you are matched with quotes you direct, and you contract with them. We do not charge homeowners a fee at any stage.

Allow 6 to 12 weeks from contract signing to handover. The breakdown: 4 to 6 weeks lead-in for cabinetry and stone fabrication, 2 to 4 weeks of on-site work (demolition, installation, plumbing, electrical, tiling), and 1 to 2 weeks of finishing and final inspections. Brisbane has been running about 10-15% longer than national average since 2024 due to trades scarcity ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

Most reputable Brisbane Northside renovators run a 4-12 week design + planning queue before site work begins. To start a kitchen in late winter or spring (peak season for renovations) plan to engage a builder by late autumn at the latest. The matched builder will give you a realistic queue position before you commit.

Most clients do. Builders in our network typically set up a temporary kitchen station (microwave, fridge, kettle) and seal off the work zone with dust barriers. Plan for 2 to 4 weeks of working without your main cooking area; takeaways and meal-kit subscriptions are a common companion to a kitchen reno.

Submit the form on this page with your name, email, suburb, and a few details about your project. We respond within one business day, match you to one or two builders that fit, and they contact you direct to arrange a free in-home measure-up. There is no obligation to engage them after the consultation.

Yes. 3D renders are standard at the design stage in builder quotes from our network. You see the kitchen before any cabinet leaves the workshop. Some builders include the renders with the initial quote, others present them after design sign-off as part of the deposit milestone.

Yes. Every builder we route enquiries to holds a current Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licence covering kitchen renovation and joinery work above the $3,300 regulatory threshold. The licence number and class appear on the quote you receive. The most relevant licence classes for kitchen work are Builder Open, Builder Low Rise, Builder Restricted to Kitchen-Bathroom-Laundry, Carpentry, and Joinery.

Yes - and so does the builder. Any residential building work in Queensland over $3,300 (including labour and materials) must be covered by a written Domestic Building Contract under Schedule 1B of the QBCC Act 1991. (Schedule 1B replaced the repealed Domestic Building Contracts Act 2000 from 1 July 2015.) The contract must include scope, contract price, start and end dates, payment milestones, the variations process, warranty terms, and the consumer's QBCC complaints pathway. Builders in our network provide this as part of the standard quote.

Yes. Every builder in our network quotes on a fixed-price HIA-style or Master Builders-style written contract. Variations require written sign-off before any extra work begins. The matched builder explains how variations work and gives you a clear path for any change of scope.

Porcelain or sintered stone, natural granite, marble, and laminate all perform well in Brisbane's humid conditions. Solid timber benchtops need attentive sealing and re-oiling. The matched builder walks you through durability, cost, and aesthetic at the design stage. All current benchtop choices comply with the national engineered-stone ban that commenced 1 July 2024.

Engineered stone with 1% or more crystalline silica was banned for manufacture, supply, processing, and installation across Australia from 1 July 2024 under amended model WHS Regulations administered by Safe Work Australia. Low-silica engineered stone (under 1% crystalline silica) remains legal. Permitted alternatives for new kitchen benchtops include porcelain or sintered stone, natural granite or marble, solid timber, stainless steel, laminate, and low-silica engineered stone.

Engineered stone benchtops installed before 1 July 2024 are grandfathered under the national ban and do not need to be replaced. They can stay in place indefinitely. Removal, repair, or modification of pre-existing installations must follow silica-safe procedures (wet cutting, dust suppression, PPE) under the WHS regulations. The matched builder handles this as part of the demolition scope if you are replacing the kitchen.

Yes. Blum or Hettich soft-close hardware is standard on every drawer and door in builder quotes from our network. The decelerating hinge or runner stops the door or drawer from slamming - a small detail that makes a daily difference.

Yes. Heritage Queenslander kitchens are a regular brief in our network, especially across Clayfield, Ascot, Hamilton, Hendra, and Wooloowin. We match you to a builder with proven character-home experience for raised-floor layouts, original timberwork, and the side-corridor service-kitchen patterns common in pre-1940 Brisbane homes.

Yes. Builders in our network regularly complete unit kitchen renovations across Chermside, Nundah, Hamilton, and similar high-density pockets with full body-corporate documentation, plumbing and electrical certificates, and acoustic underlay specs that satisfy most Brisbane body-corp committees. Body-corp approval typically adds 2-8 weeks to the front of the timeline.

Yes. The catchment runs from Sandgate and Bracken Ridge in the north, to Hamilton and Ascot on the river, and from Wooloowin to Bridgeman Downs across the inland north. See the locations page for the full list of suburbs serviced, including landmarks, streets, and neighbourhood detail for each.

Yes. The premium tier in our network is heavily weighted toward Hamilton, Ascot, Hendra, Clayfield, and Bridgeman Downs - where bespoke joinery, natural-stone selections, and integrated appliance suites are the typical brief. Premium budgets typically start around $45,000 and run upward of $94,000 for the most ambitious projects.

Yes. Builders supply and install new appliances at trade pricing, or fit appliances you have sourced yourself. Most quotes itemise appliances separately so you can swap or skip them. Common picks in our network are Bosch, Miele, Smeg, and Fisher and Paykel.

Yes. Tiled splashbacks, glass splashbacks, and stone-matched splashbacks are all part of the standard scope. Licensed waterproofers are part of the trade roster on every kitchen with a wet area within reach.

Yes. Cabinet door swaps, benchtop replacement, splashback updates, and handle changes are common briefs - a smart way to refresh a kitchen without a full renovation. The matched builder explains where the cost / impact ratio sits for your specific kitchen.

Island benches are the most-requested feature in our network. The matched builder designs for plumbing, electrics, seating overhang, and through-traffic flow at the design stage before any stone is cut. Allow at least 1.2 metres of clear circulation space around the island.