This detailed cost breakdown covers a real mid-range kitchen renovation completed in a 2001-built Kanata home. The existing kitchen was a builder-grade galley layout with oak cabinets, laminate countertops, linoleum flooring, and fluorescent lighting. The homeowners wanted a modern open-concept kitchen with quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, and contemporary finishes. Project scope: Remove wall between kitchen and family room, install new custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, tile backsplash...
Demolition and disposal: $2,800 — Removal of existing cabinets, countertops, flooring, drywall on removed wall, and hauling to landfill. Structural work: $6,200 — Removal of load-bearing wall ($2,400), engineered LVL beam installation ($2,800), and drywall/finishing on beam and ceiling ($1,000). A structural engineer ($800) designed the beam specification. Custom cabinetry: $14,500 — 22 linear feet of shaker-style maple cabinets in white, including soft-close hinges and drawers, pull-out shelv...
The homeowners made several strategic decisions that saved approximately $12,000 without compromising quality: Chose a local Ottawa cabinet maker over a national brand, saving $3,000–$5,000 while getting higher quality construction and custom sizing. Lead time was 8 weeks — similar to national brands. Selected Caesarstone quartz over natural marble, saving $2,000–$4,000 while getting a more durable, maintenance-free surface that looks virtually identical. Kept the existing kitchen footprint f...
In hindsight, the homeowners identified two areas where additional investment would have been worthwhile: Hardwood flooring throughout the entire main floor rather than just the kitchen-family room area. Matching flooring later is difficult, and extending into the front hall and living room would have added $2,500–$3,500 but created a seamless flow through the entire main floor. A dedicated prep sink in the island. The plumbing rough-in would have added $800–$1,200 during construction, and a s...
Order cabinets and countertops early. The 8-week cabinet lead time and 3-week countertop fabrication time meant ordering 11 weeks before construction started. Any delays in ordering push the entire project timeline. Budget 15% contingency. The homeowners budgeted $48,000 and spent $52,340 — a 9% overrun. The structural beam cost more than initially estimated, and the electrical work was more complex than quoted due to existing wiring configurations. A 15% contingency would have covered all surp...
Yes, $52,000 is solidly mid-range for a Kanata kitchen renovation that includes wall removal, custom cabinets, quartz countertops, and new appliances. Budget kitchens start around $25,000, and high-end projects can reach $80,000–$100,000.
The structural beam for the wall removal cost $6,200 vs the estimated $4,500. The existing wiring configuration required additional electrical work. Together, these surprises added about $2,500 to the budget.
9 weeks from demolition to final cleanup. The critical path was cabinet delivery (8 weeks from order) followed by countertop fabrication (3 weeks after cabinets were installed for templating).
Absolutely. The $6,200 wall removal was the most impactful investment in the entire project, completely changing how the main floor functions and feels. It also added the most resale value.
Extend hardwood throughout the entire main floor, add a prep sink and electrical outlet in the island, and budget 15% contingency instead of 10%. These changes would have added $4,000–$6,000 but prevented future regrets.