How much does a kitchen cosmetic refresh cost in Vancouver?

Thanks for sharing the photo! You've got a great, bright space with a highly functional layout to work with—that linear back wall paired with the peninsula bar in the foreground makes for an excellent workspace.

I'm Chris, and I'll be walking you through this project just like I would if I were standing in your kitchen. To build a highly accurate, professional-grade estimate, we're going to break down the work by trade complexity, starting with the biggest structural or carpentry items and moving through finishes, plumbing, electrical, and logistics. Before we dive into the specific details of the trades, let's establish the overall game plan. I need to get a sense of your high-level vision and pin down your location so we can apply the correct local building codes, permit paths, and regional trade rates.

Question: What is your postal code?

Question: Which elements in the photo are you looking to replace, keep, or add? (e.g., cabinets, countertops, flooring, appliances, sink/faucet, or adding a new backsplash)

Got it! V5K puts you in the East Vancouver / Hastings Sunrise area. We'll make sure our estimate uses British Columbia-specific labor rates, permit guidelines, and CAD currency.Keeping your existing cabinet layout and repainting is a fantastic, cost-effective way to completely transform the kitchen without the massive mess and expense of a full gut. Combining that with a fresh countertop, a modern sink/faucet setup, and a new range will make this feel like a brand-new kitchen.To scope this accurately, I’ve visually estimated your countertop run at about 14.5 linear feet (including the back wall and the peninsula bar) and counted roughly 11 cabinet doors and 4 drawers in the photo. To help me dial in the trades, materials, and potential safety or building requirements, please answer a few quick questions:

Question: What type of property is this?

• Single-Family Home
• Condo/ Apartment
• Townhouse
• Duplex

Question: Approximately what year was the home built?

• Pre-1990 (Requires asbestos testing before sanding/substrate disturbance)
• 1990 or newer (Standard prep and sanding)

Question: What material are you leaning toward for your new countertops?

• Quartz (Highly durable, allows undermount sink)
• Granite (Natural stone, allows undermount sink)
• Laminate (Budget-friendly, requires drop-in sink)
• Butcher Block (Warm wood finish)

Question: Is the new range oven electric or gas?

• Electric (Standard 240V plug-in)
• Gas (Requires gas line installation or hookup by a gas fitter)

Question: Are you planning to supply the new sink, faucet, and range yourself?

• Yes, I will purchase them (Contractor handles installation only)
• No, I want the contractor to supply and install standard options

Question: For the cabinet painting, how extensive of a repaint do you want?

• Exterior doors, drawer fronts, and visible face-frames only
• Both exterior faces and the interior boxes/shelves

Question: Are we replacing the cabinet handles and hinges, or keeping the existing ones?

• Keep all existing hinges and handles
• Replace handles using the existing holes
• Replace handles and drill new holes (includes patching old holes)

Thanks for those detailed answers! That gives me exactly what we need to structure the scope. Because your home was built pre-1990, WorkSafeBC guidelines strictly mandate a hazardous materials survey (for asbestos in drywall compound/adhesives and lead in existing paint coatings) before we can do any sanding on the cabinets or remove the laminate countertops. I have built that testing step right into our project sequence.We will proceed with a professional, fine-finish spray paint of your cabinet exteriors (doors, drawer fronts, and visible face-frames), patch the old hardware holes, drill new ones for your brand-new handles, and coordinate the template, fabrication, and installation of a gorgeous new Quartz countertop with your owner-supplied undermount sink and faucet.I have one final, quick design question regarding the countertops before I run the final numbers for your estimate:

Question: For the countertop edges, do you want a matching 4-inch quartz backsplash strip installed, a new custom tile backsplash, or do you prefer to keep it as painted drywall?

• No backsplash (Keep painted drywall as-is)
• Matching 4-inch Quartz backsplash strip along the walls
• Add a new tile backsplash (Contractor to supply tile & install)
• Add a new tile backsplash (Owner to supply tile, contractor installs)

Your project estimate

Project summary

Cosmetic kitchen renovation in East Vancouver. Includes professional spray-painting of cabinet faces and visible frames, drilling and patching for new hardware, demolition of existing laminate counters, fabrication and installation of a new quartz countertop with a 4-inch splash, installation of owner-supplied undermount sink, faucet, and a standard electric range. Requires pre-1990 asbestos and lead testing per WorkSafeBC.

Estimate range

$5,300 - $8,100 This is a starting ballpark, not a final price.

Estimated work

Item	Details	Range
Pre-1990 Asbestos & Lead Survey	Coordinate and perform third-party hazardous materials testing (asbestos and lead) on cabinet paint, countertop adhesives, and surrounding drywall prior to any sanding or demolition.	$450 - $750
Site Protection & Project Coordination	Setup dust protection walls, floor masking along kitchen and travel paths, and perform multi-trade sequencing for plumbing, painting, and countertop installation.	$225 - $375
Sink & Faucet Disconnect	DISCONNECT: Shut off water supply valves, disconnect under-sink drainage trap and faucet supply lines, and remove the existing drop-in kitchen sink.	$25 - $45
Electric Range Disconnect	DISCONNECT: Unplug and slide out existing electric range appliance to clear area for countertop demolition and cabinet painting.	$40 - $60
Laminate Countertop Demolition	Carefully remove existing laminate countertops without damaging underlying cabinet boxes; clean and prep cabinet top frames for templating.	$65 - $105
Cabinet Paint Preparation & Patching	Clean, degrease, sand, and patch 15 old hardware mounting holes on cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and visible face-frames.	$200 - $300
Cabinet Painting (Exterior Fronts & Frames)	REFINISH: Apply professional primer and two coats of cabinet finish paint to 11 exterior cabinet doors, 4 drawer fronts, and visible face-frames.	$300 - $475
Quartz Countertop & Backsplash Install	SUPPLY & INSTALL: Template, fabricate, and install 29 sqft of new Quartz countertops and 3 sqft of matching 4-inch backsplash, including undermount sink cutout and mounting of owner-supplied sink.	$3,000 - $4,600
Kitchen Faucet & Undermount Sink Install	Install owner-supplied kitchen faucet and undermount sink, and perform same-location drainage and supply line reconnect.	$175 - $300
Plumbing Supply Infrastructure Kit	SUPPLY: Supply new under-sink plumbing infrastructure components including shutoff valves, braided supply lines, and P-trap kit.	$75 - $150
New Cabinet Hardware Installation	Drill new mounting holes and install 15 owner-supplied knobs/pulls on painted cabinet doors and drawer fronts.	$100 - $200
New Electric Range Installation	Uncrate, level, slide in, plug in, and test owner-supplied electric range oven. Secure anti-tip mounting bracket.	$40 - $60
Post-Project Cleanup & Waste Disposal	Perform post-project cleanup and haul away kitchen renovation demolition waste including old laminate countertops, sink, faucet, and old range oven.	$450 - $750

Cost summary

Category	Range
Materials	$3,500 - $5,300
Labour	$1,800 - $2,800
Total	$5,300 - $8,100

What is included

• Perform hazardous materials testing (asbestos and lead) on cabinet paint and drywall/adhesive compound prior to any sanding, scraping, or demolition.
• Setup dust protection and floor masking in kitchen and along path of travel.
• Disconnect existing kitchen sink drain, faucet supplies, and remove existing drop-in sink.
• Unplug and slide out existing electric range appliance.
• Demolish and remove existing laminate countertops; clean and prep cabinet box tops for new countertop templates.
• Clean, degrease, sand, and patch old hardware holes on cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and visible face-frames.
• Apply primer and two coats of professional finish cabinet paint to exterior cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and face-frames.
• Template, fabricate, and install new Quartz countertop, including undermount sink cutout and mounting of the owner-supplied sink.
• Install owner-supplied faucet, reconnect sink drains, trap, and connect water supply lines with new shutoff valves if required.
• Drill new holes and install new owner-supplied cabinet handles on all doors and drawers.
• Uncrate, level, and plug in new owner-supplied electric range oven; test operation.
• Perform post-project cleanup and haul away demolition debris, including old countertops, sink, faucet, and old range oven.

Possible add-ons

These items are not included in the estimate range above. They may change after an on-site review.

Item	Trade	Possible range	What would confirm it
SUPPLY & INSTALL: Faucet stabilizer plate to support loose faucet on water-damaged MDF substrate.	Plumber	$175 - $300	On-site inspection reveals water-damaged or soft MDF under-sink cabinet frame/sink deck.
Complete drainage line re-pipe from trap arm under kitchen sink to resolve deteriorated existing pipes.	Plumber	$300 - $500	Existing ABS/PVC drainage pipes are cracked, leaking, or out of alignment with the new undermount sink position.

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