Kitchen renovations

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silverfoxrox

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I live in Pretoria and I am starting to think about and plan for a big kitchen renovation that will take place sometime in the next 1-2 years. My kitchen is NOT part of an open concept, it is a big separate room and will remain the same size (no knocking down walls or anything). It does, however, act as a kitchen, scullery/laundry room. I would like some advice on the following questions:

1. Does anyone have experience with going to a designer to get a plan drawn up before the work begins? If so, can you recommend a good company? Price? Is it even necessary?

2. Do you recommend getting a project manager to oversee the entire renovation? I work from home, so I will definitely be around while work is happening.

3. For the floor, tile or screeding? They both can look nice, in my opinion. What is cheaper?

4. What have been some of the best deals in Pretoria that you have found on supplies/labour/contractors/project managers/etc?

5. Any other words of wisdom for a noob, like me?
 
silverfoxrox said:
I live in Pretoria and I am starting to think about and plan for a big kitchen renovation that will take place sometime in the next 1-2 years. My kitchen is NOT part of an open concept, it is a big separate room and will remain the same size (no knocking down walls or anything). It does, however, act as a kitchen, scullery/laundry room. I would like some advice on the following questions:

1. Does anyone have experience with going to a designer to get a plan drawn up before the work begins? If so, can you recommend a good company? Price? Is it even necessary?

2. Do you recommend getting a project manager to oversee the entire renovation? I work from home, so I will definitely be around while work is happening.

3. For the floor, tile or screeding? They both can look nice, in my opinion. What is cheaper?

4. What have been some of the best deals in Pretoria that you have found on supplies/labour/contractors/project managers/etc?

5. Any other words of wisdom for a noob, like me?
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Contact CupboardMasters for the kitchen mock-up etc. They just did an excellent job on my kitchen and were very competitively priced.

Screeding is much cheaper than tile, although Tile Africa in Silverton often has some really good b-stock tiles at great prices.
 
You should move this to the home improvements thread, but since I have just redone my entire kitchen I can help a bit.

1.I went to easylife kitchens to get a quote on a design that I had in my head.They design it in 3d for you to visualise and guess what - its a no obligation quote.They dont send you the design but its a start.Easylife is expensive and I got away with much more for about R40k less than their quote.

2.No, if you are home then you are the manager.I was at home always because I dont trust people in general, and you shouldnt trust builders too much.

3.Tiles all the way.More options for colours and textures.(You also should pay R65-75 a m2 for laying and around R30 // m2 for stripping of tiles.

4.Cant comment (In cpt)

5.Dont negotiate, they will compromise quality, but make sure your quotes are in line with others.
 
Batista said:
You should move this to the home improvements thread, but since I have just redone my entire kitchen I can help a bit.

1.I went to easylife kitchens to get a quote on a design that I had in my head.They design it in 3d for you to visualise and guess what - its a no obligation quote.They dont send you the design but its a start.Easylife is expensive and I got away with much more for about R40k less than their quote.

2.No, if you are home then you are the manager.I was at home always because I dont trust people in general, and you shouldnt trust builders too much.

3.Tiles all the way.More options for colours and textures.(You also should pay R65-75 a m2 for laying and around R30 // m2 for stripping of tiles.

4.Cant comment (In cpt)

5.Dont negotiate, they will compromise quality, but make sure your quotes are in line with others.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice. I will try migrate this thread to the improvements thread :)
 
3D all the way. Maybe ask your SO to look over the design before signing so she can imagine what the kitchen would be like to work in. We experienced one company who did the layout to look good, never considering the practicalities.

The "designer" wanted glass-fronted kitchen cabinets, lit from the inside!!!!!!! Said it would look gorgeous :( Trust me, nobody wants to see inside my kitchen cupboards, they're there for one reason only - to hide the mess.

Said "designer" also had the stove facing a back wall - who wants to cook facing a brick wall with the window behind them?

HUGE WARNING if you go with tiles - be sure the tiler doesn't steal them. Make them available to him by the box/ 2 boxes so you can monitor what he uses.

Agree, should be moved to home improvements thread.
 
5. Any other words of wisdom for a noob, like me?
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Don't forget electrical outlets and their placement. If it's an old kitchen I doubt there are currently enough and these are probably badly positioned for your revamp.
 
Good luck - I've had four different companies screw me around - can't even get a model or quote.
 
silverfoxrox said:
Would you care to name and shame the companies so others do not use them?
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All in Cape Town - so won't affect you.

EasyLife Kitchens wanted to charge us R450 for going into their store and looking at samples, and then requesting them to make an appointment to come see us and do a model.

Instead of making the appointment, they emailed us and said we still owe them R450 for the "consulting" in their store.
 
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Have to say that our kitchen revamp went smooth as silk, the custom cupboard people recommended the contractor for the building work and all went according to schedule. Still happy 8 years later :)
 
silverfoxrox said:
Does anyone have experience with going to a designer to get a plan drawn up before the work begins? If so, can you recommend a good company? Price? Is it even necessary?

2. Do you recommend getting a project manager to oversee the entire renovation? I work from home, so I will definitely be around while work is happening.

3. For the floor, tile or screeding? They both can look nice, in my opinion. What is cheaper?

4. What have been some of the best deals in Pretoria that you have found on supplies/labour/contractors/project managers/etc?

5. Any other words of wisdom for a noob, like me?
Click to expand...

1. kitchen's are pretty standard stuff, all you need is to layout your triangle (fridge, stove, sink) to be as close and convenient as possible.
2. Project manage? seriously?
3 cheap looks ***, tile the floor and kickplates.
4. dunno
5. don't forget electrics, plumbing, lighting.

Decide on your budget.
cabinetry and doors - choose your colours from stock standard melamine boards (cheaper), foils (pricey) etc
Tops - decide if you want to go formica (cheaper) or granite (pricey)
 
adamjones said:
Hello. Not looking for something really premium, but not cheap and nasty how much would I be expecting to pay? Would probably have the laminate flooring changed at the same time. Any kitchen places to completely avoid?
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You won't redo a kitchen for less than R120k basic.
More if you are moving plumbing points.
 
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