Overview: Kitchen Renovators
Most kitchen jobs are decided by the layout and the cabinets, and most delays come from things you can't see. Before the demolition date, the cabinets should be ordered with a confirmed delivery, the appliances chosen, and the permits sorted. Counters can't be templated until the boxes are in and level.
The trades behind the walls are licensed, and the rules change at the provincial border. In Ontario, only a Licensed Electrical Contractor can do electrical work for hire in your home, and gas lines belong to a contractor registered with the TSSA. In Quebec, the contractor needs a licence from the Régie du bâtiment, and that number has to appear on estimates, contracts and invoices.
Cold weather shapes a few choices too. A range hood ducted outside needs a cap with a damper that shuts tight, or you'll feel the draft all winter. A tight modern house may also need make-up air for a strong hood.
Our listings show what each kitchen company says on its own website, and customer comments come from public reviews. Pick your province first, then your city, to see who works near you.
What does a kitchen renovation cost in Canada?
Compare kitchens with the same layout, cabinet specification and appliance allowance. Moving services changes the scope substantially.
| Service | Estimated budget | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic kitchen refresh | C$10,000–C$35,000per defined kitchen | Sound cabinet boxes and layout retained; selected doors, surfaces, hardware and finishes updated.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Agreed surface work; Specified hardware Budget separately or confirm: New cabinet boxes; Service relocations |
| Kitchen renovation with existing layout | C$25,000–C$45,000per kitchen | Stock or semi-custom cabinets, quartz and selected finishes; existing footprint and fixture locations retained.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified cabinets and counters; Agreed installation and finishes Budget separately or confirm: Appliances; Structural changes |
| Kitchen renovation with layout changes | C$45,000–C$85,000per assessed project | Mid-range cabinetry and finishes with a relocated sink or range; no major structural opening.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Defined renovation scope; Specified trade work Budget separately or confirm: Appliances and major structural work; Unidentified hidden defects |
| Cabinet refacing | C$4,500–C$15,000per defined kitchen cabinet package | Sound kitchen cabinet boxes retained; door count, drawer fronts, matching exposed surfaces and finish specified.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: New specified doors and drawer fronts; Matching exposed cabinet surfaces and installation Budget separately or confirm: New cabinet boxes or layout changes; Countertop replacement and unlisted hardware upgrades |
| Quartz countertop replacement | C$60–C$180per installed sq ft | Quartz supply, fabrication, basic edge and installation; cutouts and plumbing quoted separately.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Supply and fabrication; Installation Budget separately or confirm: Cutouts, removal and cabinet reinforcement; Plumbing reconnection |
What changes the price
- Cabinet quantity and construction, countertop material and appliance allowances.
- Keeping or relocating plumbing, wiring, ventilation and walls.
- Demolition, hidden conditions, permits and responsibility for project coordination.
Ask before accepting a quote
- Which cabinet, countertop, hardware and appliance specifications does this total assume?
- Which amounts are allowances, and how are final selections reconciled?
- Can you price the existing-layout option and proposed layout changes separately?
Compare the same kitchen schedule
- Give every bidder the same drawing, cabinet list and finish schedule.
- Keep contingency separate from appliance and finish allowances to avoid double counting.
Canadian context
Confirm municipal permit and inspection costs for the proposed work; a cosmetic refresh and a service relocation have different scopes.
Budget estimates in Canadian dollars. Confirm applicable taxes and the final total in your quote. Rows may be alternatives or parts of the same job. Add only extras that are not already included in your quote.
Frequently asked questions
Who can do the electrical work in my kitchen?
In Ontario, a Licensed Electrical Contractor, or you in your own home. Certified electricians can't take jobs for hire on their own. They work through a licensed contracting business. Whoever does the work files a notification with the Electrical Safety Authority before starting, and the ESA may inspect the wiring before the drywall covers it. Ask for the Certificate of Acceptance when the job is done.
Can I cancel a renovation contract after signing it?
Sometimes, and the window is short. In Ontario, a contract you sign at home, rather than at the contractor's office or showroom, can be cancelled within ten days. Alberta gives ten days on prepaid contracts too, counted from when you receive your copy. Send the cancellation in writing and keep proof of the date. We'd hold back a large deposit until that window has closed.
Why do appliances have to be chosen so early?
Because the rough-in follows them. An induction range, a wall oven and a gas cooktop each need a different supply, and the hood has to match the range. Decide before the walls close. In Ontario, the gas side goes to a TSSA-registered contractor whose technician holds the right certificate. A handyman who offers to hook up a gas range for cash is offering work the province reserves for registered contractors.
Ducted hood or recirculating?
Ducted, when there's a route outside. A recirculating hood catches some grease and sends the steam and smells back into the room. In a cold climate the outside cap needs a damper that closes tight, or the duct becomes a draft all winter. Newer, airtight houses can also need make-up air for a strong hood, so ask your contractor what your local code expects.
Can the sink move to an island?
Often, but it's plumbing work with a permit behind it. The drain needs slope and a vent, usually a loop vent under an island. Over a basement that's workable. On a slab it means cutting concrete. In Ontario, plumbing is a compulsory trade, so the person running that pipe needs a certificate or a registered apprenticeship. In Quebec, the plumbing contractor needs an RBQ licence and CMMTQ membership.
Do I need a permit to redo my kitchen?
For new cabinets and counters in the same layout, often not. Moving walls, drains or gas lines usually does need a municipal building permit. In Ontario, electrical work needs its own notification to the Electrical Safety Authority on top of that. Ask who pulls each permit before you sign. If a contractor asks you to take out the electrical permit in your own name, the ESA calls that a red flag.
