Old kitchen cabinetry hides more than it shows. When the carcasses, benchtops and splashback come out, you see the wall, the floor and the services behind them for the first time in years. This guide covers what can come to light during a kitchen renovation in St Kilda, why an on-site assessment can’t see everything, and how a written quotation from Ivan Bodnar deals with what’s still unknown.
A slow leak under the sink or behind the dishwasher can go unnoticed for years. Swollen board, staining or soft wall linings often only show once the cabinet is out.
The wall or floor that a new splashback, tile or cabinet run will sit on may be cracked, loose, patched or out of level. New finishes need a sound base. See surface preparation & suitable materials.
Older pipework, fittings or wiring may come to light. Regulated plumbing and electrical work is done by appropriately licensed specialists and coordinated by Ivan. Who does what.
Pipes and cables aren’t always where a new layout needs them, and earlier alterations or underlying damage can sit behind fixed panels and kickboards.
Reference photo: a kitchen part-way through renovation, with wiring exposed. This is the stage when concealed conditions become visible.
At the free on-site assessment, Ivan looks at how your kitchen needs to work and at its existing condition: layout, cabinetry, finishes and services. He checks for visible signs of moisture, movement and wear, and notes where access to services may be tight.
No inspection can see inside a wall cavity or under a fixed cabinet base without taking it apart. Some concealed issues can only be confirmed once the old kitchen is out. That’s why the right scope depends on the inspection, and why some items stay conditional until removal.
01 LOOK BEFORE COVERING. Putting new finishes over moisture, a weak substrate or damage without checking first can lead to rework you could have avoided. Ivan shows you what he’s found and explains what it means.
02 PRACTICAL OPTIONS. Repair, replace, or adjust the layout. You get the options in plain terms, including what can still be reused.
03 THE RIGHT PRACTITIONER. Plumbing and electrical changes go to licensed trades. Ivan doesn’t do structural engineering or asbestos removal, so those are referred to an appropriate practitioner where required.
04 DISCUSSED FIRST. Any change to scope is talked through with you before the extra work goes ahead.
Reference photo: going over plans before any scope is settled.
Ivan prepares the written quotation after the assessment, never before. It’s free, and it’s based on what the assessment showed. Where a condition can’t be confirmed until the old kitchen is removed, it’s better to name it as a possibility than to leave it out.
Contract, insurance and approvals wording is checked for each project, because permits, registration, insurance and licensed trade requirements vary from one kitchen to the next.
Can Existing Kitchen Cabinets Be Reused? → / Can You Keep the Existing Kitchen Layout? → / Planning a Kitchen Renovation in a St Kilda Flat → / How a Sole Trader Manages a Kitchen Renovation →
Ivan Bodnar is an independent sole trader and does not claim builder registration or trade licences. Licensed plumbing and electrical work is carried out by appropriately authorised specialists. Back to Kitchen Renovation in St Kilda.
