A kitchen renovation in a flat is not just a smaller version of the same job in a house. Other people share the building, the stairs, the lift and often the pipes behind your wall. Here are seven things to check before work is scheduled. Start on them early and the on-site assessment and written quotation can deal with the real conditions.
Reference photo: a kitchen mid-renovation, with cabinets, benchtops and appliances protected by plastic sheeting and masking paper. In a flat, protecting surfaces, getting materials in and taking waste out are planned before work starts.
Read your owners corporation rules, and ask the manager or committee whether renovation works need notice or approval. Conditions sometimes cover working hours, contractor details or the protection of shared areas. Bring whatever you find to the on-site assessment so the plan reflects it.
In a flat, part of what surrounds your kitchen may not belong to you alone. Changes to common property, which can include structural walls, shared risers or floor and ceiling layers, may be restricted. Check this before you plan a new layout. For layout ideas that stay within the existing footprint, see keeping the existing layout.
Benchtops, cabinet carcasses and old appliances all have to travel through the building. Measure stair turns, doorways and the lift car. Ask whether the lift needs protection or a booking, and where vehicles can load. These details affect how materials are ordered and delivered.
Demolition, cutting and drilling carry through shared floors and walls. Find out which hours the building permits for noisy work, and think about letting your neighbours know when the louder stages are expected. If removal and preparation are planned as a sequence, the noisy work stays together instead of dragging on.
An old kitchen produces a surprising amount of waste. Building bins are rarely the place for it. Ask where a skip or trailer could sit, whether the street or building has restrictions, and how debris will reach it without damaging shared corridors. Who handles removal should be written into the scope.
Moving a sink, cooktop or dishwasher in a flat depends on where the waste, water and power can actually go. Drainage falls, shared stacks and isolation points often make the decision. Ivan looks at service access during the on-site assessment and explains the practical options. Any plumbing or electrical changes are carried out by appropriately licensed specialists.
Ivan is an independent sole trader. He does not claim builder registration or trade licences. To see how the work is divided, read Who Does What: Ivan and Licensed Trades.
Some St Kilda buildings come with heritage considerations, but you can’t assume they apply to every internal kitchen alteration. They depend on the property, so check what applies to yours instead of relying on what a neighbour was told. Permits and approvals vary by project too. Any wording about approvals in a quotation is checked against your particular job.
An on-site assessment can’t reveal every concealed issue. Old pipework, moisture or damaged substrate behind the cabinets can change the scope after removal. What may be behind the cabinets →
Have your owners corporation rules, any building conditions and your lift and access measurements ready. With these in hand, the free on-site assessment and the written quotation can reflect how your building actually works. For more on flat-specific planning, see Apartment Kitchens & Owners Corporation Considerations, or request a kitchen renovation quote.
