A kitchen has water, sewage, electricity, ventilation and sometimes gas in one place, so the job list is drawn up from the furniture plan. In the request, write the kitchen area and the building series or year.
Small kitchen renovation in a series building
In series buildings the kitchen is small. According to a compilation of standard plans, in the 119 series the kitchen is 6–7 m², in the 602 series about 7–8 m², and in the 104 series 8–9 m². In such a room almost the whole wall is taken up by cabinets, so the positions of sockets, water and drain outlets are set by the new furniture drawing, not by the old layout.
The kitchen's fittings, finishing and utilities up to the risers are part of the apartment (Law on Residential Properties, Section 3), and they can be changed without the agreement of other owners if the work does not affect common property. The riser itself is common property. If it has to be replaced or shut off, start with the building manager: riser replacement in an apartment.
Ventilation and the cooker hood
In residential buildings the kitchen is ventilated through a natural extract duct (LBN 231-15). If the building has a shared ventilation system, the kitchen's air duct may only be connected to its own duct.
The Fire Safety Regulations currently in force prohibit connecting a mechanical ventilation device to a natural ventilation duct in an apartment building if the room has a gas hob or other gas appliance and there is no constant air exchange. A cooker hood with a fan can be such a device, so in a kitchen with gas, discuss connecting the hood to the duct with the building manager. Ventilation ducts in rooms with gas appliances are cleaned and inspected at least once every five years.
The gas hob during renovation
Gas work is not part of the renovation estimate. With the agreement of the gas supplier, the user may replace or move a gas hob within one room (LBN 241-15, paragraph 7). Moving the hob to another room needs the supplier's technical conditions, a report on the flue and ventilation ducts, and a building design. If the hob stays in place, write that in the request so that the backsplash and furniture are planned around it.
The order of work in a kitchen renovation
- Furniture and appliance plan First the furniture, hob, oven, fridge and dishwasher are chosen, because the positions of sockets and water outlets depend on them.
- Demolition The old furniture, tiles and floor covering are removed.
- Electricity and pipes Cables and pipes are run to the new positions. If the electrical installation is rebuilt, it must be fitted with residual current protection.
- Walls and ceiling Plastering or skimming, priming and painting. The manufacturer Tikkurila states that skimmed and absorbent surfaces are primed before painting.
- Floor The base is levelled and tiles, vinyl flooring or laminate are laid. Quick-Step states that before laminate, unevenness over 2 mm per 1 m is levelled out.
- Backsplash The tiles above the worktop are laid when the exact height of the worktop is known. In corners and next to the worktop the joints are filled with silicone, not grout (Ceresit CM 17).
- Furniture and connection The furniture, sink and appliances are installed, and the sockets and light points are connected.
What to decide before the renovation
- A furniture drawing with the positions and dimensions of all the equipment.
- The floor covering: tiles, vinyl flooring or laminate. A comparison: tiles or laminate in the kitchen.
- The backsplash material and height.
- Whether the kitchen is combined with a room: then see combining a kitchen with a room.
- Whether you will choose the materials yourself. Write that in the request.
Kitchen renovation costs
Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate. For a kitchen the estimate is built from individual jobs, because the job lists of two kitchens rarely match.
| Job | Price |
|---|---|
| Tiling | from €24/m² |
| Removing old tiles | from €9/m² |
| Skimming walls or ceilings | from €10/m² |
| Painting walls or ceilings | from €4/m² |
| Laminate installation | from €6.50/m² |
| Socket, switch or light point | from €12 per point |
Example: a 3 m² backsplash, tiling 3 × €24 = from €72, and six new electrical points 6 × €12 = from €72. Together, for these two jobs, from €144. The price is affected by the kitchen area, the condition of the walls and floor, whether the wiring and pipes are changed and the chosen finish. All prices: apartment renovation prices.
What is in the kitchen renovation price
What this work includes
- removing the old tiles and floor covering;
- skimming and painting walls and ceilings;
- laying the floor covering;
- tiling the backsplash and floor;
- installing sockets, switches and light points.
What is calculated separately
- materials: tiles, adhesive, paint, covering;
- kitchen furniture and appliances;
- gas work and agreement with the gas supplier;
- riser replacement, agreed with the building manager;
- construction waste removal.
Other rooms: room renovation, hallway and corridor renovation, bathroom renovation. All rooms: room renovation in an apartment.
Sources
- In standard plans of the 119, 602 and 104 series kitchens checked 11 November 2026
- Kitchen size in the 602 series checked 11 November 2026
- Kitchen size in the 104 series checked 11 November 2026
- Apartment and common-property parts; work without other owners' agreement (Law on Residential Properties, Sections 3, 4, 11) checked 11 November 2026
- Kitchen ventilation through a natural extract duct; air ducts each in its own duct (LBN 231-15) checked 11 November 2026
- Ban on a mechanical device next to a gas appliance; duct cleaning once every five years (Cabinet Regulation No. 238) checked 11 November 2026
- Replacing a gas hob within one room and moving it to another room (LBN 241-15, paragraphs 7 and 9) checked 11 November 2026
- Residual current protection when rebuilding an electrical installation checked 11 November 2026
- Municipality's explanation: no documentation needed for painting, wallpaper and replacing a floor covering checked 11 November 2026
- Silicone in corners and next to sanitary fittings (Ceresit CM 17) checked 11 November 2026
- Base unevenness over 2 mm per 1 m (Quick-Step) checked 11 November 2026
- Skimmed surfaces are primed before painting (Tikkurila) checked 11 November 2026