How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Melbourne's northern suburbs?

Kitchen renovations in suburbs like Brunswick, Reservoir and Preston typically range from $15,000 for a cosmetic refresh to $60,000+ for a full structural renovation with new cabinetry, benchtops, splashback and appliances. We collect quotes from multiple local tradies so you can compare real prices side by side.

Are the builders and tradies VBA registered?

Yes. Every tradie we connect you with holds a current Victorian Building Authority (VBA) registration. We don't list unlicensed operators. You can also verify any tradie's licence yourself at vba.vic.gov.au before signing anything.

Will I get cold-called by random tradies after submitting my details?

No. Your details are only shared with tradies who are a genuine match for your job and suburb. We don't sell your information to lead brokers or third-party lists. You choose who to engage — nothing gets passed on without your knowledge.

How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Melbourne?

A basic bathroom renovation runs from around $8,000–$15,000. A full wet area renovation with new tiles, plumbing, waterproofing and fixtures is typically $18,000–$35,000. Getting at least two or three quotes is essential — and that's exactly what we help you do.

Do I need a building permit for a home extension in Victoria?

Most extensions over 10m² require a building permit in Victoria. Your builder is legally required to obtain it before work starts. The tradies we work with handle permits as part of the job.

How long does a kitchen or bathroom renovation actually take?

A bathroom typically takes 2–4 weeks once trades are booked. A kitchen runs 3–6 weeks depending on whether cabinetry is custom or flatpack. Extensions vary widely — a single-storey rear extension might be 10–16 weeks from permit to completion.

What areas in Melbourne do you cover?

We focus on Melbourne's northern suburbs — Brunswick, Coburg, Preston, Reservoir, Thornbury, Northcote, Bundoora, Lalor, Pascoe Vale, Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Strathmore, Oak Park, Glenroy, Hadfield, Fawkner, Broadmeadows, Tullamarine, Gladstone Park, Mill Park, Thomastown, Greensborough, Eltham, Fitzroy North and Diamond Creek.

Is it actually free to get quotes through Melb Renovations?

Yes — completely free for homeowners. You describe your project, we match you with vetted local tradies, they quote you directly. You're under no obligation to accept any quote. We're paid by the tradies, not you.

Do Pascoe Vale homes contain asbestos in the kitchen?

It is common. Pascoe Vale has a large concentration of homes built from the late 1940s through the 1970s, and asbestos was routinely used in kitchen wall sheeting, eaves, vinyl floor backing and around old stoves. Testing before demolition is inexpensive, and licensed removal typically adds $2,000 to $8,000 depending on the quantity and whether the material is friable.

How much does it cost to open the kitchen to the living room in Pascoe Vale?

This is the most requested change in Pascoe Vale. Post-war homes were built with a small closed kitchen separated from the lounge. Removing a non-load-bearing partition costs $2,500 to $5,000. Where the wall carries the roof — common in the 1950s and 1960s brick and weatherboard stock — an engineer-designed beam takes it to $6,000 to $15,000 depending on the span.

Which council covers Pascoe Vale renovation permits?

Pascoe Vale sits within the City of Merri-bek, formerly Moreland. Internal kitchen renovations generally need no planning permit, but a building permit issued by a registered building surveyor is required once you carry out structural work, alter plumbing or drainage, or do work involving waterproofing.

What is the best value spend on a Pascoe Vale kitchen?

In a mid-market suburb like Pascoe Vale, over-specifying does not pay back. The best value combination is semi-custom cabinetry with quality hardware, an engineered stone benchtop, a mid-tier Australian appliance package, and — if the budget allows — opening the wall to the living area. That layout change is what buyers respond to, far more than imported appliances.

How long does a kitchen renovation take in Pascoe Vale?

Allow 3 to 5 weeks on site for a straightforward kitchen and 6 to 9 weeks where a wall is being removed or services relocated. Cabinetry and stone need 3 to 4 weeks of lead time, so the practical total from signing to a working kitchen is 2 to 4 months. Most Pascoe Vale homeowners stay in the house with a temporary kitchen set up in the laundry or garage.

Kitchen Renovation Costs in Pascoe Vale 2026

Pascoe Vale is a mid-market suburb with a very particular housing profile: rows of solid post-war brick and weatherboard homes built between the late 1940s and the 1970s, on generous regular blocks, with small closed-off kitchens at the rear. Almost every kitchen enquiry we receive from Pascoe Vale is some version of the same project — modernise the kitchen and open it to the living area.

That makes Pascoe Vale kitchen costs relatively predictable, with two big variables: asbestos and whether the wall you want to remove is structural. Here are the 2026 numbers.

Pascoe Vale kitchen costs at a glance

Scope	Pascoe Vale cost range (2026)
Basic refresh (new doors, benchtop, appliances, same layout)	5,000 – 5,000
Mid-range full kitchen renovation	5,000 – $55,000
High-end custom kitchen	from $60,000
Add: non-structural wall removal	+ ,500 – $5,000
Add: structural wall removal with steel beam	+ $6,000 – 5,000
Add: licensed asbestos removal	+ ,000 – $8,000

These ranges match our Pascoe Vale renovations page and sit deliberately below Essendon and Moonee Ponds pricing, because Pascoe Vale's market does not reward over-capitalising.

What affects kitchen cost in Pascoe Vale

Asbestos in post-war construction

This is the Pascoe Vale specific issue. Kitchens in homes from the 1950s to 1970s frequently have asbestos cement wall and ceiling sheeting behind the cabinetry, and vinyl flooring with asbestos backing. Get a licensed assessor to sample before demolition rather than after — discovering it mid-strip-out stops the job, and emergency removal costs more than planned removal. Budget $500 to $900 for testing and a clearance certificate, plus removal cost.

Whether the wall is load bearing

Do not assume. In Pascoe Vale's brick veneer and double brick stock, the wall between the kitchen and lounge often carries roof loads or is a structural masonry wall. An engineer's inspection and design costs

,200 to

,500 and is money well spent — it either saves you

0,000 by confirming the wall is a simple partition, or prevents a dangerous shortcut.

Electrical age

Many Pascoe Vale homes still have ceramic-fuse or early circuit-breaker boards with limited circuits. Running a modern kitchen — induction cooktop, oven, dishwasher, microwave, rangehood — usually requires new dedicated circuits and often a switchboard upgrade. Allow

,500 to $6,000. If the property still has any original rubber-insulated wiring, replacement is not optional.

Cabinetry choice

Flat pack with a builder installing is the cheapest path at $5,000 to

0,000 for cabinetry. Semi-custom Australian-made cabinetry with soft-close hardware and made-to-measure runs is

2,000 to

2,000 and is the sweet spot for Pascoe Vale. Full custom joinery at

5,000-plus rarely returns its cost in this market unless the rest of the home is at a comparable level.

Plumbing relocation

Moving the sink to a new island is the change that quietly adds cost — new waste and supply lines under a timber floor are manageable at

,000 to $4,000, but through a concrete slab it means saw-cutting and can reach $6,000 to $9,000. Where budget is tight, keeping the sink on the existing wall and putting the cooktop on the island is a cheaper way to get the same open feel.

Timeline

Design and measure: 1 to 3 weeks. Cabinetry and stone lead time: 3 to 4 weeks. On site: 3 to 5 weeks for a like-for-like kitchen, 6 to 9 weeks if you are removing a wall, dealing with asbestos and relocating services. Stone templating happens after cabinetry install, which means a 7 to 12 day gap with no benchtop — plan around it rather than being surprised by it.

Permits: City of Merri-bek

Pascoe Vale is administered by the City of Merri-bek (formerly Moreland). Internal kitchen renovations rarely trigger a planning permit, though a small number of Pascoe Vale streets carry heritage or neighbourhood character controls that apply if you change the exterior — for example inserting new rear windows or a servery opening.

A building permit is required for structural work, drainage changes and waterproofing, and is issued by a registered building surveyor. Asbestos removal above 10m² of non-friable material must be done by a licensed removalist. Check your builder's registration at vba.vic.gov.au, and require domestic building insurance on any contract above

6,000.

Get free Pascoe Vale kitchen quotes

MelbRenovations matches Pascoe Vale homeowners with VBA-licensed kitchen builders who work in Merri-bek regularly — free, no obligation, no cold calls. Also read our Pascoe Vale bathroom cost guide, our Pascoe Vale extension cost guide, or our kitchen renovations service page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Pascoe Vale in 2026?

A basic refresh in Pascoe Vale — new doors, benchtop and appliances with the layout unchanged — costs

5,000 to

5,000. A mid-range full kitchen renovation is

5,000 to $55,000, and a high-end custom kitchen starts from $60,000. Pascoe Vale is a mid-market suburb, so most homeowners land in the

5,000 to $45,000 band.