Refurbishing the Kitchen in a Rented House
Between tenancies, a refurbishment gets a kitchen back to lettable in days: new doors, drawer fronts and a laminate worktop on the existing units cost €1,350 to €5,000, and a respray of sound doors €700 to €1,000 to €1,250 to €2,000. Choose for wear, not for fashion: plain doors in a mid tone, a square-edged laminate, and handles that can be bought again.
What wears well, what to check, and how to fit it between tenants.
Free, no obligation. One local company prices it, not five.
- €1,350 to €5,000doors and a laminate worktop
- 2 to 4 weeksto make the doors
- 1 dayto fit laminate
What wears well
| Part | Choose | Because |
|---|---|---|
| Doors | Plain slab or shaker, matt, mid tone | Hides marks, and one door can be matched later |
| Worktop | Laminate, square edge | Cheap to replace a length if it's burned |
| Handles | A common bar handle | Easy to buy one more |
| Hinges | Soft-close, a standard make | Slammed doors are what loosen hinges |
| Sink | Stainless steel, inset | Takes abuse |
Check before you spend
- Under the sink. Leaks in a let house go unreported. A swollen base unit is replaced, not re-doored.
- Behind the washing machine. The same.
- The extractor. It has to work and vent.
- Sockets and the cooker switch. Have an electrician look while the kitchen is empty.
Fitting it between tenants
Doors take two to four weeks to make. Order them as soon as notice is given, and have them hung in the gap. A laminate worktop is fitted in a day. Stone needs a week or two between template and fitting, which rarely suits a short void.
What it costs
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Doors resprayed, small kitchen, up to 10 doors and drawer fronts | €700 to €1,000 | Door count, the finish that's on them now |
| Doors resprayed, medium kitchen, 10 to 20 | €1,250 to €2,000 | Door count, colour, frames sprayed in place |
| New doors, drawer fronts and a worktop on your units | €1,350 to €5,000 | How many doors, and laminate against stone for the worktop |
| Laminate worktop, fitted | €800 to €2,000 | €50 to €100 a metre. Fitted in a day |
Ask for the written price to say what's included, and whether VAT is in it.
Every guide, calculator and county page
Jump straight to any specification guide, our interactive calculator, the technical glossary or your county page.
Price & Specification Guides
Calculator, FAQ & Glossary
More on refurbishing a kitchen
Costs, doors, worktops and timing.
What it costsFrom a €700 respray to €5,000 for doors and a worktop.
Replacement doorsMade to measure for your units, from €48 a door.
A new worktopLaminate €800 to €2,000. Quartz €2,200 to €4,800.
Refurbish or replace?Five checks on the units you have.
The small partsHandles and soft-close hinges, €150 to €450.
Ten changes, by costWhat makes the most difference for the least.Kitchen refurbishment in every county
- Carlow44% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Cavan50% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Clare42% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Cork38% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Donegal48% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Dublin32% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Galway48% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Kerry42% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Kildare48% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Kilkenny41% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Laois50% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Leitrim48% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Limerick39% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Longford47% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Louth41% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Mayo43% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Meath48% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Monaghan39% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Offaly42% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Roscommon44% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Sligo43% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Tipperary39% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Waterford40% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Westmeath46% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Wexford48% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Wicklow37% of homes built 1991 to 2010
Price your refurbishment
Four taps: the doors, the worktop, the size and any extras. You see our price guide for it. Your number is only asked for at the end, if you want one kitchen company that covers your county to ring you.
Questions people ask
Is a respray or new doors better in a rental?
New doors where the old ones are foil and peeling. A respray where they're solid timber.
Can it be done with tenants in place?
Yes, with notice. The sink is out for a day if the worktop changes.
Is it an allowable expense?
That's a question for your accountant. Keep the invoice.
Get a price to refurbish your kitchen
One kitchen company that covers your county. Free, no obligation. Nothing is ordered until you accept a written price.