How much does kitchen benchtop replacement cost?

Whether you want to increase your home’s property value or make the kitchen better-looking for sanity’s sake, you will likely get rid of the old kitchen benchtop. It becomes even more essential when you notice cracks, chips, and other signs of damage. But how much should you spend? The average replace-kitchen-benchtop cost is $1,245 per square metre.

Many factors influence your budget, from installation costs to benchtop materials and sizes. This article discusses all of these. It also highlights the reason to hire experts in kitchen renovation if you do not want to waste money and time.

Reasons to replace your kitchen benchtop

Consider changing your kitchen benchtop when:

• It is damaged. With proper care, benchtops can last between 25 and 40 years. However, accidents and premature wear and tear can happen. They might show cracks and chips that make the surface uneven and dangerous. For example, they become more difficult to clean, and the kitchen becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.

• You want to improve the resale value. Newer-looking kitchen benchtops can increase property value. Some studies suggest that natural stone benchtops, such as granite, quartz, and marble, can bump your property price to 25% more.

• You like better functionality. Sometimes your benchtop still looks well, but you should change it to improve its function. For instance, laminate benchtops are more affordable than natural stone per square metre and easier to clean because they are less porous. However, engineered stone benchtops can be just as comfortable when properly sealed. As a bonus, they make your kitchen look elegant.
  
  

Regardless of the reason, replacing your benchtops is a major homeowner decision. After all, kitchen benchtop replacement cost does not come cheap.

Kitchen benchtop replacement prices

How much does replacing kitchen benchtops cost? The tables show the average prices per square metre, according to location and type. The estimates include the kitchen benchtop installation cost (or labour) and material.

What factors affect the cost of replacing kitchen benchtops? 

Kitchen benchtop costs can vary widely by location. Benchtops will likely be more expensive in big cities like Melbourne and Sydney. The cost of living, for one, means that installation experts would have to charge higher fees.

But it is not the be-all, end-all factor. Here are four that can significantly influence your choice between a laminate benchtop and a stone benchtop, the budget you set aside, and the types of professionals to work with.

1. Kitchen Benchtop Materials

One of the biggest price differentiators is the kitchen benchtop material—and you have many choices.

Natural stone benchtops

As the name suggests, these are naturally occurring stones mined or harvested from the earth and then processed minimally into slabs. They are well-known for their beauty, elegance, timelessness, and durability. When properly taken care of, they can have a service life of at least 40 years.

Because of these attributes, plus the challenges in the manufacturing process, a natural stone benchtop is also one of the priciest materials. Fortunately, the Australian market has many natural stone options for you, giving you more flexibility in terms of style, colour scheme, and, of course, budget. Two of these are granite and marble.

• Granite is an igneous rock made up of quartz, mica, and feldspar. Its coarse-grained texture, interlocking crystals, and exposure to intense temperatures make it heat-resistant, durable, and low-maintenance. However, it is also expensive. The cost of granite benchtops could reach almost $2,000 per square metre.

• Marble is sought after for its luxurious and elegant appearance, which partly explains why a typical marble benchtop costs over $2,000 per square metre. It is also available in several beautiful patterns and colours, such as white and pink. Like granite, this metamorphic rock composed of calcite or dolomite is strong. But a marble benchtop is also more prone to scratching and stain, making it more high-maintenance.

Engineered stone benchtops

Although natural stone benchtops are gorgeous and durable, their patterns and shades are sometimes inconsistent. They are also porous and can be prone to scratches and chipping.

If you want a good balance of aesthetics, function, and hard-wearing, you can opt for engineered stone. These benchtops are a type of composite material. They feature stones, such as crushed granite, and an adhesive, such as resin or cement, to bind them, creating a solid surface. Some of the most popular types include:

• Quartz benchtops have over 60% quartz, adhesive, and pigment. They are popular because they are scratch resistant. Moreover, they are available in different variants. Picking the right tile or slab benchtops to go with your home theme is easy.     

• Engineered marble contains crushed marble and resin. It is an excellent alternative to pure marble because this is less vulnerable to stains and scratches.

• Porcelain has china clay or kaolinite, feldspar, and silica. Besides giving your counter a glossy look, it is chip- and stain-resistant. This engineered stone benchtop can even withstand UV light, so it is ideal for outdoor kitchens. Thus, it’s unsurprising that porcelain benchtops cost almost $1,500.

Concrete benchtops

Your best bet is concrete if you want a more customised appearance and texture to your new benchtop. This one-part-cement and three-part-sand material works like a canvas. You can add different colours and produce unique patterns to make your kitchen stand out.

It is also hard-wearing, like natural and engineered stone. Plus, it is cheaper to buy per square metre. However, concrete benchtops are highly prone to breaking and chipping. And because they are so porous, they require regular sealing.

Timber benchtops

Those looking for a more sustainable or eco-friendly benchtop can consider a timber benchtop. A staple in traditional themed kitchens (think cottage core, shabby chic, or country cabin), this natural material is famous for its warmth and beauty. It is also available in many varieties, from oak to birch and bamboo.

Wooden benchtops can also be as long-lasting as engineered stone and are slightly cheaper per square metre than natural stone. However, their porosity means they also need regular sealing. When exposed to water over time, they can warp or dent.

Laminate kitchen benchtops

Compared to most materials on the list, laminate is the cheapest, making it an excellent choice for homeowners on a tight budget. Composed of several layers of plastic, kraft paper, and adhesive, it is easier to mass-produce and customise. Thus, you will find a wide variety of laminate benchtops, some of which can mimic the appearance of other materials, such as engineered stone.

A laminate benchtop is also easy to clean and maintain because it is non-porous. The problem is that you cannot expect them to have a similar service life to an engineered stone benchtop.

2. Installation

Another factor that can impact the kitchen benchtop’s cost is installation, especially the level of complexity and specialised skills needed. Is the material thick? Does it require more work, such as buffing, cutting, and sealing?

• A laminate benchtop’s cost can be as low as $350 per square metre because it is also the easiest for any benchtop installer to work with. The material is lightweight, requiring fewer tools to cut and shape. Professionals also do not have to apply a sealant.

• If you want to install a new granite benchtop, much of your spending goes towards labour. Like other stone materials, including engineered stone, they are heavier and more challenging to maneuver. Sometimes an installer should reinforce the counter to ensure it can carry the weight of the stone.

• A typical stone benchtop costs over a thousand dollars per square metre because it is expensive to begin with. It leaves little room for mistakes unless you want to spend way more. Furthermore, if you want solid-surface benchtops for the island benches, an expert should be capable of joining the edges seamlessly

As a homeowner, the cost can also balloon if you want to further customise the kitchen benchtop, such as when you want to install an IKEA benchtop or the installer has to perform specific cut-outs.

3. Scale of the project

The overall kitchen benchtop cost also depends on the scale of the project. It impacts the timeline, quantity of the materials needed, and specifications you and the contractor must meet.

For instance, if you want to build a commercial kitchen in the home, the best option is a stainless-steel benchtop material because of its hygienic finish. However, replacing a kitchen benchtop with this one can cost at least $1,000.

Post a task for kitchen renovation

With all the associated costs of kitchen benchtops, you might be tempted to DIY to save money. In reality, hiring a kitchen designer or benchtop installer is more cost-effective. You can avoid voiding your home insurance, setting yourself up for injuries, and spending more on equipment. Most of all, you can enjoy amazing craftsmanship for years.

Even better, Airtasker makes finding the right installation expert easy:

1. Create a free account.

2. Post a task. Indicate the specific skills you are looking for and other project details. These include the timeline, benchtop size, materials you want to install, and customisation requests.

3. Receive proposals from local installation experts or reach out to registered ones.
   
   

Replacing a kitchen benchtop needs careful planning, creativity, and a sufficient budget. However, you can simplify the process with expert kitchen designers. With Airtasker, you can connect with many local installers ready to help you.