It is the first question almost every homeowner asks, and the one most contractors dodge: what does a kitchen renovation actually cost? Here is an honest framework for Burlington in 2026. Every home is different, but this is how to think about it.
The refresh
New counters, backsplash, paint, hardware and lighting, keeping the existing layout. The most affordable path, and the right one when the bones already work. Big visual change, contained budget.
Because nothing structural moves, this tier usually needs no permit, which takes weeks out of the schedule as well as cost.
The full gut
New cabinetry, counters, appliances, flooring and finishes in the same footprint. This is the new kitchen most people picture. Cost is driven by cabinetry and counter choices more than anything else.
If plumbing or electrical moves, even inside the same footprint, a permit comes with it.
Kitchen plus main floor
Removing a wall to open the kitchen into the living space adds structural work, engineering and permits, and delivers the biggest transformation. Most of our favourite projects live here.
It is also where the range widens most, because a beam sized by an engineer is a very different line item depending on the span and what the wall is carrying. If you are weighing this tier, the trade-offs of going fully open are worth reading before you commit to a layout.
Where the money actually goes
Cabinetry and countertops are usually the largest line items, followed by any structural or layout changes. Appliances and finishes are where you can flex up or down.
The costs homeowners forget are the ones behind the walls: bringing old wiring up to current code once it is exposed, venting a range properly to the outside, and the small pile of decisions that arrive at the finishing stage. A good estimate names those up front instead of discovering them as extras.
What moves a quote up or down
Three things, in rough order of impact. How much structure changes. How custom the cabinetry is. How much of what is behind the walls has to be brought up to code. None of it is a surprise to a contractor who does this every week, and all of it is easy to miss when you are pricing from a showroom floor.
The honest answer
So, what does it cost? A simple refresh can start around $45,000. A kitchen plus main floor renovation typically starts somewhere between $100,000 and $150,000. Pricing varies a lot within each tier depending on the specific requirements of your project and the level of finishes you choose, and with a fully custom kitchen, the sky is the limit.
We give you a transparent, line-item estimate before any contract, so the number you sign is the number you pay. The exact number for your kitchen comes from a free in-home consultation, not a price list, but these ranges help you walk in with realistic expectations.
“Marcon has done 2 additions for us -- a kitchen extension and a bedroom/bathroom addition... They provided a detailed budget and always consulted with us if any changes needed to be made.”
