Renovate What Works
Kitchen Renovation in Tampa Bay
Not every kitchen needs gutting. We'll tell you honestly which parts are worth keeping — and which ones are costing you money to keep.
- Honest keep-vs-replace assessment
- Renovation scopes that respect a real budget
- Licensed & insured Florida contractor
- Free in-home consultation
Free in-home design consultations — call or request a quote and we'll schedule a visit
Request your free consultation
Tell us about the project. We'll come measure, then send a fixed, itemized proposal — no obligation.
"Renovation" and "remodel" get used interchangeably, but the difference is worth real money. A renovation restores and upgrades what is already there — same layout, better everything. A remodel changes the plan itself: walls move, plumbing relocates, the room becomes a different room.
Most Tampa Bay kitchens we look at do not need remodeling. They need renovating. The layout is fine; the cabinets are structurally sound behind tired doors; the problem is thirty-year-old surfaces, bad lighting, and electrical that predates the way anyone actually cooks now.
We will tell you which one you are looking at before you spend anything. If your kitchen genuinely needs the walls moved, we will say so. If it does not, we are not going to sell you a gut job to grow the invoice.
What it costs, by scope
Find yourself in the range before you talk to anyone. These are typical Tampa Bay market ranges — not our price list.
Surface renovation
$15,000 – $30,000
Sound boxes, dated everything else
- Cabinet refacing or professional repaint
- New counters and backsplash
- New sink, faucet, and hardware
- Lighting upgrade
Full renovation
$30,000 – $60,000
New everything, same footprint
- New semi-custom cabinetry
- Quartz or granite counters
- New flooring throughout
- Electrical and plumbing to code
Renovation + light reconfigure
$45,000 – $80,000
Keeping most of the plan, fixing the one thing that's wrong
- Removing a single non-structural wall or peninsula
- Adding or resizing an island
- Relocating one plumbing or appliance run
- New cabinetry and counters throughout
These are typical Tampa Bay market ranges for 2026 — not a quote and not our price list. Tampa Bay labor and materials run roughly 18–23% above national averages, and every number moves with your layout, structural conditions, and finish level. We give you a fixed, itemized proposal after a free in-home measure.
What's included
- Cabinet refacing, refinishing, and door/drawer replacement
- New countertops and full-height backsplash
- Sink, faucet, and disposal upgrades
- Lighting design — recessed, under-cabinet, and pendant
- Electrical upgrades to current code without opening every wall
- Flooring replacement over the existing footprint
- Hardware, trim, paint, and finish carpentry
- Appliance fitting and panel-ready integration
How the project runs
- 60–90 min
Keep-or-replace walkthrough
We open drawers, check box construction, look at the panel, and tell you what is genuinely worth saving.
- 1–2 weeks
Two priced options
Where it is a close call, we price it both ways so you can see what the extra scope actually buys.
- 1–3 weeks
Selections & scheduling
Renovations move faster than remodels because there is less to permit and less to order. We lock finishes and set a date.
- 3–7 weeks
Build & close-out
Protection, sequenced trades, punch list, done. Shorter disruption than a gut remodel by weeks.
Timeline
Surface renovations often finish in 3–5 weeks. Full renovations inside the existing footprint typically run 5–8 weeks — meaningfully faster than a gut remodel because there is less structural work and less permitting.
Permits & Florida code
Kitchen remodels in Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco pull permits any time electrical, plumbing, gas, or structure changes — which is nearly every real remodel. Florida Building Code requires GFCI/AFCI protection, dedicated small-appliance circuits, and code-compliant venting. Removing a wall means an engineered header and a structural review. We pull the permits, schedule every inspection, and close them out — you never deal with the county counter.
The decisions that move your number
The four things worth thinking about before you get quotes.
Are the cabinet boxes actually sound?
Solid plywood boxes with tired doors are the single best renovation candidate there is. Particleboard boxes that are sagging or water-swollen are not worth refacing.
Renovation stops being cheaper at a point
If you are replacing cabinets, counters, flooring, and electrical anyway, the marginal cost of fixing a bad layout at the same time is smaller than doing it later as a second project.
Lighting is the most underrated line
A renovation that changes surfaces but not lighting usually still feels dated. Layered lighting is a small line item with an outsized effect.
Match the spend to the neighborhood
Every Tampa Bay submarket has a resale ceiling. We will tell you when a scope is going past what the street will return.
How we work
Not claims about how good we are — commitments about how the project runs.
Design–build under one contract
The team that designs your kitchen or bath is the team that builds it. One contract, one schedule, one person accountable — no handoff gap between designer and contractor.
Fixed scope, itemized proposal
Every line is visible before you sign — cabinetry, counters, labor, permits, contingency. Change-order pricing is agreed in writing before any extra work proceeds.
Permits pulled and closed
We handle Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco permitting end to end, schedule every inspection, and close the permit out. You never deal with the county counter.
Waterproofing flood-tested before tile
Every shower pan we build is flood-tested and inspected before a single tile goes on. It is the cheapest line to cut and the most expensive one to redo.
Built to the Florida Building Code
GFCI and AFCI protection, dedicated circuits, code ventilation, engineered headers, and inspected moisture barriers — the requirements that actually matter in Florida humidity.
Kitchens and baths only
We do not take on roofing, additions, or general handyman work. Two rooms, done to a standard that only comes from specialising.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a kitchen renovation and a kitchen remodel?
A renovation upgrades what is already there without changing the layout — new surfaces, cabinetry, lighting, and electrical in the same floor plan. A remodel changes the plan itself: moving walls, relocating plumbing, reconfiguring the room. Renovations are faster, cheaper, and permit-lighter.
Is it worth renovating my kitchen instead of remodeling?
If the layout works and the cabinet boxes are structurally sound, almost always yes — you get most of the visual transformation for a fraction of the cost and weeks less disruption. If the layout is genuinely wrong, renovating just makes an unworkable kitchen look nicer.
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Tampa Bay?
Surface renovations typically run $15,000 to $30,000. Full renovations with new cabinetry inside the existing footprint run $30,000 to $60,000. These are market ranges, not quotes.
Can you renovate my kitchen cabinets without replacing them?
Yes, if the boxes are sound. Refacing replaces doors, drawer fronts, and visible surfaces while keeping the structure — a professional repaint typically runs $2,500 to $6,000, and full refacing costs well under new cabinetry.
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
Surface renovations often finish in 3–5 weeks. Full renovations run 5–8 weeks, which is typically several weeks faster than a gut remodel.
Related
Free consultation
Let's price your kitchen renovation properly.
We measure in person, then send a fixed, itemized proposal. No obligation, no pressure, and no allowance games.
Prefer to talk it through? Calling is usually faster than a form.