A minor kitchen alteration is small-scale work that does not change the kitchen layout or touch the structure of the home. That covers benchtop and sink replacement, taps and mixers, cabinet door and hardware repairs, splashbacks, rangehood replacement, reconnecting appliances, and minor reconfigurations like adding or removing a single cabinet. If a job involves moving walls, relocating the sink or cooktop, or a full strip-out, it is a renovation rather than an alteration – and that needs a different team.

Usually not. Like-for-like repairs and most internal kitchen alterations that do not change the layout, alter structure, or add new fixtures are generally exempt from building consent under Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004. Exempt work still has to meet the Building Code, and prescribed plumbing or electrical work must be done by a registered tradesperson. If your job crosses into structural change or new plumbing runs, consent may be required – we flag that before we start. You can check the rules at building.govt.nz.

Yes – a like-for-like benchtop replacement is one of the most common jobs we do. We remove the old top, fit the new one, reconnect the sink and tap through a registered plumber where the water supply is involved, and leave the cabinets below untouched. It is the single change that makes a tired kitchen look sorted again, without the cost or disruption of a full renovation.

Under the Healthy Homes ventilation standard, any kitchen with a cooktop must have an extractor fan or rangehood that vents to the outdoors – a recirculating unit that pushes air back into the room does not meet the standard. Rangehoods installed after 1 July 2019 must have a minimum diameter, including ducting, of 150mm, or an exhaust capacity of at least 50 litres per second. Swapping a non-compliant rangehood for a compliant, externally-vented one is a straightforward minor alteration we handle regularly.

Most are a half-day to full-day job, done in a single visit. A tap swap or a rangehood replacement is quick; a benchtop replacement with new splashback takes longer. We tell you the expected timeframe in your fixed quote, and for most jobs you will have the kitchen back in use the same day.

A fixed price. We assess the job, then give you one number covering parts, labour and any certification before any work starts. You approve it in writing, or you walk away – there is no obligation and no deposit to get a quote.

Where the job requires one, yes. Connecting or altering the water supply and waste is done by a registered plumber, and any new circuit or hard-wired appliance is done by a registered electrician, with the right certification on completion. We do not send unlicensed trades for work that legally requires a licence – doing so can void insurance and create liability, particularly in a rental.

Yes. We batch kitchen assessments and fixes across landlord portfolios regularly. If you have several rentals with the same worn taps, failing rangehoods, or sticking drawers, we can assess them together, flag what needs doing, schedule the work around your tenancies, and give you a single scope covering everything – one call, one company, one set of paperwork.

We will tell you honestly. If the job involves changing the layout, moving walls, relocating services, or a full rebuild, it is a renovation rather than a minor alteration, and it usually needs design and consent. In that case we point you to Superior Renovations, who handle full kitchen renovations across Auckland, so you are working with the right team from the start.