Kitchen Renovations · Coquitlam
Coquitlam spans seventy years of housing. A 1955 Austin Heights kitchen and a 2018 Burke Mountain kitchen are completely different jobs.
Kitchen Renovations in Coquitlam
Coquitlam has one of the widest ranges of housing age we work across, and the kitchen work splits cleanly along it. In Austin Heights, Como Lake and Maillardville you find post-war homes with small kitchens closed off behind walls — the standard layout of the era, and almost always what the owner wants changed. Up on Burke Mountain and Westwood Plateau the homes are recent, the kitchens are already open, and the work is about replacing builder-grade cabinetry, counters and appliances with something that matches what the house cost. Two very different projects in the same city.
In the older parts of Coquitlam, opening a kitchen usually means removing a load-bearing wall, which means an engineered beam and a permit — the same story as a Vancouver Special but with generally simpler framing. Post-war homes here also frequently have undersized electrical panels that need upgrading before you can add an induction range, a wall oven and modern circuits. On the newer side, Burke Mountain and Westwood Plateau kitchens are structurally fine but were finished to a builder's budget, so the work is cabinetry, stone, lighting and appliances rather than framing. One genuinely local detail worth knowing: Coquitlam covers a large elevation range, and upper Burke Mountain sees meaningfully more snow and colder temperatures than the Fraser-side neighbourhoods, which matters for delivery scheduling on winter projects.
Post-war bungalows and split-levels in Austin Heights and Maillardville, 1990s Westwood Plateau homes, newer Burke Mountain builds, and townhomes near Coquitlam Centre
A cosmetic kitchen replacement in the same layout generally does not require a City of Coquitlam building permit, though electrical and gas work is permitted separately. Removing a structural wall, relocating plumbing or changing venting does require a permit, and an engineered beam with drawings where load is involved. Panel upgrades in older homes are electrical-permit work. We confirm scope with the city, pull the permits and book inspections.
What We Offer
Removing the wall that closes off the kitchen in Austin Heights and Como Lake bungalows. Engineered beam, permit and drawings handled — the single highest-impact change available in these homes.
Older Coquitlam homes often have panels sized for a 1950s kitchen. Adding an induction range, wall oven and modern circuits usually means a service upgrade, which we identify before quoting rather than discovering at rough-in.
Replacing the cabinetry, counters and lighting that came standard in Burke Mountain and Westwood Plateau homes. No structural work needed — just finishes that match what the house is worth.
Locally built cabinets sized to your actual walls, which matters in post-war homes where nothing is square. Full-height pantries, islands and appliance integration.
Compact kitchens for basement suites, built to BC Building Code suite requirements with proper separation, venting and electrical so they pass inspection first time.
Coquitlam kitchen renovations typically run $32,000–$55,000 for a full mid-range gut and rebuild, and $17,000–$30,000 for a refresh keeping the existing layout. Older homes needing a wall removed and a panel upgrade sit at the top of that band. High-end custom work runs $60,000–$100,000+. Quotes are itemized so the structural and electrical work is visible rather than buried.
Get Your Free QuoteScope: Load-bearing wall removed with engineered beam, 200-amp service upgrade, full gut, custom cabinetry, quartz counters, new lighting throughout main floor
Duration: 5 weeks on site (9 weeks including permits and cabinetry)
A classic Austin Heights post-war bungalow with a small kitchen walled off from the dining and living rooms. The wall carried load, so we installed an engineered beam and opened the main floor into a single space. The existing panel could not support an induction range plus a wall oven, so the service was upgraded to 200 amps as part of the project — identified at quoting, not partway through. Cabinets were scribed to walls that were out of plumb by roughly three quarters of an inch.
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“They've become my go-to for any home renovation. They consistently deliver exactly what I envision, if not better.”
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Multiple home renovations · Google review
“Timelines were respected, and the workspace was kept clean and organized, which made a big difference during the renovation process.”
Jasleen Lidder
Full renovation & finishing carpentry · Google review
“From start to finish Christopher was there for us. Honest, reasonable and very professional.”
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Kitchen renovation · Google review
Frequently Asked Questions
Most full renovations run $32,000–$55,000, and a layout-preserving refresh is $17,000–$30,000. Older homes that need a wall removed and an electrical service upgrade sit at the top of that range. High-end custom work runs $60,000–$100,000+.
Yes, and it's the change that transforms these houses. The wall between kitchen and living space is usually load-bearing, so it needs an engineered beam, drawings and a permit. We price the structural work into the original quote so it isn't a mid-project surprise.
Often, yes. Panels in 1950s and 60s Coquitlam homes were sized for the appliances of the day. An induction range, wall oven and modern circuits frequently require a service upgrade. We check the panel and load during the site visit and quote it as a separate line rather than discovering it at rough-in.
Not for straight cosmetic replacement in the same layout, though electrical and gas are permitted separately. Removing a structural wall, moving plumbing or changing venting does require a permit. We handle applications and inspections.
Frequently yes. These homes were finished to a builder's budget, so the layout is already good but the cabinetry, counters and lighting are entry-level. Because there's no structural work involved, you get a large visual change for a lower cost than an older-home renovation.
Get a free, no-obligation quote from a team with over 30 years of experience serving Coquitlam and the Lower Mainland.