Kitchen Renovations · Richmond
More Richmond kitchens we build include a second wok kitchen than not. Getting the ventilation right is the whole job.
Kitchen Renovations in Richmond
Richmond kitchen renovations have a requirement we see here more than anywhere else in the Lower Mainland: a separate wok kitchen. High-heat cooking with a powerful burner produces smoke and grease that a standard hood over an open-plan island simply cannot handle, so the answer is an enclosed secondary kitchen with serious ventilation, kept apart from the main living space. It is a genuinely different design problem from a single open kitchen, and it is the part most often done badly — usually by installing a very powerful hood without thinking about where the replacement air is going to come from.
A high-CFM range hood moves a large volume of air out of a house that is, in modern construction, built to be fairly airtight. If nothing replaces that air, the hood underperforms and can pull air backward down other vents — so make-up air needs to be part of the design rather than an afterthought. That is the single most important detail in a Richmond wok kitchen. Beyond ventilation, Richmond's housing shapes the work: much of the city is single-level ranchers from the 1970s–90s on flat lots, which are unusually easy to open up compared with Vancouver's split-levels, and the City Centre is dense with condos where a strata council and a fixed plumbing stack set the boundaries of what is possible.
1970s–90s single-level ranchers on flat lots, newer large detached builds, City Centre high-rise condos, and townhome complexes
A cosmetic kitchen replacement in the same layout generally does not require a City of Richmond building permit, though electrical and gas work is permitted separately. You do need a permit to remove a structural wall, relocate plumbing, or add a second kitchen. Adding a wok kitchen is worth discussing with the city early, since ventilation and any gas work are inspected. Condo projects in City Centre also require strata approval. We confirm the scope, pull permits and book inspections — Richmond Building Approvals can be reached at 604-276-4118.
What We Offer
Enclosed secondary kitchens designed for high-heat cooking — powerful dedicated ventilation, make-up air planned in, wipe-down surfaces, and a proper door seal so smoke and grease stay out of the main living space.
Sizing the hood to the burner and then solving where replacement air comes from. A powerful hood in an airtight house without make-up air underperforms and can backdraft other appliances.
Opening up single-level Richmond ranchers from the 70s and 80s. These are among the most rewarding kitchens we do — flat, straightforward framing, and removing one wall often transforms the entire main floor.
City Centre condo renovations run to the building's rules — work request, insurance, restricted hours, elevator booking. We design around the plumbing stack rather than pretending it can be relocated.
Locally built cabinetry sized to your room, including tall pantry storage and the heavy-duty surfaces a working wok kitchen needs rather than finishes that look good and stain immediately.
Richmond kitchen renovations typically run $35,000–$55,000 for a full mid-range gut and rebuild, and $18,000–$30,000 for a refresh that keeps the existing layout. Adding a separate wok kitchen typically adds $18,000–$35,000 depending on size, ventilation and whether gas is being run. High-end custom work runs $60,000–$110,000+. Every quote is itemized.
Get Your Free QuoteScope: Rancher main kitchen opened to living area with engineered beam, enclosed wok kitchen added with high-CFM hood and make-up air, gas run and permitted, custom cabinetry throughout
Duration: 7 weeks on site (11 weeks including permits and cabinetry)
A 1980s Broadmoor rancher where the family cooked daily with a wok and the whole house smelled of it. We opened the main kitchen into the living area with an engineered beam for entertaining, then converted an adjacent utility space into a fully enclosed wok kitchen with a dedicated high-CFM hood, a proper make-up air supply so the hood actually performs, gas run and permitted, and a sealed door. Two kitchens, two purposes, and the main living space stays clean.
Verified Google Reviews
“They've become my go-to for any home renovation. They consistently deliver exactly what I envision, if not better.”
Nikki I
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.”
Laura Logan
Kitchen renovation · Google review
Frequently Asked Questions
Most full renovations run $35,000–$55,000, and a layout-preserving refresh is $18,000–$30,000. Adding a separate wok kitchen typically adds $18,000–$35,000 depending on size, ventilation and gas work. High-end custom projects run $60,000–$110,000+.
Yes — it's one of our most common Richmond requests. The essentials are an enclosed room with a sealing door, ventilation sized to the burner, and durable wipe-down surfaces. The part that gets missed is make-up air: a powerful hood in an airtight house needs replacement air or it won't perform properly.
A high-CFM hood pulls a large volume of air out of the house. In tighter modern construction, if nothing replaces it the hood can't move air effectively and can draw air backward down other vents. Designing a make-up air supply in from the start is what makes the difference between a wok kitchen that works and one that doesn't.
Not for straight cosmetic replacement in the same layout, though electrical and gas are permitted separately. Removing a structural wall, moving plumbing, or adding a second kitchen does require permits. We handle applications and inspections; Richmond Building Approvals is at 604-276-4118.
Generally yes, and it's one of the highest-impact changes available. Single-level ranchers on flat lots have simpler framing than Vancouver split-levels, so removing a wall between kitchen and living area is usually straightforward — though load-bearing walls still need an engineered beam and a permit.
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