Costs
What to Spend on and What to Save On
Updated 3 min read
The short answer
The renovation spending hierarchy is simple: spend on things that are hard to change later, and save on things that are easy to change later. Spend on the carcass, save on the door style. Spend on the plumbing rough-in, save on the faucet brand. Spend on the structural framing, save on the decorative trim. Every dollar should go where it has the most long-term impact.
Spend vs save
| Spend on | Why | Save on | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinet carcass (plywood) | It is the structure you open every day | Door style and colour | Easier and cheaper to change later |
| Drawer slides and hinges | Daily-use hardware determines the experience | Cabinet knobs and pulls | Easy to swap, inexpensive to change |
| Plumbing rough-in | Behind the wall — expensive to change later | Faucet and fixtures | Surface-mounted, easy to replace |
| Electrical rough-in | Behind the wall — must be right | Light fixtures | Surface-mounted, easy to update |
| Structural framing | The bones of the house | Decorative trim details | Easier and cheaper to upgrade later |
| Subfloor and underlayment | Affects every floor surface above | Floor finish (initially) | Can be refinished or replaced |
| Waterproofing and membranes | Prevents catastrophic damage | Tile selection | Cosmetic, can be replaced |
| Insulation | Permanent, affects comfort and cost daily | Window treatments | Cosmetic, easy to change |
| House wrap and air sealing | Prevents moisture damage for decades | Exterior paint colour | Can be repainted every 10–15 years |
The quality tiers in cabinetry
- Where quality cannot be compromised
- The carcass (plywood, not particleboard), the drawer boxes (dovetail, not stapled), the slides and hinges (Blum or equivalent), and the finish (catalysed, not latex). These four elements determine how the kitchen performs and ages over decades.
- Where quality is optional
- The door style (a Shaker door in MDF is as durable as a raised panel in hardwood), the colour (any colour in a quality finish system lasts equally), the handle finish (easily swapped), and the internal accessories (pull-outs and dividers can be added later).
- The false economy
- Saving on the carcass to afford a premium door is backwards. A beautiful door on a cheap box looks good on day one and fails in year three. A simple door on a quality box looks good on day one and still looks good in year fifteen. Prioritise structure over style.
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Where saving does not cost you
- Paint colours
- A gallon of quality paint costs $50–$80 regardless of colour. Choosing a less trendy colour saves nothing. But painting one wall an accent colour instead of installing a feature wall saves thousands with comparable visual impact.
- Open shelving instead of upper cabinets
- Open shelving costs a fraction of upper cabinets and looks intentional when done well. It is easier to install, easier to modify, and creates a lighter, more open feel. It is a legitimate design choice, not a compromise.
- Butcher block instead of stone
- A butcher block countertop costs 30–50% less than stone and pairs beautifully with custom cabinetry. It requires more maintenance, but the aesthetic and functional value is comparable for a lower budget.
- Refacing instead of replacing
- If the cabinet boxes are structurally sound, new doors and a new finish on the existing boxes delivers 80% of the visual impact at 40% of the cost of full replacement. The boxes are the expensive part; the doors are the visible part.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- What is the single best place to spend renovation money?
- The kitchen cabinet specification — specifically the carcass, slides and finish. These are the most-used elements in the house, they are the hardest and most expensive to change later, and the difference between a quality and budget specification is felt every single day.
- Should I spend money on things nobody sees?
- Absolutely. Insulation, waterproofing, framing quality, and electrical and plumbing rough-in are invisible but determine the house's performance, safety and longevity. Visible finishes are easy to upgrade; invisible infrastructure is not. This is where quality spending has the most long-term impact.
- Can I save money by doing some work myself?
- For straightforward cosmetic work (painting, hardware installation, caulking), yes — the savings are meaningful. For structural, electrical, plumbing or finish carpentry, the quality gap between professional and DIY work is significant and the savings are smaller than you think. DIY the easy stuff, hire the rest.
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