About 5J Building Group
Planning a kitchen renovation in Melbourne? 5J Building Group designs and builds kitchens that suit the way your household actually cooks, eats and gathers. We're a registered domestic builder with more than 20 years of experience renovating Melbourne homes, and we manage the whole project, from layout and selections to cabinetry, benchtops, plumbing, electrical and the final clean.
Because one team handles everything, you're not left coordinating a cabinet maker, stonemason, plumber, electrician and tiler on your own. We plan the order of work, order long-lead items such as joinery, stone and appliances early, and keep you updated every week, so your kitchen is finished properly and you can get back to using it sooner.
Whether you need a fresh, functional kitchen in a compact apartment, a full family kitchen with an island and butler's pantry, or a kitchen as part of a larger renovation or extension, every project starts with a free on-site consultation and a detailed quote built around your budget, with no hidden costs.
Recent work
A selection of recent 5J kitchen renovations across Melbourne.
Kitchen styles
Every kitchen we build is designed around your space, your budget and how you use it. These are the styles Melbourne homeowners ask us for most.
Modern
Flat-panel or handleless cabinetry, integrated appliances, clean lines and symmetrical layouts. Modern kitchens suit open-plan living and make smaller spaces feel larger.
Best for: Open-plan living, apartments and new extensions
Classic
Open, family-friendly layouts with a generous island, stone benchtops and plenty of natural light. A classic kitchen is designed to stay practical and good-looking for years.
Best for: Family homes and keen entertainers
French provincial
Soft whites, creams and greys with timber details against a tiled splashback. Ideal for period homes and anyone who wants warmth and character.
Best for: Period homes and anyone who loves character
We work with every common kitchen layout, including galley, L-shaped, U-shaped and island kitchens, and we can add a butler's pantry, a breakfast bar or a better flow to the dining and outdoor areas. Small and apartment kitchens get the same attention to storage, lighting and workflow as large family kitchens.
Why 5J
Two decades of Melbourne renovations means we know which cabinetry, benchtops and finishes stand up to daily family life, and where kitchen projects usually run into trouble.
We're a Registered Domestic Builder (Unlimited), CDB-U 73492. In Victoria, domestic building work worth more than $10,000 must be done by a registered builder.
Plumbing, gas and electrical work is done by licensed trades, with a plumbing compliance certificate and a Certificate of Electrical Safety where required.
Every kitchen starts with a free on-site consultation and a detailed quote built around your budget. What we quote is what you pay for.
Custom joinery, stone and imported appliances can take weeks to arrive. We order early and sequence the trades so your kitchen is out of action for as little time as possible.
You'll hear from us every week on progress. Change your mind on a handle or a tile? Tell us and we'll work it in.
What's included
Your quote sets out exactly what's included. A typical full kitchen renovation covers every stage, from first sketch to final clean.
One contract. Every trade.
Kitchen renovation cost
Every kitchen is different, so we quote each one individually after a site visit. As a general guide, 2026 industry price guides for metropolitan Melbourne put most kitchen renovations in these bands:
$10,000 – $20,000
Keeps the existing layout. New benchtops, splashback, paint, handles and some appliances.
$25,000 – $50,000
New cabinetry, stone or porcelain benchtops, quality appliances and minor layout changes. Where most family kitchens land.
$50,000+
Custom joinery, premium appliances, layout reconfiguration, butler's pantries and structural changes such as removing walls.
These ranges are a general guide only and are not a quote. It's sensible to keep a contingency of around 10–15% for older homes, where hidden issues can appear once walls are opened.
How it works
Six clear steps from first visit to handover. Planning happens before anything is pulled out, so your kitchen is out of action for as little time as possible.
We visit your home, measure the space, talk through how you use your kitchen and discuss your style, priorities and budget.
We prepare a layout and design, then a detailed quote so you know what's included and what it costs before anything starts.
You choose cabinetry finishes, benchtops, splashbacks, tapware and appliances. We order long-lead items early so they arrive on time.
We protect the rest of your home, remove the old kitchen and complete any structural work, plus plumbing and electrical rough-in.
Cabinetry, benchtops, splashbacks and appliances go in, followed by plumbing and electrical fit-off by licensed trades.
We complete painting and finishing touches, clean thoroughly, hand over your compliance certificates and walk you through your new kitchen.
Google reviews
Real reviews from 5J Building Group customers on Google.
Permits and compliance
Most kitchen renovations are straightforward from a permit point of view, but a few rules matter. We handle all of them for you.
Most kitchen renovations don't need a planning permit. If walls come out or the structure changes, a building permit is usually needed, and homes in a Heritage Overlay may need a planning permit for external changes such as new windows. We check this before design.
In Victoria, domestic building work worth more than $10,000 must be done by a registered builder. The Building and Plumbing Commission warns that work by an unregistered builder over that amount won't be covered by domestic building insurance.
For plumbing work valued at $750 or more, your plumber must give you a compliance certificate. Licensed electricians must provide a Certificate of Electrical Safety for any electrical installation work. You'll receive these at handover.
Since 1 July 2024, installing engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs has been banned across Australia. We use compliant alternatives such as natural stone, porcelain, sintered stone without resin, laminate and timber. Existing engineered stone benchtops can stay in place.
Service areas
We renovate kitchens across Melbourne's eastern, south-eastern, inner and bayside suburbs. Visit your local page for suburb-specific planning information, or see all suburbs we service.
FAQs
It depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and your selections. As a general guide, 2026 industry price guides put a kitchen refresh at around $10,000–$20,000, a full renovation at around $25,000–$50,000 and premium or custom kitchens above $50,000. We quote every kitchen individually after a free on-site visit.
Once materials are ready, most kitchen renovations take around four to six weeks on site, and layout or structural changes add time. Custom joinery, stone benchtops and imported appliances have lead times, so we order them early. We give you a clear timeline with your quote.
Usually not a planning permit. If you're removing walls or changing the structure, a building permit is usually needed, and heritage-listed homes may need a planning permit for external changes. Plumbing work of $750 or more needs a compliance certificate, and electrical work needs a Certificate of Electrical Safety. We look after all of this.
Usually, yes. Most families stay at home and set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere in the house for a few weeks. We protect the rest of your home, keep the site tidy and plan noisy or disruptive work so it has the least impact on your day.
Often, yes. If the wall is load-bearing, it needs an engineer's design and a building permit, and we manage both. Opening up a kitchen to the living or dining area is one of the most popular changes our clients make.
It depends on your budget and how you cook. Since engineered stone was banned from 1 July 2024, popular choices include natural stone, porcelain and sintered stone without resin for a premium look, and laminate or timber for value and warmth. We'll show you samples and explain the pros and cons of each.
Yes, and it's often more efficient. A kitchen and two bathrooms typically take about 4–8 weeks, and doing them together means one contract, one set of trades and one period of disruption. We also renovate kitchens as part of larger home renovations and extensions.
We renovate kitchens across Melbourne's eastern, south-eastern, inner and bayside suburbs, from Doncaster and Glen Waverley to Hampton, Kew and South Yarra. See all suburbs we service, or contact us and we'll confirm.
5J Blog
Book a free on-site consultation. We'll measure your kitchen, talk through your ideas and give you a detailed quote built around your budget.
