Kitchen Renovation in Montreux

A kitchen renovation in Montreux rarely starts from the same point from one building to the next. Between a flat near the waterfront, a villa on the hillsides and a home in one of the upper villages, the room, its connections and its access are not alike. Redoing your kitchen here therefore begins with describing precisely where it is.

This page is aimed at owners, tenants, co-owners and small businesses in the municipality who are preparing to replace a kitchen and wish to compare free, no-obligation quotes.

Kitchen works in Montreux, item by item

A kitchen renovation is not a single trade but a series of interventions that follow one another in a precise order:

• removal of the old kitchen and disposal of the elements;
• plumbing: water supplies, drains, connection of the sink and dishwasher;
• electrics: sockets, worktop lighting, circuits for large appliances;
• fitting: units, fronts, worktop;
• appliances: oven, hob, fridge, dishwasher;
• tiling or the splashback behind the worktop;
• ventilation or the extractor hood.

Each of these items depends on the previous ones. A worktop cannot be fitted before the water supplies are in place, and a splashback cannot be tiled before the electrics are run. That is why the order of the site and coordination matter as much as the choice of units.

Flats near the waterfront, older buildings, villas: three different kitchens

Montreux is a Riviera town on Lake Geneva, whose districts rise in tiers up the slopes, from the waterfront to the upper villages. This diversity is reflected in the kitchens.

The small urban flat

In a modest-sized home, the kitchen is often compact. Every centimetre counts: depth of the units, position of the fridge, height of the storage. The work is less about surface area than about optimisation, and made-to-measure fitting makes full sense here. Appliances are chosen according to the real dimensions of the planned recess, not from a catalogue.

The older building

In an older building, the water and electrical installations have not always been renewed at the same pace as the kitchen. During removal, the tradesperson may discover pipes to replace, a panel to adapt or uneven walls that complicate the fitting of units. Be frank in your request if you know the age of the building: the quote will allow for a degree of the unexpected, and a good quote says so rather than keeping quiet about it.

The villa on the hillsides

In a villa, the kitchen may be enlarged, opened onto the living room or moved. These projects change the connections and sometimes the structure, which alters the scope of the formalities. The view of the lake often prompts a rethink of the layout; it is as much a fitting project as a technical job.

What the slopes and upper parts of Montreux change for your site

The municipality stretches from the waterfront to Glion, Caux and Chernex. For a kitchen, the question is not only the building but also the route that leads to it.

• Access to the site. Units, worktop and appliances are delivered in bulk. On a narrow or steep road, delivery requires more organisation, and a lift that is too small may force the use of the stairs.
• Parking. In a dense district, the delivery lorry or the tradesperson’s vehicle must be able to stop. Inform the property manager or neighbours if necessary.
• Waste disposal. The elements of the old kitchen are bulky. Ask who removes them and whether this is included in the quote.
• Conditions at altitude. In the upper parts, snow can complicate access in winter. If your site is to take place in that season, mention it when you get in touch.

These points do not change the nature of the work, but they can alter the organisation and therefore the cost. A tradesperson who has not seen the access cannot price them.

Steps for a kitchen in Montreux: permit, landlord, co-ownership

The permit

In the canton of Vaud, the building permit is issued by the municipality. When cantonal departments have to give an opinion, the file goes through the cantonal permits centre (CAMAC). For a kitchen, most routine interventions concern the inside of the home; but moving a partition, altering a facade or creating a hood outlet outside can change things. The safest course is to ask, before signing, what is required from the relevant municipal department.

The canton also has its own energy rules: the Vaud energy law and the cantonal energy directorate, which runs a subsidy programme. A kitchen alone is in principle not the central subject of these schemes, but certain works associated with a building may be. Check with the relevant cantonal department what applies to your situation before committing to the work.

Tenants: the landlord’s written consent

When renting, the landlord’s written consent is essential. Send them a clear description: what will be removed, what will be replaced, any changes to the connections. Keep their reply. It protects both parties at the move-out inspection.

Co-owners: rules and neighbours

In co-ownership, check the rules: site hours, use of lifts and common areas, work on water risers or ventilation ducts. A shared hood duct cannot be altered as one wishes. Inform the managing agent or administrator before the work begins.

Protected areas

The canton of Vaud has old towns and the Lavaux vineyard, a World Heritage site. If your property lies within a protected area or is a protected building, the exterior (windows, facade, visible ventilation duct) may be subject to conditions. Ask the municipality about the status of your building before considering any intervention visible from outside.

Preparing your quote request for a kitchen in Montreux

The more precise the request, the more comparable the quotes will be. Gather:

1. the exact address, the floor, whether there is a lift and the access conditions;
2. your status: owner, tenant, co-owner;
3. the approximate age of the building and what you know about the installations;
4. what you are keeping (position of the sink, water supplies) and what you wish to move;
5. your expectations for appliances and materials, even approximate;
6. photos of the room and its dimensions;
7. the period you want for the work.

You can then request a quote: your request is passed on to tradespeople and firms in the region, who will contact you to draw up a free, no-obligation offer.

What a kitchen quote should detail

To compare properly, check that each offer specifies:

• what is included item by item: removal, plumbing, electrics, fitting, tiling, ventilation;
• who supplies the units and appliances, and which references are planned;
• who coordinates the trades and who answers in case of a problem;
• waste disposal and protection of common areas;
• possible unforeseen items and how they would be invoiced.

What makes the cost vary

The price of a kitchen varies with the range of the units and appliances, the length of the worktop and its material, the condition of the existing installations, the extent of any moved connections, the tiling chosen and the difficulty of access. Two quotes that seem far apart often come from different scopes, not different rates. So compare what is included before comparing the total.

Going further in Montreux and the canton of Vaud

• The trade in general: kitchen renovation
• The municipality: works in Montreux
• The canton: canton of Vaud
• Other works in Montreux: bathroom renovation in Montreux, air conditioning in Montreux, electrician in Montreux