Kitchen renovation cost in the West Island — 2026 pricing guide

Last fall we walked a 1970s split-level in Pointe-Claire that had three things our client thought would be cheap to fix and one thing they thought would be expensive. They had it exactly backwards. The cheap-looking laminate counter was hiding a load-bearing soffit that needed a new beam. The "expensive" custom cabinets came in $4,000 under stock big-box because we sourced them through a Montreal millwork shop that doesn't pay for showroom rent. That kind of inversion is normal in kitchen pricing, and it's why the numbers you see on Pinterest are almost never the numbers you'll see on a real West Island estimate.

Here's what kitchens are actually billing for in 2026, based on the last 18 months of Revohouse work across Pointe-Claire, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Beaconsfield, Kirkland, and Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

The three honest ranges

For a same-footprint refresh — new cabinetry, counters, appliances, lighting, paint, no walls moved — West Island kitchens are running $28,000 – $55,000 in 2026. That's a 100–150 sqft kitchen with mid-range custom cabinetry, quartz counters, and a respectable appliance package.

For a mid-range rebuild — some wall removal, a new island, plumbing relocation, premium quartz, custom range hood, upgraded electrical — expect $55,000 – $95,000. This is the most common Revohouse kitchen tier. About 60% of our West Island kitchens land here.

For a full design-led overhaul — open-plan reconfiguration, custom millwork, integrated appliances, structural beam, hardwood floor extending into the dining room — the range is $95,000 – $180,000+. The high end shows up when there's a beam over 18 feet, an integrated Wolf/Sub-Zero appliance package, or a panel-front fridge wider than 42 inches.

Where the dollars actually go

A useful way to read a kitchen quote is by percentage of total, because the split is surprisingly consistent across price tiers. Roughly:

• 30% cabinetry — boxes, doors, hardware, install
• 18% appliances — fridge, range, hood, dishwasher, microwave drawer
• 15% counters and backsplash — quartz, porcelain, or marble plus install
• 12% labour — demolition, framing, finish carpentry
• 10% mechanical — plumbing relocations, electrical upgrades, HVAC tie-ins
• 8% finishes — paint, lighting, flooring patch-in
• 7% project management and overhead
• 1–3% permits — depending on the municipality and scope

If a quote you've received has labour at 25% and cabinetry at 18%, something is mispriced. Either the cabinetry quality is low, or the labour line is hiding a markup.

What changes the number most

Three variables move the price far more than anything else.

Cabinetry tier. A flat-panel custom kitchen in real-wood veneer can be 2.5× the price of the same layout in stock thermofoil. Custom isn't always the right call — for a basement secondary kitchen or a rental, stock is genuinely fine. For a primary kitchen you'll be in for ten years, the cost-per-year math on custom usually wins.

Counter material. Engineered quartz remains the West Island default — $90–$140/sqft installed in 2026. Natural marble (Calacatta, Carrara) runs $180–$320/sqft installed and needs sealing. Porcelain slab — the material that's climbed fastest — is now $140–$240/sqft installed and is essentially indestructible.

Structural changes. Removing a load-bearing wall adds $4,000–$12,000 once you include the engineer's stamped drawing, the Pointe-Claire or DDO permit (whichever municipality you're in), the beam itself, and the ceiling and floor patch-in on both sides. Don't let any contractor remove a wall without engineer drawings — both for safety and because the city will catch you at resale.

Where homeowners over-spend

Three places we routinely talk people back from.

1. Built-in coffee stations. Beautiful in photos. $4,000–$8,000 in cabinetry and plumbing. Used twice a week by most households.
2. Pot-fillers over the range. $1,800 installed including the plumbing rough-in. A useful luxury if you cook for ten — pure decoration if you don't.
3. Six-burner ranges in a four-person home. A 30-inch range with a great hood will out-cook a six-burner in any kitchen smaller than 200 sqft.

How long it really takes

Once cabinetry is ordered, the on-site build is 6–10 weeks for a same-footprint kitchen, 10–14 weeks for a rebuild with structural work, and 14–22 weeks for a full open-plan overhaul. The number people forget: there's another 6–10 weeks of design, ordering, and cabinetry lead time before site work starts. So a typical mid-range kitchen, signed in March, will be done in August. Signed in October, done in February — assuming cabinetry lead times don't slip over the holidays, which they sometimes do.

The honest disclaimer

Every number above is real West Island Revohouse data from the last 18 months. Yours will be different — different building, different finishes, different timeline, different access conditions. The only way to know what your kitchen will cost is the same way it's always worked: walk the space, talk through scope, and write you a line-item estimate.

FAQ

Does Revohouse handle the Pointe-Claire or DDO permit?

Yes. We pull every permit in-house, including structural and electrical sub-permits. Timelines for permit issuance are written into your construction schedule so the start date is realistic.

Can you work in a kitchen while we still live in the house?

Most of the time, yes. We build a temporary cooking station in the dining room or basement with the microwave, fridge, and a hot plate. Dust barriers seal the kitchen off. You'll lose your stovetop for six to eight weeks but you won't have to move out.

What's the cheapest meaningful kitchen renovation in the West Island?

Around $28,000 — new stock cabinetry, quartz counters, refreshed lighting and paint, existing layout. Below that you're refacing, not renovating, and the result rarely photographs the way clients hope.

Are 2026 cabinetry lead times still long?

Better than 2023, worse than 2019. Custom Quebec millwork is running 8–10 weeks from approved drawings. Imported European cabinetry is back to 14–18 weeks plus shipping. We schedule around both.