OpSpot Blog
Industry Best Practices
Kitchen Renovation Scope of Works Template (Free, Line by Line)
15 October 2026
A good scope of works does two jobs: it gets the quote right, and it stops arguments later. Most variation disputes on kitchens come from things that were never written down: who supplies the appliances, whether the splashback is included, who pays to move the gas point.
Use the template below as a starting point. Adjust it to your trades, your prices and your state's rules.
1. Project details
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Client and site address | Name, address, best contact |
| Access and working hours | Keys, parking, lift or stairs, quiet hours |
| Kitchen layout | Existing vs new layout, drawing reference |
| Start date and duration | Target start, working days on site |
| Contract and insurance | Contract type; home warranty insurance if over your state's threshold |
2. Inclusions, stage by stage
| Stage | Line items to spell out |
|---|---|
| Protection and strip-out | Floor and doorway protection; remove existing cabinets, benchtops, splashback and appliances; disposal and skip |
| Plumbing rough-in | Sink and mixer position; dishwasher and fridge water points; capping redundant points |
| Electrical rough-in | New power points (how many, where); appliance circuits; lighting positions; rangehood power |
| Building work | Wall changes, bulkheads, framing, patching |
| Plaster and paint prep | Patch and set walls and ceiling; number of coats |
| Cabinetry and joinery | Supply and install; carcass material; door and panel finish; handles; soft-close hardware; pantry fit-out |
| Benchtops | Material and thickness; edge profile; cut-outs (sink, cooktop); templating after cabinets are in |
| Splashback | Tiles, glass or stone; area in m²; grout colour; sealing |
| Flooring | Included or not; under-cabinet or full floor; transitions to other rooms |
| Appliances | Who supplies each one; install and connection included or not |
| Electrical fit-off | Power points, lights, appliance connections, testing |
| Plumbing fit-off | Sink, mixer, dishwasher and fridge connections, testing |
| Painting | Walls, ceiling, trims; colours; number of coats |
| Clean and handover | Builder's clean, rubbish removal, handover walkthrough |
Write quantities and units for each line (each, m², lm, hours). "Tiling to splashback, 3.2 m²" leaves far less room for argument than "Tiling".
3. Exclusions
Say clearly what isn't in the price, for example:
- structural changes beyond the drawings
- asbestos testing or removal (it must be handled by appropriately licensed people)
- council or certifier approvals, if needed
- moving gas meters, upgrading the switchboard, or work outside the kitchen
- appliances, tapware or fittings the client is supplying
- making good to areas beyond the kitchen
4. Allowances: PC items and provisional sums
| Allowance | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Prime cost (PC) item | An item the client hasn't chosen yet; you allow a supply price | Sink mixer, PC $350 supply |
| Provisional sum | Work you can't price exactly until it's opened up | Electrical upgrade, provisional $1,200 |
List each allowance with its amount, and state how the difference is charged if the final cost is higher or lower.
5. Variations and payments
- Variations: agree that every change is priced and approved in writing before the work is done.
- Payment stages: tie each payment to a stage of work, for example deposit, cabinets installed, benchtops installed, practical completion. Many states limit deposits. In Victoria, for example, Consumer Affairs Victoria advises no more than 10% for jobs under $20,000 and 5% for $20,000 or more. Check your state's rules.
Turning the template into a quote in OpSpot
OpSpot turns this structure into a reusable price list, so you don't retype it for every kitchen:
- Set up zones such as Kitchen, Butler's Pantry and Laundry, and a Service Catalogue with your priced lines, grouped by stage and job type (for example Construction → Joinery).
- Open the project's Scope Of Work, add the Kitchen zone, and pick the lines you need. Add notes for your standard inclusions, exclusions and assumptions.
- Click Generate Quote for a numbered, branded quote PDF.
- When the client changes their mind, generate a new version and Compare it to produce a variation PDF.
- Once it's signed, the labour lines become work order checklists for your subcontractors.
See Scope of works and quotes for the full walk-through.
FAQ
What's the difference between a quote and a scope of works? The scope says what will be done; the quote puts a price on it. Writing the scope line by line first makes the quote more accurate and variations easier to price.
Should appliances be in the builder's scope? Either works, but write it down. Say who supplies each appliance and whether installation and connection are included.
How detailed should a kitchen scope be? Detailed enough that another builder could price it the same way: quantities, units, finishes and who supplies what.
