Kitchen Remodeling

For most homes, the kitchen is the center of many home activities. Upgrading your kitchen is crucial for its well functioning and maintenance. Moreover, it reflects the style statement of your house. You can choose to stick to a classic and cozy styled kitchen or contemporary styled kitchen with a pop of color. Whatever style you choose for your kitchen, an upgrade is necessary.

The kitchen remodeling project comes with a few headaches but has lots of benefits. A new gleaming kitchen isn’t just great for cooking food but will also raise the property’s value. Here is a basic step by step guide to help you with your kitchen remodeling project.

Gather Ideas and Plan

The first step towards the kitchen modeling may seem simple as it involves planning and choosing style for your kitchen. Yet the task of collecting ideas and planning the remodeling can be overwhelming as well. During this step, you have to balance your needs and wants for kitchen remodeling.

First, you have to focus on your needs. List down all the changes and upgrades your kitchen needs. You may have all the necessary upgrades in your mind, but it is necessary to jot them down as well. From sink fixtures to lighting and cabinets to switchboards and tiles, enlist everything priority wise.

Now that you have the list of essential upgrades your kitchen needs, you can now think about your wants. You may be attracted to a statement wall for your kitchen. Or, you would want a statement backdrop. You might be interested in installing hidden electrical fixtures or plinth lights.

You are sure to find loads of kitchen remodeling ideas on Pinterest based on your budget. If you are willing to opt for the DIY route, it will obviously be very affordable. However, DIY kitchen remodeling isn’t easy, and you should have some experience and plenty of time for the remodeling project.

Create a Budget and Desired Timeline

Now, you have an idea of what your dream kitchen will look like; you can determine its cost and time. If you are going for a complete kitchen remodeling, this is how you should distribute the entire budget.

Cabinets- 29%

Appliances- 17%

Installation- 13%

Countertop-11%

Lights and Electrical – 10%

Plumbing – 6%

Flooring -5 %

Backsplash- 5 %

Miscellaneous -10%

This budget distribution indicates which remodeling work costs more than the other. Even if you aren’t getting all of these remodeling works, you can still develop the idea of how to distribute your budget.

It is important to have a general idea of how long your kitchen remodeling will last so that you can prepare yourself well. While there will be work going on in your kitchen, you need to have an alternate kitchen or a place to get food.

The time for remodel depends on certain factors such as the size of the kitchen and the amount of work. The remodeling work with contractors can take anywhere between 20 to 90 days (3 months). A complete DIY kitchen remodeling will take much longer than that between 4 to 6 months.

Find the Right Contractor

If you are capable enough for DIY kitchen remodeling, then good luck! In most cases, you definitely need a kitchen remodeling contractor. A general contractor has expert workers for all remodeling projects. Hiring a general contractor will save you from finding plumber, electrician, carpenter, and painter separately.

Choosing a contractor can make or break the deal for your kitchen remodeling project. You have to find an experienced, licensed, and reliable contractor. It is best if your contractor provides insurance for the project. You have to give in some time to find the best contractor around you who fits your budget as well. Check the website and portfolios of a different contractor. If you have enough time, then you may want to check with references or visit the site of previous works.

Even if you want kitchen remodeling under budget, you shouldn’t opt for contractors whose estimate is too low. Such contractors use cheap building materials for remodeling to compensate for the low cost.

Get all the necessary paperwork and sign the contract with your contractor. Read the contract carefully before signing. It should include the estimated time frame for completion of the project.

Prep for Kitchen Remodeling

Some homeowners choose to leave their houses while most stay during kitchen remodeling. If you are leaving, you have to pack up your stuff the day before the project starts. If you are not leaving, then you have to prep for the following things.

• Set up a temporary kitchen. You can place a portable stove in the corner of any room and keep all the pantry items there.
• Bring essential appliances you need for cooking.
• Keep non-perishable items at hands such as peanut butter, cookies, crackers, nuts, and snack bars. You can keep fresh fruits as well.

When your kitchen is done, there is going to be a lot of clean up. Make plans for the cleaning as well.

This is the order of remodeling for most kitchens. But your contractor can make some changes according to what they think is best.

• Electrical and plumbing
• Install new flooring
• Paint
• Install kitchen cabinets
• Install countertops and backsplash
• Place appliances
• Fasten cabinet hardware

Wrap up your Kitchen Remodel Project

Finally, all your hard work, time, and money have paid off, and you have your dream kitchen. Check if everything is installed correctly and that there is no defect in any component. See if you are satisfied with the quality of work of your contractor. You need to make sure that everything is according to the contract.

You may have debris or junk left from all the work. You can either start with heavy-duty clean or call someone renovation dumpster service.

Sources: https://www.thespruce.com/steps-to-a-kitchen-remodel-1822229 https://www.budgetdumpster.com/blog/how-to-remodel-a-kitchen-from-start-to-finish/ https://www.cliqstudios.com/blog/how-to-establish-a-budget-for-your-new-kitchen-or-remodel