As a homeowner, remodeling is one of the things that you have to deal with at some point in your life. Whether it is because things are falling apart or you just want a new look for your house, kitchen remodeling is inevitable. Also, finding the right kitchen remodelers near you is the key to bring out just the right plan for you!
Out of all the rooms in your home, your kitchen is more than likely to be remodeled first. Not only is it essential for your day-to-day life but also highly likely to undergo remodeling before any other room because of its usage.
That being said, it is also rather challenging when it comes to remodeling. To help you remodel your kitchen, here’s a kitchen remodel guide that answers all the important questions you might have.
Related: KITCHEN DESIGN IDEAS BASED ON PERSONALITY
How to Plan a Kitchen Remodel
When it comes to remodeling your kitchen, you need to follow some basic steps. The process and technicalities for each room are different, the planning aspect is fairly similar.
1. Understand Your Needs
Before you begin remodeling your kitchen, you have to understand your needs. Every remodel has an objective. As a homeowner, you need to find yours. You need to figure out how the kitchen is going to be used after the remodel.
One way to do this is by asking yourself some questions. How many people will be using the space at any given time? Do I need two sinks or one?
Questions like these are important from a planning perspective and help you determine the course of action. Once you understand your needs, such as the design theme that you want for your kitchen, you can move on to the next step.
2. Hire a Contractor
Even the handiest of homeowners hesitate from tackling kitchen remodeling on their own. The kitchen is a fairly technical and complex space. There’s extensive plumbing and electrical work involved. So it’s inevitable that you need a contractor.
But how do you choose one? To begin with, you need to work with a licensed contractor. As obvious as it might sound, up to 31% of homeowners work with an unlicensed contractor. It’s recommended that you work with licensed kitchen remodeling contractors near you as they will follow all the guidelines and you are assured of a certain level of quality from their work. To help with the decision-making process, you can ask them some questions as well:
- How long have they been working in the remodeling industry?
- How many projects have they completed in the past 18 months?
- Have they worked on a project of similar scope?
- How long will the remodeling process take?
- Do they provide a warranty?
Once you’ve asked them these questions and received satisfactory answers, you can decide on the contractor you want to work with. However, you should only proceed with a contract in place. Another important aspect that you need to consider while choosing a contractor is whether or not they fit into your budget.
Budgeting for a Kitchen Remodel
Budgeting isn’t just about figuring out how much you should be paying for a kitchen or to be remodeled. It’s about considering the different factors that affect the final decision and being well-informed about the whole process.
1. Understand the Costs
It’s fair enough to say that you cannot set a budget without understanding the cost of a remodel. However, there are many factors that influence the cost of a remodeling project. For example, the cost to remodel a small kitchen won’t be the same as the cost of remodeling a large kitchen.
Similarly, a minor remodel of a kitchen won’t cost the same as a mid-scale remodel of a kitchen. Let’s look at some average remodeling costs to help you gain a better idea of what it will cost you to remodel your kitchen.
Cost of a Kitchen Remodel
The average cost to remodel a kitchen is around $30,000. If you choose to do a mid-scale remodel, it can cost anywhere between $6,000 to $20,000. Similarly, the cost to remodel a small kitchen (roughly 70 sq.ft) can be around $5,000 to $18,000.
If you opt for surface-level remodels, you can expect to pay anywhere between $1,500 to $5,000.
2. Prepare for Emergencies
When it comes to remodeling a kitchen, you have to remember that there are many moving parts and complicated scenarios. For instance, a kitchen is prone to moisture retention and heat damage.
The catch here is that problems like these only come to light once the remodeling process has begun. In such circumstances, it becomes difficult to gather the extra funds required to work on the issue at hand. This is where a contingency fund or an emergency fund comes in.
Experts recommend that you set aside 15 to 20 percent of your total budget for emergencies or additional expenses. This money will save you the trouble of looking for extra money in case of emergencies.
Use Sweat Equity
Even though a kitchen isn’t the most DIY-friendly room, there are still plenty of tasks that you can do to save some money on labor costs. Did you know that labor consists of up to 20% of remodeling costs?
Small tasks like painting, hardware installation, and light demolition end up saving you a lot of money on labor charges. That being said, tasks like plumbing and electrical work are best left to professionals.
Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
Choose the Right Materials
Think about your kitchen, there are hot pots and pans, oil splatter, a mess all around. In such a scenario, you have to be extra careful while choosing the material for your kitchen surfaces such as countertops and backsplashes.
As a general rule of thumb, materials like granite, marble, steel, quartz, and concrete are considered to be optimal for a kitchen space. Do keep in mind that each of these materials has its own benefits and shortcomings, hence you should choose them based on your own discretion and recommendation by experts.
Don’t Forget About Storage
If there’s one room in your kitchen where you need to pay extra attention to storage, it is the kitchen. You have your bulky pots, delicate cutlery, ladles, cutting boards and so much more.
While remodeling your kitchen, you’ll need to incorporate various kitchen storage solutions. You can use cabinets, open shelves, Lazy Susans, rotating drawers, etc.
Choose a Theme
Remodeling a kitchen isn’t just about making it more functional, it’s also about making it more beautiful. Your kitchen is the soul of your home and you want to make it look like one.
While remodeling your kitchen, you can use various designs like minimalist, traditional, contemporary, transitional, etc. to transform it into the kitchen of your dream.
Focus on the Lighting
An important element of the design is its lighting. Most s are small and not well-lit. While remodeling your kitchen, you need to consider lighting as a core factor. Not just natural lighting, you need to focus on artificial lighting as well.
Instead of one lighting fixture, install several different sources. From vanity lights, recessed lights, and floor lights, the options are practically limitless.
Think About Storage
Most homeowners don’t pay attention to storage, but they should. Kitchen storage goes beyond cabinetry.
While remodeling your kitchen, try incorporating unique storage solutions like recessed cabinets, side cabinets, etc.
Design for the Future
A remodel is an investment in your future. Hence, your kitchen should age with you. If you are a family, consider making the kitchen more accessible. For instance, an open kitchen is more accessible as you grow old, or you can incorporate technology from the get-go.
While remodeling your kitchen, think about how you will be using it 5 or 10 years down the line and design it accordingly.
In Conclusion
A kitchen remodel is a huge undertaking. This kitchen remodel guide is designed to help you gain an insight into the nitty-gritty of it all and help you design the kitchen of your dreams.
