Todd NesnickHave you decided to renovate your kitchen? The good news is that your kitchen is one of the rooms where you stand to get the biggest return for your investment. Here are some important steps you should take now that you have decided to remodel your kitchen:
Step 1: Decide on Must-Haves and Timeline
What are the items that you absolutely must have in your kitchen? Are you looking for more space or just a better use of the space that you already have? Will you be adding extra appliances such as wall ovens and a cook top? You want to have a kitchen design that meets the needs of your family so that everyone can get what they need out of the kitchen space. How long will it take for your kitchen renovation? Set up your timeline and decide what your action steps are. If it will take six to eight weeks, you might need to have a plan on how you are going to get meals prepared around that.
Step 2: What is Your Budget?
A budget is a necessary component of any renovation. You will want to finalize any layout plans and then calculate the budget that will be required for the project. The average cost of a full kitchen remodel is around $150 per square foot, but this is dependent upon your kitchen size and the amount of remodeling that you are looking to do. You will need to spend about 15% of the value of your home on your kitchen renovation.
Where will the money come from for the renovation of your kitchen? You will need to ensure that you have a budget set aside. This budget needs to be planned out so that you have a good understanding of where the money is being spent. You can cover your costs if you have money saved or you may need to have a line of credit or some other financing option. Some homeowners choose to take equity from their home by refinancing and this covers the higher costs of renovation projects. When it comes to a kitchen renovation this could mean newer, more modern appliances or custom items that are not readily available in mainstream stores.
Step 3: Can you do Some of the Project Yourself?
If you want to spend as little money as possible, you can do some of the project yourself. You are good at painting or other tasks. You could start the project off yourself by completing the demolition work. You can leave more complicated items such as electrical and plumbing project to professionals so that the work is completed correctly and to code. You can hire a contractor, or you can be the main contractor of the project. If you do not hire a contractor, you can save between 10 and 20% of the project cost.
Step 4: Hire Some Professionals in the Trades
You will want to hire several professionals to ensure that your kitchen renovation turns out great. You will want to hire a kitchen designer if you do not have any idea of how the kitchen design should look. A designer will plan out your style, design, layout and create a list of materials that will be needed to complete the renovation. If you plan to purchase supplies from a national hardware chain, they may offer a kitchen designer at no extra cost, so you can save money there. If you plan to hire a designer yourself you can ask them questions such as requesting samples of their past work, finding out more about the communication flow, if they offer a payment plan and what the process is for the design and approval of the project by you.
Step 5: Commence Demolition
Once you have all the next steps in place including supplies, materials and professionals lined up, it’s time to commence demolition. If you have a contractor lined up, then you do not need to worry about undertaking demolition. If you are doing demolition yourself, make sure you have taken care of the basic steps first before getting started. This means removing old appliances and taking items out of the cupboards. You should have a garbage bin ready for to toss all the old items into. Make sure that the water, electrical and gas are all turned off to the kitchen area.
Remove everything down to the drywall and if you are replacing the drywall, remove that too. Get all your professionals line up to remove and install new wiring, plumbing and other items that require a tradesperson. Once this has been completed, you can start to rebuild your kitchen and have the kitchen of your dreams in no time.
Step 6: Have Plumbing Updated
Once the kitchen has been demolished down to the studs, you can get started with internal kitchen elements including plumbing. A plumbing professional will want to remove all the old water lines and replace them with newer materials that meet standard building codes. They may also run new lines to additional appliances that you are adding or, for example, such as a fridge that has water and ice-making options, or a dishwasher that needs to be plumbed in.
Step 7: Have Lighting and Electrical Installed
Electrical wiring and set up can be very complicated, so it is best to have a professional take care of this work for you. Have an electrician lined up to take care of your electrical tasks. This includes lighting, dishwasher wiring, garburator/garbage disposal, oven hookup and range setup. You should choose lighting that is not “trendy” so that it does not go out of style too quickly. Lighting for under your cabinets is both stylish and very practical.
Step 8: Install New Drywall
If you have removed old drywall, you will need to install new drywall. You can do this on your own, but if you want it to look good without flaws, you should consider hiring a drywall professional. A drywall professional will have all the proper tools required for drywall installation including the saw, hammer, screws, screw gun, mudding and taping tools and other items required to ensure that the finished product has a professional look.
Step 9: Painting/Finishing
The next step is to choose the paint colors that you like the best and then either have the kitchen painted or paint it yourself. Choose neutral colors that are warm and soft. You can have an accent wall to liven the space up, but you want to avoid bold and trendy colors.
Step 10: Lay the Flooring
Decide what kind of flooring you want to install – will it be tile, concrete, laminate, linoleum or hardwood? Each type of flooring has pros and cons, so it is up to you to do some research to see what you like the best and what works for your needs. Laminate flooring has some disadvantages in that it is not waterproof. Concrete and ceramic tiles are durable, however if you drop something on the floor you could break it because it is hard and unforgiving. Linoleum is great for those who want to say within their budget, and it has a wide range of looks and options that can give you a wood or stone look for a fraction of the price of the real thing. Check out kitchen floor tile trends 2022 to get some inspiration on kitchen tile.
Step 11: Cabinet Installation
You will want to hire a professional for this step because they need to be secured correctly and they need to be lined up correctly or they will look crooked. There are many different cabinet styles and options, so this is where a kitchen designer is most helpful. The designed knows how cabinets will look and where to place them for the best effect and to be the most useful. Open shelving is trending now and is a concept that many designers are working with when it comes to creating unique and updated kitchen spaces.
Step 12: Install Countertops
By the time you get to countertop installation you should be noticing a major difference in your kitchen space. If you are ordering specially crafted countertops, then you will need to put your project on hold for a short time while these are ordered and ready for installation. With a wide range of options and choices, you will want to have a look at some kitchens set ups at hardware stores to see what style and material you like the best.
Step 13: Appliance Installation
The very last step to your kitchen renovation is to install the appliances into it. A large portion of your renovation budget will be for new updated kitchen appliances. You will want to choose appliances that suit your kitchen style and are energy efficient.
Your renovation is complete, and you are ready to enjoy your new kitchen! Congratulations, you have created a space where you can create meals and entertain friends and family for years to come. You have also added value to your home because a kitchen is one space that only increases the value of your home once it is completed.