Best Practices in Kitchen Remodeling

So you’ve chosen to remodel your kitchen? It is a major undertaking that requires careful planning and forethought. In many cases as the remodel continues and mistakes occur, it will be difficult to correct the mistakes. In an effort to assist in avoiding some common mistakes, the list below goes over some of the most common kitchen remodeling mistakes, and how to avoid them.

Going Overboard- If you own a $500,000 house, do not spend $200,000 on a kitchen, unless you are a world renowned chef de cuisine. This also applies to professional grade appliances. Real Estate experts will tell you that your kitchen is 80 percent or more of your home’s value, which is not always true. By setting your investment to high you may be depleting your resources for additional improvements or unanticipated expenses. A better target for your kitchen remodeling budget is between 10% and 25% of the total appraised value of your home.

Compatibility – With so many open floor plans, homeowners tend to disregard their home’s plan and its overall appearance. You may appreciate a more Asian Contemporary feel. Take a moment to consider the overall look and feel for your home. Does this approach to your kitchen remodel fit into what you have throughout your home? It is ideal to maintain a blend throughout. One suggestion is to try using furniture, which will complement a room you already have. Another simple approach for your kitchen remodel can be found in your moldings. Look them over and decide if they will fit into your plan. It is possible that may be enough to adjust the entire feel, and improve the look of your kitchen, keeping a theme instead of recreating one. This becomes both cost effective and does not hinder the value of your home.

Crazy for Islands-Islands are great additions for your storage and counter space needs, if you have enough room for one. Some common area’s of mistake here would include trying to install an island when the kitchen is to small, or not measuring before purchase and the island is oversized instead. Both of these will hinder the movement in the kitchen, and often require another contractor or installer to come to your home to make the needed adjustments. To avoid any issues above, you need to approach this with a sense of the recommended average spacing. It is recommended that when you are considering the installation of an island you maintain a minimum of 45 inches between your range, sink and refrigerator combined. Then between those and where your island would be you need to have between 36 and 55 inches to allow you to walk. The larger distance will allow for a hidden counter, often swinging and attached to the side of the island. By maintaining this rule of thumb you will have enough space to move in your kitchen, and still have the beautiful island you desire.

Under estimate time-Many homeowners try to estimate how long it will take for their kitchen to be finished, predicting their cabinets arrival, and estimate how long they will be without a kitchen. What they don’t realize is that kitchen remodeling is one of the most complex and time consuming projects in the construction field. The solution – do not start ripping out your kitchen until at least your cabinetry gets there. Even better would be to wait for all of your supplies to make it in before ripping out the existing kitchen. Always keep some of your current countertops, sinks, and stove to use for the time being. This way you can fully function on an everyday basis. Never plan a social gathering while remodeling, so keep work with the contractors closely and you will learn the exact length of time it will take to complete it. If you know you will need your kitchen for a specific date, wait until it has passed to begin the remodeling.

Under estimating cost- At times budgeting and planning still end up under cost for the final product. Your kitchen remodel can add up if your items are not in on time and you have a contractor waiting. The kitchen remodel adds up beyond budget if you find that there is mold behind one of the walls, or should you realize that windows need to be replaced or refit. These are simple methods of ending the kitchen remodeling project well over the preferred budget. To avoid the obstacle of unexpected expense, plan to add an additional 1000 to 3000 dollars to the final budget. By having the cushion the unexpected will not be a detrimental.

www.LKNcabinets.com

Kitchen Remodel – How to Survive

You have decided to make the plunge and begin to plan your kitchen remodeling project. There are so many questions and you’re not sure where to start. There are some steps you should follow to help you survive what is probably the most intense home improvement project you will ever embark on.

So where do you start? One decision that comes first is who is going to be doing the project. If you are thinking of making this a do it yourself project, take a long hard look before diving in. A full kitchen remodel requires a tremendous amount of different types of skills. Beside the obvious trade skills of carpentry, plumbing, electrical there is the organizational skills and decision making ability. If you intend to do the project as a couple make sure your relationship can withstand the stress. A beautiful kitchen doesn’t outweigh a happy marriage.

The key to a smooth kitchen remodel can be summed up in one word, Planning! If that didn’t sink in, read that last sentence again. I can’t stress strongly enough how important the planning stages are in a kitchen remodel. There are a hundred reasons not to rush into a project like this. If everything goes perfectly while installing a new kitchen, it is still rather trying. Add some speed bumps into the mix and it turns into a pull out you hair experience. You will need to do as much as possible in order to not leave anything out. Read all you can find on the subject, visit forums, look in magazines for ideas and talk to your friends and family who have already took the plunge. Learn what to expect during your Kitchen Remodel

A modern kitchen today is a large investment of money. Cabinets and appliances are a major part of that expense. These are amongst the first decisions you will need to make. Even before you see a kitchen designer consider your alternatives when it comes to color and style of the cabinets. This will give you a base to start from. There are countless cabinet companies and different quality cabinets. When you finally get to a showroom that is the time to begin down the road of how much and how good a cabinet you want and can afford.

That brings up another important issue in the planning stages, a budget. You will need to determine what the total budget your willing to spend on this project. Without making a budget the price can quickly escalate out of control. A kitchen project that started at an affordable $15,000 without budget parameters can quickly turn into an $80,000 renovation. This will likely end in frustration and no new kitchen. Set the limits early and then work within those limits. When you have your spending limit figured out take off a percentage for unforeseen costs. They will almost always come about at some point. At least 15% in my estimation should be allotted for cost overruns, and that is pretty conservative.

If you do decide to do the project yourself or become your own GC, make sure you will have the time to do it. In most kitchens, especially in homes with children, not having a kitchen is a major inconvenience. A husband, who drags his feet getting a new kitchen installed, will find himself in the doghouse faster than fido after he chews up the couch! The best advice I can give you is to do your homework. There is so much great info available on the internet today that it isn’t too difficult.

www.LKNcabinets.com