Browsing articles in "Kitchen Remodeling Charlotte Tips"
Mar 18, 2010
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Comments Off on Kitchen Remodels – It’s What’s on the Menu For Your Next Home Improvement Project

Kitchen Remodels – It’s What’s on the Menu For Your Next Home Improvement Project

 

Most homeowners planning on a kitchen remodel or renovation are easily able to find themselves wanting a 20 karat upgrade on a 2 karat budget.  Given the fact that the national average cost of a complete kitchen remodel is approximately $40,000, it is easy for those looking to upgrade to realize how quickly the expenses add up to $40,000.  Many kitchen remodels though, don’t even approach that figure.  The majority of families in today’s economic climate may not have thousands upon thousands of dollars available to spend on a kitchen remodel.  However it is quite common to obtain a small home equity loan for such home improvement projects.

Creating a new kitchen layout is not as simple as one would expect.  There are basic industry standard heights, distances, and depths that need to be observed when positioning cabinets, lighting, ventilation, electrical outlets, doorways, and much more.  Every county within each state has their own particular building codes to adhere to depending on the geographic location of the county.  Because of this it is important to retain the services of an experienced professional builder conversant with the local and state building codes.

Unless the homeowner is exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable about kitchen renovations and building codes, a do-it-yourself approach will involve inordinate amounts of time, frustration, patience, and quite likely several cuts, gashes, and bruises.  Just in itself, researching styles and kitchen materials from countertops and cabinet hardware to range hoods and electrical appliances can be an exhausting endeavour.  Then the truly hard work begins.

Demolition, cleaning, and prepping, if done by the homeowner can take weeks.  Demolition and removal of fixtures needs to be done carefully and safely in order to minimize any damage to the floors and walls.  Should a professional builder and remodeling company be utilized, what may require weeks of work for the homeowner can be shortened to just one or two days.

The easy decision to choose a reputable home builder and remodeler over the homeowner performing the kitchen upgrade themselves is the length of time the kitchen remodel will take.  A realistic time estimate for a do-it-yourself kitchen remodel can easily take over 4 to 8 months depending upon the extent of the remodel.  A kitchen remodel carried out by professionals may take as little as 3 to 5 weeks.  The time savings with using a professional company are readily apparent and the homeowner need never get injured themselves.

For more information and guidance about Custom Designed, Kitchen and Bath Remodels, and Custom Built Homes visit http://www.excelbuildersmn.com. Excel Builders, LLC. specializes in creating distinctive upscale remodeling projects and custom home designs.

Daniel Elliott is an independent contractor who authors articles and media on a variety of topics for diverse audiences. WebDrafter.com, Inc. (http://www.webdrafter.com) produces Website design, hosting, and search engine marketing services for many of the clients, industries and markets related to the articles and media authored by Dan Elliott. If you would like Dan Elliott to ghost write or pen an article for you or your company, please contact him with your specifications.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_P_Elliott

www.LKNcabinets.com

Mar 17, 2010
lkncabadmin
Comments Off on 50th Annual Southern Spring Home and Garden Show

50th Annual Southern Spring Home and Garden Show

LKN Cabinets would like to thank all the hundreds of people that stopped at our booth at the 50th Annual Southern Spring Home and Garden Show. We registered over 30 people for FREE crown moulding or FREE tear out option for their new kitchen install.

Thanks again and we’ll see you at then next home show.

Brian Powers

LKN Cabinets

www.LKNcabinets.com

Mar 1, 2010
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Comments Off on Best Practices in Kitchen Remodeling

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.

About the Author:
Joe Cline writes articles for REMAX Austin. Other articles written by the author related to Austin Texas real estate and Austin listings can be found on the net.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Clinne

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