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.

www.LKNcabinets.com

Great Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

Simple changes in the kitchen can create major changes in the atmosphere. Whether you repaint or decide to do a complete remodel, there are a lot of options.

Usually, when we think of remodeling our kitchen, we picture a complete replacement of the cabinets. Typically, better quality work can be done for less financial expense by refinishing the custom cabinets that were originally installed. Unfortunately, the modern world of efficient business can equate to cutting corners to save costs; products of today are often not built like they used to. Cabinets are no exception.

You have probably seen plenty of ugly stained cabinets that have quality hardwood cabinets hidden beneath. If refinished, this one transformation could reveal an entirely different kitchen. Sometimes this can be accomplished with a simple repaint. Other times, this will require stripping and staining. Either way this can produce fantastic results and be a real budget saver.

The way you style your kitchen can give the atmosphere a completely different feel. Put some thought into the type of impression you want to create. Some prefer the feel of a country kitchen with good old-fashioned cooking. Others want an innovative modern kitchen that is alive and active. The colors, textures, and the style of appliances all play a big part in creating this ambiance. For example, if you are doing some kitchen remodeling in Huntington Beach, it would feel natural to follow an ocean or beach theme.

Lastly, flooring is an important area of the home because it can receive the most wear and tear. Choosing tile versus carpet can make a big impact on the feeling of the room.

www.LKNcabinets.com offers Kitchen and Bath remodeling services to the Charlotte NC region

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