Best Practices in Kitchen Remodeling
So you have chosen to remodel your kitchen? It is a major undertaking that requires careful planning and foresight. In many cases, as the remodel continues and errors occur, it will be difficult to correct them. In an effort to help avoid some common mistakes, the following list goes over some of the most common kitchen remodeling mistakes and how to avoid them.
Going Overboard: If you own a $500,000 home, don’t spend $200,000 on a kitchen, unless you’re a world-renowned chef. This also applies to professional-grade appliances. Real estate experts will tell you that your kitchen accounts for 80 percent or more of your home’s value, which isn’t always true. By setting your investment high, you may be draining your resources for additional improvements or unforeseen expenses. A better target for your kitchen remodel budget is between 10% and 25% of the total appraised value of your home.
Compatibility: With so many open floor plans, homeowners tend to ignore their home plan and overall appearance. You might appreciate a more contemporary Asian feel. Take a moment to consider the overall appearance of your home. Does this approach to your kitchen remodel fit with what you have throughout your home? It is ideal for keeping a mix at all times. One suggestion is to try using furniture, which will complement a room you already have. Another simple approach to your kitchen remodel can be found in your trim. Review them and decide if they will fit into your plan. It may be enough to adjust the entire feel and enhance the look of your kitchen, keeping a theme rather than recreating it. This becomes profitable and does not hinder the value of your home.
Crazy for Islands-Islands are great additions to your counter space and storage needs, if you have enough space for one. Some common areas of error here would include trying to install an island when the kitchen is too small, or not measuring before you buy and the island is too big. Both will hinder movement in the kitchen and often require another contractor or installer to come to your home to make any necessary adjustments. To avoid any of the above issues, you should approach this with an idea of the recommended average space. It is recommended that when considering installing an island you maintain a minimum of 45 inches between the combined range, sink and refrigerator. Then between those and where your island would be, you need to be between 36 and 55 inches to be able to walk. The increased distance will allow for a concealed, often swinging counter attached to the side of the island. By sticking to this rule of thumb, you’ll have plenty of room to move in your kitchen and still have the beautiful island you want.
Underestimating time: Many homeowners try to estimate how long it will take to finish their kitchen, predict the arrival of cabinets, 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: Don’t start dismantling your kitchen until at least your cabinets get there. Even better would be to wait for all the supplies to arrive before demolishing the existing kitchen. Always keep some of your current countertops, sinks, and stoves to use for now. In this way, it can fully function every day. Never plan a social gathering while remodeling, so keep the work with the contractors close and you’ll know the exact time it will take to complete. If you know you’ll need your kitchen by a specific date, wait until it’s past to begin your remodel.
Underestimating Cost – Sometimes budgeting and planning still ends up falling short of the cost of the final product. Your kitchen remodel can pile up if your items don’t arrive on time and you have a contractor waiting. A kitchen remodel is over budget if you discover mold behind one of the walls, or realize the windows need to be replaced or refinished. These are simple methods to finish the kitchen remodeling project well above the preferred budget. To avoid the pitfall of unexpected expenses, plan to add an extra $1,000 to $3,000 to your final budget. By having the cushion the unexpected will not be a detriment.
