Five ‘Must Do’s’ When Remodeling Your Kitchen

The following article is from "Tucson Kitchen and Bath Blog" Enjoy.....


Are you tired of the wallpaper in your kitchen? Does your floor need a face-lift? Are your cabinets worn out? Is it time to completely remodel your kitchen?

If you answered “Yes” to any or all of these questions, then it is time for a change. It is time to remodel your kitchen. Now is the perfect time to remodel your kitchen because the construction industry has slowed down a bit. That means that everyone you need to help you remodel your kitchen will be able to give you unbeatable prices and undivided attention.

Here are few must do’s to ensure that your kitchen is remodeled the right way.

1. Start with a Plan. The most important thing you can do before beginning such a large process is to create a plan. Are you going to redo the entire kitchen or just the cabinets? What style do you want? Do your research. You must spend adequate time researching the best suppliers and contractors in your area. Carefully decide who is going to do the best job with the bounds of your budget. You must also make sure that you meet with these specialists often to make sure that everyone is on the same page. This will save time and headaches down the road.

2. Create a Workbook. All major projects require a workbook of some sort. Your workbooks should contain everything related to the remodeling project. It will save you time to keep everything associated with the project in one place; receipts, color swatches, pictures of styles that you like, etc. Your vision for the project will most likely be transferred to the contractor if you have something to show him or her.

3. Establish a budget. Another important step to take when it comes time to remodel your kitchen is to create a budget. Also, your budget needs to be realistic. For instance, you cannot establish a budget without first knowing realistic prices. Spend time researching actual prices for new appliances, the cost of new cabinets, and anything else associated with your remodel. A good rule to follow is to set your budget 20 percent below what you can actually afford. This will allow a buffer for any unexpected costs or problems that you might run into.

4. Understand the difference between Cabinet Price and Cabinet Performance. When it comes to remodeling your cabinets, you cannot sacrifice performance for cost. You need to understands the components of cabinets that you can scale back on and the ones you can’t afford to undercut. For instance, the components of cabinets that get used the most are drawers. Thus, you need to make sure that you use top-quality products to build the drawers (drawer glides and more). On the other hand, you might be able to use particle board instead of plywood. Plywood is more expensive and really doesn’t serve any added functionality to particle board.

5. The countertop doesn’t need to be “top of the line.” A common misconception is that in order to get the most beautiful and functional countertop, you need a “top of the line” countertop. Quartz and granite countertops are the top performing countertops, although you might be surprised to know what laminate countertops can do. Laminate countertops are more versatile and economical. Additionally, there are more options when choosing a laminate countertop (more styles, more colors, more finishes). Although the new “High Definition” laminate finish is more expensive than the standard finish, it is still more economical than a quartz or granite countertop. Similarly, the high definition finish performs well and would be a great choice for normal home use.

If it is time to remodel your kitchen, then it is time to review these steps. Don’t start the remodeling process without understanding as much as you can about the process of remodeling. Follow these steps to ensure that your remodel is quick and smooth.

Who is this guy? plus.... Tip of the day!

If you made it to my blog and have made it this far, you might be saying, "Who is this guy and what does he know that I don't about kitchens?" Great question! I began learning about kitchen "stuff" eleven years ago when I began building cabinets for my father-in-law. I was a college grad with a history major who was failing miserably at selling life insurance. I think my father-in-law did not want to see his daughter and grandbaby starve to death, so he asked me if I wanted to learn the "cabinet" trade. I had never taken shop class or woodworking. I had never even run a table saw. "Yes" was my answer! I didn't feel like starving too.

Long story short, I have designed and built countless kitchens over the past 11 years. Some have been very large and expensive ($54,000 kitchen in a $5 million dollar home) and some have been quite small. ($899 kitchen in a small bank repo)

I often design kitchens to be more practical and functional over ascetics. I think a kitchen needs to look great while it serves it's purpose of feeding our bellies.

Over the years I have learned a few tips and tricks that can make a good kitchen GREAT and a great kitchen even BETTER!

What am I talking about? OK... Here's a freebie!

TIP of the DAY:

Electrical Outlets- Ugly on the backsplash. Send them to a secret hiding place!

These days remodeling your kitchen often includes a new backsplash (the area between the countertop and the upper cabinet above it). Some backsplashes are made of granite to match the countertop or a solid surface material like "corian".

These days, it is very popular to do a tile backsplash. There are some amazing designs available from tile and countertop installers. What often gets in the way of that beautiful design is a not so elegant electric outlet with it's plastic cover. These outlets are required by local building codes.

What I have seen done in many custom homes is to remove the outlets and rewire the area to allow for "outlet strips" that attach under the upper cabinets above the countertop. This is a simple idea that keeps you backsplash uncluttered with outlets and hides them up under the cabinets. You can even have MORE outlets in this unseen area for all of the stuff we like to "plug in". (cell phones, battery chargers, appliances, etc.).

See the photo above on the left? Imagine how much nicer the granite backsplash would look without those ugly black outlets and outlet covers on it. Just hide those outlets up under the cabinets with outlet strips. I have suggested this to many homeowners in the past. Some do it, and some don't. Sorry, but I can't seem to dig up a photo of one who did. When I do I'll post it.

I hope this idea helped. Enjoy and come back often.

-Cord

Here we go!

It's time to get with the times. I have been in the cabinet business for over 11 years. I have learned a few tips and tricks when it comes to remodeling a kitchen or bath. This blog is a new way I plan on sharing that information to the public. Enjoy.