Kitchen Remodeling is a great way to transform the heart of your home into a beautiful and functional space that meets your unique needs. Whether you’re planning a minor update, a full remodel, or anything in between, it’s important to understand the scope of your project, develop a realistic budget, and partner with a professional who can help bring your vision to life. Here are three things you must understand before hiring a kitchen remodeling professional.
Understand the Scope of Your Project
Before you begin your kitchen remodel, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of the scope of your project. Not sure where to start? Check out our guide on where to start your kitchen remodel. While every kitchen is unique, kitchen makeovers can generally be categorized into three types of projects: update, replacement / minor remodel, and full remodel.
Kitchen Updates
An update involves replacing some or all of the following: countertops, appliances and fixtures, cabinet pulls or knobs, cabinet hinges, adding backsplash tile, replacing flooring, and painting. An update is usually completed without replacing cabinets, making it a more affordable option for those who want to give their kitchen a fresh look.
Kitchen Replacement
A replacement involves replacing cabinets and most or all of the materials while keeping the existing floorplan, including appliances, and fixtures in their same locations. Variations of the replacement could allow for small changes in the floor plan and some modest electrical and lighting updates. Reusing some appliances and fixtures is also possible, but the layout of your space will generally remain the same.
Full Kitchen Remodel
A full remodel involves replacing all materials, including drywall and flooring down to the rough framing components and subfloor. Often, walls are moved or eliminated, and a new electrical and lighting plan is implemented in addition to all the changes listed in the “Update” and the “Replacement” type of projects.
Once you understand where your project fits within these three categories, you can move on to developing a budget.
Develop a Budget
Deciding how much you are willing to spend is crucial to achieving your kitchen remodeling goals. Within each of the three project categories, there is a wide range of costs. For example, in the update project, choosing specific aspects of your kitchen to update can help control costs. You can choose which materials to replace and whether you want a high-end or low-end replacement. For example, choosing granite countertops can drastically impact a budget. This is one reason why we prefer artistic quartz countertops, which provide an array of highly desirable qualities and benefits at more budget-friendly prices.
If you’re planning to replace your cabinets, your budget will be greatly affected by the quality of construction and the finish of the cabinets. As with all aspects of a project, there are a wide range of available options, from basic to high-end finishes, so choosing your minimum and maximum spending limits carefully will be an important guide. When planning a full remodel, be prepared for a five- to six-figure remodeling budget, particularly if you intend to tear down walls, move plumbing, and change flooring.
It can be difficult to decide if it’s worth investing in a remodeling project. A fresh, new space can improve your home’s functionality and even help fetch a higher price if you intend to sell your home in the near term, but it takes time, energy and resources to get a project done properly. The most effective way to know if your budget aligns with how much work you want done is to speak with a kitchen design professional. One or two meetings should be enough to talk through your project requirements and develop an estimate and budget.
Choose Who Will Implement the Project
Choosing the right professional to manage and install your kitchen remodeling project is critical to achieving your goals. A kitchen design professional will spend time developing a plan and drawings, which will enable them to communicate the details of the project. They will also specify and review all the tasks necessary to complete the project, guiding you through pricing for labor, materials, and everything from demo to completion. We encourage everyone to hire a professional that will provide this kind of detail and not just ask you to sign a contract based on a free estimate or a simple budget!
While we use Kitchen Remodeling as the example in this post, all the core principles we detail can be kept in mind when remodeling a bathroom as well. If you’re considering tackling a kitchen and bath remodel at the same time, make sure your design professional is experienced with both types of work. Our team at DR Design & Remodel is fortunate to have a great team of both kitchen and bathroom remodeling experts!
Before hiring a professional, check their reviews and credentials, and talk to past clients. This will help you understand their level skill and customer satisfaction. The DR Design & Remodel team is proud to serve our community and love bringing our client’s dreams into reality. You can always give us a call (916) 714-7723, stop by our showroom or make an appointment to discuss your project with one of our experienced designers!