Are you ready to remodel your kitchen? Like many homeowners, you too might have thought about remodeling your kitchen for a long time, but do you know how to go about it? Just like any other process, there are several steps to remodel a kitchen. These kitchen remodel steps are crucial for you to understand and follow to get the kitchen of your dreams.
6 Kitchen Remodel Steps
1. Start Gathering Ideas
The first step to remodeling your kitchen is to gather ideas. After all, you need the inspiration to begin remodeling your kitchen. The best way to start this process is by looking at your current kitchen. You?ll notice things that need to be updated,? like the flooring, appliances, etc. and start making a note of them.?
Once you?ve identified the core issues in your kitchen, you can decide what needs to be changed and what doesn?t. This process will also choose the overall scope of your kitchen remodel.
Once that?s done, you know what needs to be prioritized, and that?s when you can move onto the design planning phase of the kitchen remodel.
2. Create a Budget?
The world revolves around money, and so does your kitchen remodel. Hence, you will need to create a budget. But how do you create a budget?
To begin with, you need to understand kitchen remodel costs. For instance, an average kitchen remodel costs anywhere between $13,000 to $35,000. The cost of remodeling your kitchen will depend on the size, scope, and other factors like sweat equity. Once you?ve estimated the cost, you can set an appropriate budget for your remodel.?
You must follow a crucial step while setting a kitchen remodel budget to set aside 15 to 20 percent of your total budget for emergencies. Even though your kitchen might look fine on the outside, you never know what comes up once the demolition begins.?
Similarly, you might end up facing delays or any additional expenditure during the process. For times like these, you can use the money from the emergency fund.?
3. Hire a Contractor
Hiring your contractor is among the most important kitchen remodel steps. Even the handiest of homeowners refrain from working in the kitchen. A simple reason for that is because your kitchen is a highly technical space.?
Not only is there extensive plumbing involved but there?s also gas and lighting. Your kitchen also has some heavy-duty appliances and fixtures like countertops. Hence, choosing the right contractor is crucial for the remodeling process. To do so, you need to talk to multiple contractors and get a quote for them. It?s crucial that you don?t think solely from the perspective of money. If a contractor offers a quote that?s far below the market rate, they?re cutting corners somewhere.?
Hence, you have to consider several factors. For instance, you have to look at their experience, referrals, expertise, past work, etc. to come to a conclusion. Once things are finalized, you have to get the terms in writing to move ahead with the process.
4. Get Ready for the Remodel
Once the contractor and the date of the remodel are set, it is time to start prepping. Because you?re remodeling your kitchen, you need to think of an alternate setup. You could either create a makeshift kitchen elsewhere or figure out somewhere to source your meals from.
You have to take out all your personal belongings from the kitchen for the remodeling to begin. You?ll need to store your cutlery, silverware, etc. somewhere else for the time being. If you do the demolition yourself, don?t forget to wear protective gear and ensure that you know what you?re doing.
5. Start with the Kitchen Remodel
Next, in the line of kitchen remodel steps, is the actual remodeling. This is where your kitchen will go from drab to fab. The contractor will start by framing the kitchen and move on to the plumbing, wiring, and HVAC.?
Once that is out of the way, you can expect them to work on the walls and your kitchen?s ceilings. Then the contractor will probably install the flooring and proceed with the installation of the countertop and cabinets. The final step of the kitchen remodeling would be to install appliances, fix the plumbing, lighting, and add the finishing touches.?
6. Wrap up the Kitchen Remodel
The last and final lot of the kitchen remodeling steps is to inspect the work done by the contractor. As a homeowner, you want to ensure that you are getting the maximum value for what you?ve paid the contractor to work on your kitchen remodel.?
Regardless of how involved you were during the remodeling process, you still have to do a final check to ensure everything is done right. You should be doing a walk-through with your contractor and go through every little detail.
While you?re doing that, you should be taking note of what?s right and what needs improvement. There is bound to be small dents or some scars that may have occurred during the remodeling process. Now is the right time to bring it up, and to fix it is usually a part of the contractor?s agreement.?
Once you?re satisfied, an inspection will take place from the officials and they?ll sign off on your remodeling permits. All that?s left is some housekeeping and cleaning, which is usually a part of the remodeling contract and the last kitchen remodeling steps.?
Now, all you have to do is sit back, relax, and soak in your newly remodeled kitchen?s ambiance.
