An Ultimate Guide to Renovating Your Kitchen

December 15, 2021

The first step to a kitchen remodel is determining your must-haves. What do you really want from your remodel? Go through and prioritize what you want most. You may have a perfect plan in mind, only to find out that it requires moving your entire plumbing system and will cost three times what you have in mind. Think about why you’re beginning the project. Do you need more storage? More space for family dinner? A better flow? Just an update? Once you have your priorities sorted you can begin to plan.

Newly remodeled kitchen with black framed windows, a large center island, and dark painted cabinets.

Determine Your Budget

A rule of thumb is to spend 5-15% of your home’s value on a kitchen remodel. So if your home is valued at $300,000, 10% would be $30,000. While that sounds like a lot of money, kitchen renovations, especially those involving changing the layout, can easily surpass that amount. Look at your finances and set your budget. This is where your priorities can help you. If you need to spend more to make your first priority happen, you can cut out something that’s less important. Make sure you reserve a percentage of your budget for unseen issues that could arise. You can quickly get in over your head if something goes wrong.

Hiring a Home Renovation Contractor

Kitchen renovations need a professional. While some projects can be taken on as DIY weekend jobs, a kitchen remodel is not one of them. A home renovation contractor is a good place to start. Your contractor will be able to look at the project as a whole and bring in the right professionals for every stage. They will be the point person who will help the project run smoothly. Although hiring a contractor may seem like an additional expense, they will likely save you money by getting better deals on materials and labor than you could on your own.

What to Expect Before the Renovation

Before you begin the remodel, you need to prep the kitchen as best you can. This means emptying the counters and cabinets, taking everything off the walls, and clearing the space. Find out from your contractor if there will be a time period when you can’t use the kitchen and make alternate plans to accommodate this phase of the project. Find an alternate space for washing dishes and cooking meals. If you have a good contractor, they will make sure that you are prepared.

What is the Usual Order of Projects?

Most kitchen renovations follow a general order. If you are only doing a few projects, things might change, but generally the order will be:

  • Demolition
  • Plumbing work
  • Electrical and lighting work
  • Drywall
  • Painting
  • Flooring
  • Cabinets
  • Countertops
  • Backsplash
  • Appliances
  • Finishing touches!

Depending on how in-depth you are going to get and how much you are doing, a kitchen remodel can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to well over a month. It can be very inconvenient, but a good contractor will make sure that you are well prepared and well informed about every aspect of the project, and when it is done, it will be well worth it. If you’re thinking about renovating your kitchen this year, contact Community Renovations to find out how we can help bring out the beauty in your home.