Understanding the Planning & Process for a Complete Kitchen Remodel
When is it best to do a complete kitchen remodel?
Fall may be one of the best times of year to complete a kitchen remodel. Here are some of the main reasons that fall makes the best time to complete a kitchen remodel. . .
- End of season offers: Late spring and summer are always an incredibly busy time for contractors and laborers. The longer days during the summer months allow for longer workdays and the acclimate weather allows for parts of the house to be covered with tarps and exposed to the elements better than winter when sub-freezing temperatures are common. Because of this, some general contractors may give special offers on their services and labor during the fall months in order to keep their calendars packed full until the first snowfall or until the Thanksgiving holiday. Watch for special offers and discounts on materials as well as home improvement retailers.
- Kitchen is ready for the holidays: Having a brand new kitchen remodel completed before Thanksgiving and Christmas may make the headaches of the remodel well worth it. Hosting your friends and family for a nice Thanksgiving meal while being able to show off your new kitchen at the same time might be a homeowner’s dream.
- Summer is a good time for designing your kitchen: Take advantage of any extra time you may have during the summer months to plan your kitchen design. You can hire a professional to work with you on the layout and design elements, however, the main point is that you will have months to start preparing for the remodel. You can even put up paint swatches all over the kitchen, or even paint parts of the kitchen walls certain colors and see which color scheme speaks to you. The main point is that you will have time.
Before starting a complete kitchen remodel, you should consider the inconveniences that may come along with it. If you plan to remain living in your home during the remodel, plan for plenty of takeout, extra rounds of vacuuming, and workers in your home on a regular basis. For some, living elsewhere during the remodel is preferred. If you choose to live somewhere else during the remodel, you may need to complete your kitchen remodel when it works best for your schedule. Does summer work best when the kids are out of school and you can take a long summer vacation or send the kids off to their grandparent’s house or a summer camp for a few weeks? Does your employment have an extremely busy time of the year where having a remodel going on at the same time may cause too much stress? Ultimately, the best time to complete a kitchen remodel is a time that is the most convenient for you and your family.
What is included in a complete kitchen remodel?
The main components of a complete kitchen remodel are layout, cabinets, flooring, countertops, lighting, appliances, walls, plumbing, electrical, color scheme, and design elements. When you are in the design process, you will probably address all of these components of the remodel. If you like some of the components just the way they are, that is perfectly fine. Working around some pre-existing elements can add character while stretching your budget or allowing you to splurge in other areas.
What is the process of a complete kitchen remodel?
The first step of a complete kitchen remodel is the design process. You can use any number of online kitchen design tools, hire a professional kitchen designer, or design the entire kitchen yourself. If you are planning on doing any major changes to the floorplan, like knocking out walls, adding a kitchen island, moving around plumbing and electrical infrastructure, you may want to consider hiring a professional kitchen designer/general contractor team. Many kitchen designers work directly with their own general contractors to make sure that their design ideas are feasible given the characteristics and composition of your current kitchen.
After the design is complete, you can either hire a contractor or if you hired a professional designer who works directly with a general contractor, then you are already a step ahead. The main thing about the contractor is that you verify that they are licensed, bonded, and insured. The next step is the demolition of everything that is being replaced. After demolition is complete, then the first thing that comes is addressing the issue of all electrical, HVAC, and plumbing infrastructure. If anything needs to be moved, removed, or added, this needs to be complete before anything else. Once the electrical is complete, then lighting can be addressed. After lighting the rest is entirely up to the general contractor about how they wish to proceed. Flooring, cabinets, appliances, countertops, backsplashes, the kitchen sink, paint, etc. The order of how these are installed all depends on the design of the kitchen and the workflow of the general contractor and their laborers. A good contractor should automatically know the order of installation that works best for each individual project.
How long does it take to finish a complete kitchen remodel?
If you are doing the complete kitchen remodel on your own, then the length of time it will take to finish the remodel depends entirely on how much time you can free up to devote to the project each week. If you are balancing a job, family, and other aspects of your life at the same time, this could become a bit overwhelming and cause your remodel project to span months and it could even take a year or more. If you are hiring a contractor, then the average US kitchen renovation takes anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks. If you have a large kitchen or a more complex project, for example, knocking out walls and/or moving around plumbing and electrical infrastructure, then you may want to plan for something closer to 10 to 12 weeks.
What should you know before starting a complete kitchen remodel?
Before starting a kitchen remodel you may want to consider a few things. First, what is the purpose of your remodel? Are you going to live in this home for many years to come, or are you remodeling the home to update it to help increase the home’s value and to help it sell quicker? If you are planning on selling the home, you may want to consult a real estate agent who can give you some advice on how to maximize the renovation. Another thing you may want to consider is what parts of the kitchen are salvageable. Does everything need to go, or can you save some money by keeping some aspects of the kitchen that you enjoy? Last, during the design process, create a budget, stick to it, and leave some room in the budget for unexpected expenses.
Why should you hire a professional team to help achieve a complete kitchen remodel?
Working with the right team of professionals to complete your dream kitchen remodel is recommended. While it may require extra investment, it’s probably worth it. A knowledgeable and creative team of professionals can help you make better decisions while avoiding costly mistakes along the way. Remodeling your kitchen can improve the value of your home and your quality of life while you occupy the home. Ensuring your kitchen remodel is done right is important, especially to avoid problems down the road. In addition, working with a professional team can make the process more enjoyable.
How does Skipp create a complete kitchen remodel for me?
Skipp helps homeowners create spaces they love. From the design process to the finished product, Skipp can make the remodel process easier and cheaper too. First, we’ll send a professional surveyor to capture a 3D scan of your home and gather all measurements. Next, Skipp will help you create a customized plan based on your needs. Three layouts can be provided with costs so that you can pick the one you like the best. Once you select a layout, we can move onto the design. During the design process you can take advantage of access to hundreds of brands and one on one support. Last, is time to get construction documents ready. Skipp provides contractors with everything they need for a smooth and precise renovation process. Plans can also be used to obtain any necessary permits. With close relationships with top-rated contractors, Skipp offers an average savings of 40%. At Skipp, a complete kitchen remodel can be budget-friendly, fund, and rewarding for years to come.
