THE KITCHEN REMODELING PROCESS
Surviving the Stress to Enjoy the Results
August 2024
You’ve been thinking about “redoing” the kitchen and are trying to decide on whether to just replace cabinets and countertops or go with a full-blown renovation, replacing everything and possibly modifying the original structure of your kitchen.
A home improvement process can be overwhelming when you “bundle” all the elements of the process together with all the decisions that need to be made – like the styles and colors of cabinets, countertops, backsplash, appliances, sinks, flooring, hardware, plumbing, electrical, drywall, trim work, painting…it can become daunting.
We can make the remodeling process manageable and more enjoyable by unbundling, planning, and closely managing each phase of the project.
A thorough PLAN is the first and most important step in the entire process. Gathering ideas from blogs and magazines to choose color schemes and styles will get the project off to a great start. The more detailed your vision, the easier it will be to convert your dream kitchen into reality.
Bringing pictures, drawings, specifications of your current kitchen, along with images of how you envision your new kitchen will look is most helpful when you meet with a DESIGNER during the DISCOVERY PROCESS. During this phase, a discussion on budget, functional needs, and decorating preferences will be reviewed. Questions regarding wants vs. needs, priorities, time frames, and what to expect during the renovation will also be covered. This is the time to discuss all aspects/options of your selections and ask questions on what is to be done. Changes/modifications/revisions that pop up later, once plans are finalized, add additional costs to a project and throw budgets way off track.
Once plans have been reviewed and finalized, the DESIGN phase begins with the designer taking measurements and preparing a ballpark estimate. Designs are presented and revisions (as needed) are made. Once a final design is signed off on, a scaled floor plan is made and a general contractor quotes the remodel portion of the project. At the same time, decisions on cabinet style, function and color, countertop and backsplash selections, sink and faucet selections, hardware selections, appliance selections, flooring and trim selections, and paint color(s) are made (by you) and finalized for ordering.
After every detail has been finalized (deep breath here), a final quote is reviewed and agreed upon. A 50% deposit gets the project in motion and the magic begins!
The BUILDING stage begins with the demolition, whether it is a partial or complete renovation. Cabinets, countertops, sinks and faucets are torn out. All appliances are removed. Most importantly, all water is turned off before starting the demo.
From here on in, at every step of the renovation, we are here to manage and check on the work being done. Whether we are working with our subcontractors or with your contractor/electrician/plumber, we monitor progress to assure the remodel is on schedule and within budget.
Once the kitchen is gutted, the plumbing and electrical work takes place. If you are moving walls or changing where things were originally located, this phase will require a home inspector to ensure the work is completed up to code.
Next drywall is hung. Once completed, the design elements and products you selected go into place. Walls are painted. Flooring is installed. Cabinet installation begins.
Countertops are next on the installation sequence. Then the sink and faucet are installed, followed by the appliances. Finish details are the next to last elements of the build process – hardware and lighting is installed. And the final step, the backsplashes are installed.
Voila! Your dream kitchen is complete and ready for you to enjoy!
Call us. We are here to help you manage, survive and enjoy your kitchen renovation.
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