A full kitchen remodel can run you into thousands of dollars if you plan on replacing cabinets and appliances. If you plan appropriately, you can save money by using a handyman to help with cabinet replacement or changing the floors. You can also save money by purchasing some of the pre-made cabinets at a home improvement store. Some cabinets are lightly finished so you can leave them as is or stain or paint them the color you prefer.
Before You Start
Determine how extensive of a kitchen remodel you want. Price everything out, including paying a handyman for jobs that you cannot complete yourself. Make sure the items you want are in stock – if not, order the items and have them delivered before you start so you are not trying to grill out in the rain for too long or going out to eat for every meal.
Flooring and Walls
Remove all appliances and wall-mounted items including outlet covers before you start. If you are replacing the kitchen cabinets, remove the cabinets. You now have a blank slate for the walls and the new flooring. If you are replacing the flooring, you can finish the walls before you remove the old flooring so you don’t get paint or glue on the new floor.
When you remove the floor, be sure to clean the subfloor thoroughly. Make sure it is level. The subfloor could be plywood or concrete. Replace any plywood that feels soft when you walk on it or looks like it may be rotting out. No matter the type of flooring you install, be sure the subfloor is perfectly clean or you will have problems with tile paste sticking and could have uneven floors.
Cabinets
If you like your cabinets but only want to freshen them up, take on this project before you install the new floors. You can repaint them, stain them and even add new countertops to the existing boxes. Even changing the kitchen cabinet hardware can give you a brand new look.
Appliances
Before you purchase appliances, measure the space between the cabinets. You might want that huge 26 cubic-foot stainless steel fridge, but will it fit? If not, you have two choices – you can replace the cabinets around the refrigerator or you can purchase a fridge that will fit in the existing space. This also applies to your stove, though most stoves are 30 inches wide.
Install the appliances after all other work has been completed. If you prefer a backsplash behind the stove, you can measure the height of the stove, and then draw a guideline on the wall to determine where you need the backsplash. It is much easier to install the backsplash – especially small tiles – if the stove in not in place.
When you replace appliances with your kitchen remodel, be sure to research different brands of appliances. You can purchase energy-saving appliances or get appliance with a host of features. Be sure to check the outlets for the stove – you may have a 220- or 240-volt stove. The circuit breakers for the stove/oven should be labeled.
Safety Precautions
Be sure to take all safety precautions. If you are upgrading any wiring or installing new wiring because you are moving the stove or other appliances, turn off the breakers to the entire kitchen instead of just the wall where you are working. If you need electric for saws and other tools, you can run a heavy-duty electric cord from another room not on the same circuit breaker as the kitchen. Also, when replacing cabinets, have a helper with you – they may not be too heavy, but they can be awkward and the upper cabinets could fall on you.
Bryan Grayson writes about home improvement, kitchen remodels, and more.
