Kitchen Renovation Tips

What is the first thing to do when updating a kitchen?

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    An updated kitchen is the quickest and easiest way to increase a home's resale value. How true is that, and what kind of effects can we count on? To save money, you may want to do some of the remodelling work on your own, but before you do, you should be well versed in the process. Even if you're just one person, you'll need a professional plumber's help eventually.

    If you opt to bring in outside assistance for everything, you'll have to look for, interview, and ultimately hire designers and contractors. On the other hand, kitchen remodelling knowledge allows for better time management.

    Here is a typical timetable for a kitchen remodel, which includes demolishing the existing kitchen and installing brand new cabinets.

    Hitch Property Constructions has an extensive range of kitchen renovation Melbourne to take the hassle out of deciding the right furniture that matches. A remodeler may have good reason to deviate slightly from the steps below.

    Determine Your Must-Haves

    The first step in any kitchen remodel is deciding exactly what you want to change. Much like when you're in the market for a new home, this will help you narrow down your options and set a budget.

    What Is The First Thing To Do When Updating A Kitchen 2

    The options for your kitchen may seem endless, but unless you have an infinite budget, you'll need to narrow down your choices to those that are most important to you. Is there a need for more closet or basement space? Do you ever wish you had more space to entertain? Wish you had a daily routine that worked better for your family?

    You can narrow down your list of necessities by asking yourself the following questions:

    • Where exactly does your current kitchen fall short?
    • For what are you looking for more of?
    • So, what do you want to cut back on?
    • Is a new structure going to be required?
    • How outdated is it currently?
    • Do you plan on selling anytime soon? How much will your kitchen's resale value increase if you make which upgrades?

    Set A Budget

    It's time to make a budget now that you know what you won't compromise on and what would be nice to have in addition to what you absolutely need.

    Your Budget Should Be Divided By Area

    Suppose you have $20,000 set aside for the remodelling of your kitchen. What criteria do you use to decide where to put that cash? The breakdown could be something along these lines:

    • Hardware and cabinets make up 29%.
    • 7% installation
    • Air conditioning and appliances: 14%
    • Countertops: 10%
    • 7% for flooring
    • illumination: 5%
    • Walls and ceilings: 5%
    • 4.0% in design fees
    • Windows and doors: 4 percent
    • Plumbing and faucets make up 4%.
    • Other: 1%

    Please keep in mind that the estimates provided here are just that, estimates, as everyone has different needs when it comes to their kitchen. You may want to reevaluate your priorities if you think flooring is more important than countertops.

    One must keep a close eye on their spending to avoid going bankrupt. If you want to put more money into one area, you should reduce spending on something else to make up for it.

    Visit Stores And Showrooms

    You can see what's for sale and how much it will cost at hardware stores and showrooms. Look for alternatives that serve the same purpose but cost less if you need to cut costs.

    For a more affordable alternative to natural stone, ceramic tile can be used to create a similar look in the kitchen. In place of a laminate counter, high-end custom cabinetry is a better investment.

    Leave Room For A Professional

    For more extensive kitchen remodels, you may not want to handle tasks like installing new electrical and plumbing fixtures and cabinets, or demolishing the old ones. There are people available for hire to carry out this task. Homeowners who attempted to channel Chip Gaines and rushed into demo day without paying attention to the wires or plumbing hidden in the wall are the stuff of countless horror stories. Do not make more work for yourself.

    Check out our range of kitchen renovation at Hitch Property Constructions. Leave room in your budget to bring in the professional. Here’sre’s a quick breakdown of how much you can expect to pay for common kitchen renovation professionals:

    Professionals in the field: the price will change depending on where you live. The typical contract price is 10% - 20% of the total budget.

    Designers: Rates are not standard across the country. The general rule of thumb for estimating remodelling costs is 8-10%.

    Clear the Space

    You are responsible for demolishing or clearing as much of the area as you can on your own. First, take the cabinet doors off. Two screws are typically used to secure cabinets to the wall in most cases. Ensure that you have someone to assist you in holding the cabinets up while you remove the screws.

    If you intend to reuse the doorway and window trim, be sure to remove it with extreme caution. To remove the nails, slide a putty knife up next to them, and then gently pull while moving towards the corner. To remove the wall panelling from the walls, you will need to use a crowbar. You could try using a sledgehammer for brute force, but be careful not to smash the studs.

    Turn off the power and remove any appliances and lighting fixtures that are hardwired directly. Wire nuts should be used to cover any exposed wires.

    Hire Your Workers

    You have the option of hiring a general contractor to manage the project, or you can hire the individual workers on your own. If you hire a general contractor to take care of the project for you, they can charge you up to 30 percent of the overall cost of the job. This is the place where you should try to cut costs if you are looking to save money. The trade-off is that you won't have to spend as much time supervising the job and chasing after workers who are late or don't show up because the general contractor will do that for you.

    Make it a requirement that any contractors you hire provide evidence that they are licenced, bonded, and insured in order for you to hire them. They should also be able to demonstrate to you that they have the appropriate permits.

    Work with your employees to develop a payment schedule. It is common practise to pay no more than ten percent of the total cost up front, fifty percent of the total cost at the halfway point, and the remaining balance once the work is finished.

    It is customary that most contractors will request not to work on top of each other—plan for scheduling them to work on separate days. Looking for kitchen renovation Melbourne? Look no further? Hitch Property Constructions has you covered.

    Replace Dated Plumbing

    When your walls are open, you will find that this is the ideal time to replace your plumbing. If you are planning to replace older plumbing, you should have buckets on hand to catch any water that may spill as a result of old or corroded pipes. In addition to this, make sure you are prepared to replace your shutoff valves.

    If your current stove is electric, you might want to think about switching to gas. Set up a box containing the shutoff valve for the refrigerator. Because it is galvanised, the plumbing under the sink should all be replaced.

    Replace Wiring and Install Kitchen Lighting

    The installation of recessed ceiling lighting, updated pendant lighting, or lighting for breakfast nooks is a common component of many kitchen renovations. Check with the local building codes to see if incandescent, fluorescent, or halogen bulbs have to meet any specific requirements.

    You should think about upgrading your circuit breaker box to a capacity of 200 amps and should consult an electrician before doing so. It is imperative to replace all of the wiring, particularly in the event that the existing wiring does not adhere to the regulations. Every appliance, with the possible exception of the refrigerator and the range hood, ought to be wired into its own separate circuit.

    Your electrical considerations should include:

    • Recessed lighting, as well as overhead lighting
    • Under-cabinet lighting is a great way to brighten up your kitchen.
    • Connecting the dishwasher to the electrical system, either directly or through a plug.
    • Directly connecting the garbage disposal to a power source or plugging it into an outlet
    • Depending on whether the range and oven are gas or electric, a 120-volt or 220-volt outlet is required.
    • A refrigerator's power outlet
    • The range hood's wiring
    • A microwave outlet is available.
    • More outlets on the counter are always better.
    • For some or all of your lighting, consider dimmer switches.

    Hang the Drywall

    After the electrician and plumber have finished their jobs, the drywall comes next. This job is one of the easier installations; you might want to do it yourself. If you do plan to do it on your own, make sure you have the right tools:

    • Sheetrock is a type of drywall that comes in 4 x 8 sheets (the brand name)
    • Several blades and a utility knife
    • Drywall gun with a T-square
    • 1 1/4-inch drywall screws are common.
    • Mudding knives come in three sizes.
    • Pencil
    • Within 48 inches, measure from the corner to the first. Transfer that measurement to the drywall and draw a straight line with a T-square.
    • Using the T-square, cut along the line.

    You can break the drywall by cracking it with your knee or your hand. Screws should be used to attach the drywall to the wall. Alternate the placement of each screw approximately one foot apart and within a half an inch of the edge. Always butt finished edges to finished edges, and unfinished edges to unfinished edges. Exceptions to this rule should be rare. The edges that have not been finished will produce valleys.

    Apply the Joint Compound

    Mudding—applying thin, multiple layers of compound to the joints—is an art.

    Mud should be mixed in a mudding tray until soft.

    Three coats of mud are needed to seal drywall joints. Each coat dries in three days. Some joint compound products dry faster, but not for cooking.

    Tape and mud. Three days, please. With a larger mudding knife, spread joint compound. Three days later, sand lightly again. Large knife finish coat. Dry for three days, then sand with 150-grit paper.

    You can hang the drywall yourself and hire a pro to apply the joint compound.

    Paint Kitchen Walls and Ceiling

    Homeowners can paint, but DIYers take longer. Paint walls before installing cabinets. Quality brand paint, preferably semi-gloss, is easy to wipe down and doesn't retain moisture.

    Buy paintbrushes. Angled brushes work well on trim, but a 4-inch brush is best for ceiling and floor.

    Avoid paint trays. Better use a 5-gallon bucket. To ensure consistency, mix paint cans. Buy a bucket-screen. Use a quality roller with an extension; a push broom handle can double as an extender.

    Before painting the walls, trim the ceiling and floor edges. After the first coat dries, sand with 150-grit paper. Double-coat. After cabinet installation, touch up the colour.

    Install Kitchen Flooring and Baseboards

    Some builders instal flooring and baseboards after cabinets to save money, but you may prefer before. No quarter rounds, base shoe, or floor mouldings.

    Consider renewable, eco-friendly options. Cork flooring is made from intact tree bark. Cork can yellow in sunlight, scratch easily, and swell in moisture.

    Bamboo is grass, not wood. Every 3–5 years, it renews. Premium bamboo flooring uses formaldehyde-free adhesives. Nail, glue, staple, or float bamboo. It's horizontal and vertical. Install it in dry areas.

    Carpet made from recycled food and drink containers. These vibrant colours outlast nylon carpets. It's a shock-free static product that doesn't emit volatile organic compounds, which can be lung irritants. Stain-resistant recycled carpeting.

    Linoleum flooring is made from natural raw materials like linseed oil (obtained from pine trees without harming them), renewable wood products, ground limestone, and jute, a plant fibre. Stain-resistant linoleum floors. They don't absorb water and biodegrade after 40 years.

    Brazilian cherry and white tigerwood come from well-managed, renewable forests in South America. Brazilian cherry is a formaldehyde-free, 3-ply engineered wood. It's pricier, but more durable than oak.

    Hang Your Kitchen Cabinets

    Hire a cabinet installer. A pro makes sure kitchen cabinets are level, plumb, and installed correctly. Before installing cabinets, finish electrical and plumbing.

    Wall and base cabinets exist. Wall cabinets aren't floor-mounted. Wall-mounted base cabinets rest on the floor. Cabinets must be aligned, secured, and level.

    Crown, bottom, and scribes are common cabinet options. Scribes cover wall-to-cabinet gaps.

    The cabinet seller should have qualified installers. Cabinet installation should take a day.

    If you hire someone to instal the cabinets, review the layout with them first. No room, even new construction, is perfectly square, so the cabinets won't fit flush with the ceiling or corners. You may need to caulk and paint caulk.

    Order Your Kitchen Countertop

    The work on your countertops is typically the cause of the longest and most prolonged delay during the renovation of your kitchen. If you are having your countertops made to order, the people installing them will require you to have the cabinets installed before they will take measurements from the template. From the time an order is placed until it is fulfilled, this process can take anywhere from seven days to seven weeks.

    Quartz countertops are the answer to your search for the most long-lasting countertops because they are resistant to heat, last longer than granite, and look great for decades. They are a little bit more expensive, but if you don't plan on remodelling your kitchen again for at least the next fifty years, they are the best option for you to go with.

    Install the Backsplash

    Take countertop and cabinet door samples to your tile store. Designers at tile stores can help you choose a backsplash. Some diagonal designs use different tile sizes and types as accents. A backsplash can add complementary colour to your kitchen.

    If the backsplash is quartz, granite, or soapstone, it can be installed at the same time as the countertops. If you choose a different material than the countertop, like tile, aluminium, concrete, or wood, the backsplash must be installed after the countertops.

    Installing a backsplash on a heavy-stone countertop may take a few days. If you hurry, a seam may form.

    Choose the Cabinet Hardware

    Cabinetry hardware, such as pulls and knobs, can either improve or detract from the appearance of your cabinets. Pick a design and kind of finish that not only looks good with your cabinets but also works well with the age of your house. Steer clear of finishes that are currently popular but will look dated in a few years.

    However, one of the best things about hardware is that it is one of the items in a kitchen that can be updated for the least amount of money. This means that after five or ten years, you should be able to afford to update your hardware.

    Get Your Appliances Installed

    Make another appointment with the electrician and the plumber to have your appliances installed. The installation will be completed by electricians who will instal outlets and ensure that they are aligned properly with the backsplash.

    In most cases, the installation process begins with the range hood. In order to properly vent the exhaust, this installation might require a roof jack. Under no circumstances should you vent the exhaust into your attic.

    Make sure your flooring is protected before wheeling in large appliances like your stove, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Each appliance will have to be lined up and plumbed before it can be used (if applicable).

    If you have an under-mount sink, the people installing your countertops would have already put it in, but the installation of any other kind of sink takes place after the countertops and the backsplash have been put in. If you intend to get a garbage disposal, the plumber will instal it for you as well as hook up your faucet, insert the air gap for your dishwasher into the countertop, and set up the garbage disposal.

    Before making the final payment to the contractors, make sure there are no leaks and that all of the appliances are operating properly.

    For the renovation of a large kitchen to be as productive as possible, the steps need to be completed in the correct order. When it comes to remodelling your kitchen, doing things in the right order will save you a tonne of time and money. Whether you plan to do the work yourself or hire a professional, it is in your best interest to become familiar with the sequence in which a kitchen remodel is typically carried out due to the amount of time that is required.

    Conclusion

    Improving the kitchen is one of the best ways to increase a home's value quickly and easily. Doing some of the remodelling on your own can save you a lot of cash. However, you should be knowledgeable about the procedure before you begin. Remember to account for the cost of hiring help. Contract costs are typically between 10% and 20% of the overall budget.

    Instead of laminate countertops, consider upgrading to ceramic tile or high-end custom cabinetry. Prices differ significantly from one part of the country to the next. Door and window casings should be carefully removed for re-use. When working with older plumbing, it's a good idea to have a supply of buckets handy in case any water leaks out due to broken or corroded pipes. Have spares on hand for any shutoff valves that need to be replaced.

    It's possible you should consider replacing your electric stove with a gas one. The plumbing under the sink needs to be replaced because it is galvanised. In the event that the current wiring does not meet code requirements, it is essential that it be replaced entirely. Joints are compounded with several, thin layers of compound. Wait three days, and then sand it with 150 grit paper.

    Each application takes three days to dry; some products dry faster, but they aren't safe for use in the kitchen. Made from renewable resources like linseed oil and wood scraps, linoleum flooring is eco-friendly and sustainable. White tigerwood and Brazilian cherry both originate from South American forests that are sustainably managed. If you're looking for the most durable countertops, look no further than quartz. If you rush installing a backsplash on a thick stone countertop, you risk creating an unsightly seam.

    How your cabinets look is greatly influenced by the hardware you choose. One of the kitchen's components that can be updated with minimal outlay of cash is the hardware. Before any of the appliances can be used, they must be properly aligned and plumbed. If your sink is an under-mount variety, it will have been installed by the countertop specialists. Check for leaks and make sure everything is working as it should.

    Content Summary

    • The first step in any kitchen remodel is deciding exactly what you want to change.
    • Much like when you're in the market for a new home, this will help you narrow down your options and set a budget.
    • There are people available for hire to carry out this task.
    • Do not make more work for yourself.
    • Leave room in your budget to bring in the professional.
    • If you intend to reuse the doorway and window trim, be sure to remove it with extreme caution.
    • To remove the wall panelling from the walls, you will need to use a crowbar.
    • If you hire a general contractor to take care of the project for you, they can charge you up to 30 percent of the overall cost of the job.
    • When your walls are open, you will find that this is the ideal time to replace your plumbing.
    • Set up a box containing the shutoff valve for the refrigerator.
    • Connecting the dishwasher to the electrical system, either directly or through a plug.
    • Screws should be used to attach the drywall to the wall.
    • You can hang the drywall yourself and hire a pro to apply the joint compound.
    • Paint walls before installing cabinets.
    • Before painting the walls, trim the ceiling and floor edges.
    • Stain-resistant linoleum floors.
    • The work on your countertops is typically the cause of the longest and most prolonged delay during the renovation of your kitchen.
    • Pick a design and kind of finish that not only looks good with your cabinets but also works well with the age of your house.
    • This means that after five or ten years, you should be able to afford to update your hardware.
    • Make another appointment with the electrician and the plumber to have your appliances installed.
    • If you intend to get a garbage disposal, the plumber will instal it for you as well as hook up your faucet, insert the air gap for your dishwasher into the countertop, and set up the garbage disposal.
    • Before making the final payment to the contractors, make sure there are no leaks and that all of the appliances are operating properly.
    • For the renovation of a large kitchen to be as productive as possible, the steps need to be completed in the correct order.
    • When it comes to remodelling your kitchen, doing things in the right order will save you a tonne of time and money.

    FAQs About kitchen renovation

    For several decades, in fact, white has been the leading cabinet color in kitchen cabinet trends. As the most popular shade for cabinetry then, it's a good option for many styles of kitchens. It certainly fits well with a simple, straightforward design choice that won't go out of style.

    Consider large tiles for flooring, which give the kitchen an updated look and require fewer grout lines and cuts during installation. Save money by purchasing a porcelain tile that looks like natural stone. Splurge on deco pieces such as glass-tile mosaics for a backsplash.

    The first step of any kitchen remodel is tear out and demolition. Before you are ready to create a beautiful new space, it is important to demolish and get rid of what's outdated or worn out. This is the time when you rip out anything you don't want to keep including walls, cabinetry, flooring, fixtures, or more.

    The first thing you should do in preparation is physically clear the space, removing everything from the cupboards, shelves and countertops. It's also a good idea to move any furniture to keep it safe and protected. Don't forget to remove any mirrors, pictures or art from the adjoining rooms too.

    The key aspects for efficient kitchen design are well known within the design community and include creating a 'work triangle' (between your refrigerator, sink, and cook top), providing adequate storage, and ensuring (when possible) a sizeable clear surface for food preparation.

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