A kitchen remodel can be an intrusive project in your home. There are a few things to consider before venturing in this direction and what to expect.
remodeling term
On the way to your shiny new kitchen appliances and cabinets, your house will literally be turned upside down. You’ll be dusting everyone and everything for weeks. There will be delays and frustrations and your family ties will be tested to the max. You may have spent months planning your remodel, but instant gratification is a long way off once you order your products and materials.
Some products and materials can take up to nine months to arrive, and if you have custom cabinets, they start to arrive in 12-16 weeks. Semi-custom can take 8-10 weeks and stock around 4 weeks or less. Once the products arrive, you can expect installation to take anywhere from 2-12 weeks. That depends on how involved your project is and how many hiccups you have.
Remodeling your kitchen compared to having one built from scratch
The big obvious differences in a remodel are: Demolition must take place before construction can take place. The floor plan and style of your kitchen should take into account the surrounding rooms and the architectural design of your home. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical components may need to be adapted to current building codes. Columns and other structural components may need to be reinforced. Sloped floors and walls may require installers to adjust cabinet and appliance heights.
With all the unexpected things that can happen, the cost can add up very quickly surprising homeowners. Be prepared to make adjustments and make them as frugal as possible. Partner with your contractor to find the most cost effective approach.
Financing your project
You can finance your project in several ways. Here are some suggestions:
- Money
- Credit cards
- A personal or bank loan.
- A loan from your insurance company or credit union
- A loan from a savings and loan institution
- refinance your mortgage
- A home equity loan
- A home equity line of credit
- A loan from the Federal Housing Administration
All of these options are available and need to be looked at very carefully. Please take the time to research these options that best fit your needs. Once the project has been given the green light, you need to make sure that the financing is available.
How will a designer help me?
Working with a professional can take much of the stress and uncertainty out of planning and building/remodeling a new kitchen. Let them help you figure out all the technicalities and details. Their expertise will help avoid costly mistakes, find cost-effective solutions, and help with the entire planning phase.
The design phase is the most exciting part of your remodel, but it can also be one of the most stressful times. Making careful decisions about your kitchen design will set the stage for a great kitchen remodeling project. Some aspects of your project that you should consider:
- Think about what styles and items you want to include
- how much are you willing to pay
- How long are you willing to put up with the remodeling process?
- Find out what the process is from the hand of your designer
To conclude, designers often work in showrooms with tons of catalogs to look at and samples too. Partner with a professional kitchen designer. They are there to help you by thinking through all the measurements, coordinating materials, and all the logistics involved with the actual remodel.
