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How to Renovate Your Kitchen in Steps
Very few remodeling projects can increase the value of your home, like a kitchen renovation. The kitchen is one of the major selling points of a house. Not only do we spend a lot of time in the kitchen, but it also acts as the heart of a house. Therefore, laying the proper foundation during a remodel is essential.
How the kitchen looks will dictate the overall atmosphere of the house. So if you want to renovate your kitchen space but don’t know where to start, here is a step-by-step guide that will help you realize your dream kitchen.
Step 1
Before you begin your renovation journey, you need to plan out your work, from brainstorming and sketching your design to ordering appliances and kitchen cabinets. Take time to think about how you want the end design to look.
Sometimes the planning phase can last for weeks before you find a design you’re comfortable with. If you’re renovating for a client, pay close attention to their needs before embarking on the next step.
Budgeting is also crucial at this stage. Do not move ahead if you haven’t worked out the entire project's cost. If you can’t visualize your dream kitchen on paper, you won’t be able to achieve it physically.
Step 2
The next step in renovating your kitchen is tearing down existing fixtures and installations. This phase is where you demolish anything you want to get rid of, from drywall to cabinets and flooring.
If you’re not sure about what to get rid of, you can hire a contractor at this stage. It may be a good idea to hire a professional at this stage. You might accidentally break water pipes or cut electricity cables if you do it yourself. If you’re not sure, get a pro to do it.
Also, demolishing doesn’t necessarily mean throwing out anything you don’t want to keep. Consider reselling the old appliances and investing the funds into the renovation project.
Step 3
The next stage is the rough-in stage. This is where you get to decide where the plumbing and electricity go, depending on where you want to fix appliances. If you had initially planned to increase your square footage, you could get a construction crew to do the concrete pour at this stage. Before moving to the next step, test out to see that the plumbing and electrical are working fine. The last thing you need is to discover a leak once you’ve finished installing the appliances and cabinetry.
Step 4
The next step involves setting up the framework of your kitchen. Where do you want to install drywall? Do you need a partition? It can take a few days to a couple of weeks to install the drywall.
This is the stage where the shape of your kitchen comes to life. After you’ve screwed the drywall in place, it’s time to paint. Picking the right paint color is vital as it will dictate the mood of your kitchen. Alternatively, you may opt for wallpapers instead of painting since they are easy to replace if you change your mind in the future.
Step 5
The kitchen floor is an important step and requires extra consideration in the design process. When selecting the suitable material for flooring, think about the users of the space and how you would like the floor to feel underneath their feet. A few flooring materials you can choose from include:
- Laminate
- Hardwood(timber)
- Tiling
Ceramic tiles are easy to clean, so you may want to go with that if you have kids. You can compare the different materials side by side and pick the one that best suits your final design.
Step 6
By now, you’re almost halfway through with your renovation. After fixing the flooring, it’s time to assemble the kitchen cabinets. A good rule of thumb is to preorder all your fixtures and appliances before starting your renovation. That way, you won’t experience interruptions during the renovation process.
Cabinets are essential in any kitchen design, so ensure you only work with high-quality products. While some cheap cabinets may look enticing, you will end up replacing them often due to wear and tear. You can have your cabinets custom-made or order RTA(Ready to Assemble) cabinets to save you time during the installation process.
Step 7
Installing countertops is one of the most fun parts of a kitchen renovation. You start to see the final design coming to life as the colors on the wall, the cabinets, and the floor contrast against the countertops.
However, it is also a time-intensive phase as you need to get the precise measurements of the countertops. A single mistake can be costly, so it’s better to take a lot of time but get it right. You also need to cut out openings for sinks, faucets, and garbage disposals.
There are different countertop materials you can opt for depending on your taste. Some popular materials include:
- Marble
- Granite
- Quartz
Keep in mind that the more extravagant the design you choose, the more expensive it is to install. With countertops, you can save money by going for cheaper alternatives that are cohesive with the design of your kitchen.
Step 8
Now that cabinets, countertops, and flooring are done, it’s time to work on plumbing fixtures. These include the sinks and faucets. Pick a sink design that sits well with the kitchen's overall design. The type of faucet will play a lot into the aesthetics of your kitchen.
At this stage, you might also notice some minor errors in the plumbing. Ensure a plumber is on-site to install the fixtures and assist when needed.
Step 9
Finally, we’re in the last step of the renovation process- Appliances. These include a dishwasher, fridge, microwave, and so on. These require the attention of an electrician since the wiring needs to be done carefully.
Tip: Heavy appliances may leave scratch marks on the floor when dragging them to the kitchen, so lay a protective tarp before installing them.
Final word
There you have it, a brand new kitchen. You may need to add a few finishing touches, like fixing chipping in the paint and adding a backsplash above the sink. Renovating a kitchen is by no means an easy task. However, the outcome is always worth the effort. Follow the steps above to make sure your renovation succeeds.