Category: Home Improvement

How to Prepare for a Kitchen Renovation

When you have plans in place to renovate your kitchen, it is important to make the necessary preparations to ensure food is available and that your kitchen gadgets and personal belongings are protected. Depending on the length and type of your planned kitchen renovation, you may want to pre-cook meals or take extra steps to cover furniture for protection against excessive dust or damage. Continue reading to learn more about the steps you should take to prepare your home, family, and pets for a kitchen renovation.

Consult with the contractor or person in charge of the renovation project for an exact timeline regarding dates and times the renovation will take place.This information will help you plan ahead, in addition to preparing you for times that strangers will be arriving to work inside your home.

Reserve the freight elevator during renovation hours if you live in a high-rise building so contractors can move equipment and building supplies to and from your kitchen.

Remove all pictures, mirrors, curtains, wall hangings, or any other types of furnishings from your kitchen walls and any walls shared with your kitchen to prevent them from falling, breaking, or becoming damaged.

Prepare and cook all meals in advance since you may not have access to your stove-top or oven.

SET UP A TEMPORARY KITCHEN DURING A REMODEL

Kitchen torn apart? Everything you need to know to set up a temporary kitchen during a remodel plus tons of practical tips for surviving the process!

The first one is very important.

For the love of everything that is good, DON’T START TWO WEEKS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AT CHRISTMAS TIME! Did I just lose all credibility with you? Yea, we kinda don’t follow the rules at our house more times than not, at least when it comes to our DIY projects.

I blame it on my husband.

Being married to a painter means if I ever want our own home painted I better be ready when HE is ready to paint, i.e. work is slow, it’s snowing or he is feeling especially generous for some reason. (Don’t question, just be ready!)

Does that comment about the perfect white paint make more sense now? Let’s just say this isn’t the first time he’s had to paint the kitchen twice (and now the living room because it’s all one big room) because I didn’t like the color after it was on the walls.

Paint colors are obviously not my forte. Planning and organizing are. We spent weeks researching and planning (read all about that process here) before we made the decision to go all Fixer Upper and take down the wall between the kitchen and living room and totally gut the room. I had great plans for freezer cooking a month’s worth of menus.

Things you can’t forget in a kitchen remodel

Remodeling your kitchen can be a fun and exciting process, especially if you are giving it some much-needed upgrades. As you are making your lists of wants in your kitchen remodeling, there are some things that you absolutely cannot forget to keep in mind as you go through the remodeling process

Details are everything.

A kitchen should reflect your lifestyle, and that lifestyle is important to keep in mind as you pick out the details during the planning phase of your remodeling. Think about the current daily uses and functions of your kitchen as you design the kitchen you want to help you end up with a new kitchen that you love. Think about everything from storage to functional space. For example, ensure you have the ideal triangular traffic pattern between the fridge, oven, and stove to make cooking and preparing food a natural progression. Communicate every detail of your vision to whoever you have contracted to remodel your kitchen.

Know who you’re working with.

There’s a common saying that a contractor is only as good as their last job. When researching companies to do your kitchen remodeling, make sure you ask them for photos of recent kitchen remodelings. Get an idea of the type of work they have done so that you know if it aligns with your vision and what you can expect. Also, check with references and ask questions such as: what were the contractor’s work habits, was the work site clean, was the scope of work followed as much as reasonably possible, was the project on budget and if anything went wrong.

Consider usage and materials wisely.

You can splurge and get beautiful stone countertops like marble or soapstone that look beautiful but require a lot of upkeep. If the upkeep is no problem for you, then that may make sense for your dream kitchen. However, if you are not as great with upkeep as those materials deserve, consider going with lower maintenance but still great looking materials such as granite. Ultimately, don’t forget to keep in mind just how much wear and tear you think your kitchen will go through while choosing the materials in your kitchen remodeling

Your wish list.

It sounds simple, but you have to keep your wish list in mind throughout your entire kitchen remodeling. There will be unexpected situations that occur in the remodeling and you are going to have to make tough choices. You have to keep your wish list in mind while making those tough decisions so that you still end up with your dream kitchen. Sacrifices to your wish list may be unavoidable however, you should work closely with your contractor to make your vision come true.

A Guide to Kitchen Remodeling Materials

Kitchen CountertopsA kitchen countertop is another big-ticket item. As with cabinets, there are numerous types of kitchen countertops from which to choose. The primary options include laminate, ceramic tile, wood, marble, and granite. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages — the trick is to figure out which kind of countertop works best with your particular kitchen

Kitchen LightingMost people who are remodeling their kitchen don’t consider lighting to be a primary consideration. They should. Visibility is vitally important in an area where you’re working with knives and other potentially dangerous cooking tools. In addition, the proper lighting can give your kitchen a warm and homey feeling. In this section, we’ll examine the ins and outs of kitchen lighting, from halogen lights to incandescent bulbs. We’ll also offer advice on choosing kitchen lighting fixtures.

Kitchen Wall TreatmentsThe first rule in choosing wall treatments is to coordinate them with your cabinets. Paint is a popular wall treatment because it’s relatively inexpensive and easy to clean (which is always a prime consideration with a kitchen). If you want something a little less common, you can go with wallpaper or paneling. Whatever you decide, don’t underestimate the importance of wall treatments. We’ll tell you about all your options in this section.

Kitchen WindowsLet the sunshine in! The right kitchen window will do just that, providing a bright and cheery place for you to do your cooking. Your window choices range from double-hung to sliders — we’ll tell you about these options and others. The window treatments you pick are equally important. They add character to your windows, and to your kitchen as a whole. Cafe curtains are a popular choice, while matchstick or bamboo shades add a more novel element to your kitchen decor. In this section, we’ll show you which wall treatments will work best for you.

Kitchen Doors and HardwareWhen it comes to kitchens, a door isn’t just a door. It not only provides access to your kitchen, but it also offers an opportunity to add another decorative touch. Your options include glazed doors, swinging doors, and sliding doors — all of which we’ll discuss in this section. Kitchen hardware — such as cabinet knobs and window cranks — really offer an opportunity to spice up your kitchen. The right hardware can tie together all of the materials in your kitchen. In this section, we’ll provide suggestions that will aid you in the tricky task of choosing kitchen hardware.

Things That Can Go Wrong With Any Kitchen Remodel

No matter what home remodeling project you undertake, it will not go 100% according to plan. The best contracting pros will of course plan for the unexpected, setting up a contingency budget or adding a few days for the unknown, but that could just be the beginning of a kitchen remodeling nightmare.

It Takes Longer Than Expected

You Go Over Budget

You Can’t Get Along With Your Contractor

You Contractor Cuts Corners

Materials Arrive Late

The Wrong Counters Come In

Counters Are Wrong Size

Your Appliances Don’t Fit

It Doesn’t Look As Good As You Imagined

What are the types of renovation?

Home renovation is very popular these days. More and more homeowners are choosing to stay in the same place, rather than purchase a new home. To make room for growing families and changing needs, home renovations are occurring at an ever-faster pace. There are five major types of renovations made by homeowners, whether the need is to update the home, add more space or simply make the home better reflect a family’s character and needs.

Kitchen Renovations

Renovating the kitchen is the most popular type of major renovation in a home. It’s also the best way to increase a home’s value if it were to be put on the market. Kitchen renovations can be done for numerous reasons – increasing usable space, updating appliances and cabinetry, or they can be done in concert with other renovations.

Bathroom Renovations

Bathroom renovations are generally not on the same scale as kitchen renovations, but as they can involve plumbing and render a bathroom unusable during the process, they are major considerations. Bathroom renovations offer the means to increase luxury within a home, and increasingly are done to help a family save water and electricity with green fixtures.

Basement Renovations

Finishing a basement is one of the best ways to add usable space to a home in North York. Basements can become full bedroom suites, or they might be used as movie rooms, game rooms, in-law suites or full apartments, depending on the needs. These major renovations can involve an immense amount of work and design, as well.

Additions

Adding a room (or more than one) is also very popular. Often, families with two or more children and not enough bedrooms choose to add on so each child can have their own bedroom. However, adding on can also be done if you want to leave the majority of the home alone, but want to add an office, family game room, sunroom or something else. These are major considerations, as the home’s internal structure will be altered during construction.

Adding a New Bathroom

For homes that have fewer bathrooms than is ideal, adding one is a very popular choice. This might be done to provide a private bathroom for children, or a guest bathroom that is not used by the entire family. However, because of plumbing considerations (and general construction), these are very major undertakings.

Loft conversions

Many homes across the UK, such as Georgian homes, Victorian terraces and modern homes, have an unused attic that can be converted into useable living space. This kind of extension or loft conversion allows you to add valuable square metres to the house’s floor plan while not encroaching on your garden space.

Loft conversions often require structural work, as the original house was most likely not built to hold the weight of a second storey. This means that loft conversions are typically more expensive than same level extensions, but they are nevertheless often the best option to add living space to a home, especially in denser, urban areas. Other factors that might add to the cost of a loft conversion include site access and waterproofing. This might be a good time to generally have your roof inspected and get any problematic areas fixed, or even have your house completely reroofed.

Key design issues to consider when converting a loft are windows and stairways. Skylight windows are more affordable, however, dormer windows create precious extra headroom. Generally speaking you’ll be working with a confined space, so smart storage solutions are worth incorporating. Costs for a loft conversion can vary greatly, depending on your house and your choices of materials and styles, but you should budget on at least £50,000 for a mid-level extension.

Types of home renovation: which ones boost the home value?

Home renovation is not simply an add-on to your loving home—it actually means a higher value for your property when it comes time to sell it. Now selling your house probably isn’t on your mine right now, but you always want to remember, “A House Is An Investment” so you have the opportunity to improve your investment as you renovate it. A renovated property, devoid of smudge marks on the wall, broken shelves and mould problem will fetch you a higher price when you sell it, right? Well, truly speaking, it depends. Suppose you are living in Iowa and engaged the finest home remodeling service Ames IA, still there is no guarantee that if you spent a fortune on renovating your house, you will end up getting a treasure in return. There is a strategic way of adding value to your house and you need to understand what type of renovation will get you more rewards.

Now, in this blog, we will understand which one will boost the home value if you are looking to sell your property.

• The Basics: The basics include basic features of a house that anybody and everybody will look for. Talk about properly functioning plumbing, non-leaky roof, solid floors, and even a working HVAC system. All these can be maintained with small repair jobs and you need not spend exorbitant amount of money to increase the value because they might not get the returns.

• Curb Appeal: These features, as you work on them, don’t always get too much of monetary value but they help the selling process becoming faster. As clear from the name itself, these features increase the appeal of the property and help in making the decision quicker for a prospective buyer. Things in this type of renovation will include well-maintained lawn, carpets that are clean, fresh paint and even nice-looking fixtures. A lot of homeowners add LED lights to make it more design-featured, and some very advanced gadgetry which turns the property into a smart home may also be included in this section.

• Value Added: Value added features or projects that give you maximum returns include kitchen renovations, new windows and new siding. At the same time, if you have searched on Google for “bathroom remodel Ames Iowa” and find somebody really good to work on your bathroom, it will most likely give you good dividends, along with energy saving features.

• Personal Preferences: As clear from the name itself, personal preferences are items that you have installed because of your own liking or need. Think of a swimming pool, a wine cellar, ponds, game room, and the likes. Though there is no harm if you have these things in your house but you can expect others to pay for these items separately because they might not like them or need them. So, if you are thinking of spending money to renovate these features, consider carefully.

What’s the Difference: Renovation vs. Remodel?

Understand the ins and outs of these similar but not synonymous projects so you can plan the right improvements for your home.

The words “renovation” and “remodel” are often used interchangeably, but if you’re planning some major home improvements, it’s best to get the terminology right before you talk to a contractor. While both renovation and remodel will improve and update your living space, the two types of projects are very different, each with its own set of benefits and considerations.

Renovation updates the look and feel of a room—or an entire structure—without changing its intended purpose.

In a renovation, a kitchen remains a kitchen and a bedroom remains a bedroom, but repairs and updates are made. This generally includes such things as painting, installing new flooring, and switching out items like cabinet knobs and faucets. Renovation also includes structural rebuilding. For example, if rotted wood members are discovered, they will be removed and the area (wall, subfloor, or roof) will be rebuilt using new lumber.

During a remodel, the design—and sometimes the structure—is altered.

Remodeling is the process of changing the functionality and the design of an area. It may involve tearing out a wall to expand a bathroom and reconfiguring a kitchen layout so the cabinets, fridge, sink, and range are in different locations. Constructing an addition to your home would also be considered a remodel. Remodeling need not always involve major structural changes, however; it can be something as simple as turning a guest bedroom into a home office. If the purpose of the area has been altered, it’s been remodeled.

Remodeling is often costlier than renovating.

Since remodeling may involve changing the physical structure of a home, it’s often necessary to reconfigure the wiring, plumbing, and ductwork, which makes the project more complex and pricey. More professional labor is usually involved in a remodel, and the material cost is often higher as well, since many remodeling projects involve building new additions. While the final cost comparison depends on the scope of the project and the quality of the materials, because renovations are usually less complex, they’re also easier on the budget.

Renovating may require pulling a permit, but remodeling almost always does.

Permits ensure that proper building codes are followed. Communities set their own rules, but it’s common for a local building authority to require a permit any time a structure is changed, including putting an addition on a home or tearing out and reconfiguring interior walls. Simple renovations, such as painting and installing new carpeting, don’t require permits, but replacing a roof (a renovation project because design and function are not altered) usually does. Reroofing is in a special category, because if a new roof isn’t installed correctly, it could leak and the home’s structure could be damaged, so most communities require permits for reroofing.