5 Things to Avoid During a Kitchen Renovation

5 Things to Avoid During a Kitchen Renovation

Considering a kitchen renovation?

Did you know kitchen remodeling is the second most popular remodeling project? It ranks at 79% while bathrooms rank at 81%. The next most popular remodeling project falls at just 49%.

In the U.S., the majority of renovators spend from $25,000 to $50,000 to revamp their kitchen. That's over 80% of the average family's household income and here in the UK the stats are not very different. With such a significant investment, it's all the more important to avoid mistakes.

In the sections below, you'll find five of the most common, most essential blunders to avoid. Take notes and pay close attention; it just might save you tens of thousands of dollars. Read on.

Choosing Appliances Last

If you want to avoid colossal catastrophe, pick out your appliances first. Refrigerators, dishwashers, and the like aren't one-size fits all. They come in different sizes and colors.

Remodeling your kitchen before finding appliances is like buying shoes for a stranger. You have no idea whether the size or style will fit.

Save yourself the hassle. Get the foot before you buy the shoe.

There's nothing worse than finishing job only to realize you have to remodel your renovation because the appliances don't fit. We've seen jobs cost twice as much because of this simple mistake.

Also, appliances have a way of breaking budgets. You may have appliances like stoves for 30 years. They're well worth splurging on if you include them in your plan.

But the market changes often. If you don't pick your appliances out first, who knows what'll be available when you go to pick your appliances out.

Neglecting Proper Ventilation

This is probably the other most common reason people have to renovate their recent remodel. Kitchens are a breeding ground for funky smells. Garbage disposals, garbage cans, cleaning supplies, cooking odors.

You can cover the smells with air deodorizers, or you can get rid of them using proper ventilation. I bet you can tell which we recommend.

A high powered ventilation fan above the stove is only half the solution. Keep in mind that air stagnates in kitchens which are closed off from the rest of the house. To combat the problem, keep plenty of windows and doors in your floorplan.

Open them and let in a fresh breeze when needed.

If your kitchen has an open floor plan, consider multiple ventilation fans. They'll help keep odors from permeating into the rest of the house. They can also whisk away smoke or excess heat from your cooking.

Like appliances, you should know what sort of ventilation you're going to use before you start construction. The holes for ventilation pipes may run into your attic, through your wall, or through your roof. Mistakes or last-minute changes may cost you thousands.

Plan ahead.

Forgetting Your Workflow

Every household functions differently. Some assemble in the living room to watch television. Others still eat family dinners at the dining-room table. Still, others congregate in the kitchen to snack and do homework.

Whatever your family's pattern, be sure to take it into consideration when you draw up your design.

  • How many people
  • How often
  • What time of day
  • What will they be doing
  • How much space does each need
  • Where will they enter
  • Where will they exit
  • Will they impede other traffic

Then, of course, you must take into consideration the workflow of the person (or people) who makes the meals. How does he prefer his kitchen?

  • Is the garbage close enough to his workspace
  • Does he have enough working counter space
  • Is the refrigerator easily accessible
  • What about pots and pans
  • Does he have access to an internet connection for recipes
  • Does he have easy access to the pantry

First, design for function. Then, design for form. That's the only way to guarantee you won't end up with a beautiful but impractical kitchen.

Giving Up Counter Space

You know the one thing we've never heard from home renovators is we gave ourselves way too much counter space. Look, there are two things that you never, ever skimp on when you remodel.

  1. Plenty of Counter Space
  2. Reliable Toilets

You can probably figure out why you need the second on the list. The first may not be so apparent. Let's take a closer look.

After you fix up your home, your counter space will be in an ever-diminishing supply. Sure, you chop vegetables on it. You also roll pie crusts. If you have a toddler, you may place her highchair on the counter to feed her.

But those are only the things you're doing right now. What about the future? Take a look at all the small appliances you use right now.

How many of those did you have five years ago? How many more will you have five years from now? Ten? If you don't plan for the extra space, you'll be up wishing you had more countertop when the time comes.

Do it now while it's still easy.

Throwing Out Old Cabinets

For most, cabinets are the most expensive part of their remodel. Our question is why?

Now hear us out. Less than ten percent of cabinet remodels happen because the interior cabinetry needs replacing. The other ninety percent of the time, the homeowners just want a new look.

Well, if it's a new look you want, why not just refinish the cabinet faces, doors, and hardware? It'll only require half the cost in materials and quarter the cost of labor. If the doors are good wood, you need only sand them down and re-stain them.

You can also replace the door's inner panel with glass and add new hardware to give it a completely different look. You also have the option of changing things up by painting the cabinets rather than staining them.

You'll save thousands, and you can use that money on something more important. Like a trip to Hawaii.

Note: if you're strapped for cash, check out Remodeling Kitchens on a Budget.

After Your Kitchen Renovation

Well, did you come up with a different approach to your kitchen renovation? Remodeling a kitchen or bathroom are costly endeavors. Take your time and make sure to think through every detail before you start construction.

Otherwise, you may be flushing thousands of dollars down the toilet.

If you found this article helpful, take five minutes to browse our stock of other great articles.

So long and good luck!

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