What’s Involved In Kitchen Renovations?
The kitchen is a focal point of any home, and over time its natural to want to give it a fresh look. but kitchen renovations are such a big job! Where do you start and what do you do to ensure that your new kitchen is exactly what you want?
At Large’s Furniture & Cabinet Makers, our team of friendly Rockhampton cabinet makers have put together a quick guide for what to expect when doing a new kitchen reno.
Decide what you want and sketch it out
Before you even engage a contractor, get an idea of how you want it to look and how you want your new kitchen to function.
You will need to decide:
- What sort of cabinets you want
- Where your benchtops will be
- What appliances you need to buy and where they will go
- Whether you want to have any specific storage areas, such as pantry cupboards, spice drawers or oil drawers.
Once you’ve decided on the features you want in your new kitchen, create a scale drawing of the area, and mark out where you would like everything to go.
Create a budget
Work out how much you can afford to spend on your kitchen. You can do some online research to get a rough idea of the cost.
While it can be difficult to determine exactly how much your kitchen renovation will be right at the beginning of the process, having a rough idea of your budget will prevent costs from spiralling later in the project.
When do you want to start and how long will it take?
You should plan to allow between one and three months for your kitchen renovation.
This means that if you have a big event coming up and it will require the use of a kitchen, make sure that you haven’t scheduled your renovation to occur during that time.
For example, if the whole family is coming over for Christmas, don’t start your renovation in December!
Get the professionals involved
Now you know what you want and when you want it to happen, it’s time to start talking to professional kitchen companies. Ask around to find out who other people have used for their kitchen renovations, and whether they were happy with the job.
Once you have a shortlist of potential contractors, make sure that you get at least three quotes. Not only will you be able to compare their prices and services, but you may get some great ideas that you may not have thought of yourself.
Once you’ve decided on a kitchen contractor, make sure that you draw up a contract that clearly outlines the scope of the work, the timeframe, and the payment schedule.
Prepare for some mess!
If you plan to stay in your home while your new kitchen is being installed, be prepared!
- Set up a small kitchen area where you can prepare simple meals somewhere else in the house.
- Make sure you have plates, cutlery and drinking cups available.
- Have only the most essential appliances at the ready.
- Have somewhere you can wash up.
Move into your new kitchen
Once your renovation is finished, be sure to check that everything in the contract is complete before making the final payment.
If you’re thinking of renovating your kitchen, get in touch with our friendly team of cabinet makers in Rockhampton today.
Contact us online to request a free quote or call us on 07 4922 1366.
For more information on kitchen renovations and custom cabinetry read our previous blog Luxury Appliances To Suit Your New Kitchen.