Kitchen REMODELING
Washington DC
Time For A New Kitchen?
When it comes to remodeling projects, the kitchen is the room that homeowners invest the most in. One of the reasons is that kitchen remodeling has the tendency to have the highest return when compared to other areas in the house. That said it takes some intelligent planning and pragmatic decisions if you want to get the most bang for your buck.
How much time should you take to plan?
If you plan your kitchen remodel properly, it might actually take you as long to plan that it will take you to execute the actual construction, or longer. Believe it or not, the National Kitchen and Bath Association actually advocates that you spend no less than six months preparing. While this seems like a bit of overkill, but it would definitely help you to be certain about everything before any remodeling beings. The longer you spend preparing the less likely it is that you will discover a some newfangled item that you want to include that could bring the construction process to a temporary halt.
Proper preparation will also ensure that you are inconvenienced for a limited amount of time during construction. It will also help you stay on budget and might even reduce your costs. The last thing you want to do is interrupt the construction process once it has begun. This would likely result in additional construction costs and negatively affect your return on investment.
Keep structural changes to a minimum
One sure fire way to drive up your remodeling costs is to change the location of your electrical outlets, plumbing pipes or knocking down walls. These often lead to unanticipated problems, so if at all possible, try to keep the appliances, water fixtures and walls where they currently are. You will not only save on demolition and reconstruction costs, but you will also cut the amount of dust and debris you will have to contend with during your project.
Make the best decisions for the long term
A word of advice, you need to focus on the overall efficiency and design of your kitchen as opposed to getting too hung up on kitchen tools and appliances. You may have your eye on a luxury brand refrigerator or commercial grade cooker, but will they actually fit your cooking needs and lifestyle? Long term items such and flooring and cabinets are where you should really put your money.
Break out the measuring tape
Whichever new features you decide to add, you should be sure you can actually get them into the kitchen. You might want an huge fridge, but if you can’t fit it through your door then you will have to choose a different model. It may seem obvious, but often times people overlook that any large items that you buy for your kitchen have to fit through your door. This will mean taking measurements of your doorways, counters, walkways and even ceiling height. It is best to make sure that you have all of the fixtures and materials on hand before beginning any construction.
Washington DC Kitchen Remodeling
Always choose quality
Although it is a good idea to be careful about splashing your money on luxury kitchen items, it is also important to go for functionality and durability, and this won’t always come cheap. Cheap bargains may allow for a lean budget, but they will ultimately cost you a lot more in the long run. The trick is to find that sweet spot between high quality and affordability. You should also focus on products with long warranty periods and low maintenance requirements. For instance, top quality countertops may seem pricey at the start, but will still look fantastic for many years to come.
Expect the unexpected
As with any venture like this you have to be prepared for the unexpected. Regardless of how much time you spend planning your remodeling job, there’s virtually no way to avoid an occasional unwanted surprise. For example, it’s always a good idea to leave a little leeway for the completion of your project. If you must have it done in January, then it would be wise to plan to finish the project by November just in case.
When is it time to call the professionals?
Getting professional help in Washington DC for the preparation phases is a sure way to virtually guarantee the success of your kitchen remodeling. Pros have a way of simplifying what would otherwise seem extremely complex. Expert skills would could help you foresee potential problems which you will be able to avoid and save yourself a lot of trouble, and possibly money. It is also extremely important to maintain open lines of communication with your remodeling contractor. This will ensure that you are always see eye-to-eye, and it will definitely makes easier for you stay on budget.
Are you considering a kitchen remodel for your Washington DC home? Renovations & Designs is here to make the process as relaxed as possible. We are a team of professional home and kitchen remodeling contractors that will walk with you every step of the way and deliver the kitchen of your dreams. For a free, no obligation consultation call us at (202) 335-9553.
