Remodeling a kitchen is a big undertaking, but it can also be a rewarding experience. Before you start tearing down walls and ripping out cabinets, it's important to plan ahead and understand the steps involved in the process. This guide will walk you through the first steps of remodeling a kitchen, from deciding what you want to the final inspection. The first step in any kitchen remodel is to tear up and demolish.
Before you're ready to create a beautiful new space, it's important to demolish and dispose of what's outdated or worn out. This is the time when you tear off anything you don't want to keep, such as walls, cabinets, floors, accessories, or more. If possible, decide early on in your project if you plan to work with a general contractor or a designer (or both). These professionals can help you get better rates on materials and other purchases throughout the remodeling process and, once they analyze them from the start, they can help you decide which ideas are feasible and which are outside the scope of what is possible.
By far, the easiest and most expensive way to remodel a kitchen is to transfer most of the planning, design, and management from workers to a general contractor. However, the contractor has a significant cost, and you can save a lot of money if you're willing to work as your own contractor and hire and supervise individual subcontractors to do the practical work. Your cost savings will be greatly amplified if there are some of the tasks that you are willing and able to tackle yourself. When it comes to kitchen design plans, there are five classic options that are easy to follow.
To facilitate movement, all the planes represent some form of that classic workflow model, the kitchen triangle. Whether it's done by yourself or the general contractor's team, removing old appliances and tearing out old materials is the first step on the road to the new kitchen. This can be hard physical work, but it's not particularly complicated, unless the demolition involves removing load-bearing walls. This can be part of the project you choose to do yourself.
If so, remember to use safety equipment and take precautions if there is a possibility of lead- or asbestos-based paint. And if you're going to do the demolition yourself, you'll need to have a rolling container or other means of collecting debris and any discarded appliances. Once the demolition is complete, a typical kitchen remodel begins in earnest with the contractor's carpentry team performing the framing work necessary for the project. Depending on the configuration of your new kitchen, this can involve some very important construction tasks.
Are you adding or replacing windows? Or remove windows to increase closet space? Tear down walls to open the kitchen to the rest of the house? Even minor kitchen remodeling projects may need reinforced joists to support heavier appliances or built-in items, such as a kitchen island. After framing work, the next step is to place new or redirected plumbing pipes, wiring, and HVAC ducts. This process is known as the mechanical introduction phase and is typically performed by licensed plumbers, electricians and HVAC professionals hired by the general contractor or by an owner who performs that function. When the pipeline review is complete, you will receive the first of two inspections required by permit requirements.
The inspector will review the installation while wall surfaces are still removed to ensure that it has been done according to code. If you have done this work yourself, it is your responsibility to organize the inspection. As the electrician connects new circuits to the kitchen, he will likely abandon any existing wiring in favor of installing new wiring for all circuits in the kitchen. Again, an inspector must review and approve preliminary installation of wiring before project can move on to next phase.
Once inspector has completed and approved plumbing, wiring and HVAC work, walls and ceilings can be closed. The outer walls will be insulated with fiberglass for buffer between kitchen and inclement weather. With wall cavities accessible now is good time to install high-quality insulation. Next drywall hung and seams glued and finished.
Walls and ceilings now primed and painted. If ceilings textured texture now applied. Insulating installing drywall priming and finishing walls and ceilings tasks homeowners can do themselves save money. However keep in mind professionals can do job very quickly relatively inexpensively.
The first step in remodeling a kitchen is also one of the easiest: deciding what you want. Start your search for inspiration by browsing your favorite Pinterest boards or home improvement sites; save ideas in a folder or vision board while researching; this will help develop your own remodeling plans. Viewing a wide range of designs is useful for identifying accessories textures materials want for your new kitchen. Also consider how your kitchen will be used; if your new design fits into your existing floor plan or not? Most expensive part of remodeling a kitchen are cabinets; this is because cabinets provide both practical value as well as aesthetic value.
You'll want to invest in something durable that lasts while also contributing to overall look of your kitchen. You should wait for mechanical construction work such as wiring plumbing HVAC inspection finish after which start process insulation installation drywall priming painting walls ceiling process considerably fast inexpensive make kitchen look like kitchen again. Treat yourself makeover dreams easy 1-2-3 professional available just about every facet major kitchen remodel from granite countertops custom kitchen cabinets managing entire project itself. Remodeled kitchen also requires official inspection officers review kitchen before sealing permit application complete.
Once established idea start developing remodeling plan clear schedule budget each stage project.
