Kitchen Remodeling
Oregon City Oregon
Need A Kitchen Makeover?
Homeowners invest a great deal more money on their kitchen remodeling projects than on any other home improvement project. A primary reason is that kitchen remodeling tends to have the highest return when comparing it to other rooms in the house. That said it takes some intelligent planning and practical choices if you want to get the most bang for your buck.
How much time should you take to plan?
If you want to do it properly, it might actually take longer to plan your kitchen remodel than the actual construction does. In fact, the National Kitchen and Bath Association suggests spending at least six months on preparation so you are sure about everything by the time the remodeling starts. The longer you spend preparing the less likely it is that you will discover a some fancy new 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 length 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.
Avoid structural changes if possible
If you choose to start tearing down walls, or moving plumbing pipes and electrical outlets your remodeling costs will drastically increase. With all the unexpected problems that can potentially come from this, it is best to simply leave the kitchen as structurally intact as possible. You will not only reduce your demo costs, but there also won’t be anywhere near the same level of dust and debris to deal with during the project.
Focus on what matters
A word of warning, you should really focus on the overall functionality and design of your kitchen rather than getting too hung up on kitchen tools and appliances. A luxury brand refrigerator or commercial grade cooker may have caught you eye, but will they actually fit your cooking needs and lifestyle? Experts recommend investing your money in features that are more long term and add reasonable value, such as cabinets or new flooring.
Don’t forget to measure
You will likely add a small number of new features into your kitchen, but it is equally important to find out whether they will actually fit. Case in point, the size of your doorway might limit your ability to get the extra-large fridge you want. To put it simply, don’t purchase any oversized items before you make sure they can fit through the door. This will mean taking measurements of your doorways, counters, walkways and even ceiling height. It’s a good idea to make certain that you have all of your materials and fixtures on hand before any construction actually begins.
Oregon City Kitchen Remodeling
Go for quality
Although it is important to be careful about splashing your money on luxury kitchen items, it is just as important to choose durability and functionality, and this may not come cheap. What may seem like a deal now might end up costing you more in time. The key is to find that sweet spot between affordabiliy and high quality. You also might want to focus on products with long warranty periods and low maintenance requirements. For instance, good quality countertops may seem costly at the outset, but will still look fantastic for many years to come.
Be prepared
As part of your plan, make room for the unexpected. It doesn’t matter how much time you take to plan your remodeling job, there’s virtually no way to avoid an occasional unwelcome surprise. For that reason, it is always a good idea to allow yourself a little wiggle room within your project. If you must have it done in January, then it would be wise to plan to complete the project by November to be on the safe side.
When should you call us to help?
Getting professional help from the very start, as early as the planning phase, is a safe way to make certain that remodeling the kitchen in your Oregon City home will be a success. You may feel overwhelmed from the beginning, but we have years of experience to help streamline the entire process. Expert skills would could help you foresee potential problems which you can then avoid and save yourself a lot of money in the process. It is also important to keep open lines of communication with your contractor. This keeps us all on the same page, and makes sure that we keep the project on budget.
Are you planning a kitchen remodel for your Oregon City home? Steve’s Home Improvement is here to make the process as stress free as possible. We are a team of professional home and kitchen remodeling contractors that will be by your side every step of the way and create the dream kitchen you want. Give us a call at (503) 342-8234 today to schedule an appointment.
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