Money Saving Tips for Kitchen Remodeling
Kitchen remodeling can be small or big. A big one will run you some large change, ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 if you go all out on the overhaul. However, you can save quite a bit on kitchen remodeling if you follow the tips below.
Be ready at the gate
Make sure you pick out everything you want to see at project end, from the cabinets to the fixtures, and make sure they are not back ordered before the re-modeler gets started on the demolition. A big chunk of change can disappear by making last minute changes or additions to your renovation, which typically means extra charges for expedited shipping or extended work hours.
Repaint good cabinets
New cabinets are a great idea, but they do represent a big part of your renovation project. If your cabinets are outdated, but in good condition, you may want to just repaint them instead of replacing them. Choosing high-quality white semi-gloss paint can make the outdated look new, and you save a lot of money in the process. Include the paint job in the project cost to make sure it looks professional.
Replace cabinet doors
If your cabinets are just too ugly to be hidden behind a coat of paint, you can still avoid replacing the whole thing by simply replacing the doors. Your contractor can supply you with a wide selection of cabinet door styles from which to choose that will fit the old cabinets, and include it in your project cost. You can choose to have them install the new doors (recommended, just in case something goes wrong), or you can put them in yourself. Of course, the cabinet boxes need to be in good condition, or you’ll be throwing good money after bad.
Pick and choose the backsplash
A full backsplash all around your kitchen sounds fantastic, but they cost a pretty penny as well. Instead of a carrying it along all the kitchen walls, keep the full backsplash for the wall behind the stove and sink, and gradually taper to half-wall up to the corners of that wall. This ensures your backsplashes are visually appealing and functionally efficient.
Get picky with lights
A great and cost-effective way to save money on renovations is to choose the right lights for spot, overhead, and under cabinet lighting. You can get away with plainer and cheaper elements if you have the right lighting to add drama to your kitchen. An even better idea is to have the contractor put in dimmer switches.
Lighting fixtures don’t have to be very expensive to be stylish, either. You can probably find what you need online. Choose LED lights to save even more money.
Work with the current layout
Unless your kitchen sink is in an impossible location, avoid moving it to keep from having to move the pipes. You can save as much as $5,000 every time you decide to keep the sink and appliances that need dedicated plumbing, gas pipes, and electrical wiring i.e. dishwasher in their current locations.
Opt for remnant stones
Replacing your counters with granite, marble, or engineered stone is a great idea, and they do not cost as much as they used to. However, you can shave some bucks off your budget by asking your countertop supplier if they can use remnant stones for small areas, such as a mobile island.
Keep the leftovers
You only pay for what you use with countertops from Fairfax Kitchen and Bath, but you are certainly entitled to keep whatever is left over from anything else in done in your kitchen. You can keep any good-sized lumber, tiles, crown moldings, and paint the contractor did not use for your own small improvement projects.
Look for bargains
You can find some great stuff in yard sales and overstock sales you can use for your kitchen remodel, such as appliances, light fixtures, tiles, and the like. Just make sure you coordinate with your contractor.
Devil in the details
Sometimes, your best investment is in the accents and details you add to your renovation. You can choose to put in mosaic tiles for your backsplash, or choosing ornate pulls and knobs for your cabinets and drawers. They should not add too much to your costs but will add a bunch on the interest.
Refinish floors
Kitchen floors get a lot of traffic, so they may look the worse for wear. However, if you have good-quality hardwood floors in good condition, you can save quite a bit by refinishing instead of replacing them. Hardwood floors are always a favorite for homeowners, so keeping current ones make a lot of sense.
Hire a pro
Counterintuitive as it may sound, you really need to go to a reliable contractor to do anything more than painting a wall or replacing a sink. Professional remodelers can provide you with a workable design and comprehensive cost estimate that takes into consideration all the stuff you may not know about until you are deep into your renovation. When it comes to a major kitchen remodel, DIY will just get you in bigger trouble in terms of time and money. Do yourself a favor and hire a pro like Fairfax Kitchen Bath from the get go. You can ask us about kitchen remodeling packages to get the best deals. We guarantee you will love it for life!
Fairfax Kitchen Bath services the DC, MD and Northern Virginia metropolitan areas. We are a Class A, licensed and insured contractor, registered in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We sell only top-quality products for all your kitchen remodeling needs manufactured by leading brands in the industry such as Schrock Cabinetry, Silestone, Blanco, Kohler, and Mosaic Décor.
When you contract with us, you can be sure you will get a quick turnaround on your products, and receive it much faster than ordering what you need from big box stores. We specialize in fabricating kitchen countertops to specifications, and installing them within budget and on time.
You can see the products before you buy so you can decide for yourself if the quality is what you expect. We have a showroom in Fairfax, Virginia, which houses all our products, including actual granite, marble and engineered stone slabs from which you can choose.
Contact us today to get a free quote for a budget-friendly kitchen remodeling project.
