I’m interested in redoing my kitchen.
What are the main things I should consider before speaking with a contractor about the remodel?
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You should ask - How long it will take? how much will it cost ? and how many kitchens have they installed ?
Price out your cabinets countertops and flooring to get an idea of your material budget then ask them about there labor cost.
I always give my clients homework to do while we are designing their new kitchen. First ask your self and write down what you like about your existing kitchen. Then ask yourself and write down what you dislike about your kitchen. Think of storage, how it functions in terms of cooking, are your appliances located in optimal locations.
Answer these questions and it will give your contractor/designer a great checklist to start working with. It also gives you, the owner, a new way to focus on what your new kitchen will look and function as.
Get very detailed on what the contractor is providing and the processes it will take to get the project finished.
REFERENCES and Go look at previous projects. Previous clients will always want to show off their kitchen.
A kitchen remodel is one of the largest and costliest remodeling projects you can do in your home. The more specific you are in what you would like, the better the outcome. You should consider quite a few things:
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Are you happy with the current layout and function of your kitchen, if not how do you think it could be improved? Consider how you like to cook and entertain.
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Also, what do you like to cook can help determine the layout, appliances and equipment. People’s passions range from baking to pizza making. Thinking about this can help determine if you would need specific things like a wood fire oven or marble countertops.
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A picture can be worth a thousand words. Sometimes verbally communicating design elements can be difficult. “Modern” or “Traditional” can mean different things to different people. Take the time to tear sheets out of magazines or print out images from the Internet to help make sure everyone is on the same page.
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In turn, the contractor/designer should be able to provide you with drawings that meet with your approval before the start of the job. This helps to make sure that you have a clear understanding of the specifications spelled out in the contract.
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Be clear and realistic on your budget. Having a budget is helpful to all involved. In kitchen remodeling the sky is the limit as far as cabinets, appliances, plumbing, lighting, hardware, etc. If you are willing to be a little flexible and are clear on your budget, an experienced contractor/designer can help you get the function and look you are after within your budget.
Price, choose items such as cabinets and appliances and countertops ect. once you get all this established sit down with your chosen contractor every few days just to make sure any changes or problems are adressed before something is done and to simply make sure you both understand the desired out come.
The first question is to identify the question itself
Would you like to 'replace' the cabinets (which will also mean replacing the countertops)?
Would you like to 'reface' the cabinets (which allows you to keep your existing countertops)?
Are the appliances in good shape? Would you like to re-use them?
Is the kitchen project more extensive than the above items listed?
There are many ways to drastically improve the look of your kitchen without ripping everything out and spending a lot of money. Talking to professionals that specialize in kitchens is a great way to start. Most clients won't know all of the questions to ask, and may be intimidated by thinking a job has to be more involved and costly than it really needs to be.
Most important rule, keep it fun! And remember that contractors work for you, not the other way around.
Andrew Ellenberg
North County Kitchens
Petaluma, CaliforniaI agree with the others that one of the main questions should be whether or not the contractor specializes or at least has a lot of experience with remodeling kitchens. A general contractor who builds additions and decks or an electrician who specializes in general contracting may not be the best candidates for a kitchen remodel. You need professionals who understand the unique challenges that custom building a work space as complicated as a kitchen present, and who have knowledge of the materials and equipment that will be installed. It can get costly and time consuming when mistakes are made and have to be addressed once a certain window of opportunity has passed in the construction phase. Experienced professionals will help avoid making those mistakes.
Figure out exactly how much you can afford, then try and aim below that target for the remodel. I have seen many, many jobs where unknown issues arose during a remodel that turned into very costly repairs. Some examples would include mold, water damage to framing members or exterior surfaces, need for extensive rewiring for various reasons, termite damage, prior faulty/non code compliant installations that need to be fixed now that the frame has been exposed, etc… Any one of these on a jobsite could easily cost in the hundreds to thousands of dollars to remedy, and you need to have a buffer fund available. These are things that are NOT visible to the contractors during the walkthrough or planning stages and are only discovered once the demolition stage starts.
Get an assesment of your electrical needs and your service. Finding out once you’ve started that you need to upgrade your service just to install your new appliances is not fun. If you know ahead of time that you’re already maxed out, you may be able to pick different appliances that will work with your existing installation.
Again, once you understand your budget, the conversation with whatever contractor will be much easier as the guidelines will be clear and the available options will be easy to identify.
Make sure you know exactly what you want and make sure the contractor understands that. At the same time, be open for other options. Here at Omar Taha Construction, our contractors are guaranteed to make your requests happen regardless of the tasks. All you have to do is ask the question, because we are working for you.
The first and biggest question is, what is your budget? You also have to ask yourself, can you handle having your kitchen torn up? How long can you go without your kitchen while it is being remodeled. Are you happy with the current footprint of your kitchen or are you wanting an open concept where you have to tear down walls. What style of cabinets do you want. What kind of counters. Chedk out the different hardware that you like, Are you going to reuse your appliances, Pick out stain color, and finishes…Do your homework and get samples of all the different materials you want to use, Research magazines for style and examples that yoy can share with your contractor, It makes the design phase of your new kitchen go much smoother. If you are changing the layout expect to find hidden cost in updating plumbing and expect on updating electrical to the current code. Make sure all your questions are answered before construction starts.
5 Most Destructive decisions a homeowner can make when hiring a contractor!!!
Hire a contractor without checking their references.
Hire a contractor without Liability and workers comp Insurance.
Hire a contractor that has not been in business more than 5 years.
Hire a contractor that doesn’t have the experience needed.
Hire a contractor just to get the lowest price.
5 Top Solutions for a Disaster free Contractor Hiring experience!!!
Always check references!! A Contractor without references is a contractor you don’t want to hire.
Always hire only insured Contractors. If you hire a contractor without insurance you take on all liability for their employees and any damage done. If one of the workers gets hurt, you are totally responsibly for any cost related.
83 percent of roofing companies go out of business every year. You want to hire a proven company that will be around if any warranty issues arise.
Always hire professional contractors. The worst thing that can happen is to pay good money for a job and receive poor quality.
You should be concerned about price but don’t make it your number one goal in choosing a Contractor. You should choose your contractor first on what company you believe will do the best job for you, and leave you 100% percent satisfied when completed.To remodel the kitchen, you should to invest some money on your kitchen appliances and rack-cabinets. Check for the tiles and sink as well as they also add beauty to the appearance of the kitchen.Replace the worn carpets with good ones. Also pay proper care to ceilings.
Hope this would help you. Thanks.Hello!
If you also plan on painting your kitchen or kitchen cabinets, I would leave floor remodeling for last. If you are redoing the ceiling of your kitchen, I would do that before painting cabinets or any additional paint work.
Hope you are having a great day!
Have a budget and a little extra for surprises and stick to that budget
Building a budget is the most important part of your kitchen remodeling. Understanding what your budget is can determine how to plan your kitchen remodeling.
Things to consider:
Are your cabinets in good condition? If so, kitchen resurfacing is a great option to repair the damages of the wood, add new fixtures, repaint, restain and give it the look and feel you desire.
What type of countertop:
Choosing the right countertop: something durable, long lasting and beautiful can be challenging. Quartz is simple an average kitchen and can go as high as Concetto stone designer kitchen counters and as low as tile kitchen countertops. Each kitchen design fits the unique characteristics of your house.
Fixtures and design
Choosing your style will determine the type of kitchen you build for your house. Victorian style, contemporary, modern, classic, craftman and more.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding what to do and how to do it, feel free to call us 855-456-6835
Your contractor and designer will want to know what goals the remodel will accomplish. Have as many decisions made as possible, such as: Cabinets (style, color), plumbing (sink, faucet, pot faucet, dishwasher, refrigerator, etc.), and flow (how one will move about the new kitchen).
Make sure you are completely comfortable with the new design (which has been done with accurate measurements of the existing space). Poor or no plans usually equals, poor job, cabinet re-ordering, and many other expensive problems.
The kitchen is one of the most stressful areas to remodel so you should make sure you hire the right contractor to do it for you. To avoid future misunderstanding, you should exactly know your goals for your kitchen. This means that you should be ready with your plan and this includes what areas/things you want done, what you like these to look like once finished and your target budget. http://www.craftbuilt.com.au/