Kitchen Cabinet Remodeling Step by Step

It’s much easier to tackle a project when you have a plan. Following is a  step by step guide that may help to take away the guesswork for your kitchen cabinet remodeling dream.

Take a look at your current kitchen, a long thorough look that takes into account all its features both pluses and minuses. What made you think of a remodel in the first place? Are the appliances outdated? Is the style or color just not you? What elements can you keep and what absolutely must go? Does the layout work for you, or would a redesign of the entire workspace make it better? Are the body of the cabinets sturdy and salvageable (a key question in determining if you might be able to reface vs replace)? Look at lighting, floors, counters, backsplashes, storage, functionality, color, style, condition, and any other element that strikes you. Be thorough in this beginning process so that you have a very clear idea of what you have before making a decision on what to change. Be sure to write it all down or create a computer spreadsheet.

Now that you have determined what you have to work with and assessed what should stay and what has to go, its time to think about the costs. The average costs for a kitchen remodel can range from $10,000 for minor kitchen cabinet remodeling to over $80,000 for high end remodels. First, consider if you plan to stay in your home for the long haul. If your family has an eye to moving within the coming five years or less, then you may want to look at the remodel more as an investment than a customization. Choose only materials and upgrades that will enhance the sale value of the home and offer you a return. Be sure not to over-improve the house beyond what the neighborhood and square footage of the home is likely to support. Take a hard look at how much your budget will support, write down that number and stick to it. Don’t forget in the following steps to factor in unexpected expenses!

Now that you have a clear idea of what you have and a budget to work with, start doing research. Go online and see what’s available. Look at magazines. If you are planning to sell soon, talk to a real estate agent to get information on what features buyers in your area are looking. For those planning to stay in the home for some time, look at styles, colors, surfaces and materials that will work for your family. Make lists of elements that appeal to you, clip photos, and be sure to keep notes.

Looking at all the data you’ve gathered, its time to bite the bullet and set down some priorities. Unless you have an unlimited budget (in which case you can skip this step!), its unlikely that you will be able to afford to get everything on your wish list. So before proceeding further, take the time to site down and thing through your priorities. What is on the must list first? Do those scratched laminate counters just have to go while you could live with the existing tile flooring if push came to shove? Having a priority list in advance will help immensely if it comes down to choosing between which items in the kitchen cabinet remodeling project if you cannot fit everything in the budget or where to cut if expected expenses come up.

Once have done all your homework, its time to contact an experience kitchen cabinet remodeling professional. If you are thinking you might want to go the DIY route, it is still beneficial to go into some showrooms and even to get some estimates. Often you’ll come to see that a professional with experience and contacts can save you time, money, and frustration.