Tips For Keeping Your Kitchen Remodeling Project Under Control

By Author: Jason Delmar
Total Articles: 335
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The national average for a kitchen remodeling project is between $20,000 and $35,000. This is a huge expensive that will usually yield a high return on your investment, but it is easy for your buget to go spiraling out of control. By researching each individual item that you will need, and keeping a close eye on your budget, there are ways of trimming down your out-of-pocket expense. Below are some suggestions on how to keep remodeling project on the right track.

·If at all possible, reuse existing appliances, and build your new cabinets around them. This could save you anywhere from $1,500-5,000 easily. However, be aware that appliances, like anything electrical, are sensitive to change and may develop problems if they are moved. Should you decide to avoid potential appliance "burn-out" and purchase new appliances, choose energy conscious models for a reduction in your utility bills.

·If you are planning on selling your house any time in the near future, spend the extra couple of bucks to buy the stainless steel appliances versus color. They will provide a higher resale value to your home when it comes ...
... time to sell.

·Wherever possible, keep appliances in the same location. Simply shifting the dishwasher over a couple of feet could cost hundreds of dollars if you have to hire a plumber to do it. When it comes to electrical and plumbing, if you can work around existing locations it will help prevent additional costs.

·Choose neutral colors in fixtures, appliances and laminates. They are less expensive initially and wont look dated when the color trends change. White and almond sinks are much cheaper than color varieties. And neutral laminate colors for countertops are less than custom colors or textures.

·Good floor covering is important. It ties one room to another and provides visual consistency. Familiarize yourself with the prices of the various flooring materials to make the best decision for your home. To get you started, vinyl or laminate flooring is less expensive than wood, tile or slate.

·This is sometimes a controversial topic, but if you are looking to save money on flooring, consider laying your new flooring up to your cabinets instead of underneath them. As long as you raise the cabinets and allow room for the dishwasher to fit under the countertop, it will save you money on the overall cost of your flooring material.

·Use the existing floor covering if it is still in good condition. If the kitchen has old vinyl flooring, there may be a hardwood floor underneath that could be sanded and refinished, avoiding the need for a new floor entirely.

·If you like the look of tile squares, but don't want to go the route of a fill vinyl floor, consider buying vinyl tiles. You can easily install them yourself which will save money, but many of the styles that are on the market now look a lot like tile..

·Consider your cabinet features carefully. It is very easy to get carried away with the accessories that you add to your cabinet. You can add some options at a later date to defray some of the initial cost. Some that are easy to add include tilt front doors, spice racks and slide out wire baskets. Most of these products are sold as aftermarket products, so adding them should not be a problem.

·Go with a simple design in the kitchen employing single height wall cabinets, blind corner cabinets rather than those with Lazy Susans, and other standard options. Watch your upgrades.

·Use stock cabinetry instead of custom cabinets, or use a combination of the two if they are compatible. RTA cabinets are another great way to keep your costs down and still get a great looking, high quality cabinet.

·Choose cabinets that can be easily operated without the addition of hardware (those that are finger-pulled). Some cabinets will feature a lip on the door that can be opened without having to add hardware.

·Install cabinets without soffits to decrease the labor cost. Also consider cabinets without trim moldings or with simple trim.

·If you are going to put in new wood trim (in your crown molding, trims, and door casings) to match the new cabinets, order pre-finished trim instead of having the painting or staining done on-site. This will decrease labor cost. Ordering finger-jointed vs. clear vertical grain also will save you money.

·Consider creative painting techniques on the backsplash instead of using tile.
·Laminate countertops are the least expensive choice among solid surfacing, tile and granite. You can dress it up with wood or tile trim for a more innovative look. If you have smaller work surfaces, you can also look for remnants at the granite dealer that you might be able to cut pieces out of.

·Connect fluorescent light fixtures to the existing ceiling fixture box instead of installing new recessed lighting, which may require a new ceiling because of the recessed features.