Kitchen Renovations

Are you thinking of renovating your kitchen? Whether you are looking to update it to sell, or to build your dream kitchen, there are a number of things to think about and research before pulling the trigger. Kitchen renovations are notoriously disruptive, so it is a good idea to be fully prepared. Today we will go over our tips to ensure your renovation goes smoothly!

Why renovate?

There’s many reasons to renovate your kitchen, but we will go over two main ones that lead to large kitchen renovations that we are experienced with.

• Update to sell the house: You will probably want to keep this renovation to a minimum. Instead of gutting the kitchen, you can look at painting or re facing cabinets, changing hardware and plumbing fixtures, and updating light fixtures. Everyone will tell you that this is the most important room of the house and is a huge selling feature, but you want to be careful about how much you spend. Whoever buys the house might decide to blow out walls and make a larger space, and all your hard work is wasted!
• Update and build your dream kitchen: You’re planning on staying in the house and just can’t stand the sunshine ceiling and red oak cabinets anymore. The space could be used more efficiently if some changes were made to the floor plan, which could mean moving plumbing and electrical or taking down walls. This means brand new cabinetry, counters, flooring, plumbing and even new appliances. You’ll want to think about your must-haves for the space so that you can budget accordingly. Check out our Wascana Kitchen Renovation for a good example of a large kitchen renovation.

Planning: Research and Budget

Once you have decided what route you are going to take, you can start planning! It’s a good idea to start looking at kitchens in show homes, online on sites like Houzz, and in design magazines so that you know what you want your kitchen to look like. Your contractor and kitchen designer will really appreciate the visuals, and it makes communication very clear. We recommend hiring an interior designer to help with your project, especially if you’re considering major changes to the layout. Interior designers not only work with you to select finishes and colours, but they have experience in space planning and are invaluable in helping you visualize your final design.

Kitchen renovations can cost a lot of money, especially if you’re looking at high end finishes throughout. You can expect to spend at least $25,000 on a kitchen with basic finishes like laminate counter tops and maple cabinets. Does your dream kitchen have tile backsplash, granite counters, and walnut cabinets? You need a bigger budget.

Always keep in mind that like any other home renovation, unknown issues can come up — like a leaky window you had no idea about — that may cost you more than you budgeted. It is a great idea to have a contingency fund.

Design

Your budget will help determine the scope of your project and the types of finishes you can use. When looking at products, you will also want to consider the function of the space and how you use it. Kitchens are high-use areas, so you will want durable materials to stand the test of time.

• Cabinets: The most popular cabinet type we see is a stained maple in a shaker style. It is cost-effective, comes in a large variety of stains, and has a transitional style that works in modern and traditional designs. We also see a lot of painted cabinets lately, especially white kitchens. When looking at a painted white cabinet, keep in mind that wood will expand and contract, so your kitchen designer may suggest an MDF door, or even thermofoil when you are doing painted white cabinets.

• Counter tops: Granite is still a very popular choice for counters because of its durability, aesthetics, and value. Granite does have some required maintenance, as suppliers will recommend sealing this natural material once the sealant has worn off. Another choice that is rising in popularity is engineered quartz. This man-made material comes in a huge variety of colours and patterns, is very durable and stain resistant, and comes in the same price point as granite. Keep in mind you should never put hot pots directly on quartz as this will damage your counter. Laminate, with brands like Wilsonart and Formica, is a cost-effective material that comes in a variety of patterns and finishes. Other counter top materials, like butcher block, concrete, or tile, all have their own pros and cons, but granite and quartz are by far the most popular.

• Flooring: Since the kitchen is such a heavy use area, we recommend using a durable flooring. Porcelain tile is incredibly durable and you can find some great looks at a great price point. Hardwood looks beautiful and can easily be repaired in damaged spots. Products like laminate and vinyl plank are great cost effective alternatives, with better durability than hardwood.
• Backsplash: The walls in your kitchen need some protection against food splashing by the stove and sink. We think a good tile backsplash really finishes off a kitchen.

The Renovation

Now that you’ve got a plan and some finishes figured out, you’ll want to know the cost and timeline. At Technique, we provide detailed quotes for our customers that are conveniently located on a secure site online. The timeline will depend on the availability of materials, but generally your kitchen should take 6-8 weeks to complete.

Most people plan their kitchen renovation to happen during the summer so that they can make use of their BBQ while the kitchen is under construction. These renovations are very disruptive, but we do everything we can to keep the dust at a minimum and the job site clean so that you can still enjoy your home. As with any renovation, sometimes there can be delays if a material is back ordered or an unknown issue is uncovered during the demolition phase of the project.

At the end of the renovation, we do a walk-through with you and schedule an appointment to fix any deficiencies that may have come up. Then, enjoy!

Kitchen renovations are very disruptive, but planning and a good contractor like Technique Construction will make the project run smoothly. If you’re thinking of taking the leap, give us a call today.