During a kitchen remodel, the costs can add up so quickly that your budget can all of a sudden seem like pennies in a jar. To keep costs in line during a kitchen remodel in Albany, here are a few tips from our design experts.
Plan carefully
Figure out the layout you want for your kitchen. A simple and sleek design will appeal to most buyers and help you get the most out of your remodel. Keeping your existing layout is always cheaper. Avoid moving plumbing and electrical items if possible — at least try to keep your stove (especially gas stoves) and sink in the same location. Moving a gas stove will require relocating gas lines and moving your sink plumbing can create additional problems. They also require additional permits and time.
Involve your fabricator
Once you have a very good idea of what you want, sit down and write up a good detailed list of tasks that you want completed. You don’t have to be technical and you don’t have to use construction terms but just state all the things you want your contractor to do and bid. It can be as simple as: remove all existing countertops and cabinets; install new flooring, cabinets, countertops, sink and appliances per the plan; paint; hook up sink plumbing; and install new light fixtures.
After consulting with your fabricator, you may find additional work is required. That’s okay. It’s easy to update your list and resend to all the bidding contractors. Otherwise, the various contractors will list the items they believe you want and it will be difficult to save money. A basic scope of work also eliminates some guess work by the contractor.
Don’t splurge on the cabinets
If your cabinets are too far gone to reface, open shelving will help you save on your kitchen remodel in Albany, and reduce the cost of upper cabinetry. That way you are only paying for the piece of wood to make the shelf and the bracket to hold it up — not an entire cabinet box, which is a lot more in material and labor. It also eliminates the need for hardware.
Be orderly
A very common mistake made when people are planning for their remodels, is that they do it in piecemeal. This is fine…as long as you do it in the right order and plan ahead. Too many times we’ve seen homeowners do the cabinets and countertops first…and then the flooring two years later when they can afford it. The problem with this is that often there is not enough room for hardwood floors or tile for that.
You see this makes the cabinets too low. So the new flooring creates a weird height difference and makes the cabinets feel and look too low. Worse than this, the dishwasher won’t fit (or will get locked in). And the stove becomes higher than the countertop. Plan ahead. It is also important to consult with your Albany Countertop Fabricator at this point.
If you have the skills, you can DIY where possible
Depending on your level of DIY savviness, you can save on your kitchen remodel in Albany by doing the countertops yourself. Granite is the most popular option for Albany countertops, and you can check to see if you can score a granite remnant, although for kitchens, it can be difficult to find enough remnants to cover all of your kitchen’s surfaces. However, if you do choose to install granite countertop yourself, don’t forget to factor in the cost of a plumber to put a new sink in or re-plumb your sink.
Have limits
To save money, don’t make any structural changes. This includes adding on to the kitchen or turning an adjoining room into part of the kitchen. You should also put aside thoughts of moving a door, the sink, or the range. You’ll avoid costly additional plumbing and electrical work.
If you are stuck, without a clear idea on the do’s and don’ts during a remodel, do not fret. Distinctive Surfaces has design consultants on call who can help you with the planning and budgeting of your remodel. Also be on the lookout for Albany Countertop sales & discounts for a chance to get the last of New Year’s deals.