They say that kitchen is the heart of a home - favorite spot, and the place where our day begins. It is where our minds and bodies are fuelled to have enough energy to seize the day ahead. Not just for cooking and eating, it has also become the place where you usually hang out, and where the whole family huddles and shares laughter.
Being a place where family memories are made and shared, there is a reason to spend time and effort to improve and glamorize your kitchen. Knowing that you may want to do something to make your kitchen look better, but you are hesitating as this would definitely come with expenses. But to tell you, remodelling your kitchen does not have to cost a fortune as this could be done without breaking your bank. And take note that remodeling your kitchen not just enhances its appearance, but it also improves the comfort, function, safety, and the value of your home. So here is a useful guide to surviving a budget-friendly kitchen remodel.
Average Kitchen Remodel Costs
A lot of experts will tell you to formulate a budget and stick to it. It is a good advice, but how will you know how much should you allot as your budget? Experts suggest that your 5 to 15 percent of your home's value for the kitchen remodelling should be allotted as your budget.
The average cost of remodelling a kitchen is around $20,000; minor remodelling at around $5,000 and major remodelling at around $50,000. And according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association, here are the usual things to remodel, and how the costs typically break down:
- Cabinets: 30% of budget
- Appliances: 14% of budget
- Countertops: 10% of budget
- Electrical Work: 5% of budget
- Plumbing: 4-5% of budget
- Flooring: 2-5% of budget (depending on material)
- Labor cost is around 20-35%
- ...and it is also advised to keep 20% of the budget for unexpected costs.
Cabinetry & Hardware
Aside from the appliances, cabinets are conventionally the biggest investment in a kitchen remodelling. They play a vital role on the looks, layout, and function of your kitchen.
Appliances & Ventilation
Appliances aren't just the things that make a kitchen, it also the most important element that will make up your kitchen. After all, the primary purpose of the kitchen is food preparation. When choosing appliances, be practical, try to look for energy-efficient ones and those with viable warranties. Appliances are the most used elements in a kitchen. Cooking produces a lot of airborne pollutants. The ventilation system is also an essential part to keep the air clean, comfortable, and away from heat, smoke, and odour. Today, new ventilation systems do more than just removing smoke. Many of them are now equipped with sensors that trigger the fan to turn on automatically when heat is detected from the cooking area.
Countertops
Countertops are a functional piece in any kitchen. Kitchen countertops should withstand scratches, nicks, and burns. There are different countertop materials available for you to choose from but make sure to choose the ones which are cheaper so you can save some bucks.
Flooring
The kitchen floors should withstand heavy foot traffic and potential spills, and at the same time, it should suit your kitchen style. There are a lot of flooring options to choose from, each having their own pros and cons. Among the options are hardwood, laminate, bamboo, cork, vinyl, linoleum, and tile.
Lighting
Lighting is used to create ambiance, to enhance the appearance of cabinets, countertops, and the food as well. A well-lit work area is not just for aesthetics but also for safety purposes. LED lighting from Halcyonlights.co.nz is the most popular, due to its affordability, energy-efficiency, and longevity.
Walls & Ceiling
Appliances, cabinets, and countertops are the ones mainly given focus on kitchen remodelling. Walls and ceilings are not given that much attention as compared to the ones mentioned earlier, but painting them is a way to reinvent the kitchen without emptying one's pocket. White, grey, blue, red, yellow, and green are the most commonly used color in a kitchen.
Faucets & Plumbing
When people think or hear about kitchen remodelling, the faucets and plumbing aren't one of the first few things that a person thinks of. It may not be given that much attention first-hand, but it may complicate things in the latter parts of the remodelling process. So you must take this as a heed as early as possible.
Installation of new floorings underneath the cabinets and dishwashers must be done. Choosing a sink first before installing new cabinets is also a must for there are times that pipes are too hard to be connected, and uninstalling the newly fixed cabinet will be necessary.
Speaking of plumbing, in terms of faucets, consumers generally choose design over functionality in order to blend with the overall kitchen style.
Doors & Windows
Doors and windows are also elements in the kitchen. Improving them is an integral part of remodelling to have a harmonious blend of the different elements found in your kitchen.
Sheer shades, bamboo, shutters, valances, drapes, and plants are examples of the different types of window treatments. As for doors, different types of glasses, paint, screens, and sheer shades are considered.
Set a Realistic Timeline
The amount of time it takes to reconstruct depends on the size and type of kitchen remodel. According to experts, an average kitchen takes four to six weeks to be remodelled, excluding the planning and design phase. Small tasks that may be achieved within a day or less while large tasks such as completing the installation of the whole flooring may be set on a weekly basis. Setting a timeline helps to monitor what has been done, and what are the things left to be done.
Decrease Labor Cost
Labor cost is the charges incurred when you hire people for their services. Some contractors estimate by charging a percentage of the cost of materials, and some charge a flat per hour rate.
You can save up on labor cost if you act as a general contractor yourself. You will handle all of the project organizational tasks, and hire your own workers or sub-contractors. Material costs may be decreased by opting to buy cheaper materials, restoring old items, and buying second hands.
Think About Resale
No matter how much you spend in your kitchen, the exterior part of the house is what buyers admire and best interest to first-hand. They will be fine with a contemporary kitchen in a house having a nice façade. So here are the things you may want to consider in remodelling your kitchen to increase the overall reselling value of your house.
Go for light colored walls
Light colors reflect light, it makes the wall recede so the kitchen area will seem wider.
Spruce up your cabinets
Rather than replacing old cabinets, doing a makeover on them will save you a lot of cash. Cabinets may be repainted, laminated with veneers, and its doors may be replaced.
Go for Granite
Granites are known for their versatility and durability and have a variety of color. It is one of the things buyers want the most nowadays. This is quite pricey though but you may try purchasing from wholesalers so you can get a discount. Having this material will make your home more marketable.
Go stainless
Stainless steel appliances have been around for years, and it never goes out of style. A lot of people use it, due to the fact that stainless steel is easy to clean, non-porous, and rust-resistant.
Additional Tips
- Stick to your budget.
- Know the cost breakdown.
- Set aside 20% for unexpected expenses.
- Make a list of priorities.
- Know how you will finance the project.
- Make a spreadsheet of all your expenses.
- Do some of the easy tasks to lower your overall cost.
- Avoid extra costs.
