DIY Kitchen Remodeling

Do-it-Yourself!

With do it yourself kitchen remodeling, commonly referred to as diy kitchen remodeling, a kitchen can be given an entirely new look.

Modern Kitchen Remodeling to the Extravagant?

Before embarking upon a new home improvement project, there are a few things that need to be considered...

Determine how extensive the diy kitchen remodel will be to create a realistic budget.

Deciding on which building materials to use and the time it will take to install your new fixtures will take some planning.

It is important to address each step of the remodeling effort before a single hour of actual labor is begun!

One of the first steps in planning do it yourself kitchen remodeling involves assessing how the kitchen will be used! Will it be an eat-in kitchen, or a kitchen with a dinning room attached? Will it be a high use area, or for a small family or single tenant?

While this may seem like a trivial concern, it is anything but.

For example, concrete countertops are very trendy in new kitchen designs because of their sleek visual appeal. 

This design is great for a single person or even a couple without children as there isn't likely to be heavy use of the counter tops.

On the other hand, when such countertops are installed in high volume households, complaints are often that the concrete experiences cracks or chips. 

If the use of the kitchen is clearly understood at the onset of a diy kitchen remodeling project, things like this can be avoided.

In the case of rehabbing a home, where it may not be yet known who the next owner will be, it is better to plan for materials useful in a high volume kitchen than not.

Demolition - Yikes!

Kitchen demolition is the fun part!

Sledge hammers, crowbars, and electric saws... And a Strong Back! In the housing market at this time, it's not uncommon to find a vacant house (bank owned) that's been vandalized. 

Here is where You the Buyer can get a deep discounted house and diy kitchen remodeling will put instant equity into your balance sheet.

Kitchen Budget

A budget needs to also be clearly established during the planning phase of a diy kitchen remodeling project. The budget might range anywhere from $500 to $20,000 or more depending upon how extensive the remodel will be.

It should include the cost for labor and building permits for the trades you can not handle yourself.

Make a material wish list and price out everything you'll need before you start...

Including:

• Kitchen Cabinets and hardware
• Countertops, Sinks, and Faucets
• Flooring
• Molding and Trim
• Drywall replacements
• Plumbing, Electrical, and HAVC requirements
• Appliances
• Light fixtures
• Wall tile for the backsplash
• Paint
  
  And a dumpster (trash disposal) if needed.

In addition to the materials, definitely take into consideration the estimated time of the do it yourself kitchen remodeling effort. 

After the budget is drafted, it is advisable to plan for at least 2 to 3 weeks of kitchen construction or more... And it many times takes 3 to 6 weeks depending on the size of your project.

Add a little extra (about 20%) for unplanned expenses. Most who have done a diy kitchen remodeling can attest to the fact that appliances and materials can sometimes take longer than anticipated to arrive or accidental damages sometimes occur during the diy kitchen remodeling that can also damage a budget if there was no room built into it for such setbacks during the early planning stages.

Painted Kitchen Cabinets

You’re not going to find this on a fancy kitchen website...

Painting kitchen cabinets are a great solution for today’s housing market.

Don't rule it out too quickly...

20 years ago before home remodeling TV shows, with the $30,000 to $100,000 kitchen makeovers...

Remodeling Kitchens Were Cheap and Easy!

• Painting the kitchen including the cabinets
• New door and drawer handles
• A new sink faucet
• Maybe a new counter top
• New floor tiles (over the old ones)
• New appliances

Times have Changed. A Few Suggestions:

If you want to make money or save money, re-facing the kitchen cabinets or replacing the cabinet doors may be an alternative. 

If your kitchen make over is for one of your apartments, paint may be the way to go.

If it's for your home, by all means, make the kitchen as nice as you can afford - you'll be spending many hours of everyday in the kitchen. 

My only word of caution if you over spend, you may not get the return on your investment back when it's time to sell.

Minor Changes

Diy kitchen remodeling can also be as minor or as extensive as a Rehabber deems necessary. 

Consider that sometimes a diy kitchen remodeling doesn't actually require that the entire kitchen be remodeled.

Perhaps the countertops need updating, but the cabinetry is in near perfect condition. 

In that case, it makes sense to only replace the countertops, while leaving the rest of the kitchen intact.

Some of the newest designs in countertops, such as concrete, laminate, tile, granite or marble, can go a long way in giving the entire kitchen a timely facelift.

The same can be said for flooring and cabinetry to get that new look. Many are discovering that changing one of these or even painting a kitchen are all that is needed to give it an entirely new look.

Flooring designs such as new, environmentally-friendly bamboo flooring, are very durable and are also very popular selling points, which are among the things that should be considered if the home will be sold after the diy kitchen remodeling project is completed.

With timely Research and Realistic Planning, a diy kitchen remodeling effort can really add to the aesthetic allure of a home.

A do it yourself kitchen remodeling project can also save a lot of money and increase the overall profits made from a rehabbed home!

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