Kitchen Remodel Cost Breakdown and Factors
The costs that you will incur for the remodel project of your kitchen will vary a great deal depending on the size of the project itself, whether you decide to hire a contractor, what materials and finishes you select, and many other factors. Home Advisor reports that on average, homeowners can expect to pay between $13,000-$33,000 to remodel their kitchen.
Again, the actual cost of your kitchen remodel will depend on the selections that you make. However, in order to help you to calculate how much you should be spending and determine where your money will be going, take a look at this break down of expenses by percentage:
You should also keep in mind that if you do decide to hire a contractor to handle the remodeling of your kitchen than it will consume roughly 20-25% of your overall budget and you will need to plan accordingly for that.
Kitchen Remodel Costs, Ideas, Design & More
A kitchen is both the heart and the hearth of a home. It is where families and friends gather to prepare meals, break bread, and enjoy one another. Your kitchen remodel will cost you the most and not a project that should be approached lightly.
It is the kind of project that will require you to marry idealistic dreams of what you want your kitchen to look like with practical ideals like budget and functionality.
In order to ensure that you are happy with the result of your kitchen remodel, read this guide for everything you need to know to get it done right.
Start with a Comprehensive Kitchen Remodeling Plan
Designing a beautiful and functional kitchen is not something that simply happens all its own overnight. It requires a great deal of planning and forethought to achieve a result that will be economical, practical, and beautiful. You will want to take the time to do an ample amount of research prior to making the formal plans of your kitchen remodel.
How Deep will it go? Full over hall or superficial finishes?
Will you be doing it yourself or hiring a contractor?
Tips for the Design of your Kitchen
When the time comes to sit down and design your kitchen there will be a few key components to place your primary focus on. The first is the layout. The layout of the kitchen is very important because it contributes to the level of functionality, as well as the overall look and flow of the kitchen. It also will greatly affect the kitchen remodel costs.
Since the kitchen is the room in which you will be spending a lot of time cooking, cleaning, eating, socializing, doing homework, etc. you want to make sure that you have more than enough room to move around without feeling overcrowded. One way to do this is with wide walking spaces in between furniture, appliances, and cabinetry.
As a general rule of thumb, you will want to make your kitchen walkways at least 36 inches wide throughout the kitchen with an additional 12 inches for cooking spaces. Here are some additional detail points that you will want to remember in planning the design for your kitchen remodel:
Plan for enough space for your cabinetry doors to open with ease. Lazy Susan doors are a great solution for corner cabinetry to avoid doors getting in the way of one another.
Consider the amount of counter space needed. Those that cook more tend to require a greater deal of counter space and will need to plan accordingly.
Establish your kitchen island’s main function. Islands can serve a variety of different purposes from prepping to cooking and cleaning. If you plan to also use your kitchen island for dining, be sure to include enough space to do so comfortably.
You may also consider adding a secondary level either higher or lower from the main work space to better define the eating space.
Be sure to select materials that are non-porous in order to avoid set-in surface stains that will be difficult or impossible to clean.
Plan for ample lighting from both natural sources (windows and sky lights), as well as, artificial ones.
If you are limited on space, try using pull out counter tops as a means to expand your work space when needed. Smaller sized appliances are another great option for conserving space.
Splurge vs. Save
There are many opportunities to either splurge or save when it comes to remodeling a kitchen. Depending on your budget and how you plan to use the space, you may choose different areas in which to splurge or save. Be sure however, that you do not compromise on the quality of essentials like appliances because after all, if the kitchen does not work, what is the point of having or remodeling it at all.
With that said, here are some of the most common ways to splurge or save on your kitchen remodel:
Kitchen Remodel Splurges
Custom cabinetry
High-tech appliances
Heated floors
Granite Counter tops
Soft-close cabinets and doors
Built-in cabinet and door storage
Kitchen Remodel Savings
Recycled glass or tile counter tops
Stock cabinetry
Second-hand or “dent and ding” appliances
Tile floors
Getting the Most Return on your Investment
The length of time that you plan to spend in your home following your kitchen remodel should no doubt play a significant role in the design and designation of your budget for this project. If you plan to be there another twenty or thirty years you will likely need to remodel again and should indulge in building the kitchen to meet your desired specifications and tastes.
However, if you plan to sell within the next decade, it is very important that you keep resale values and home equity at the forefront of your mind. In order to get the most bang for your buck on your kitchen remodel, you will need to be careful in where and how you spend your budget.
The best way to find out how much you should be spending on your kitchen remodel is to consult your realtor. Ask them to supply you with a free comparative market analysis specific to your neighborhood to assess the value of kitchens in your neighborhood. You may also request that they pay a visit to your home to review what the current trends are and how best to apply them to your kitchen in order to remain competitive in a resale situation.
Once you have determined the value of a kitchen for your neighborhood and how it will apply to your house, you will be able to appropriately calculate the size of your budget, as well as, where and how to allocate it.
Leave Yourself a Cushion
One of the most dangerous mistakes that you could make when designing your budget for the remodeling of your kitchen is failing to leave yourself an ample cushion. Seeing as how kitchens are typically the largest, most complex, and most extravagant of all rooms to remodel, your budget cushion should be a very healthy one.
Especially, if you are living in an older house that could have outdated plumbing or electrical issues lurking behind the walls. The size of your kitchen should also play a part in determining how large of a cushion to leave yourself to prepare for unexpected costs and hiccups along the way.
A list of unexpected costs that you should be prepared to face include:
Rewiring or replacing electrical circuits
Replacing pipes and plumbing
Errors in measurements and incorrect cuts in counter tops
Delays resulting in increased labor costs
How to Pay for your Kitchen Remodel
As previously stated, the kitchen is the most expensive room in the entire house to remodel. Luckily, there are a variety of ways in which you can finance the project. The first, and perhaps most common way in which homeowners tackle the expense of a large renovation project like a kitchen is to take out a home equity line of credit.
One reason that home equity lines are so common is that they can be written off in taxes at the end of the year. Another option is to take out a loan. There are a variety of different loans aside from home equity lines that will allow you to complete the project if you can’t secure a personal loan. You could also borrow against a life insurance policy or retirement plan.
However, unless you are positive that the renovation will result in a positive yield on your investment, it is not advisable that you borrow against certain policies as the penalties can be severe. If you do decide to use a loan to finance your kitchen remodel, make sure that you shop the rates so that you get the best one and don’t end up wasting your money.
DIY vs. Hiring a Contractor
Deciding whether to approach this massive project yourself or to hire a contractor to complete it for you, is perhaps the largest decision that you will make with regard to your kitchen remodel. First, you should know that because of the many complexities of a project of this size, it is recommended that you only go the do it yourself route if you have ample experience in similar renovation projects.
Otherwise, you could end up costing yourself a lot of time, anguish, and money. If you do take that approach however, there are many resources available on the sites like YouTube and Pinterest to give you step-by-step instructions on how to complete a variety of projects. Your local hardware store may also offer a variety of free instructional classes on the types of tasks, like tiling, that could help you to prepare for doing your kitchen remodel on your own.
The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Contractor vs. Doing it Yourself
Just like with anything in life, there are many pros and cons to hiring a contractor for your kitchen remodel versus doing it yourself. In order to help you decide which will be best for you, here is a list of some of the pros and cons of each:
The Pros of Hiring a Contractor
- They're experienced with the work involved
- They know what permits need to be pulled
- They have an understanding of the building codes that need to be adhered to in order to pass inspection
- They know how to do a job within a certain budget
- They work with quality, experienced subcontractors like plumbers
- They have all of the tools and equipment necessary to complete the job
- They're experienced with the work involved
- They know what permits need to be pulled
- They have an understanding of the building codes that need to be adhered to in order to pass inspection
- They know how to do a job within a certain budget
- They work with quality, experienced subcontractors like plumbers
- They have all of the tools and equipment necessary to complete the job
The Cons of Hiring a Contractor
- The cost of labor will absorb a lot of your budget
- Some are more experienced than others
- You will have many different people inside your home
- The cost of labor will absorb a lot of your budget
- Some are more experienced than others
- You will have many different people inside your home
The Pros of Doing it Yourself
- It can be a lot of fun if you enjoy hands-on projects
- You will save a lot of money on the costs of labor
- You won't have strangers in and out of your home
- You can move at your own pace
- You will have more control over the work done and the costs associated
- It can be a lot of fun if you enjoy hands-on projects
- You will save a lot of money on the costs of labor
- You won't have strangers in and out of your home
- You can move at your own pace
- You will have more control over the work done and the costs associated
The Cons of Doing it Yourself
- A lack of experience can lead to mistakes and increased costs
- It can be more difficult to obtain permits
- It could take much longer if you're inexperienced
- You will have to research any subcontractors that are needed to complete the project
- You will need to have a lot of expensive tools
- A lack of experience can lead to mistakes and increased costs
- It can be more difficult to obtain permits
- It could take much longer if you're inexperienced
- You will have to research any subcontractors that are needed to complete the project
- You will need to have a lot of expensive tools
How to Hire a Kitchen Remodeling Contractor
Since labor will be one of the largest expenses of the entire project, should you decide to hire a contractor, it is imperative that you take your time to research and select the right one for your kitchen. Keep in mind that contractors are not a “one size fits all” type of hire.
When reviewing your short-list of candidates, you should interview each of them with insightful questions like these:
Pay careful attention to how each of the candidates answers and compare them to narrow your short list even further. Then request that each of them submit a bid for your kitchen remodel based on your plans. It is usually best to select the bid that comes in in the middle.
Typically, the lowest is a sign of a contractor that will cut corners or is desperate for the job – the last thing you want. The highest bidder will likely blow your budget out of proportion. Therefor, the middle bid combined with the best fit for your home is the contractor that you should hire to remodel your kitchen.
- Find the right height for you microwave
- Repainting or resurfacing cabinets can save money and time
- Updating cabinet hardware can go a long way to improve their appearance
- Adding a second faucet over the stove removes the need for carrying heavy pots from the sink to the stove
- Make an inexpensive back splash appear more extravagant by adding detailed accents or borders with a high-end finish
- Add under cabinet and in-cabinet lighting for a luxurious and practical look.
- If possible, find a way to avoid moving any of the plumbing as it will add a great deal of expense to the project.
Final Tips for your Kitchen Remodel:
On a final note, it is important that you remember throughout the process of remodeling your kitchen that it should be fun. The more that you plan and prepare for your kitchen remodel, the more you will be able to enjoy the process itself. Take your time in the planning so that the execution will be as brief as possible and the end result will be as spectacular as you imagine it.
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