How to Execute a Low-Cost Kitchen Remodel

A staggering nine in 10 US homeowners — that’s how many plan to remodel their home. This summer is the perfect time to remodel your outdoor space, whether you’d like a new deck, gazebo, sunroom, or other additions to your back yard.  FSBD can help you out with these projects. But Half of these homeowners also say that their priority is to remodel the kitchen.

Those who already remodeled their homes from June 2018 to June 2019 spent a whopping $322 billion. What’s more, experts project that by mid-2020, remodeling costs will reach $323 billion.

Don’t forget to factor in safety hazards though, such as unstable cabinets and floors. If these are on the verge of collapsing, it’s best to get them replaced. Old and damaged floors, in particular, could be a serious slip, trip, and fall hazard, so replacing with new hardwood flooring or tiles is a must. Note that in the US, slips and falls already result in more than one million hospital ER visits each year. Elderly adults are most susceptible to such accidents that can cause severe injuries.

Ready to learn the best tricks from Zen Renovations to beautify your kitchen without going beyond your means? Then keep reading, as that’s exactly what we’ll share in this post!

Nail the Difference Between Remodeling and Renovation First

Many people tend to interchange the terms “remodel” and “renovate”. Not only are they technically different; they also have quite the price gap. In most cases, a remodel costs less than a renovation.

To give you an idea, a whole house remodel can cost anywhere from $33,500 to $150,000. Remodeling just the kitchen can cost as little as $4,500. A whole-house renovation, on the other hand, can cost between $15,000 and $200,000.

Remodeling is often cheaper as it’s a simpler way to “change” a structure’s appearance. With remodeling, your goal is to transform the appearance of a room and enhance its functions.

Whereas “renovating” something means restoring or repairing a damaged structure. It deals with more extensive damage or underlying structural problems. That’s why renovation projects tend to be more expensive.

Make a List of Must-Have Repairs and Replacements

Determine the elements of your kitchen that can stay and those that need to go. Aside from appliances, these include fixtures like the sinks, faucets, countertops, and cabinetry.

Next, list down the components that are already malfunctioning or aged. Depending on the severity of their defects, you may still be able to repair rather than replace them. Quality repairs may breathe several years of life back into these faulty elements.

Repairs cost far less than replacements, so as much as possible, you’d want to fix whatever is fixable. This is one of the best techniques to lower the cost to remodel your kitchen.

Don’t forget to factor in safety hazards though, such as unstable cabinets and floors. If these are on the verge of collapsing, it’s best to get them replaced. Old and damaged floors, in particular, could be a serious slip, trip, and fall hazard. Note that in the US, slips and falls already result in more than one million hospital ER visits each year. Elderly adults are most susceptible to such accidents that can cause severe injuries.

Prioritize Rather Than Fantasize

Prioritizing necessity over what you fancy is one of the top ways to lower kitchen remodel costs. Start with what you really need first, then move on to what you want if you still have the budget for it.

Let’s say you need a new gas range because your existing one is past its average life expectancy of 15 years. Now the question is, do you have a genuine need for an 8-burner, three-tier oven? Or would a standard four-burner, single-oven range suffice?

Unless you always cook large amounts of food, stick to the latter to reduce your kitchen remodel cost.

Do this comparison for every big-ticket item you need for your remodel. You could easily halve your project costs by keeping things simple and practical.

Stick to the Same Structural Layout

As much as possible, plan your remodel in a way that won’t require piping or wiring alterations. Relocating a sink, for instance, could involve relocating or adding a new drain line. Moving big appliances, such as an oven/range, could also give rise to electrical or gas pipe changes.

All these could easily add hundreds if not thousands of dollars to your final cost.

DIY Simple Jobs

If you have the time, skills, and tools, you can DIY some of the simpler aspects of remodeling your kitchen. These include the paint job as well as uninstalling existing hardware.

If you’re having new cabinets installed, you can reduce your costs by removing the old ones on your own. In doing so, there will be less work for the contractors, so they’ll charge you less too. Be sure to organize the “debris” though, as you may still be able to repurpose or reuse some of the cabinet panels.

You should also assemble simple fixtures or furniture on your own. Setting up a free-standing cabinet, for instance, can take less than an hour. That’s an hour less of billable contractor fees.

Make sure you check the delivery fees for your construction supplies and materials. For those that don’t come with free delivery, consider getting them yourself. That’s if you have a vehicle, such as a pick-up, that can accommodate their size and weight.

Leave More Complex Construction Tasks to Pros

As for more complex plumbing, piping, and electrical work, it’s best to hire professional kitchen and bath remodeling contractors. The smallest mistake can lead to burst pipes, or worse, gas leaks and electrical fires. There’s also the danger of electrical shocks, which cause at least 30,000 injuries in the US each year. Check out this location for more details on which remodeling tasks are best left in the hands of pros.

Get Started On Your Low-Cost Kitchen Remodel Now

There you have it, your complete list of strategies for a low-cost kitchen remodel. The more of these tips you follow, the greater your chances of staying within your budget. However, be sure that you invest in quality materials, otherwise, they may fail within just a few years.

It’s better to splurge a little on fixtures that you use the most, like the faucets and sinks. If you get high-quality ones now, you likely won’t need to change them until after 15 to 20 years.

Ready for more practical and affordable techniques to improve your home? Then be sure to check out our other posts filed under the Home/DIY section