
Remodeling Your Kitchen or Bathroom – Ideas and Tips
Remodeling an entire house can be very costly and time consuming. Remodeling the kitchen and bathroom is usually the last thing on most homeowners’ lists of remodeling priorities. According to Wikipedia, in the united States the remodeling industry is estimated to be a $300 million/year business. Kitchen renovations are by far the largest and most popular home improvement projects. Depending on the current value and size of your house, you may expect to pay up to 10-25 percent of your house is worth for a high quality kitchen remodel. But if your kitchen or bathroom is outdated and in need of an overhaul, you could save hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Countertops are often one of the first things to be changed when doing a kitchen remodel. Countertops come in several different materials and colors. They also are sold in various thicknesses and sizes. Before changing the countertops, consider the reasons you are changing them. Countertops are not inexpensive, so it’s important to make sure that you are getting the best for your money.
Like countertops, bathroom remodeling cabinetry is an important part of any kitchen remodeling project. The bathroom cabinetry is generally in the form of cabinets but depending on the style of the home and sink area, they can also be installed as free-standing units. If you want a more traditional appearance, go with wood or laminate countertops. For a contemporary look, opt for stainless steel or a combination of materials.
Many homeowners remodel their kitchens and bathrooms first and then tackle the basement. This is not a good practice because it makes the remodeling process take longer. If you do this, it’s best to start with the kitchen and bathroom remodeling and put down a foundation for the renovation. This way you won’t have to worry about working on foundations. Foundation work should only be done before renovations on the rest of the house are complete.
There are many ways to keep your remodeling cost to a minimum. One is by re-furnishing existing cabinets, vanities, faucets and fixtures. Another is to replace knobs and handles that are broken or worn out. You can also get some great deals on items such as cabinetry by shopping at the end of a year when retailers need to get rid of old stock.
Another way to cut down on remodeling expenses is to hire a professional contractor to handle the remodeling project. Hiring an expert can give you a more expensive look, but in many cases this is worth the extra money. Good contractors will offer a detailed estimate of the cost of the project including the material cost, labor cost, and transportation costs. Also keep in mind that the kitchen and bathroom remodeling will affect the resale value of your house so you should only consider remodeling these rooms if you have a good feeling about them.
There are many ways to remodel your kitchen or bathroom without spending a lot of money. For example, instead of replacing your cabinets, which can run into the hundreds, simply repair any damaged cupboards. Use your existing plumbing instead of hiring a plumber to fix pipes, faucets or toilets. You may even want to consider doing away with the outdated bathroom tub and shower and replace it with a shower stall, preferably one with a shower head that is high.
In many cases, changing out tile and painting the walls will do a great deal to update and modernize your bathroom. Home improvement stores sell tile that is made especially for bathrooms. Also, Parker said that choosing a color for your walls can make a big difference in how your room feels. In addition, he said you should consider adding touches like the artwork on the toilet and cabinets to make your room more comfortable. By adding touches like these, he said, you will be able to increase the overall value of the property.