Even the mere idea of remodeling your cooking room can leave you excited and smiling all day long. However, with that excitement comes a lot of work, including knocking down walls, adding islands, choosing the right appliances, flooring, backsplashes and many more.
It’s a complex process with many components, making it easy to overlook details that can lead to problems later and may become costly repairs. In this article, you’ll explore some kitchen and home remodeling mistakes you should keep in mind and avoid so the process will be a smooth ride and give you the result you desire. First in our list is;
Failing to Plan
A successful kitchen remodel needs an end goal and vision. Here, we aren’t talking about those fine pictures of what you want your kitchen to look like. Envision what your life and your family’s life will look like in the new kitchen because it must meet these requirements. Just like any other home improvement plan, you must be realistic while planning.
Before you start buying elements or knocking down your walls, ensure you are comfortable with the realistic look of your kitchen and that everything will fall within your budget.
Also, be realistic about upkeep, especially if you have a large family and are not ready to deal with constant fingerprint smudges. Stainless steel may not be the ideal option if that’s the look you are after.
Visit https://www.thespruce.com/steps-to-a-kitchen-remodel-1822229 to learn more about how to plan kitchen remodeling from start to finish.
Underestimating the Cost
Aside from planning, another huge mistake you should avoid making is failure to create an accurate budget. Whatever you think you may spend, prepare to spend more to ensure a 15-20% contingency.
The Austin construction company recommended that you take your time and do as much research as you can on flooring, countertops, cabinets, accessories, appliances and more, because this is where most people rush when making a decision.
To contact the Austin construction company for your inquiries, visit the address below:
Choosing Appliances After Cabinetry
Another big mistake you shouldn’t make is choosing your appliances after cabinetry installation. As general constructors Austin advised, when designing your new kitchen, measurements are important and even as small as one one-inch difference can make installation difficult.
Make sure you know your appliance’s sizes before you make the cabinet’s specifications. Ensure you measure the sizes of things you are going to keep in your cabinets before installing them.
What’s more, having specific appliances on hand will enable you to select the right materials and hardware that will complement your refrigerator and stove. If your concern is how all these pieces will pair and you are on a budget, go for panel-ready refrigerators that can fit custom cabinet fronts and blend with the rest of your space.
Installing Cabinets Before Floors
The installation order is also crucial because it relates to your cabinets and floors. Whether it’s the entire home remodeling, kitchen or bathroom, it’s important to do the floors first before the cabinets. If you are to do cabinets first before floors, you may encounter two potential problems.
First, the floor may lose its ability to expand and contract, making it hard to cut or peel and harder to remove the floor without damaging the cabinets, in case it needs to be replaced or repaired. Additionally, installing cabinets after the floors reduces the risk of damaging the floors when installing the cabinets.
Choosing the Wrong Flooring
If you are planning to use hardwood floors in your new kitchen and bath remodeling, choose wood that is treated with a proper finish: you can go for a pre-finished sealed hardwood as well.
Keep in mind that hardwood can be slippery, while one with a texture or finish like hand-scraped, distressed or reclaimed wood can offer more traction while covering up damage from wear and tear. Also, consider choosing wood with a high Janka hardness rating of at least 1500+, such as hickory, to withstand frequent use and reduce damage.
Since the kitchen is considered the most accident-prone space in the house, it’s essential to protect those areas where slips are likely to happen when choosing a flooring option.
Also, it’s advised to use rugs or pads in front of your fridge, sink, dishwasher and pantry. You may want to go for cork flooring, but before making that decision, it’s worth knowing that cork is soft, sound-absorbing and green, and it fades easily in the sun. Therefore, you should consider sun exposure before making your final decision.
Click here for small kitchen remodeling ideas that make a big impact.
Improperly Wiring Kitchen Outlets
Another safety mistake to avoid when designing your kitchen and bathroom renovation is improperly wiring all the outlets to 15-amp breakers.
Ideally, a kitchen should have at least two or three accessible 20-amp outlets. In fact, all your kitchen outlets are on a dedicated 20-amp outlet.
The outlets should be on an Arc fault and ground fault circuit protection to prevent fires and injuries. This means if you are on a do-it-yourself kitchen renovation project, make sure things that you are not sure about, like wiring, should be left to professionals so it won’t result in a long-term safety concern.
Conclusion
The bottom line is, if you are doing a kitchen remodel, there are certain things you should keep in mind, so you don’t end up making huge, costly mistakes.
Some of these things include failing to plan before starting, underestimating costs, ensuring you have extra for whatever amount you have in mind, avoiding installing cabinets before floors, and choosing your appliances before installing floors.
Depending on the type of home you have and the average foot traffic in your kitchen, choose the appropriate flooring option that is both safe and aesthetically pleasing. Lastly, leave the wiring activities to professionals unless you are a certified engineer.
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