Planning out the details for your kitchen remodel is only part of the equation. There’s a lot more you still have to do to complete everything to your satisfaction. For a lot of homeowners, kitchen remodeling is a dream come true. But once they get knee deep in the planning phase, they begin to panic. There’s a lot more to the whole ordeal than what meets the eye. If you have a solid contractor on your team, the entire process should run more smoothly. But there are things you have to do and decide well before you hire a contractor.
Once you get through that, the following steps and tips should be used to help you survive your kitchen countertops, so you can get to enjoying your beautiful new kitchen!
Make a Shopping List
The first thing you need is a list of things you’ll need – this way, you have everything onsite once construction commences. If you have yet to order your granite slabs or sink and faucet, then you need to get on the ball. Ensure that all of your appliances are scheduled to be delivered on time as well. Once the remodel starts, things will get a bit hectic and the last thing you want to have to worry about are the materials. Scrambling around at the last minute for items will only drag along your remodel and drive up costs.
Determine the Expectations with Your Contractor
The both of you need to be on the same page every step of the way. This will help to avoid any confusion down the road. Have a discussion with your contractor about what you expect to take place. If you have a plumber and electrician on the squad as well, make sure they too are in the loop of what the scope and expectations are for the project. In the end, this will ensure you, the customer, is happy.
Don’t believe you have no control over the schedule either. You have some leeway here, so exercise your ability to negotiate it. For instance, don’t take forever finalizing decisions. Some of the things you want to go over with your contractor include:
• How long it’ll take for the completion to be complete.
• How you can help speed up delays (such as ordering and scheduling everything on time, and not making last minute changes).
• The process of debris removal and whether there will be a dumpster needed. If not, find out where it will be stored and when it will be removed.
• What the expectations are for cleaning up the mess. Some contractors agree to clean up their mess each day. Be prepared to be charged more by certain contractors for any cleanup requests you have.
• What areas their crew will be able to use and where tools and setup area will be.
• Whether there will be any bathroom facilities available.
• Whether you have to be out of the house during the floor refinishing and for how long. And whether VOC emissions will be a concern.
• Which hours the workers plan to be onsite and if this includes Saturdays. If you won’t be home, arrange to give the contractor keys and alarm codes.
Let Your Neighbors Know in Advance
People enjoy peace and quiet, so be courteous and let your neighbors know that this may be interrupted by an upcoming kitchen remodel. This will prevent complaints and mean stares down the road. Let them know that if they have any problems or concerns, they can contact you. It’s a good idea to have a set schedule with your contractor, so that days and hours are set, and neighbors can work around that.
Clean Out All Your Cabinets
If you’re like most homeowners, you have a ton of items inside of your cabinets. Clean these out, so that you can get right to work when the day comes. You can think of this as a spring cleaning session. Throw away anything you no longer need or use and store all the rest in boxes. You don’t have to do it all in one day either. Take time each day to get it done, just make sure it’s complete before the remodeling begins. Also, make sure that any items you need to use daily are kept in an accessible area.
Create a Temp Kitchen
Some kitchen remodels take a long time to complete, but this doesn’t mean you have to be stuck eating takeout every night. You can set up a small table that can fit your family and plug up a hot plate to cook quick meals in. You can also have other appliances like a toaster, microwave and coffee pot. A cutting board for making sandwiches for lunch is also ideal. A mini fridge can be used to hold drinks and milk for cereal and coffee.
The good news is your temp kitchen can be set up with the help of a contractor. If you want to have your large fridge in your temp kitchen area, this can be done with their help.
Stock Up On Disposables
You can buy a bunch of plastic plates, cups and utensils to eliminate the need for a kitchen sink to wash dishes. If you’re worried about your carbon footprint, you can resort to recycled or biodegradable options. This can be purchased for utensils, plats, cups and even napkins. This will reduce some of the stress of eating in a temp kitchen.
Remodeling your kitchen will be a time of joy and pain. The key is preparing yourself for possible downfalls, so you can get through them. Stay in the loop with your contractor, so that you can help reduce pitfalls along the way.