When you first make the decision to start a kitchen renovation, it can feel like a really big project. One of the most common problems in home renovations is under-planning or over-planning. This is particularly riskier when it comes to your kitchen, knowing how important this part of the house is.
You need to figure out how and where to prepare your food along with other kitchen activities while the renovation is ongoing. Other than that, you also need to make sure that your renovated space provides better movement and storage than your previous one, rather than simply adding to the clutter. With that said, here are some steps to take when preparing for a kitchen renovation.
1. Decide How You Will Use the Kitchen After It’s Renovated
If you’re planning on moving out of your house while it is being refurbished, then you might want to consider making sure that everything in your kitchen box is packed and ready to go before starting the renovation. This way, you won’t have to move twice and get rid of extra stuff that may not fit into the new space.
Some people like to make small updates while their home is vacant for a couple of weeks or months by purchasing items such as flooring and paint before beginning construction. If this is something you’d like to do too, make sure that all of your kitchen boxes are ready to go and that the new paint colour matches the old.
Related Read: 5 Questions to Ask Before Doing Your Kitchen Interior Design
2. Get Your Kitchen’s Measurements
Now that you’ve figured out how long it will take for your renovation to finish and you’ve packed away everything, it is time to determine what needs to be done before beginning construction.
You may want to know: How much food and appliances need to be stored? Where do you need better access? What electrical work needs improvement? These are all great questions to ask yourself when planning ahead for a kitchen renovation. Draw floor plans if needed so you can strategize exactly where each appliance will go or where cookware can be stored for easy access while cooking in the newly renovated space.
3. Find a temporary kitchen area
If you plan to stay in your home while construction is going on, it will be necessary to set up a temporary kitchen. It may seem unnecessary, but having a designated space for storing food and cooking appliances can make moving around your house much easier. This also saves you money from relying too much on delivery food, which is not the most practical option if the renovation lasts for months. In fact, this could also be part of your renovation package. Some contractors can build a quick makeshift area for your kitchen before proceeding with the actual kitchen renovation.
5. Be clear on how much you are willing to spend
Having a budget is important to make sure you can afford the renovation. It’s better to be realistic about how much you are willing to spend at the beginning, rather than borrowing money from other places if needed. Ask yourself first:
What would you like to see in your renovated kitchen space? What should it accomplish? Once these questions are answered, you can think about what needs improvement and how that will affect your budget. Likewise, your interior designer will appreciate this transparent information to help them accomplish the project while also meeting your expectations.
6. Hire a Renovation Contractor
It’s always best to hire a professional contractor to help with any renovation projects, especially if this will be the first time you’ve ever done anything like this before. A contractor can create a clear timeline of what needs to happen each week throughout the duration of the project and pinpoint problem areas where they need improvement and see that these changes are made during construction. They can also be your go-to contact if any repairs are required during the renovation. Here are some tips on how to look for a good renovation contractor:
Check the company that they are associated with. If it has been around for a long time with good reviews, you are already off to a good start.
If hiring an independent contractor, ask for their project portfolio to assess their work and to also check whether their output fits your expected design
If you can find one that has specialized in kitchen renovations, then that’s a better option.
7. Know what to expect for an estimated timeline
Knowing how long renovations typically take is important so you know how long you’ll have to stay away from your home and where you’ll need to temporarily live should it last longer than expected. Finding out earlier helps with budgeting expenses, transportation (if needed), and, more importantly – not leaving all your daily tasks completely unattended.
Keep your family informed on the renovation process and give them a schedule of what can be expected during each construction phase. This will help reduce the number of interruptions to family time throughout the day and prevent any accidents or injuries that may come about if you have children or pets running around while construction workers are working in other parts of the house.
Ensuring a Smooth Kitchen Renovation
Have a plan to keep the rest of your house functional If you’re staying in your home as it is being renovated, then you should consider what will happen with other spaces that aren’t being worked on, such as bedrooms or bathrooms. For example, if there is a chance that dust may get into rooms that construction workers won’t touch, then a professional cleaner should come and thoroughly vacuum those rooms well before starting work in another space. Not only does this keep from having too much excess clutter from not being able to use those parts of your house properly at the time, but it also makes sure each room is clean, so you can stay there comfortably.
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