How to Budget Kitchen Cabinet Replacement

After years of remodeling kitchens and bathrooms certain phases of the budget are always the same. Review my entire list and see which apply to your project

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Just Time

1. I call this the DEMOLITION phase but it starts with the cost to protect the rest of your home while remodeling the kitchen. This will include hanging plastic and covering carpets and other flooring as well as protecting the basement area below the kitchen and temporary boxes for storage before starting demolition. To this cost add the cost to remove and haul away debris safely.

2. ELECTRICAL- When estimating the cost of electric in a kitchen be sure to add the cost of adding and relocating outlets and switches as well as the cost of can lights, new circuits and the final connection of your appliances and lights.

3. UNDER-COUNTER LIGHTING- Price out things as simple as self contained flourescent or halogen fixtures but consider Trac XII lighting for all of its professional look and flexibility.

4. CARPENTRY-Keep in mind that you may have carpentry expenses if you remove sofits or partitions before you replace drywall.

5. INSULATION-Before replacing drywall after your rough electric or plumbing consider the cost upgrading your wall or ceiling insulation.

6. SHEET METAL-Your fan or microwave vent will work better if you add the cost of a qualified person to rough in venting to the roof or outside wall and to make the final vent connections.

7. DRYWALL-After all rough work is complete get a budget to replace or repair drywall on walls or ceiling and include painting costs in this part of the budget. Often one contractor will do both.

8. FLOORING-After the mess of rough plumbing and electric and drywall, price out the cost to refinish or replace your floor before installing cabinets.

9. CABINETS and MILLWORK-Price out the cost of cabinets and professional installation. This person should also give you a budget for crown molding, base board, base shoe and window or door trim

10. COUNTERTOPS-Be sure you understand all types of top before selecting. You start with your basic Laminate Tops-Then You have Corian type tops with a matte finish-Then you have natural stone or granite(Be aware of warnings with granite and natural stone)-And finally man made Quartz products which if affordable give you shine without maintenance

11. BACKSPLASH-Whether you tile the walls or add a full height splash of the counter material this is an expense often forgotten while budgeting.

12. PLUMBING-This budget should include rough plumbing like running lines to the refrigerator, or lowering the gas lines for the newer stove designs, replacing shut-offs under the sink and of course the final connection of faucets, drains, disposal and appliances

13. CLEANUP-There is a cost to put things back in order and removing temporary protective materials as well as possibly moving furniture

Tips & Warnings

• All of these areas may not apply to your project but many of them are often forgotten while people set their budget.
• Do not complete any part of this job personally unless you are professionally skilled in that area. The look of work completed by a homeowner is usually noticable and lowers the final value of your project. A good remodel will look like you never touched anything.