How to Remodel a Home Kitchen

Remodeling usually does not extend to structural changes.

While restoration requires knowledge of historical accuracy and renovation requires extensive carpentry skills, remodeling is typically less complex. Remodeling a kitchen can be as simple as repainting the walls and installing new appliances or as complicated as installing new cabinetry and countertops. The most important piece of the remodeling puzzle is advance planning.

Things You'll Need

• Demolition Plan
• Remodeling Plan
• Basic toolkit
• Prybar
• Reciprocal saw
• Dumpster, pickup truck bed, or trailer
• Installation components

Instructions

Painting

1. Painting: One of the most fundamental remodeling projects is painting. Multiply the height by the width of wall space to get square footage; buy the correct amount primer for one coat and enough paint for two coats. If the current walls are painted, sand lightly to rough up the surface. If they are wallpapered, remove wallpaper with either a heat gun or wet with a water to soften the glue and scrape the wallpaper off. Prime, then paint.

2. New Appliances: Determine which appliances you want to replace. Measure the space to be sure to choose a new appliance will fit in the space available. Schedule delivery of your new appliances at the end of your remodeling project.

3. Cabinets: Cabinet replacement, especially hanging wall cabinets, requires carpentry skills a little beyond those needed for basic remodeling. Consider instead resurfacing your existing cabinets. Measure carefully and buy veneer pieces. You can also install new doors--for example, ones with windows--to really change the look. Buy the complete door in the proper size, remove the old doors by unscrewing the hinges and install the new ones. If you need to place new hinges, fill old screw holes with wood filler before resurfacing the existing cabinet framework.

4. Kitchen Island: Adding a kitchen island or peninsula is a great way to get additional work space and change the look of your kitchen. You can buy these already built. Fasten in place. Add bar stools for a breakfast nook. If you want a sink in your kitchen island, hire a plumber to plumb it for you and either have the plumber connect the sink once the island is in place or do it yourself.

5. Sinks: Carefully measure the opening for your existing sink. Going larger is easier than going smaller. Use a jigsaw to expand the opening to accommodate the new sink. Before cutting, check that the extra size is going to work with counter corners and under-sink cabinets. Plumbing needs may be different as well, although kitchen sinks are often plumbed the same unless one has a garbage disposal and one doesn't.

Tips & Warnings

• Appliances that you prefer to keep but don't fit your new color scheme can be repainted with special appliance paint.

• Before deciding to move the stove/oven to a different place in your remodeled kitchen, keep in mind that stoves need 220-volt wiring or gas connections. You should plan to hire a licensed electrician for rewiring needs.

• Keep your remodeling plans within proportion of your kitchen size. For example, don't add an island that overpowers the kitchen. You need maneuvering room as well as counter space.

References

• The Frugal Life; Appliance Repainting
• Kitchens.com: Kitchen Islands