A Helpful Guide for Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels

Are you a home cook, but your kitchen has seen better days? Is your bathroom a blast from the past? Don’t cringe when you go into these highly trafficked areas in your home.

You can bring them into the present day with a remodel. And it’s not as complicated as you might think. You just follow a process.

In addition to making your home look good, kitchen and bathroom remodels add value to your home as well. We’ve put together a helpful guide to help you navigate the remodel process.

Hiring Proper Help

Your contractor is your ally through this process and you need someone with a solid reputation and experience that you trust.

You need to hire someone qualified, but also someone who is pleasant and whose style matches your own.

Here are some questions to pose to your candidates:

• Are they insured?
• Are they accredited?
• Do they have a client list that you could call for references?
• What is their procedure for site cleanup?
• Do they subcontract out work?
• What are their usual work hours?
• What happens typically when something doesn’t go to plan?
• In addition to a quote, when do they require payment?
• Do they warranty or guarantee their work? Is there after service if needed?
• Is it possible to get a detailed contract?

Starting to Plan

Job one is to set up a budget so that the work can fit within that perimeter. Once you know how much money you can spend, you can decide on how to allocate it.

Are you doing a major remodel? Or will you focus on a few key areas or items? What materials and colors are you going to choose?

What are your objectives for this remodel? Does the square footage remain about the same? Be sure to include specific measurements in your planning and make sure that they physically fit the space.

In your kitchen, make sure that you pick your sink before you pick your counters. You need them to line up properly.

If you do the counters or cabinets first, the plumbing may not align and you may have to cut things or remove part of the counter or cabinet.

In your bathrooms, pick sinks that suit your style, but also that match your storage needs. Pedestal sinks are great to look at, but if you are low on storage space, they may not suit your needs.

Upgrading Plumbing and Fixtures

Take this time to make sure that your plumbing in these rooms is up to scratch. You don’t want to do a whole remodel and then discover a leak down the road.

It’s also a good time to select eco-friendly fixtures, like dual flush toilets and motion-activated faucets, which will save water and money.