Let's get this kitchen remodel started!
Congratulations! You’ve done all the work and now your kitchen remodel is about to begin!
Now it’s time to prepare for contsruction and consider the impact that the kitchen remodeling process will have on your home and lifestyle. The following are some things you can do to minimize the disruption you will experience.
Plan and set up a temporary kitchen.
Don't eat out every night. With a little planning, a temporary kitchen can offer you a much needed resource duing your kitchen remodel. A microwave, hot plate, toaster-oven and coffee-maker can take care of basic needs. A crock pot can be a big help too.
Stock up on paper plates and other disposable items for a brief period of use. On occasion, consider eating out for some meals as your kitchen sink won’t be working for a while...and to take a break from the disruption.
Be prepared to have an alternative sink option – it can be an old wash basin, a bath tub or powder room.
Just have a plan! Keep your old refrigerator around until the end of the kitchen remodel as well if possible.
Clean out your old cabinets.
This is pretty straightforward. Before we can do any work, you've got to empty out those existing kitchen cabinets, walls and bases. You might find something you long thought missing. The hardest part? Discarding the items you really no longer need (seriously, how old are those spices?). The best rule of thumb? If you don't use it, lose it!
We will help make it easier for you. Our Reico packing boxes will give you all the storage you need! Label all your packed boxes and set aside the few must haves for your temporary kitchen.
Prepare spaces adjacent to the kitchen.
It's not just the kitchen you need to consider when your kitchen remodeling work is being done. Remove items for areas adjacent to the kitchen remodel space. This includes wall art, decorative items, mirrors, etc.
Drywall dust is invasive (I repeat, invasive) and will spread with hammering and drilling. The installer will make every effort to control it but trust us, it will spread.
Plan to change your furnace filter often during the remodel and turn the furnace fan off.
Create a staging area for your kitchen cabinets and other products being delivered.
You should consider where you will stage your kitchen cabinets and other products as they get delivered. Any staging area should be close to the work space and in a climate controlled area to avoid the possibility of cabinets warping. Storing cabinets in a garage for an extended period during the coldest parts of winter or the hottest parts of summer is not the best idea.
Be sure to direct the delivery to this area once materials arrive. We will deliver them into the home so you can tell us just where you want them.
Be available or onsite at times for important questions and decisions.
It is not necessary to be on site everyday for your kitchen remodel. But it is important to make sure you are accessible by phone or email to your designer and installer for questions or issues that come up.
A lock box can be used or other arrangements made to allow workers access while you are away.
There will be key days, in addition to the product delivery date, that you or another decision maker should be onsite including when the kitchen countertop is being templated and when the countertop is being installed.
When it comes to remodeling, expect the unexpected.
You found what behind my walls? We hear that a lot, in almost every home. There can be pre-existing or hidden conditions that will affect the kitchen installation. Issues such as water damage, hidden ductwork, wiring problems, and others will need to be addressed before the work can progress.
In some cases, correcting these issues may require additional labor charges as well as add to the time frame for your project.
There may also be product damages or even an ordering mistakes. In some cases material can be rushed, but other times lead times can be several weeks, even for re-ordered materials. We will always work diligently to resolve any issues in a timely manner.
Avoid planning a major event to close to your kitchen remodel.
Remodeling is disruptive to your home life and is a process that requires time. Initial start to completion estimates are just that. Give everyone the chance to be thankful by minimizing tight holiday deadlines or planning other major events near your project end.
Change orders, hidden problems, product re-order, countertop templates or installation and inspections can all act to extend the length of the process.
There also may be days when no one is working in the home.
Don't add to your stress by overcommitting to hosting a holiday or throwing a big family party. There will be plenty of time for that after your kitchen remodeling project has been completed. Communication with your designer and installer should minimize any surprises, especially if you just absolutely have to host Thanksgiving this year...
Communicate Concerns.
Don’t forever hold your peace. Speak. Now.
You may notice a crooked door or a roll-out tray that sticks some when you pull it. These usually require minor adjustments that occur at the end of the kitchen remodel.
Your designer will help create a punch list to include what you notice and what you may have missed. You can also keep a small list of your own to make sure nothing is missed on your kitchen remodel.
Upon completion of the punch list we will walk the job together to ensure your total satisfaction.
It's okay to change. Change Orders are okay too.
In the course of the kitchen remodel you may decide to have additional work done. No problem! If that is the case, contact your Reico designer with your request.
A change order will be created for the work stating what will be done and at what cost. Your signed approval and payment in full for the change will be required before the work will be scheduled.
The carpenter, electrician, plumber, flooring installer, tile setter, etc. in your home are not authorized to quote or perform the additional work without the signed change order.
Change orders may also extend out the completion date of your kitchen remodeling project.
Your kitchen remodel will get done.
There will be ups and downs in every kitchen remodeling project. It's an emotional experience so don't be surprised. But it will get done. So remember to always keep the end in sight!
The day will come when your kitchen project is finished and the new space is yours to fully enjoy!
Following these tips will help make sure your kitchen remodeling experience is the best it can be.
