Now that you've decided to remodel your kitchen, the issue of cost looms ahead. Can you get by with $10,000 or will your budget swell to $40,000 or more? Here's how to narrow down your budget.

 

Know What You Want

This will help tremendously, whether you are doing the work yourself or hiring a contractor. If you know the types of appliances, countertop, floor, etc. then the contractor can put together a more realistic estimate. Also, you can give the same specs to each contractor you interview, so you compare apples to apples!

 

There are two primary categories in which costs will fall:

• Functional costs – electrical, plumbing and structural, and labor
• Fixture costs – the decorative components such as countertops, cabinets, appliances, etc.

 

Functional Costs

The costs associated with electrical, plumbing and other structural related costs often are the most complicated to estimate. This is particularly true in older homes. Often the costs are unavoidable, as most are driven by building code requirements and safety issues. Here are the main areas to consider:

 

• Electrical -- Will you have to update and expand the wiring (the least expensive option) or replace it?
• Plumbing -- Will you just change the fixtures or move the location of the sink, which will require more work in reconfiguring existing plumbing lines?
• Walls -- Can you work with the walls where they are or are your adding, subtracting or moving them? The more structural work you do, the more it will cost.
• Heating and Cooling -- Again, the more you add, the more it will cost. Sometimes it's a tradeoff -- It might be wise to pay to move a soffit, for example, if it means getting another few feet of cabinet space on the wall.

 

This is an area where there is the potential for many surprises and no contractor can be certain what is behind all those walls. Costs can vary widely, but many budgets break out like this:

 

• 25-30 percent for labor
• 25-30 percent for structural and mechanical changes
• 25-30 percent on cabinets, fixtures, and appliances.

 

It is wise to add 10 to 25 percent to the estimate as a contingency.

 

Some of the surprises could include:

 

• Electrical wiring that doesn’t meet code – if a contractor finds knob and tube or some other outdated wiring, it likely will have to be replaced to meet local code and avoid fire hazards
• Deteriorating pipes – that water spot beneath the kitchen sink was really indicative of a bigger problem, and a costlier plumbing repair bill
• Structural – expansion of the kitchen to include an eat-in area means rebuilding or relocating a load bearing wall

 

Fixture Costs

Fixture costs are much more predictable. This doesn’t mean there won’t be surprises along the way. These surprises, which generally come in the form of last minute upgrades or work order changes. Further, the choices involved don’t represent the same safety risk.

 

Here are the main categories and a cost range for moderately priced projects. Click here to visit our Selections section for details on how to select everything that goes in a kitchen. Or, click on the following links to go to the individual areas.

 

Appliances-- $1,500 to $5,000;

Cabinets  -- $2,000 to $10,000; 

Countertops - -- $1,200 to $8,000, installed (laminate to granite). Laminates are the least expensive and granite and solid surface are among the most expensive.

Floors-- $500 to $3,000, depending on whether you use vinyl or real wood.

Kitchen Faucet - $75 to $250

Kitchen Sink - $100 to $300

 

Total -- $5,375 to $26,550

 

 

Some Tips:

 

• Think about how the overall kitchen will look. You'd be surprised how nice an inexpensive laminate countertop will look when surrounded by shiny new appliances, cabinets and more!
• Shop around. You may be able to find certain items at a home improvement center, a second hand store, along with specialty outlets or a manufacturer. Ask about special financing deals.
• Keep some alternative choices in mind (and written down in a folder somewhere). That way, if a surprise does come along, you can react quickly without making a rash decision.