Keeping Your Kitchen Remodeling On Track
Renovators Place Columnist
Oct 08, 2009
You've heard the horror stories about kitchen remodeling projects that go on for months and months. There are many reasons why remodeling projects are delayed, but the end result is frustration.
Kitchen remodeling is a stressful event, but one that pays big dividends in the end. By taking some time to plan properly and organize all the remodeling stages, you can help keep your project moving along smoothly.
About the Author
Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer who has been writing home improvement columns for 15 years.
Plan Ahead For Kitchen Remodeling
Planning is an important process for any project, but particularly for a kitchen remodeling. Because this project tears apart your important living and eating space, it is more likely to cause stress. Before starting a kitchen remodeling project, plan these aspects:- The timeline - ask your remodeling contractor for a realistic timeline, taking into account reasonable delays. No project proceeds exactly as planned, so it is best to build in some time for delays.
- The zoning and permit process - the contractor should be able to estimate how long your municipality takes to grant a permit for a kitchen remodeling. If you know that it takes six weeks, then you can build that into your timeline.
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The material ordering and deliveries - the contractor should handle much of the material selections, such as lumber, drywall, etc. Before starting the remodeling project, make sure the contractor has ordered necessary supplies and will have them available on the job site. Many projects stall because the contractor is not organized about ordering materials. Consider:
- It often takes a few days to schedule deliveries - you don't want to pay the contractor to wait around for needed supplies.
- Whether it is more cost effective for the contractor to pick up materials or have them delivered. Are you paying for his time to drive to the lumberyard once a week?
Order Kitchen Design Products Early
Many products - such as kitchen cabinets, sinks and wall tile - take 2 to 8 weeks to order. Ideally, you want all materials ready at the job site before the remodeling begins. Otherwise:- You are wasting the contractor's time and your money waiting on materials.
- You may cause subcontractors to move on to other jobs during the delay.
Avoid Changes to Kitchen Design
Once you have approved a kitchen design and layout, ordered the materials and started the project, don't make changes. Before ordering the kitchen cabinets, make sure they are what you want. Don't look at wall tile after deciding to paint the walls. These types of changes can cause significant time delays and cost overruns.Kitchen remodeling is a stressful event, but one that pays big dividends in the end. By taking some time to plan properly and organize all the remodeling stages, you can help keep your project moving along smoothly.
About the Author
Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer who has been writing home improvement columns for 15 years.
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