With summer on its way, it’s a good time to start planning any home renovations you want in place by the time the weather warms up. Kitchens are one of the most popular rooms in the house to renovate, and keeping the heart of your home well-appointed is one of the best ways to increase the resale value of your home. But what can you do now during the coldest time of year in Toronto? Plenty, actually! You can get the ball rolling, identify and get estimates from building and plumbing contractors, price the fixtures and fittings you want to be installed and get any plans you need drawn up and approved.
Typical Kitchen Renos
Kitchen renovations usually fall into the category of either a minor or a major remodeling project. In recent research conducted by Remodeling Magazine, statistics showed that a minor project is listed in 5th place of the most popular home improvement projects. Homeowners typically recoup 78.3% of the total cost of a minor project when they sell the house. A major kitchen remodeling project ranks 9th and the homeowner has a 72.1% percentage of recouping costs. This kind of return makes it a worthwhile investment to spend money employing qualified building and plumbing contractors for the job.
Minor Kitchen Remodel
A minor kitchen reno project is mostly a “facelift” – a clean-up, touch-up, and general repair job, which requires the use of carpenters, painters and plumbing contractors, and typically carries a total cost of between $20,000 and $25,000.
A minor reno usually includes:
- Fixing cracks in walls and kitchen cabinets
- Repair and replacement of faucets and sink surround
- Fixing leaky pipes and checking for signs of damp
- Repair or replacement of window frames, panels, moldings, and other woodwork
- Removal and replacement of trendy kitchen flooring
- Replacement or installation of a wall oven and new cooktop with hood
- Installation of a dishwasher with plumbed-in connection
Major Kitchen Remodel
A major kitchen renovation project, according to the Remodeling Magazine survey, costs around $50,000 to $60,000, and commonly includes breaking through walls to create a new, open-plan atmosphere. It also covers the installation of new cabinets, flexible fittings such as the popular “kitchen island” and possibly a new kitchen sink, as well as extensive work by plumbing contractors if it’s necessary to move the water supply lines, for example. Add to that the purchase and installation of new appliances, including garbage disposal, ventilation system, and the obligatory custom lighting.
Managing the Cost
If all this sounds really expensive, think of the return on your investment. There are ways to reduce some of the costs, such as:
- Shopping around for the fixtures and fittings you want. For example, your plumbing contractors may be able to get you better prices or special offers on piping, sinks, and faucets that you can find at your nearest hardware stores.
- Look for “surplus” appliances, such as those sold at outlet stores, such as Sears and The Brick. These are often cheaper than the identical item sold in the big box stores and usually have nothing more than a tiny mark on them somewhere. Also, scout Craigslist and Kijiji – you may find some real gems online.
- Plan well enough ahead that you can watch for special offers and promotions for items such as paint supplies. You can even do aspects of work such as painting yourself and save your money for specialized jobs. Don’t try to do complex tasks like water installations, however – it’s best to leave that work to qualified people who have learned their craft through accredited plumbing courses in Toronto.
Your best budget bet is to get estimates ahead of time, so you know what sort of expenditure to plan for. Contact your local plumber today to arrange a consultation with someone experienced in kitchen installations.
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