subject: Kitchen Remodeling On The Cheap | The Money Pit [print this page] Kitchen Remodeling On The Cheap | The Money Pit
If home is where the heart is, then kitchens are clearly one of the vital organs that convert a house into a home. So it is no surprise that kitchen renovations are among the most popular remodeling projects tackled each year.
Not only does updating your kitchen breathe new life into your home, it adds value to it should you decide to sell. According to Remodeling Online's Cost vs. Value Report, even a moderate kitchen remodeling project will return an average of 80% of its cost when it comes time to sell the home.
Any home improvement projects can be complicated, but major kitchen remodeling can turn your life upside down, not to mention all the fast food pounds you'll put on waiting for that kitchen to welcome you back in. To avoid the indigestion and home improvement hassles, it makes sense to break down the projects into "modules" which can be completed independently of one another. Not only does this make the project more manageable, these smaller changes can have a big visual impact and cut down on the need for more major makeovers.
Here are some ideas to help you separate the wheat flour from the kosher salt and cook up the kitchen of your dreams:
Replace the Kitchen Countertop. Kitchen countertops create bold statements and become the feature point of the entire room. Changing the kitchen countertops is simple way to make a big change that can be completed in a short time frame with little impact on family life. Kitchen countertop materials can vary as much in price as they do in style. Laminates are a cheaper option but if you are willing to invest more, natural stone is an elegant option.
Granite is the most popular choice for kitchen countertops; it can handle a hot pan, is very durable, and just looks great. If you want the dimensional stability that natural stone has to offer but want a bit of a break on the wallet, then engineered stone. Engineered is made from quartz, comes in a large variety of colors and it is a nonporous surface that resists stains and scratches and is easy to maintain.
Ceramic tile is also a great choice for your kitchen countertops and it doesn't have to end there, you can continue your tile up to the backsplash for a whole new look. Tile is inexpensive, can be installed by a homeowner and is easy to maintain. To avoid the hassles of cleaning grout, choose darker colors, seal the grout right after you are done and use grout with an anti-microbial additive that resists mold growth.
Laminate countertops are the most cost effective and available in standard sizes at your local home center. Countertops can also be made of butcher-block, stainless steel, and even concrete.
For the best results when having countertops made for you, the fabricator should make a template of your existing walls. Homes are never square and having a template is the best way to make sure the new top fits your old walls.
Keep the Kitchen Cabinets. Kitchen cabinet replacement is one of the most expensive parts of a kitchen renovation project. But in many cases, you can create an entirely new look to the kitchen by giving those cabinets the love they deserve.
If your cabinets are in good shape but you just are not thrilled with their finish, you have many options to change their appearance. You can strip off the original finish and stain them any way you like. Stain colors are not limited only to the brown family they can be tinted just about any color of the rainbow. Be sure that when you put a topcoat on them you select one that does not yellow; this is especially a problem in the kitchen.
Painting your kitchen cabinets is another great option. Crackling is a beautiful effect for cabinets, especially if you use a bright color which will pop under a more neutral tone like off white.
For More information on Kitchen Remodeling visit Moneypit.
