subject: Kitchen Refurbishment Verses Purchasing New Can Be Cost Effective [print this page] It is a common misconception when a kitchen looks old and worn, that it needs fully replacing. During this time of consumerism and having become a throw away nation, we have become wasteful and lazy whilst thinking projects through. It is far easier to jump in our big 4 X 4 that has never even seen any mud during the school run, to the do it yourself store and purchase a complete new kitchen. Whilst we sign up for the extortionate credit we start to add in some extras such as integral washing machines, dish washers and the like. It is funny how we manage without them all perfectly well, until we can get some credit and then they become appliances we cannot do without.
When I looked at my kitchen the work tops had cut marks on them where the kids have failed to reach for the cutting board. The draw fronts and cupboard doors are loose and ill fitting. Not to mention the odd handles because I was unable to match the ones from the late sixties. All in all, the kitchen is outdated and in need of changing or is it?
When I did a bit of a check to see how much damage would be made to the floor and wall tiles whilst removing the current kitchen, I could not help but notice just how well made the frames are and how strong they remained to this day. It would be a shame to bin them. I started to think about saving the frames and change the fronts and work tops. I can have a new kitchen at a fraction of the cost.
I started to look at the possibilities and there are companies who specialize in kitchen refurbishment. In particular draw fronts and cupboard doors. The work tops can be purchased and cut to size in the local do it yourself store. The new fronts are modern and you will never be able to tell, it is the old kitchen refurbished. I have checked and it will be near impossible to not disturb the wall tiles, so I have opted for some new lighting to be installed under the wall units, the wires will be hidden by the new tiles. As I am not moving the frames of the base units the floor tiles will still be okay to leave in place.
Kitchen refurbishment verses purchasing new, can be cost effective and I have proven it. Not only did I save a small fortune but when I went to have the new black with silver accents worktops cut to size. I looked at the frames of the new kitchens and to be honest they are far below the standard of my old kitchen. I advise anyone with an old kitchen that needs modernizing or refurbishing, to check out replacing the fronts and the work tops making it a far more beneficial and cost effective project, especially in these times of financial crisis.
