Kitchen and Bath Makeover

When it comes time to remodel your old, outdated kitchen or bathroom, there is a lot to consider. first thing you need to consider when remodeling your kitchen or bathroom is what you want to accomplish?

Are you looking to make your kitchen or bathroom more spacious?

Are you looking for more cabinet space?

Are you looking for more counter space?

Are you looking for a visual face lift?

Once you have determined your primary goals for your kitchen or bath remodel, you need to consider your budget? This will dictate how much of the work you may have to do yourself. It may also determine if you need to source and purchase all of the required remodeling materials yourself. These are common ways that home owners can save money on kitchen and bath makeovers. Generally speaking, most contractors will mark up the materials 10-20%. that adds up when you start buying granite countertops, faucets, sinks, light fixtures, tile or stone flooring, cabinets and vanities, shower doors, shower and bath plumbing fixtures, toilets, cabinets, dishwasher and other appliances. Even if you don’t have to worry about your budget, it is still a smart idea to consider buying materials yourself, just to ensure you get exactly what you want in your kitchen and bath makeover.

Another way to save money on a kitchen or bath makeover is by doing the demolition yourself or having friends and family help you. this is generally a labor intensive aspect of your job that doesn’t require much skill. You just need a bunch of trash bags, a dumpster, sledge hammers, drill guns, hammer and maybe a skill saw. By doing the demolition your self on a kitchen or bath remodel, you can easily save yourself thousands of dollars.

Once you know your primary goals and budget requirements for your kitchen or bath remodel project, it is smart to start researching kitchen and bathroom remodeling ideas and trends. You want to make sure you investment will last another 5-10 years if possible. Your remodeling ideas should be ahead of the trend as opposed to behind the trend. In other words if everyone is installing black granite countertops, you need to think about what the next trend in countertops will be. Ultimately, black granite countertops will not be in fashion anymore and if you decide to sell your home, your kitchen remodel will look outdated and old. Researching your remodeling ideas on the internet and in magazines is the best way to see what new trends are occurring in kitchen and bath remodeling.

Going Green? this is the time to do it. Green remodeling is a trend that wont be going away anytime soon. It is both smart and efficient. when you are researching your materials for your kitchen and bath makeover, things to consider are:

Energy Efficiency

dual paned windows
Low E windows
fluorescent lighting
motion sensor switches
energy star appliances
insulated walls and ceilings
Auto shut off faucets
tankless water heaters
minimize amount of light fixtures

Recycled materials
Recycled glass countertops
recycled flooring materials
refurbished fixtures

Donating your old materials to charity

cabinets
toilets
aluminum windows
old appliances
old carpet and pad
concrete

There are many businesses that will haulaway your old appliances for free and you can get a write off, these are the type of things that we like to call smart remodeling ideas. Once you have done your research, it’s time to get bids. There are a million contractors out there. It can be nerve racking trying to figure out who to trust? Many people like to go with a friend or family referral. This can be good or bad. If they cut you a deal and they are emotionally attached through a friendship, it can be hard to control the timeline. they might not show up for a week or so. Other people think its cheaper to go with unlicensed handymen for your kitchen or bath makeover. Craigslist has a ton of unlicensed contractors that will offer unbelievable pricing for your kitchen remodel or bath remodel. The problem with that is they aren’t licensed, bonded or insured. This means if they get hurt on your job, you are the one who is held accountable. If they don’t pay their workers, workers compensation, you are the one held accountable. If they take your deposit and never show u again you have no recourse with the state contractors licensing board. It’s just not a good idea. The best bet is to go with a contractor referral service like Service Magic. They will send you three licensed contractors that have been through extensive background checks. You only have to make one call and three contractors will be knocking on your door to give you the best price. This contractor referral service is a win win for you, because the contractors know their prices have to be competitive.

When the contractors come to your home, be sure to tell them all the same things, so they can all provide equivalent estimates. Let them see pictures of your remodeling ideas, let them know if you are doing the demo. Let them know if you are buying the materials. this information will help the contractors to be more competitive when they create your remodeling estimate. It will also let the contractors know that you have done your research and that your are smart remodeler. In other words, they can’t be deceptive!

So, this is just the beginning. When it comes time to choose your contractor, there are many other things to consider like:

Timeline
Deposit
Contracts
Permits
schedule of payments

We will be discussing the many other aspects of kitchen and bath remodeling as we post new kitchen and bath remodeling blogs. Be sure to bookmark our page so you can come back and get handy kitchen makeover and bath makeover tips, ideas and advice. We always appreciate comments and can also be reached via email if you ever have any questions. Have fun and be a smart remodeler.

Finding a contractor to redesign your kitchen can be a tedious task. that’s why we have developed this site for you to learn the tricks of the trade. As part of Extreme Home Makeovers, we have been a licensed general contractor , specializing in kitchen and bath remodeling for years now. Due to the many request we receive for the specialized service, we have decided to make a special blog which will guide you through, every step of the way. From budgeting to product selection,we are your one stop resource for everything you need in your kitchen and bathroom remodeling project.

Where to start? First thing you need to think about when redesigning your kitchen or bath is what you want to accomplish. Do you want more space, do you want better functionality are you looking for a better appearance or do you just want a facelift in your kitchen or bath.Once you have thought about the general layout choices of your kitchen you need to think about your existing kitchen or bath first. Are there load bearing walls that may need to be removed? Will you need to relocate a sink, toilet, oven, dishwasher, shower or bathtub? These are all things that can increase the cost of your remodel. The third thing to consider is budget. If you are working on a tight remodeling budget, the you need a contractor that understands this. There are always ways to save money. One way to save is demo. If you have friends or family that can help get your existing kitchen or bathroom demo’d this can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Another way of saving money on your remodel project is to start shopping for appliances. make sure you have all of the measurements before you do your research. If you can choose standard size appliances, this can save you alot of time and money.

Extreme Makeovers is a licensed general contractor that can walk you through this entire, tiresome process. We have done so many kitchen and bath remodels, that we can share our experience with you. Even if you are just shopping right now and planning your budget, let us help. Our qualified sales team is always willing to help you find affordable solutions when it comes to remodeling your kitchen and bath.
ExtremeMakeoverPros Inc