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The Kitchen Cabinet August, 2018
Welcome to my August newsletter. In this edition, I will bring you information that I think you will find useful in your kitchen. Thinking about updating your kitchen? I'll bring you the latest design trends to incorporate in your design!
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This month, we examine kitchen renovation budgets,
and how to properly budget for your kitchen renovation.
When you begin planning a kitchen renovation project, you may have no idea how much your ideal vision might cost. The answer will likely depend on several factors, including the size of your space, what you will do to it, and your budget. In the end, the price of a renovation should largely be driven by your own choices.
That said, there are some common reasons kitchen renovations go over the original budget.
The No. 1 reason that renovation go over budget is choosing more upscale products and finishes. Nearly half of those who went over their budget cited this as a reason.
About 40 percent of those who busted their budgets said finding out that products or services were more expensive than anticipated was the culprit. Given that this was a such common experience, we’d like to flag some areas where costs can rack up quickly.
1. Custom cabinetry. Cabinet costs range widely, largely depending on whether they are stock, semi-custom or custom-made. Stock cabinets typically cost $450 per linear foot, while custom cabinetry can run up to $1,500 per linear foot.
The key is to know how much the designs you want might cost before you actually start to renovate. Keep in mind that specialty and custom items usually cost more. For example, it may look beautiful to stretch your upper cabinets passed 8 feet to balance out high ceilings. But with this design, you’re doing custom cabinets. Ask your designer to advise you on the costs of various options early.
2. Special features. In addition to the external features of cabinets, the innards can increase the cost. Examples of nice-to-have cabinetry add-ons include roll-out shelves, a knife drawer, or concealed trash or recycling bins.. These can easily make a sharp increase in the cabinet budget.
Before committing to a special feature, you may want to consider how much you’ll really use it. That way, you can determine if the added functionality is worth the cost to you.
3. Countertops. The cost for countertops ranges widely. Plastic laminate countertops are relatively affordable at about $20 per square foot. Quartz and granite typically run much higher, anywhere from $75 to $120 per square foot.
4. Appliances. Appliances also range widely in cost, from under $1,000 to several thousand, depending on the make, model and features. Luxury appliances like Wolf and Sub-Zero are priced on the higher end of the range, and brands like GE are more budget. A Sub-Zero refrigerator could cost upward of $7,500, while a basic GE model could cost under $1000. A Miele gas range could run $7,000, and a premium 60-inch model from La Cornue more than twice that. An Asko dishwasher could cost more than $1,000, whereas some LG models sell at just $550.
Do your research and find out what you get for the various cost ranges so that you can determine if the price of the features is worth the expense for your family.
Hidden Costs That Can’t Be Avoided
Beyond the costs that the owner controls by selecting finishes and materials are the costs resulting from structural problems that simply must be resolved.
5. Unforeseen structural issues. You might open a wall and find that termites have eaten half the studs. Perhaps once the kitchen flooring is removed, you find that an undetected water leak has rotted the subfloor and floor joists.
Such unforeseen issues are good incentives to do pre-project due diligence. Even so, not every problem can be caught ahead of time. Many designers recommend reserving a 10 percent contingency in your kitchen renovation budget for unexpected surprises.
6. Code compliance. Changes in the building code, or previous sub-standard work may require being “brought up to code”. This could include updating the wiring, adding ground-fault outlets above the counters or upgrading the insulation on exterior walls. All good investments, and they should be included in your contingency budget.
7. Changing your mind. For you to accurately predict the project cost, it’s a good idea to select all your finishes before the construction work starts. If you haven’t picked them out, invariably it will be more money. Two, it will take more time. And three, it will mess up the schedule — which will also cost more money
Changing finishes or materials mid-project typically results in a change order, which can slow the timeline and increase the cost
Even when they know making a change will add to the cost, some homeowners will still want to change the plans midway.
8. Mission creep. This is the term for what happens when your kitchen renovation is looking amazing … and suddenly you decide you want to also redo the trim on the living room and dining room, and put in all new doors. Suddenly your mission has expanded a little bit. That’s probably the No. 1 place where we see the budget get blown out more.
What Does a Typical Kitchen Renovation Cost, Anyway?
While it’s helpful to know some common reasons why kitchen renovation budgets expand, it could also be useful to know how much kitchen renovations typically cost. According to a Houzz survey of nearly 2,500 homeowners who were renovating or had recently renovated their kitchens, about one-third of owners spent between $25,000 and $50,000. Another one-third spent more than $50,000. These are national averages. The cost for you will depend on costs in this area. Typically costs on the coasts are more expensive than in the middle part of the country.
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