How to cut kitchen remodeling costs
When remodeling a kitchen, keep the old appliances in place until the last possible moment so you can continue to use them and minimize your inconvenience. Credit: Tim Carter
1. Keep your current cabinets
Just paint them, assuming the cabinets are in good condition. You'd be shocked at how dramatic the difference can be by just investing in a gallon of paint. Painted cabinets, especially ones that have some highlighting, can look gorgeous at the end of the day. You can save thousands of dollars immediately by deciding to paint instead of installing new cabinets.
2. Watch for appliance sales
If you're in the market for a new stove, refrigerator, cooktop or microwave, you'll pay a penalty if you impulse buy. Plan ahead and watch for sales at appliance stores. Scour the Internet for promo codes or rebate offers.
3. Consider less-expensive countertops
The plastic laminate tops you may have shunned in the past should be considered. You'll discover many new patterns that mimic the look of expensive countertops that cost thousands of dollars more than what you might spend for durable plastic laminate.
4. Don't reject affordable vinyl tile flooring
Advancements in technology will amaze you when you see vinyl tile that looks like real slate, marble or granite. These are products you can absolutely install yourself in a day or less.
5. Get your supplies ready
Do not start the job until you have everything you need stored in your garage. And it should all be double-checked to make sure it's correct. Once you start tearing apart your kitchen, you should not be wasting valuable time driving around getting materials or making selections only to discover the thing you want will take three weeks to arrive.
6. Wait for warmer weather
If you decide to rip out your kitchen entirely and start over, set up a temporary kitchen in your garage where you can do basic tasks in relative warmth instead of frigid temperatures or blazing heat in the middle of summer. Use an outdoor grill as much as possible to cook -- but don't use it in the garage. Fumes and the risk of fire are real threats.
7. Practice the skills you need
That is, if you plan to do some of the work yourself. Discover if the paint you want will actually look good. If you're going to paint your existing cabinets, go ahead and remove a cabinet front and paint it. When you get the perfect result, it's time to advance to the rest of the kitchen.
