A kitchen renovation is a great way to add value to your home and give you a fresh new space to enjoy life. The desire for change may strike during the winter months when the weather is at its worst, or it might catch you off-guard on an ordinary day in January.
Because this type of remodeling project lends itself so well to a flexible approach, homeowners often feel overwhelmed by all possible choices. Relax! This guide will help sort them out and show you how to choose the best materials for your situation.
The decision process is not always straightforward, but we have tried to simplify things as much as possible so that choosing the best new cabinets for your kitchen remodel doesn’t require too much effort after all.
The Kitchen Remodeling Process
Choosing materials for your kitchen renovation should be fun and full of discovery, so we have included tips to help you throughout the process. The selection of materials is essential because it will affect:
- The kitchen remodeling budget: kitchen cabinets and countertops are often the most significant expenses in a home improvement project. Making the right choices can save you money now and for years to come.
- Kitchen function: There is probably no other room that impacts everyday family life. It’s where meals are prepared and eaten, kids do their homework, guests chat over coffee, and everyone talks about their day around the dinner table.
- Kitchen beauty: nothing makes a house feel like home like a neatly designed and beautifully finished kitchen. Our guide will help you choose materials that mesh with your unique sense of style, so your renovation project is a success in every way.
What Is a Kitchen Remodel?
A kitchen can mean many different things to many people. It often involves new cabinet installation but may include other construction projects like removing or covering walls to create an open floor plan, adding windows for better lighting, or moving significant appliances like the sink or stovetop.
Your budget and level of DIY experience will determine how much of the work you do yourself; some homeowners prefer to manage all the details themselves, while others hire outside contractors for all or part of the job.
It would be best if you considered asking at least one kitchen remodeling contractor for quotes on any aspect of the project you aren’t comfortable with to be sure you can execute your plans that are viable within your budget.
The kitchen cabinet remodeling process usually begins by choosing new cabinets.
Once you have an idea of what you want, it’s time to think about materials for the cabinets themselves. There are many options to choose from, but they fall into two major categories: stock cabinetry or semi-custom cabinetry.
Stock Cabinets vs. Semi-Custom Cabinets
Choosing between stock and semi-custom cabinets is a significant decision because it will determine many details related to your finished remodeling project. You probably won’t know exactly which styles or features you want before gathering information, so you will need to research and make your decision based on educated guesses.
- Stock cabinets are the most common choice because they are affordable, readily available, and delivered quickly. That is especially important if the kitchen has to remain usable during remodeling.
Stock cabinets come in standard sizes that work well for most kitchens; they also come preassembled, making installation more accessible than semi-custom cabinets.
The downside is that there isn’t much flexibility when using stock cabinets for a kitchen renovation. You have fewer options for customization, so everything has to fit perfectly from the beginning, all the way down to positioning various shelves within each cabinet unit. You also can’t change or update styles or features without replacing them entirely.
- Semi-custom cabinets are more expensive but provide great flexibility in design choices. The cabinet boxes can be crafted by hand or manufactured using computer-guided machinery programmed for the specific job. That allows custom door styles, decorative hardware, and innovative storage options.
Many semi-custom manufacturers are willing to create the kitchen cabinetry you need, so there are fewer limitations about fitting your kitchen space. Semi-custom cabinets also come preassembled, making them easier to handle during installation than stock units.
Still, they aren’t usually delivered as quickly because someone needs to build them after placing an order.
Depending on your budget and how much customization you require, one option may be the best choice. Keep in mind that there are some tradeoffs with each; to ensure you get what you want, take the time to investigate your options before making any decisions.
What to Know When Hiring a Contractor
Home renovation projects can be fun and rewarding, but many homeowners are overwhelmed by the process of finding the right person to do the work. It would be best to consider several things when choosing a professional for your kitchen remodel project.
- It’s best to hire someone who has done similar jobs in your neighborhood, even if you have to pay a bit more because they already know the area.
- A contractor with experience in your area will be familiar with local building codes and ordinances, permitting requirements, and suppliers of the best materials for the job.
- You also can get a sense of their quality by checking online reviews or asking other people in your community about their experiences.
If you want to lower your costs, you can hire a general contractor and work yourself. Before hiring anyone for this project, discuss their rates and what they require from homeowners working with them on site. If you want to do as much as possible on your own, choose someone who doesn’t mind that.
Kitchen remodels who are willing to come down on their price should be able to give you a detailed explanation of their services. If they charge by the hour, ask them to estimate total project costs and keep your budget in mind when making any design choices.
You will be better prepared to choose the best contractor for your kitchen remodels with this information in hand.
Being Practical While Remodeling Your Kitchen
When planning a kitchen remodel, there are practical considerations to make and design decisions that need your attention. One critical choice that will affect the overall look of your finished project is how you choose to arrange the cabinets in your new kitchen area.
You can base that decision on whether you choose stock or semi-custom cabinets. Stock cabinetry is the least expensive option and includes fully-assembled boxes from the factory for a particular size kitchen.
Semi-custom cabinets offer more flexibility but tend to be pricier because companies build them for a specific project according to your specifications. Depending on your needs, you may find one choice is better than the other.
