"Preparing For A Kitchen/Bath Remodel"

I found this wonderful article online from a gentleman who owns a company called Forte Electric. I was very impressed because he thinks like, and sounds like he has the same business characteristics that my husband, Rich, has. He has some valuable information about planning that I would like for you to look over, think about and digest in your preparations. And I am also going to give you his company website, which is in New Jersey. This is great advice that he has given, and it will be "continued" on the comments.

Here is his website:
http://www.forteelectric.com

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Kitchen remodeling, what to expect and how to prepare for your Kitchen Remodel.

Before you begin your journey into the world of a kitchen remodel there are some things you should know. So many articles are written on how to plan, design, and hire a contractor for your kitchen remodel. What almost none of these articles tell you is what to expect. Remodeling a kitchen is one of the most intense projects one can embark on. There are a multitude of decisions to make and details to review.

Using my experience from being involved in hundreds of kitchen remodels I’ll try to give you some advice on what to expect.

The first of many steps will be deciding on a budget. You will want to make sure you have an amount of money you are willing to spend. This figure, your budget, needs to include everything you plan for the kitchen as well as unforeseen expenditures. So when it comes time that you get your prices be sure there is room left for added expenses. Keep in mind also that when your remodel is complete you’re going to
want new utensils, dishes, towels, etc..

Even if this is going to be a do it yourself project you’ll probably want to visit either a kitchen showroom or a big box store kitchen center to get some design ideas and layouts. At this point some questions will need to be addressed. Things like the type and style of cabinets and the types and size of appliances. This is rarely a one step process and don’t expect to get the design down in one shot. Take some ideas and in the comfort of your home analyze them. Make sure all the measurements are correct.

Get a feel for where the essentials will be located, like the sink and fridge and stove, and make sure the layout feels right. Now is the time to refine your decisions. If the layout needs some adjustments, that needs to be done first. Once you have planned your layout and chosen your cabinets you may be excited to get started, but don’t jump the gun.

Try to work out as many details as you can at this point. The more time you spend planning now will mean less time fixing problems that arise when you try to make changes on an already started project.

Before your order for cabinets is placed make sure you covered all the bases. If you have glass doors will there be glass shelves? If you are going to install under cabinet lighting will you need a light rail? Is there crown molding and how much do you need? Is it going to be used in the room as well as on top of the cabinets? What side panels do you need or any other wood related to the cabinets? The reason all of
this is so important is if you are missing something you need from the cabinet company, it can cause delays later when you need to reorder. Some cabinet orders can take weeks. The last thing you want to find out after you have begun is that you're going to be delayed.

Now that you have made your choices and picked a design and cabinet and all your appliances, you will need to find out what the 'lead-time' is for all the merchandise needed to arrive. Usually this is about 6 weeks but varies. Now you can proceed to the next step. If this is a DIY project and you have no experience installing kitchens I would recommend at this stage you read everything about it you can get your hands on. This is no easy task, and after investing thousands of dollars in cabinets you won’t want to mess up the install. I would not recommend this for a weekend project. Unlike the popular home makeover shows on TV today, a kitchen generally does not get installed in 2 or 3 days. A much more likely scenario is 2 or 3 weeks if all goes well, and longer if there are any snags.

If you intend on being the GC on the project and don’t have experience with it, I would again recommend that you do as much reading on the subject that you can. Do not attempt this unless you have very strong organizational skills and have no problems making tough decisions. If this is the course you are taking, your work is just beginning. You’ll have to now find and secure all the trades needed for
your kitchen remodel. In most cases you will need to find the following trades: Demo company, Carpenter, Plumber, Electrician, Tile installer, and Cabinet installer. There could be other trades involved depending on the circumstances surrounding your project such as Alarm installer or an HVAC contractor. Just to give an example of how difficult it can be to GC a job like this imagine finding and then scheduling all these trades. Now imagine you did all that work and the day comes for the plumber to show up and he doesn’t. You can’t get a hold of him for days. Now all the trades you scheduled after him need to be rescheduled. It’s the busy season and they are three weeks out at least. I am sure you can see what a stressful situation this could become. It doesn’t just take a bad sub-contractor. It could be that when the walls are opened there is a problem such as termite damage or a leaky pipe or a
structural problem. Any of these things now means a delay that gets passed on to all the subs meaning a massive rescheduling.

If you choose to have a General Contractor do the entire job you can avoid some of this headache. A GC who has a good working relationship with his subs will be able to resolve scheduling conflicts much more easily if a situation arises. Of course this does come with a price. A GC will generally be adding a percentage on every aspect of the job. This is usually in the area of 25% but varies with each individual contractor. In my opinion a good general contractor is worth every dime and will make the job go more smoothly. Unless you have a great deal of time on your hands this is the way to go.

(cont. on 1rst comment)

"Kitchen Remodeling Survival Tips" ~ BHG

This is from a great Kitchen & Bath Remodeling which Better Homes & Gardens puts out:
http://kitchenbathideas.com/plan/kitchen/budget/remodeling-survival-tips/

"Kitchen Remodeling Survival Tips from BHG"

1.) Preparing for a Kitchen Remodeling Project:

Kitchen remodeling is more disruptive to your everyday routine than any other single home renovation project. An extensive project can require weeks or even months to complete, so you need to have practical alternatives for food storage, cooking, and cleanup. These basic remodeling tips can get you started:

2.) Start Planning Early:

Begin your planning and preparation months before the demolition hammer meets the drywall. The last thing you want is to be making kitchen design and product decisions after the old kitchen is gutted.

For starters, get a professional planner or certified kitchen designer on board right away. They'll help you make decisions about layout, cabinetry, appliances, and lighting, so you can get product specifications and installation info in hand well ahead of time. Budget for this expertise; it's a bargain compared to fixing avoidable mistakes later or living with a new kitchen you wish had turned out differently.

3.) Secure Building Permits: **A MUST**

Be sure your contractor has pulled the necessary permits before starting and knows the schedule for inspections. Until things like electrical and plumbing get signed off, work has to stop, even if it means your kitchen sits torn apart for an extra week.

4.) Order Everything Early:

Whenever possible, purchase appliances, cabinetry, sinks, and other fitted items well in advance. Inspect the condition when they arrive, and confirm that they are the right items. Manufacturer delays, freight damage, incorrect dimensions, and other problems are best managed or avoided by building a lot of lead time into the process. If you don't have a dry and secure garage or similar space to store these goods, try to arrange storage with your designer or contractor, or rent a storage unit.

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