Kitchen Remodel

806B6488-A783-43EF-A3BC-E0A7B328632D_4_5

How Much Does It Cost to Remodel a Kitchen

Kitchens are an incredibly popular remodeling choice for homeowners. In fact, the National Association of Homebuilders has said that kitchen remodels accounted for 78% of projects last year, making it the second most popular home renovation.

Kitchen remodels don’t have to be massive to make an impact. Smaller remodels tend to have a greater return on investment because they often have mass appeal and are more functional than those based on aesthetics. More expensive projects tend to cost more due to the emphasis on style and aesthetics. When you’re planning a remodel, it’s important to consider resale value. Not everyone wants a vintage kitchen with an avocado-green refrigerator, but everyone does want a kitchen that’s laid out well and has functioning electricity and plumbing.

A kitchen remodel can take many forms, but for a 200 square foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of stock cabinets, no structural or layout changes, new appliances, and a 30 square foot granite countertop (plus 20% for unplanned expenses) you can plan for costs from $8,000-$25,000.

Cost Factors

There are a lot of factors that go into the cost of a remodel, which will be explained in more detail in this guide, but the first part to consider is your budget. While you may not be able to stick to your budget completely, it’s important to understand what things are going to cost before you make any definitive plans.

Materials will be a huge factor in the cost of the remodel. Marble flooring, for example, is much more expensive than laminate. Custom cabinetry can cost triple what stock cabinets cost. With that in mind, you may choose to refinish or repair the cabinets you currently have rather than replacing them entirely.

Costs will also vary depending on how many professionals are involved in the process. You’ll have a contractor, but you may also need an electrician, plumber, and maybe even an architect. The more pros that are involved, the more you’ll have to spend. Its always best if you can hire one construction company that handles all trades to complete your kitchen remodel.

Layout

The “working triangle” is a classic design concept that connects the sink, refrigerator, and cooktop. This is also sometimes referred to as the “work zone.” Having an effective and efficient working triangle means that it’s easier and more convenient to get to the places that you need most often. Moving from getting things from the fridge, to chopping, to washing up will be easier for you and any other cooks working in the kitchen.

There are several different kitchen layouts, and it really depends on the size of your kitchen which layout works best. No matter what you choose for your kitchen layout, you’ll need to work closely with a designer to create the best workspace that you can. Let the designer know how many people use the kitchen and how you plan on using the space.

Design

One of the first factors to consider when planning your remodel is what style or design concept you’re looking for. There are many different styles of kitchens, and browsing kitchen designs online and in magazines can help give you a good idea of what kinds of styles are available. Depending on your budget, you may not be able to achieve the “showroom look” but you may be able to find elements that achieve the style you want. Talk to a kitchen designer, architect, or contractor for help choosing the right elements for your style.

Electrical, Plumbing, and Gas Lines

Depending on the extent of your remodel, you may need work regarding the electrical, plumbing, and/or gas lines. If you are moving the position of appliances, installing a wet bar or garbage disposal, or anything else of that nature, you’ll probably need to hire a specialist. Your contractor may already work with these pros. If you need to make any of these changes, you’ll need an electrician or a plumber. For gas lines, you’ll need either a master plumber or a plumber with a specialty natural gas license.

Faucet and Sink

You’re going to spend a lot of time at your kitchen sink, which is why it’s important to find a sink and faucet that suits your kitchen’s style and your personal kitchen needs.

In terms of sink options, the first decision is whether or not you want a single or a double sink. Small kitchens don’t always have the room for a double sink, and a double sink may not fit some larger pots. Double sinks may be more water-efficient, but there are generally fewer options for faucets. The average cost of single sink installation is about $360, while double sinks average around $475.

There are a few options for materials including stainless steel and porcelain, the two most popular materials. High-end materials are also available, such as copper and natural stone. Porcelain sinks, for example, average around $650including installation, while natural stone sinks cost $1,000-$2,500.

Sinks are either undermount or drop-in, with undermount sinks requiring more work and skill to install. Drop-in sinks are more common and are sometimes the only option, depending on your countertop material and countertop thickness.

Faucets come in many styles, materials, and finishes, but you’ll need to use the right faucet for your sink. Faucets generally fall into two main categories: two-handle and single-handle, and some sinks have the faucet holes precut, so you’ll need to make sure you choose the right faucet type. Most faucets cost less than $100 including installation, but high-end faucets may cost as much as $1,500.

You also have options in terms of what finish you want in a faucet, from chrome to brushed.

Walls

Depending on the structure of your home and your desired kitchen layout, you may need to make some changes to the walls. That may take the following forms:

Repairs: this may involve patching holes, but it could be as involved as repairing water damage.
Installing new drywall and drywall finishing.
Painting: one way to give your kitchen a quick makeover is to repaint the walls. A shift from white to sky blue, for example, changes the entire personality of your kitchen.
Demolition: removing a wall may become part of your remodel, and starts around $1,000 and increases with the complexity of your project. This can be well worth the expense if you are opening up your existing kitchen or creating a larger kitchen layout.

Floors

Flooring is an understated component of a kitchen remodel, but it’s actually a pretty big decision. There’s a lot of foot traffic in a kitchen, so the floor needs to be durable and long-lasting.

Some of the most popular kitchen flooring materials are:

Cork: cork flooring is ecologically friendly and relatively inexpensive. The flooring comes in tiles and needs to have some form of sealant to protect the tiles. Cork flooring costs $5-$13 per square foot.
Hardwood: hardwood flooring is beautiful, durable, long-lasting, and expensive. Hardwood flooring costs $12-$20 per square foot.
Vinyl: vinyl 4 is easy to clean and easy to install, but it doesn’t always have the staying power of wood. Luxury vinyl is a little more expensive but also more durable. Vinyl flooring costs $2-$10 per square foot.
Tile: tiles may be ceramic or porcelain and are easy to clean. The grout 5 lines can actually be an interesting aesthetic feature as well. Depending on the quality of the tile, expect to pay $2-$18 per square foot.
Natural stone: for a luxury floor, natural stone can be an option. It’s easy to break a glass if you drop it, but it creates a stunning and elegant effect. Stone flooring costs $10-$18 per square foot.

Backsplash

A backsplash is one of the most fun and useful elements to a kitchen. It’s an opportunity to create a decorative area as an accent point behind the stovetop and counter. It’s also a way to save your wall from stains due to splashes from food preparation. Backsplashes 6 are also easier to update when you don’t want to spend money on a full remodel.

There are many different choices of material for backsplashes, some of which are easier to clean and lower maintenance than others.

Countertops

Your countertop serves a couple of purposes. The most important purpose is to provide an area to prepare and serve food. The other main purpose can be to act as an aesthetic focal point in the room. Countertops come in a wide variety of colors and materials, and you can really make a statement in terms of kitchen design.

Plan on having a counter area at least 36 inches wide, with at least 18 inches on one side of the sink and 24 on the other. Popular countertop materials include:

Granite: Durable natural stone, Comes in many colors and textures. $35-$500/sq.ft.

Marble: Elegant Heavy natural stone, Often features mineral veins. $57-$200/sq.ft.

Quartz: Durable, Comes in many colors. $45-$100/sq.ft.

Storage

A kitchen needs plenty of storage space to hold pantry items and kitchen tools, which that can come from cabinets and shelving, or, more likely, probably some combination of the two. Cabinets can be the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel, but there are three main types of cabinets:

Stock: stock cabinets are prefabricated and ready to install right away. You generally have fewer options in terms of colors and door styles, and stock cabinets are generally less expensive ($60-$200 per linear foot) than semi-custom and custom cabinets. You may not find a cabinet to fit unusual spaces.
Semi-custom: semi-custom cabinets are available in standard sizes, but come in a wider range of colors, finishes, and door styles than stock cabinets. These cabinets cost $100-$650 per linear foot.
Custom: custom cabinets are the most expensive cabinet option ($500-$1,200 per linear foot), because you can customize every piece of the process, from the wood type to the door style to the internal components.

Ventilation

Every kitchen needs adequate ventilation, which means you’ll need a ventilation hood to take smoke away from the room and push it outside. There are different types of range hoods depending on your preferences and kitchen design.

For example, you can get an island range hood for an island range, or you could get a microwave/range hood combination that serves dual purposes. Some range hoods are wall-mounted, while others are undercabinet. If you already have the ducts in place from a previous hood, you will have lower installation costs. If everything is new, however, your costs will be higher. Hoods range in cost from $350-$3,000, and installation costs an additional $400-$1,500, depending on complexity.

Lighting

There are three lighting concepts that every home and kitchen has, whether you realize it or not: ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. Ambient lighting produces general atmosphere lighting, task lighting is brighter and more focused on a workspace, and accent lighting highlights objects or architectural features.

In a kitchen, achieving these lighting elements can come in several forms:

Recessed or track lighting: this provides ambient lighting that will illuminate the entire kitchen. Work with a designer to make sure that you don’t have too much light. Too much light can overpower the room and all of the hard work and money you’ve put into the remodel. Recessed lighting costs $400-$1,200. Track lighting kits may cost as little as $50 for the parts, but you will still need to pay for installation.

Chandeliers and pendants: these are particularly popular in areas with high ceilings. Pendants and chandeliers also allow you to add some color or personality to your kitchen. This type of lighting fixture can provide either ambient or task lighting. Pendant lamps range from $30-$300 each. Chandeliers range in price from $50-$5,000 depending on size and material.

Wall lights: wall lights are often accent lights and can highlight your home’s architecture. Individual sconces range from $10-$50 each, not including installation.

Undercabinet: a common light feature in kitchens is undercabinet lighting, which can both highlight your beautiful countertop and provide adequate task lighting for cooking and preparing food. Undercabinet lights are sold in 24-inch lengths and range in cost from $20-$50 each, not including installation.

Toe kick lighting: the recessed area under cabinets is referred to as the “toe kick”, and lighting in this area can be a great safety feature for avoiding run-ins in the middle of the night. Additionally, toe kick lights provide soft accent lighting to your new cabinets and flooring. Toe kick lighting fixtures are generally the same as undercabinet lighting fixtures.

Appliances

Appliances are some of the final pieces installed in the kitchen, but you need to plan for them and decide whether you’re repairing what you have or replacing them entirely. Some appliances are absolutely necessary, while others are simply nice to have.

Even thought energy efficient appliances have a higher price, they can fully counteract this cost by savings in utility bills. Energy-efficient professionals can help you choose the right appliances and show you how they can improve your kitchen.

Labor (Consider)

Kitchen remodeling can quickly get very complicated, and there probably isn’t one person who can do it all. There are going to be several people involved in the process:

Architect: your particular remodel may not require an architect, but if you’re doing anything that requires structural changes to the layout of your kitchen (like removing a wall or adding a window), you’ll likely need to consult an architect during the planning process. Architects typically charge by the hour ($100-$125 per hour), but some, if overseeing the project, charge a percentage of the total project cost (10-17%).

Kitchen designer: if you don’t hire an architect, you may need to consult a kitchen designer instead. Kitchen designers can plan your remodel and help you find the right style and “look.” Kitchen designers may charge a one-time consulting fee/house visit, but more often than not, designers charge a percentage of the total remodel cost for managing the entire project. Expect to pay $250 for a one-time consultation or 10-20% for managing the project.

Contractor: instead of hiring a designer to oversee the project, you could instead go with a general contractor who has experience remodeling kitchens. Contractors will oversee the whole project, and they often work closely with a team of electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. Contractors often charge as a percentage of the total of the remodel cost, similar to a kitchen designer. Think of your contractor as your remodeling manager.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Book Now