Countertop and Cabinet Construction: What to Expect?

Despite their names, family and living rooms aren't actually the most popular shared-areas in a house. The kitchen has always been the hub of the home; from holiday parties to late night dinners, the kitchen is probably your most used space. Therefore, since it should have the most appeal of any room, the kitchen is often the most renovated place in the house. A common way to improve the look of a kitchen is through cabinet and countertop renovation. It's fairly affordable and quick, and yet creates the most drastic results.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
The most important part of any construction project actually depends on you. What type of renovation do you want: partial refurbishing or complete replacement? Can you do the project yourself? Should you hire a professional? Who should I hire? What type of material should be chosen? What would look best with your kitchen, or with the rest of your home's decor? Can you afford it? Should a loan be taken out? How long will it take? And, of course, is it needed in the first place?

Though you can certainly answer these questions for yourself, it doesn't hurt to shop around. Also, you may want to ask for consultation for a decorator, contractor, or friend. It may seem hard to believe, but the decisions you make prior to beginning the renovation are actually the toughest and most frustrating. There are lots of ideas out there, and lots of different ways to go, so don't rush this step of the process. Think about how much more frustrating it would be to make a hasty decision and spend all that money and time for something that you don't really want.

Complete Replacement
When thinking of replacing your entire countertop or cabinetry system, it is best to hire a trained countertop or cabinet contractor. These professionals come with the know-how, tools, and materials to do the job quickly and effectively, plus they guarantee quality assurance at an affordable price to fit your budget. They will work with you in the decision-making process to make things run more smoothly, and it give you peace of mind knowing the job will be done correctly and efficiently. You won't have to worry about measuring, gutting, discarding refuse, and obtaining and installing materials. So the only thing you have to worry about is hiring the right contractor and making sure you can afford it. Often these professionals will work with you on the price (loans, payment plans, financial shortcuts, etc). See Working with Countertop and Cabinet Contractors for further details.

However, with complete replacement, your kitchen will be out of service for awhile, so make proper preparations in order to make your life easier while construction is taking place. See Cabinet Prep Steps or Countertop Prep Steps to get more advice about how to make these renovations easier for yourself and your family.

Partial Renovation
Partial renovation, such as refacing or repainting, can possibly be done on one's own, especially when it comes to cabinetry. See Cabinet Prep Steps to see how. However, painting and refacing is still a pain, and in order to make sure the job is done right with the minimal amount of frustration, hire a cabinet contractor to make sure the project is quality-assured. Countertop renovation can be especially tricky since they come in all types of shapes, sizes, and materials (tile, concrete, granite, etc.). So unless you have the specific knowledge required to service your exact countertop material, it is best to hire a professional.

Should I Stay, or Should I Go?
Whether you're dealing with replacement or refurbishing, the issue still remains: inconvenience. This is a personal decision depending on how much patience you have. Some hassle follows any renovation project, so make plans beforehand. Should you stay at home during the installation? Should you find an alternative kitchen space? Should you depend on friends for your kitchen needs in order to stay close to home while the project is underway? It is completely up to you. Just make sure to have a way to stay in contact with the contractor during the renovation, and above all: be patient. Any job worth doing is worth doing well, despite the temporary nuisances.