Having the kitchen remodeled is an easy solution that can add significant value to the home. A remodeling project can be a simple process that cost nearly a few hundred dollars, or can cost tens of thousands to fully modernize many of the outdated components in the house. Homeowners often select a kitchen remodel as the ideal home improvement solution for maximizing the benefits of the home. There are easy ways of remodeling the kitchen, as detailed below.
Planning the Project
One of the quickest ways to get an idea of exactly how much a kitchen remodel cost is to visit the local home improvement retail store. Many of them will have a variety of kitchen components on display, where the homeowner can compare the quality of appliances, counter tops and cabinets.
Simply write down the available prices on the types of components, cabinets, flooring, and counter tops you desire. Next, you can factor in exactly how much the labor will cost, which usually represents nearly 40% of the cost of the materials.
The Financing
By obtaining the correct numbers above, you can easily determine whether or not you can realistically afford to spend or borrow the money to have the outdated kitchen remodeled. It may require financing, or extending a line of credit on the equity of the home. You might be able to have the job performed in piecemeal, where the cabinets and counter tops are remodeled, but the floor is added at a later date. Check with the bank to determine exactly how much money can be borrowed on a home equity loan to begin the project.
Updating the Cabinetry
The cabinets in the kitchen might not need to be replaced, but simply re-faced. Instead of purchasing new cabinets, new doors can be added and the cabinet boxes can be resurfaced with a laminate or wood material. Many times the cabinets are still in good condition, and it is only the doors that are outdated.
Changing the Flooring
There is a large assortment of flooring options available when remodeling the kitchen. These include hardwood, laminate, linoleum, tile, polished concrete and even outdoor carpet. The linoleum fabricated today is far more appealing than the flooring in your grandmother’s home. There is a huge array of laminates available that look identical to hardwood that hold up significantly better and have nearly no maintenance requirements.
New lighting
The quickest way to beautify any kitchen is to change out the lighting. This might include adding a ceiling fan with lights, recessed lights, sconces and even chandeliers. There is a huge assortment of available lighting to meet any budget.
Counter Top Material
Selecting the best type of counter top material can be challenging. There is a huge assortment of options available including granite, marble, tile, and synthetic materials in a variety of colors, styles and strengths.
Remodeling the kitchen is a phenomenal home remodel project that can transform the interior of the home. Some contractors will require a complete gut of the entire area, while others can simply add new components to the existing kitchen.
Home Improvement: Remodeling the Exterior of the Home
When a homeowner decides to remodel the exterior of their home, they can add significant value to the worth of the house. However, there are specific home improvement projects that can add significantly more value than others. This might include enhancing the landscaping, changing the siding, or adding a new roof.
It is best to walk the exterior of the home with the perspective of being an individual that does not live there. Looking at the house with the point of view of a stranger will provide a more objective approach to which types of changes should be made to the exterior of the home. Detail exactly what parts of the house should be remodeled to add greater curb appeal.
Once the list is complete, consider every factor including how much it will cost to design a plan, obtain the subcontractors, and proceed forward with the project. You might not be able to proceed forward with the project if financing needs to be obtained, or it may be a project small enough that does not require a loan.
Changing the Color
Selecting a different color scheme might be the easiest way to transform the exterior of the house. Check the entire neighborhood, and select colors that best blend in with the overall theme of all the other houses on the block. This does not mean the color selected will necessarily minimize the impact. Any type of complementary colors can add an instant dramatic effect. Even a more mundane light neutral color can be accented with bright or both colors to add the right type of complement to the other.
Roofing the House
Maybe the only thing that needs to be done to the exterior of the home is to have it re-roofed. This can be done by professionals, within just a few days. The homeowner has the ability to change the overall impact of the exterior of the home by selecting different roofing materials. If the house currently has a shingle roof, consider a metal roof, or architectural tile. Before heavier roofing material (such as concrete tile) can be installed on an existing home, the roof system needs to be evaluated to ensure it can handle the load.
Decorative Touches
Adding shutters or window trims might make a dramatic positive impact on the aesthetic quality of the exterior of the home. Painting the porch or deck might be all that is required to add a decorative style to the front of the house. Removing a clutter of landscaping, shrubs and bushes might quickly transform the exterior of the home and require nothing more than sweat equity to produce a higher value to the house.
There are many ways to remodel the exterior of the home. The available home improvement projects range between an easy do-it-yourself job and one that requires the skills of a general contractor or subcontractor.
However the homeowner chooses to transform the exterior of their home, it should always be done with the idea of enhancing the neighborhood while increasing value to the property.