While kitchen renovations add a great deal of value to your property, the cost can quickly get out of hand. Follow these tips to help you stick to the budget.
One of the most popular home improvements - and one that will most certainly add value to your property - is a kitchen renovation. The cost of a kitchen revamp, however, can quickly get out of hand unless you plan it very carefully and don’t make hasty decisions that could blow your budget.
The amount of work to be done will determine the materials you need and whether or not you will also need to purchase new appliances. The cost of renovating a normal family-sized kitchen currently starts at around R40 000 and can run to well over R140 000.
Although you may not want to cut corners or skimp on some of the best modern kitchen fittings and finishes, it’s worth considering a few tips to help you get more for your money:
Avoid relocating doors and windows and try to also keep your appliances and wash-up sink in the same positions. This will help you avoid expensive plumbing and electrical work.
If your appliances work, consider not buying new ones until later, when you can afford to buy them “in bulk” or all from one maker so that they all match and give your kitchen that streamlined, high-end look.
Before you make a definite decision, browse through a wide variety of cupboard and drawer options online and in DIY and décor stores. This will help you plan the best use of the available space.
Avoid having things custom made if possible. Buy standard units instead, and standard-width countertops that don’t need extensive fitting. Customise them with your own choice of drawer and door handles.
Consider modern, durable laminates for work surfaces instead of granite or marble as they are much cheaper and less difficult to install or replace.
Consider modern vinyl options for floors instead of ceramic tiles. They are easy to lay and clean, less slippery than tiles, and usually less costly.
If you are tiling the walls, choose a neutral, easy to match colour without patterned inserts, and liven things up with a different colour or material for the backsplashes.
Ultimately, choosing less costly products at every stage of the project will help keep the overall cost down, so do some relentless comparative shopping before you start any work, and make sure to go through every item with your contractor and nail it down so you are not tempted to make impulsive and potentially costly changes along the way.
And finally, if you are really short of funds, you might want to consider some cosmetic changes that can make a huge difference quite inexpensively. These include sanding and repainting your cabinets in a classic neutral shade; repainting the walls in a toning shade; hanging new curtains or blinds; installing bright new lights, retiling or refinishing the backsplashes and removing the countertop clutter.