A Basic Step-by-Step Guide To Kitchen Remodelling

Complete remodelling of your kitchen from scratch can be a huge undertaking. It would be best if you had proper planning and budgeting to keep the remodelling project on track.

If you hire a licensed builder, the budget will increase, but it might take months if you try a hands-on DIY approach–unless you’re one of those experienced DIYers. So, it’s best to find a middle ground regarding kitchen remodelling that can be both beneficial and budget-friendly.

Plus, it requires extensive planning and a lot of grunt work to remodel a kitchen. But the real question is - where to begin all of it? That’s why we’re here to discuss the fundamentals of renovating your kitchen and home renovation.

So, without any further ado, let’s get started on your kitchen renovations!

The Basic Kitchen Remodelling Process (Step-By-Step)

Step 1: Assess Your Needs And Renovation Budget

The first step of the kitchen remodelling process is to assess your needs. Is the space too small for cooking? Do you not have enough cupboards to store food? Identify what’s lacking in your kitchen design and plan your remodelling accordingly.

The next part of this first step involves budgeting because you don’t want to go bankrupt while remodelling your kitchen. You might want to install a natural stone countertop, but you may run out of the budget without proper cost estimation during kitchen remodelling. Hence, planning everything so your budget can meet your desires and requirements is essential.

Step 2: Plan Your Kitchen Design

Once you’re clear about your kitchen requirements and have a flexible budget estimation, it’s time to plan the new kitchen design. It’s best to stick to the five basic kitchen designs, like the one-wall, corridor, L-shaped, double-L, or U-shaped designs. All these designs are based on the traditional workflow model of the kitchen.

After you finish the initial design planning, it’s time to bring in a professional kitchen designer who can help you plan the interior. When all the drawings and planning of your new kitchen layout are done, you can order the necessary materials to start the actual remodelling work.

Step 3: DIY Or Hire A Professional Contractor

Now, you can hire a general contractor or licensed builder for the remodelling work who’ll supervise the overall project without you needing to lift a finger. These professionals can help you source the best quality materials, kitchen flooring and new appliances and help you maximise space for your new kitchen cabinetry. Builders will usually come with their team of sub-contractors to carry out different parts of the project.

However, if you choose to hire a general contractor from a large firm, be ready to pay 10-15% of the total project cost as commission. These totals cover a range of kitchen remodels, and the final price will vary depending on the type of remodelling chosen and how extensive the project is. You can also hire sub-contractors instead of a contractor to cut costs.

Another option is to get your hands dirty and do it yourself! If you’re well-experienced in handling such projects, a DIY approach can save you a lot of money. But, it’s not ideal for amateurs because it requires excellent technical skills. In that case, hiring general contractors is your best bet. Be sure to do your research, and ask all the necessary questions.

But, before starting any remodelling work, get the required building permits from the local authorities to avoid any legal dilemmas.

Step 4: Brace Yourselves

Remodelling your kitchen will require a lot of demolition and construction, so it’s best to find a temporary kitchen where you can cook daily meals for the time being. In the meantime, set up an informal kitchen in your house to accommodate your functional kitchen appliances. Any home bar or recreation room with a sink can come in handy for cooking meals and dining during this time.

You can also consider storing pre-cooked meals in the freezer that’ll last for days. Or, you can simply stick to ordering take-out food or dining out to avoid the entire cooking ordeal while your kitchen is under construction.

Step 5: Demolition And Groundwork

The kitchen demolition takes some hard physical work, so be ready to get those sledgehammers ready. Usually, the carpentry crew takes apart the old kitchen layout and builds the new design. Upon completion of demolition, a typical kitchen remodel begins with the carpentry crew performing whatever framing work is needed for the kitchen renovation project.

Depending on your level of remodelling, the kitchen remodelling process might require some significant construction tasks and changes. Are you planning to have an open-floor design by removing the kitchen walls? Do you want a new cupboard space? Only after you know the answer to these questions you’ll be able to go ahead with the remodelling.

So, the demolition work will involve tearing down the old walls and paints and building something from the ground up while redoing the kitchen.

Step 6: Wiring And Plumbing

After the demolition and kitchen layout is done, it’s time to move on to the finer details. Consider the electrical wiring and plumbing lines if you want a fully functional kitchen. Depending on your kitchen design, you can stick to the existing plumbing and electrical wiring or update the entire system.

However, if the plumbing lines stay in the same place, replacing the old pipes with new and durable models like PEX pipes is best. Similarly, you might need to upgrade the electrical lines to use heavy kitchen appliances. Once the plumbing and wiring are done, a building inspector will check the installations before you can move further with the remodelling.

Step 7: Ceilings And Walls

It’s time to make your kitchen look aesthetically pleasing after all the labour-intensive work. Once all the plumbing and wiring are completed, you’re done installing drywall, and the ceiling and your load-bearing walls are primed and painted.

You can also use beautiful wall tiles instead of simply painting the kitchen walls. Plus, this is the stage where you can work on installing a ceiling texture. You can install the drywall and continue with priming, texturing, and colouring all by yourself to save money. But your kitchen designers can do all these much faster and with utmost perfection at a fairly reasonable price.

Step 8: Floor Installation

After the walls and the ceiling and you’ve completed all the painting processes, it’s time to work on the kitchen floor. In this process, it’s essential to avoid wear and tear during flooring installation. Based on your preferred type of flooring and budget, you can choose sheet vinyl flooring, ceramic tiles, engineered wood, laminate flooring, or solid hardwood flooring options for your new flooring. Sheet vinyl is the most affordable flooring option for your kitchen, while laminate flooring is the most popular choice because of its easy installation.

At the same time, installing flooring made of ceramic tile can be pretty labour-intensive, but it works perfectly in a modern kitchen because it’s easy to clean. However, hardwood flooring is not popular in kitchens because water can ruin the hardwood coating. Depending on your contractor and the effort required for your floors, installing flooring usually takes about 2 to 3 days.

Step 9: Install Cupboards And Cabinets

Are you desperate for more storage space or bench space in your cooking zone? Installing cabinets may be your best option! As your kitchen remodelling is almost done, you will need to install the cabinets and cupboards. You can choose custom kitchen cabinets and cupboards if you have the right budget. It is up to you whether to remove your existing cabinets yourself or have the tradespeople install your new cabinets and do it for you.

Also, choosing the suitable material can work on installing the kitchen countertops after installing the cabinets. You can choose natural stones, like granite or marble, ceramic tiles, or synthetic materials for your countertops. Just make sure that your countertops are perfectly flat while installing them.

Step 10: Install Fixtures And Appliances

Now, it’s time to get all the functional kitchen appliances and install the electrical and plumbing fixtures, like the kitchen and faucets and don’t forget the light fixtures. This is the stage when the kitchen becomes fully functional. Call in your plumbers to set up the taps and dishwasher.

Also, connect the electrical wires with power sockets and install the kitchen lighting fixtures. So, all the final connections and touch-ups are completed in this stage to make your kitchen ready for use.

Getting Ready To Renovate Your Kitchen

You need to invest both time and money when it comes to major kitchen remodel. Proper planning and designing are crucial for successfully carrying out such a major kitchen configuration. After going through our article, we hope you know better where to start and what to do while remodelling your kitchen from square one.

Once all the remodelling is done, it’s a good idea to sit with your contractor and go through the entire project checklist. It is also important to note that several inspectors will check your kitchen and stamp your permit application as finished or complete. You must also complete all the remaining payments once your new kitchen is up and running. Keep a close tab on all your remodelling expenses to avoid any budget issues at the end of the project.

You can also speak to our professional and experienced team at Final Touch. We are the top Sydney builders for home renovation and remodelling projects. Call us to speak with one of our friendly staff today!

And on that note, we’ll sign off. Take care and good luck with your kitchen reno!