Reasons Why Kitchen Renovations Go Over Budget
When remodeling your home, there are certain must-haves to include, like new flooring, that are worth the cost and trouble to install. On the other hand, though, homeowners make the mistake of paying for special features, like custom cabinets, that make them exceed their budget. Although it’s nice to have brand-new products and unique items in our kitchens, some are simply not worth the money. There are a variety of ways to keep your kitchen remodel under budget, such as choosing laminate countertops over marble, that make your home look just as nice as those who paid the full price for the same renovations. Find out the most common reasons why kitchen renovations go over budget and how you can save money with these tips!
Top 5 Reasons For Expensive Renovations
Whether you’re looking to complete a kitchen remodel or update your space to get ready to sell, kitchen renovations are notorious for being pricey and time consuming. For first-time sellers or those who are inexperienced with renovations, a kitchen remodel can be an intimidating task, especially when most people end up spending their money on appliances and materials that they can’t afford. The number one reason why kitchen renovations go over budget is due to owners buying more expensive products and materials than what they actually need. This includes brand-new upscale appliances, custom cabinets and countertops made of higher-end material, such as marble. While these all look great in a kitchen, they function just as well as lower-end materials that cost thousands of dollars less and look basically the same. The second most common reason behind expensive renovations comes from homeowners finding out that the products they needed were more expensive than they budgeted for. Adding special features to your cabinetry, such as a wine rack, and appliances, like a specialized refrigerator, can be innocently budgeted at $500 but end up costing more than $7,000 alone. Thirdly, others decided to change the product design during renovation, costing them time and money to remove what they had already installed and buy new materials.
For inexperienced homeowners, the project itself was more complex than previously thought, causing them to fix mistakes, get additional help and problem solve. Unexpected construction-related issues were the final reason why kitchen renovations went over budget, including unforeseen structural issues such as termites, rotten floors from a water leak and faulty ceilings. Although some of these can’t be prevented, it’s a good idea to perform a due diligence check on your kitchen before renovations begin, that way you can identify any underlying issues that are occurring and work around them.
Cabinets and Countertops
During a kitchen remodel, the biggest difference-maker is the cabinets. Depending on what you’re wanting to do, some renovations can cost anywhere from $10,000-20,000 for mid-range cabinetry; high-end cabinets cost well over $20,000 alone. Cabinetry expenses rise depending on what type of material you use, whether it’s new or not and the sheer number of doors, drawers and boxes you’ll need for it all to fit together. Custom cabinets are definitely on the high-end range of expenses, so for those on a budget, do your research on what type of material will fit with your kitchen design but be durable enough to last for years to come. Secondly, countertops play a huge role in final cost, depending on what material you use. Solid and stone countertops are typically the most expensive options, with laminate being the least-costly choice. Laminate countertops come in a variety of colors and are quite durable, but unlike ordinary versus custom cabinets, the difference between the high-end and low-end countertops isn’t very large. So, if you’re looking to save a good chunk of money, choosing mid-range cabinets will save you thousands of dollars more than laminate versus marble countertops will.
How Refinishing Can Save You Money
If your cabinets are old and in need of an update, skip tearing them out and buying new ones; instead, opt for refinishing them to get new-looking cabinets at a fraction of the price. Refinishing applies a new finish to your original cabinet doors, drawers and frames to give them an updated look without having to replace them. For busy homeowners, this is not only the cheapest option but it’s also the most efficient as your kitchen remains completely usable throughout the entire process. The treatment takes between 3 and 5 days as your cabinets are hand-sanded, primed, caulked, sprayed with your choice of finish and then coated with commercial-grade acrylic coatings for a durable look that will last for years to come. No one will ever know that your old cabinets were the base for your refinished ones because they will look impeccable.
Stay Within Budget With Our Help!
If you’re starting a kitchen remodeling project and feel stuck on what you should do, call Summit Cabinet Coatings at (970) 282-9856! Our team has years of experience developing the beautiful kitchens that our clients love while helping them stay within their budgets. Call today for a FREE estimate on your next project!