Renovation Headquarters
Kitchen Remodeling Index
Most families spend a substantial amount of time in their kitchen area. In some cases it is the place where families gather in the morning and evening and share their experiences. In some homes the individual who does the cooking spends many hours preparing meals in the kitchen.
It really doesn't matter whether the kitchen is the family gathering place or whether it is the cooks domain, in either case the kitchen needs to be a comfortable and well laid out room with an ambience of warmth.
A kitchen remodel will add monetary value to the home should you decide to sell. The quality and appearance of the kitchen is one of the number one driver of resale properties.
New appliances, are more energy efficient each year and they provide increased efficiency for the cook and those who work during the day and still prepare a quality meal every evening.
If you are considering remodeling any part of your home, the kitchen is the area that should be considered first. Although a kitchen remodel is a major undertaking, it is a project that can be undertaken by the diy home handy person, saving major labor expense and adding true value to your home.
The following directory will guide you to additional information on each aspect of kitchen remodeling.
Being confined to a wheelchair and using a kitchen can be a daunting task. The common designs and layouts of kitchens create all sorts of use problems and obstacles for anyone in a wheelchair. This article provides an overview of the basics of creating an "accessible" kitchen.
Woodworking and craft projects related to kitchen conveniences and accessories. Many are suitable for woodworking novices or teaching children the art of woodworking and make excellent family projects.
Nice and efficient appliances make your kitchen the most lovable place to prepare food for the household. Frozen or canned food from the refrigerator or the preparation of a gourmet meal for holidays will all need the right choice of appliances to make cooking easy and efficient.
Installing a tile backsplash in a kitchen is not a difficult home improvement project for the DIY home handyman. It is a great addition to a kitchen on its own or as part of a complete kitchen remodeling project. Backsplashes allow the homeowner to be creative, make clean-up easier and enhance the value of the home.
Most states, provinces and local municipalities have bylaws that require homeowners, or contractors working on behalf of a homeowner to obtain permits for many building and remodeling projects. A complete bathroom remodeling home improvement, because it usually includes work on plumbing and electrical, as a general statement, require a building permit.
Face-Frame Versus Frameless (Euro Box/Style) Cabinets
Make Your Own Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet Care, Repair & Maintenance
Positioning Cabinet Knobs & Pulls
Kitchen cabinets comes in a vast variety of materials and finishes. Cabinets can be purchased as a DIY assembly, preassembled (standard sizes) and custom manufactured or you can build your own.
Whether you are looking for a general contractor or a specific trade, determining who you should contract can be a very frustrating experience. Reference checks are a critical part of the exercise. Kitchen remodeling is an expensive exercise, and if you are not a diy home handyman - it is important that you choose your contractor wisely.
Countertops are a primary focal point of any bathroom. You have many choices of material, edging and cost, each has advantages and disadvantages – learn which is best for you! If you are remodeling your bathroom with a tight budget, learn how to build your own counter tops.
A total kitchen remodel, with the exception of adding additional living space, is by far the most expensive and most complex home improvement that one can undertake. With the new design software packages that are available you can see your finished kitchen in 3D before you start.
Installing a dishwasher is a project that most home handymen should be able to accomplish with ease. There are four primary considerations:
Drilling Holes - Porcelain, Stone, Marble, Granite
Drilling holes in ceramics, porcelain, natural stone, marble, granite, and glass is not difficult, it requires some patience and as with most projects, the proper tools for the job. Very few bathroom remodeling projects do not have a requirement to drill holes in tile.
Electrical Considerations For A Kitchen Remodel
Outlets (Receptacles) Relative To Countertops
The kitchen area requires more power than any other area in a home. If you have an older home, you may face the problem of not having enough additional or spare circuits available to properly supply power to your new and remodeled kitchen.
Kitchen Range Hoods & Exhaust Fans
Kitchen exhaust fans come in many noise levels, sizes, shapes and configurations. It is important that the ventilation system meets the needs of the square footage of the room that it is to ventilate. If you are planning to undertake a kitchen remodeling project, steps should be taken to minimize pollution from sources inside the home. In addition, homeowners should be alert to signs of inadequate ventilation, such as stuffy air, moisture condensation on cold surfaces, or mold and mildew growth and use the kitchen remodeling project to correct underlying problems. While all of our general recommendations may not apply to your home, you should be aware of the issues, from radon gas and lead paint, to ventilation, and good work practices.
Kitchen faucets come in a variety of styles, finishes and quality levels. These faucet can be one piece or three piece construction. In the vast majority of cases the one piece construction uses holes in sink itself on four inch centers. Three piece, separate hot and cold valves and a separate spout, generally use eight inch centers for the holes in the sink, or counter top.
Tile Patterns, Designs & Layout
When considering the flooring material for a kitchen remodeling project there are two major considerations; safety and the material's ability to stand-up to moisture. There are many choices for your kitchen remodeling project including man made tiles, laminates, vinyl and natural stones.
Yes, hardwood flooring can be installed in a kitchen. In fact, hardwood flooring is an excellent choice for almost any room in your home with the exception, due to high quantities of humidity, of full bathrooms (those with showers) and laundry rooms.
There are so many beautiful flooring materials for kitchens, yet most a major drawback. They are cool and sometimes very cold to the touch. Before you commit to the design of your new kitchen consider the different flooring materials and whether you should install radiant under floor heating.
On demand or tankless hot water systems have been in use in Europe and Asia for over 40 years, although the vast majority have been fueled by natural gas or propane and were installed in locations within the home that required hot water, primarily kitchens and bathrooms, as they did not use a central hot water tank for an entire home. Tankless water heaters have a number of advantages. But installing one as part of your kitchen remodeling project can become expensive, especially if your current electrical service cannot delivery the necessary power.
Kitchen island counters can provide much needed storage space in cabinets and drawers as well as adding to the working countertop area within a kitchen.
Florescent lighting, unless you use the very expensive "full spectrum" bulbs, has a tendency to change the colors of objects. Standard florescent bulbs come in two different whites; cool white which enhances cool colors such as gray and blue and warm white which enhances colors like yellow, red and beige. The warm white bulbs also provide a superior reflection for wood cabinets.
Over the years kitchen designers have developed what they consider to be the optimum work center for a kitchen and transformed that into numerous layouts depending on the overall size and shape of the kitchen area.
Constructing a kitchen pass through is relatively simple if you follow these 7 steps.
Many homeowners believe that painting kitchen cabinets are the poor mans method of performing a kitchen remodeling project. This couldn't be farther from the truth! As with most home improvement projects, the difference between a true quality finished project and one that is sub-standard is the prep work, tools and materials used.
Pictures - Kitchen Design & Layout
More than 50 pictures of kitchen designs and layouts showing all aspects of a kitchen remodel. Cabinets, Flooring, Lighting, Appliances
Kitchen remodeling is by far the most expensive and most complex home improvement that one can undertake, with the exception of adding additional living space.
Kitchen sinks should be chosen for their functionality as well as their aesthetic value in the kitchen. There are literally hundreds of styles of sinks and numerous materials and mounting methods available.
North Americans have been spoiled, most of us grew up in homes with large kitchens, with plenty of counter space. However, things are changing more and more homes have much smaller kitchens, especially in duplexes, four-plexes, apartments and condominiums.