Looking to Remodel Your Kitchen? Start Here.

In the real estate industry, it’s often said that the kitchen is what sells the home. Whether you’re remodeling your kitchen to sell or building your dream cooking space, Keidel can help you build a kitchen you’ll love. If you’re looking to remodel your kitchen, start here with our handy guide! 

Step 1: Plan 

While this may be obvious, planning out your entire kitchen remodel is a crucial first step. First, determine which parts of your kitchen need changing. What do you like about your current kitchen? What do you need more of? What needs to be updated? Once you have this list, you can then begin planning the layout. Make sure you measure everything twice to ensure you have the space you need for your new kitchen. 

Step 2: Budget 

How much do you want to spend on your kitchen remodel? How much does your dream kitchen cost? What are you willing to splurge for, and what can you cut back on? In addition to knowing how much everything will cost (hopefully down to the exact cent), be sure to plan for some extra spending just in case something doesn’t go as expected. For example, if you’re removing your sink and you find that a leaky pipe has caused mold, you’ll need to hire someone to clean and treat the mold-impacted area. 

Step 3: Hire Professionals 

While we’re all about DIY-ing your home remodels, don’t bite off more than you can chew. You may be able to handle all of the painting, but rewiring new outlets or updating plumbing may be better left to the professionals. If you have prior experience with these more complicated home improvement updates, then we say go for it! However, since the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your house, we recommend not using your kitchen remodel project to learn how to do these.

The demo phase of a kitchen remodel is one of the most fun steps, especially if you are taking care of the demo yourself. If you’ve hired a contractor, however, you don’t need to worry about this step. Make sure to follow in order the list below before you go sledgehammer-happy like your favorite home remodel TV show stars. 

• Turn off:

Water
Gas
Electric (from your breaker box)

• Prep for waste with a large dumpster
• Remove all appliances
• Empty all cabinets
• Cover the floors with a drop cloth
• Remove kitchen elements in the following order (if applicable):

Large appliances (fridge, stove, oven, etc.)
Hanging cabinets and cabinet doors/drawers
Garbage disposal
Sink
Countertops and sitting counters
Backsplash
Dishwasher
Trim
Light fixtures
Small appliances (i.e., microwave)
Drywall
Flooring

Step 5: Replace Plumbing 

If you’re replacing the plumbing yourself, now is the time to get started. Make sure you have towels and buckets on hand in case anything starts leaking. While installing your new plumbing, keep an eye out for low water pressure, leaks, and clogged plumbing. 

Step 6: Update Lighting and Electric 

Just like plumbing, we recommend utilizing the help of a professional when updating the electric and lighting fixtures. Some common electric updates include adding new outlets, dimmer switches, wiring for appliances, and updating the circuit breaker.

Step 7: Hang Drywall 

Install new drywall over the new plumbing and electric as soon as you verify everything works. Hanging drywall is relatively easy in comparison to other parts of the remodel process. We recommend completing this part while the weather is cool and not humid to help everything set properly. 

Step 8: Paint 

As soon as the drywall is dry, you can begin painting. Some may save the painting for one of the last steps in the process, but it can be easier to get this step out of the way once the walls are up in order to avoid getting paint on trim, countertops, and cabinets. Make sure to clean and prime your walls first! 

Step 9: Lay Flooring 

If you’re replacing your flooring, now is the time to install it. Depending on the style of flooring you chose, the difficulty of laying it will vary. For example, if you chose luxury vinyl tile (LVT), you will likely be able to install it yourself. However, flooring like ceramic tile, cement, or sealed hardwood may need to be installed by a professional. 

Step 10: Install Cabinets

Installing cabinets is another of the more difficult parts of remodeling a kitchen. Leveling the cabinets properly is one of the challenging aspects of this phase, especially if you’re hanging them on your wall. We don’t recommend tackling any phase of remodeling your kitchen on your own, but cabinet installation is something that cannot be done by only one person. The last thing you want to have happen is for your cabinet to fall down because you didn’t install it correctly! 

Step 11: Install Countertops 

One of the final steps of a kitchen remodel is installing the countertops. While they are relatively easy to place, make sure you have someone help you do the heavy lifting. 

Step 12: Backsplash 

An eye-catching backsplash can dramatically increase the look of your kitchen. There are a variety of options out there, from muted white tile to colorful, textured options. This is where you can start having some fun with the style of your kitchen! 

Step 13: Appliances 

Bringing in your appliances is the last big step of a kitchen remodel. Install your oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave. This may also be a step to bring in a professional for so they can make sure the electric, plumbing, and gas are all hooked up correctly.

Finally, you can take a step back and look at your new kitchen as a whole. What other finishing touches does it need? Add décor, load your dishes into your new cabinets, and enjoy your kitchen! 

If you’re ready to start your kitchen remodel project, come to Keidel! We have the cabinets, countertops, plumbing, and appliances you need to create your dream kitchen. Stop into our Cincinnati showroom today.