Are you looking to find ways to create the perfect kitchen on a tight budget? Well, you do not have to resort to rummaging through the scrap pile at the local junkyard to cut cost corners in creating your dream kitchen.
On average, homeowners spend around 20% of a home improvement budget designing and building the perfect kitchen. In many cases, homeowners neglect to follow the budget set for the kitchen construction project.
We have a few tips to help you create the perfect kitchen, without busting the home improvement budget.
Table of Contents
Carefully Thought Out Decisions Early On
Performing research and making decisions are vital steps for creating the perfect kitchen on a budget. Any changes in the original decisions, such as changing the material used for designing the new cabinets can lead to cost overruns. Stick with what you have carefully decided to avoid costly project delays as well.
Create a Reasonable Construction Schedule
The general contractor typically outsources phases of a kitchen project to specialists in niches such as plumbing and electrical systems. Make sure you work closely with the general contractor to devise a work schedule that does not drag on and on. Labor is a huge part of kitchen construction costs.
Build a Personable Relationship with Workers
In most lines of work, poor morale often leads to inferior work performance. For a kitchen construction project, that can mean costly mistakes that send your budget spiraling upward. Spend time getting to know the work crew. You do not have to be best friends; just be cordial and above all, act professionally.
Involve the Pros in the Design and Layout Phases
You might know what you want in a kitchen construction project. However, by working with the professionals in charge of the different project phases, you can create the perfect kitchen that keeps you within the budget. The design and layout phases are especially important phases that requires consulting with the appropriate professionals.
Shop for High Quality Materials at Bargain Prices
Use the same mindset that you use for shopping for other products when you shop for the building materials to use in the design of your new kitchen. Check out promotional programs run by any of the large box home improvement retailers to save a little money.
Go with an Affordable Countertop Material
If marble and granite are out of your price range, there are plenty of affordable countertop material options that will help you design an attractive kitchen countertop that delivers a high level of functionality.
Laminate
You are not considering premium, higher priced laminate. Instead, you want to go with a cost effective style of laminate that presents a stylish appearance for a new countertop. Laminate offers plenty of design flexibility, as the countertop material is available in a wide variety of design options. Its durability makes the material ideal for homeowners that plan to use the new countertop as the focal point of prepping and cooking food. Laminate resists dents and scratches, as well as does a good job of standing up to different heat sources.
Ceramic Tile
As a popular countertop material for do it yourself homeowners, ceramic tile presents an attractive appearance that will enhance the ambiance of your new kitchen. Add corners and a backsplash, and you have a countertop that exudes panache. You have to account for sealing ceramic tiles, but that is a small price to pay for saving money on a kitchen countertop material.
Tile Granite
You do not have to eliminate granite entirely from your list of affordable kitchen countertop materials. Tile granite allows you to take advantage of the beautiful natural stone, without forking over the cash for slab granite. It will take more work to build a tile granite countertop, as there are more pieces to fit flawlessly into the design puzzle.
Wood
Wood is a countertop material that delivers rustic charm at an affordable price. The manufacturing costs of wood are low, although the countertop material will require above average maintenance, particularly if you plan to use the new wood kitchen countertop as a cutting and blending surface.
Use a Countertop Estimator
One of the reasons homeowners run right through a kitchen construction project budget is they guess how much different phases of the project will cost. With countertop estimators available online, as well as at the major big box home improvement retailers, you can take the guess work out of the kitchen countertop phase of your project.
A countertop estimator examines seven factors to calculate the overall cost of installing a kitchen countertop.
Material
We already mentioned the more affordable countertop materials. Natural stones, such as quartz, granite, and marble cost more per square foot and thus, will increase the amount of money in your kitchen construction budget.
Size
This requires a square foot answer. You can bank on the principle that the larger the countertop, the more you can expect to pay for it.
Color
Different color options produce different price points in this category.
Removing the Old Countertop
Answering yes to this question will increase your kitchen construction budget.
How Complex is the Project?
As the most subjective variable, the answer to this question involves looking into the future for possible issues that disrupt the countertop installation phase of the project.
Including a Cooktop Range
The functionality delivered by including a cooktop range is well worth the higher cost of your project. You are simply paying for the appliance to be embedded within the countertop. The actual design and installation process does not cost much money.
Edge Profile
Most home improvement retailers offer customers an edge profile guide to help them make edge profile decisions. Custom edges designed for a laminate countertop will cost less than custom edges designed for marble and granite countertops.
Developing a budget for your perfect kitchen requires considerable forethought. You have to itemize the costs for each phase of the project, as well as include the projected cost of labor. Spending the time to write down a budget will keep your kitchen construction costs in line.
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