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Kitchen Remodeling Tips

In the past, kitchens were merely rooms to cook meals. Today's kitchens, on the other hand, double as home offices, playrooms, homework centers and entertainment lounges. Your kitchen really is the heart of your home, so it's not surprise that the kitchen is the focus of your home renovation plans.

Before you begin your remodeling project, make sure that you secondary place to prepare meals. You'll need a location that has convenient access to water. Ideally, you will be able to use your existing stove and refrigerator. If not, make sure that you have ample coolers on hand, as well as an electric kettle, hot plate, toaster oven and microwave. If the weather cooperates, you can also make good use of your barbecue at renovation time.

For your kitchen remodeling project to be a success, be sure to avoid these common mistakes:

1. Damage to Walls: Kitchen walls are easily damaged when you're removing old cabinets. Try to keep the existing braces in place to minimize wall damage.

2. Floor, Countertop And Cabinet Damage: protect the surfaces that will be reused. Use drop cloths to cover your cabinets and countertops. A serious renovation, like replacing a wall, can really do a number on your floors. It can be worth the effort to lay a protective layer of plywood over your kitchen floor.

3. Shut off the Utilities: You might think that it's enough to switch a breaker, pull a fuse or close a valve, but you could be in for a surprise. Safety should always be your first priority. Shut off the water and electricity supplies completely before you begin working.

4. Protect Against Debris. Even though you're renovating in the kitchen, you can be sure that dust from sanding and tiling will find its way through the entire house. Use plastic sheeting to cover doorways to adjoining rooms, and seal air vents to contain the mess. Ventilation is important, however, so be sure to leave the kitchen windows and outside door open.

5. Know your Time Limit. Don't underestimate the time it will take to complete the project. For example, starting to remodel your kitchen two weeks before Christmas is probably not a great idea. The last thing you want to do is to botch the job by racing to meet a deadline.

Before you roll up your sleeves and get to work, make sure that you and your kitchen are fully prepared:

* Pack everything that you won't be using in your temporary kitchen area. Label boxes clearly and store it all away.

* If it isn't nailed down, remove it. Take away appliances, spice racks, lazy susans, wall clocks, ornaments and even cupboard drawers. Pack away as much as you can, and protect anything that can't be moved to avoid dust and damage.

* Plan for refuse removal. If you are replacing flooring, walls, cabinets or countertops, you'll have a lot of debris. Arrange to have a truck on hand or rent a dumpster to accommodate the debris from a major kitchen overhaul. Remember that some materials can be reused, like old cabinets that can enjoy new life in the garage or laundry room. Many charity organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, will happily take the materials off of your hands. If you decide to keep or donate your usable materials, prepare a place to store them.

* Shut off the water and gas before you attempt to remove any major appliances. Most appliances have individual plumbing and water valves, but you should take the time to close the supply at the source. Gas shutoff valves are usually located near the meter. Remember to relight all of your pilot lights when you hook the gas up again, or you'll be taking a cold shower at the end of the day.

* Completely disconnect the electrical circuits. Older homes are prone to confusing wiring systems due to previous renovations and modifications. It's not always clear which circuits or fuses control particular areas. If you try to guess, you could be in for quite a shock! Call a qualified electrician if you're not sure, or shut down the main power to the house. Put tape over any closed breakers to be sure they're not switched back on while you're working.

* If you plan on upgrading your electrical system and adding new outlets and fixtures, you will have to dismantle all of the existing outlets and fixtures. First, remove all of the light bulbs. Dismantle each fixture by unscrewing the cover plate and pulling the receptacle out of the box, carefully detaching the wires.

If there are exposed wires, cap them until you are ready to install the new fixtures. A bare copper wire is a ground, and it does not need to be capped. Invest in the services of a licensed electrician if you're not exactly sure how to replace electrical fixtures. This is a potentially dangerous task, and there is no room for error.

Kitchen remodeling is a lot of work, but the results can be spectacular. Most families use the kitchen for learning, socializing and playing as well as for cooking and eating, so the time and effort you put in to the renovations will surely pay for themselves in so many ways.