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DIY or Hire Kitchen Remodeling Services – Which Makes Sense for You?

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

Thinking about a new look for your kitchen in 2020? If you are handy with tools or have a flair for design, you might think about making it a DIY project. So when does it makes sense to hire a contractor for kitchen remodeling services and when should you do it yourself? Well, it depends.

Installing hardware is a great DIY project

DIY Projects

Are you handy with tools and a paint brush? Try patching, sanding and painting walls yourself. Make sure all surfaces are clean before you start. In a kitchen, grease gets every where, even where you don’t suspect. Successful painting begins with careful preparation. If you can prep, you can paint. Just make sure the paint goes on the walls and not the cabinets, floors, and appliances.

If you have basic knowledge of wiring and are smart enough to cut the power before you start work, you can swap out light fixtures. Just make sure the next fixture is roughly the same size as the old fixture. Take care to make sure the light output is sufficient for the kitchen. It’s dangerous to work in a dark kitchen.

Swapping out cabinet hardware is almost child’s play. If you’ve got a screwdriver and are swapping knobs for knobs and pulls for pulls, you’ve got this one down cold. If your hardware change involves changing the type of hardware, you may need to drill additional holes or patch and stain existing holes. Avoid patching and staining. Use a drill for guide holes.

Hiring Kitchen Remodeling Services

So when should you hire a contractor for kitchen remodeling services? Well, if major structural changes are involved it’s best to get a contractor.

Does the job require a permit and inspections? It’s a hassle, but for your protection. Hire a pro for those jobs.

If the skills required to do the job stretch your current skill set, it’s time to bring in the pros. Do you really want to hone your woodworking skills on custom cabinetry? Probably not. The risk of failure is high as well as the cost.

If a change in the mechanical systems is involved, definitely hire those kitchen remodeling services out. You don’t want to be the one moving plumbing, gas lines, electrical conduit, or HVAC ductwork. These trades take years to learn and there’s a reason performing them requires a license. Screw up here and you put lives and structural integrity at risk. Saving a few bucks just isn’t work it.

Maybe a Blend is Right for You

If you’re itching to get your hands dirty, then maybe a blend is right for you. Hire a pro for the floors and cabinets and you can handle painting and installing the refrigerator.

Or maybe you want to remove the old, greasy wallpaper or tile backsplash before the pros come in. That might be the perfect plan.

Just because you hire a pro for your kitchen remodel doesn’t mean you can’t still be involved. When you interview and get estimates, talk to the contractor about your desire to get hands on. They may have suggestions of how you can help and where you need to back off.

Whether you want to do part of it yourself or rely totally on a pro, look to Inspired Remodels for all your remodeling needs. Custom cabinets, new floors, and open floor plans are just a few of the possibilities. Call (949) 716-1938 and let’s discuss your project. There’s no time like 2020 for the kitchen of your dreams.

Online Kitchen Remodel Planner

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

Pinterest is great for collecting kitchen remodeling ideas. But, when it’s time to start turning those ideas into a remodel plan, you need some design tools. Nothing beats the design team at Inspired Remodels, but if you want to play around with design before you sit down with us, try one of these online kitchen remodel planner tools.

RoomSketcher Kitchen Remodel Planner

This kitchen remodel planner is free. Now, you know you can’t beat that price, but what do you get in return? Well to start with there’s a tremendous database of appliances, cabinets, finishes, countertops and cabinet fronts. You’re sure to find something that matches your Pinterest board items in this database.

We love that this kitchen remodel planner is one of the few that lets you play around with different textures, tiles, and finish surfaces for your walls. Others might let you play with the floors, but not many will let you change wall finishes without upgrading to a premium package.

There’s an App for That!

Not into sitting at the desktop or laptop when you are redesigning your kitchen? Not to worry, Houzz has an app for that. Download their app to your smartphone or tablet. Now, take a picture of your kitchen and start dragging and dropping elements on top of your kitchen.

This tool is more for a renovation where you aren’t making major changes. For example, it won’t let you take out walls or add walls, but if you are keeping the layout the same this app is fun. You can even put canisters on the counters if you want to see every little detail of your remodel.

Planner 5D

This app is available for the desktop or smartphone. You can create a floor plan in 2 dimensions and then add your other elements and view them in 3D. Hence, the 5D in the name (2D + 3D = 5D).

Planner 5D has a pretty cool feature that lets you turn your finished design into a realistic photograph. Then if you want to get social, it’s easy to share your design with the community of Planner5D users. Better than Pinterest for as a source of ideas! The Planner 5D community lets you see what professional designers are doing as they share their cutting edge designs.

Personal Kitchen Remodel Planner

Feeling overwhelmed by the choices? Don’t be. Inspired Remodels provides the personal, human touch. Our design team sits with you to create the room of your dream. Want a kitchen that is functional and fabulous? Schedule your consultation online today or call (949) 716-1938.

Kitchen and Bath Contractors Tips to Preparing for a Remodel

Remodeling your kitchen or bath is exciting. But it’s also disruptive and frustrating. Experienced kitchen and bath contractors, Inspired Remodels, wants every remodel to be as stress-free as possible. When you follow these tips, your kitchen or bath remodel will be much easier.

Living During a Kitchen Remodel

Plan on living without a kitchen for at least a month. If this is a major remodel, it may be longer. You can’t eat out three meals a day for over a month, so use this plan:

Set up a temporary kitchen

Turn a spare bedroom, living area, or even the garage into a temporary kitchen. Move the fridge in there along with a coffee pot, small microwave, and a toaster oven. If you don’t have room for your full size refrigerator, invest in one of the small dorm-sized fridge/freezer combo. You don’t need much freezer space, but you will want a few ice cubes here and there and may want to store a small container of ice cream. After all, it is stressful to have your kitchen under construction. You may want to self-medicate with a cocktail or some ice cream. If you normally eat in the kitchen, set up a temporary eating area as well.

Buy disposables

Go ahead and buy disposable napkins, plates, forks, spoons, and knives. There are even biodegradable options available these days. Even if you don’t like to eat with disposables, you will like washing dishes in your bathroom sink even less.

Plan for disruption

It’s going to get messy. An experienced kitchen and bath contractor knows how to contain the dust and debris. Talk to them about this plan before demolition begins. Think how the disruption will affect your pets. You may want to start feeding them in an alternative location before work begins.

Surviving a Bathroom Remodel

A bathroom remodel isn’t as disruptive, as you generally have more than one bathroom in the house. You only have one kitchen.

Even so, stock up on santizing gel and dry shampoo. When you’re sharing a sink and shower, you’ll find that the sanitizing gel and/or baby wipes are perfect for a quick clean up. Dry shampoo reduces the number of time you may need to stand in line to use the shower. As an alternative, you can always wash your hair in the kitchen sink.

Hang a mirror in an area with good lighting. This will come in handy when the working bathroom is occupied and you need to put on makeup or fix your hair.

If the cat’s litter box was in the bathroom undergoing remodel, you’ll want to make sure you move that a few days before the renovation so kitty gets used to the new spot. Having workers in the house is usually stressful for pets. Moving the litter box is also stressful. Moving the box in advance reduces the chances of accidents.

Kitchen and Bath Contractors Recommend

No matter what type of project you do, it won’t hurt to get away for a few days. Living with a kitchen or bathroom remodel may set your teeth on edge if you are compulsively neat and orderly. Even the untidiest among us may get tired of the disruption. Plan a small vacation to get you out of the house and away from the chaos for a few days.

Speaking of days, plan for disruptions. Every project, no matter how carefully planned, usually has its bumps in the road. If you are prepared for things to go wrong and for the budget to go over 10% to 20% it will be less stressful when it happens.

When you are ready for a remodel or update, call the kitchen and bath contractors that see your home as more than a job site. Inspired Remodels understands it is an honor to be invited into your home. You’ll get one point of contact for the entire project and communication will always be open and honest. Call (949) 716-1938 or Contact Us online today.