|
|
 |
|
No one
likes to cut a budget, especially when it's
his or her own. But when it comes to
planning a remodeling project, homeowners
must establish a realistic budget . . . and
manage it.
Preparing for
a remodeling project is a lot like preparing to
buy a car. You may know the room and style you
want, but the options you choose may drive the
price higher than you can reasonably afford. But
there are ways to stretch the remodeling budget
and end up with a stylish room within budget.
Getting Started
General
Remodeling Tips
Finding Space
In the Kitchen
In the Bathroom
Getting Started
-
The most
important step is finding a professional
remodeling contractor for your job.
-
Hire a
professional contractor who is familiar with
the building codes in your area.
-
Updating
work that does not meet code can be
extremely expensive.
-
A
well-written contract can prevent costly
mistakes or additions to the scope of your
project. It is a critical step in
maintaining your budget.
-
Save
money by planning ahead. Go through the
design process first and choose everything
you want to include in the new room(s), from
appliances to light fixtures. This will
define your budget and prevent hasty (and
costly) decisions later in the project. Be
sure to include all your product and
material selections in the contract to avoid
confusion and unnecessary change orders.
Include the model, size, color, and other
specifications. It is also wise to save
10-20 percent of your budget to allow for
items added to the scope of work.
-
The
number one way to decrease the cost of your
remodeling project is product choices. Look
around to determine whether you can achieve
a similar look with a less expensive
product.
-
In
addition, pay attention to how labor
intensive some design features may be, for
example laying ceramic tile on kitchen
countertops and the backsplash.
-
Compare
products and their prices carefully before
you make final decisions. And keep an open
mind when you discuss product and design
ideas with your contractor.
-
Make
decisions based on value and quality, not
just price.
-
Think
about staging the work being done to
minimize the initial financial impact. It is
often easier to create a more manageable
budget by starting small and adding to the
project at a later date. This will break the
work into several jobs instead of one large
project. The down side of staging a remodel
is that you may end up paying more in the
long run.
General
Remodeling Tips
-
Be
creative. There are often multiple solutions
to accomplish a design objective, some more
expensive than others. Discuss various
options with your contractor.
-
If all
the room really needs is a facelift, make
the most of changes with paint, as opposed
to structural changes. Changing the color of
a room can revitalize it. This is the
easiest way to bring life to a room on a
budget.
-
Heavy or
textured wallpaper can work wonders as well.
You can save money by wallpapering a
slightly damaged wall rather than replacing
it. If the wall has grass cloth wallpaper on
it, consider whitewashing it for a totally
new look. Several layers of whitewash (in
various shades of white) produce a clean,
sophisticated look in any room.
-
Faux
finish painting or other textured decorative
painting techniques also can hide minor
damage or irregularities that flat paint
won't.
-
Attempt
to keep windows in their existing places
during a remodeling project. Moving windows
is not a cost-saving endeavor.
Finding Space
-
Creating
more space can be a big budget buster. Once
you add square footage to a home, the price
increases significantly. One alternative is
to steal space from a neighboring room
(called space reconfiguration). A great
place to steal space for a bathroom
expansion is from the linen closet. You can
make up some of the lost storage by finding
small spaces in between wall studs for small
niches or built-in shelves.
-
You can
also try stealing space with optical
illusions. There are many ways to make a
small room appear larger. To transform a
small bath, install a bow window or a
skylight. Vaulted ceilings can be a nice
touch, too.
-
If you
are going to expand outside the existing
home, consider a small bump out of two to
four feet. This may allow you to cantilever
the floor joists and eliminate the need for
excavation and foundation. If possible, be
careful not to extend beyond the roofline,
which would add a new roof to your job.
-
Whenever
you are adding on new space to a home, have
a heating contractor determine whether your
existing heating system can accommodate and
heat the extra space. If the heating system
is damaged, you will be forced to replace
the entire unit.
In the Kitchen
-
If at all
possible, reuse existing appliances, and
build your new cabinets around them. This
could save you anywhere from $1,500-5,000
easily. However, be aware that appliances,
like anything electrical, are sensitive to
change and may develop problems if they are
moved. Should you decide to avoid potential
appliance "burn-out" and purchase new
appliances, choose energy conscious models
for a reduction in your utility bills.
-
Maintain
present location of major fixtures,
appliances and utilities relative to the
plumbing, gas and electrical outlets. This
could even apply to the location of the
telephone. Moving plumbing, wiring and jacks
can be extremely expensive.
-
The
faucet can be a costly item. The least
expensive selection is chrome. Even a
high-end chrome faucet is considerably less
than a mid-range brass or porcelain version.
A standard two-handle faucet generally costs
less than single handle. Faucets and handles
are sold separately, so you may want to
choose a chrome faucet with brass or
porcelain handles for a different look.
Faucet Caution: The price variances in
faucets reflect the various internal and
external features. Always choose a faucet
with replaceable internal parts. You won't
want to have to replace the entire faucet if
it breaks-it's simply not cost-effective.
-
Choose
neutral colors in fixtures, appliances and
laminates. They are less expensive initially
and wont look dated when the color trends
change. White and almond sinks are much
cheaper than color varieties. And neutral
laminate colors for countertops are less
than custom colors or textures.
-
Good
floor covering is important. It ties one
room to another and provides visual
consistency. Familiarize yourself with the
prices of the various flooring materials to
make the best decision for your home. To get
you started, vinyl or laminate flooring is
less expensive than wood, tile or slate.
-
Use the
existing floor covering if it is still in
good condition. If the kitchen has old vinyl
flooring, there may be a hardwood floor
underneath that could be sanded and
refinished, avoiding the need for a new
floor entirely.
-
If you
currently have a vinyl floor covering and
wish to update with a newer version, you can
install synthetic floor leveler material
over the existing vinyl floor and lay the
new vinyl flooring on top, rather than
tearing the old flooring off to install the
new.
-
Consider
your cabinet options carefully. Those
choices will drive the overall price. You
can add some options at a later date to
defray some of the initial cost. Some that
are easy to add include tilt front doors,
spice racks and slide out wire baskets.
However, if you decide to wait, make certain
that the option you want will be available
and can be added after installation. Note of
Caution: Waiting will cost you more in the
long run. Adding new cabinets often requires
installing a new floor. Refacing existing
cabinets not only eliminates the need for
new flooring, countertops and appliances
altogether, it is a major savings in any
kitchen remodel.
-
Go with a
simple design in the kitchen employing
single height wall cabinets, blind corner
cabinets rather than those with Lazy Susans,
and other standard options. Watch your
upgrades.
-
Use
standard cabinetry instead of custom
cabinets, or use a combination of the two if
they are compatible.
-
Choose
cabinets that can be operated without the
addition of hardware (those that are
finger-pulled).
-
Install
cabinets without soffits to decrease the
labor cost. Also consider cabinets without
trim moldings or with simple trim.
-
If you
are going to put in new wood trim (in your
crown molding, trims, and door casings) to
match the new cabinets, order pre-finished
trim instead of having the painting or
staining done on-site. This will decrease
labor cost. Ordering finger-jointed vs.
clear vertical grain also will save you
money.
-
Consider
stenciling on the backsplash instead of
using tile.
-
Laminate
countertops are the least expensive choice
among solid surfacing, tile and granite. You
can dress it up with wood or tile trim for a
more innovative look.
-
Connect
fluorescent light fixtures to the existing
ceiling fixture box instead of installing
new recessed lighting, which may require a
new ceiling because of the recessed
features.
In the Bathroom
-
Consider
reglazing a tub instead of replacing it,
especially if it is still in relatively good
condition. This can save you more than half
the cost of a tub replacement-and minimize
the dust at the same time!
-
Cultured
marble sheets are a good choice for tub
surrounds, instead of ceramic tile. You will
save considerably on labor costs and the
marble sheets are much easier to clean.
-
Fiberglass surrounds are also less costly
than tile.
-
Examine
how you are utilizing space. You may be able
to steal some space from a neighboring room
or closet. If your overall space is limited,
purchase a jetted tub and shower combination
or install a pedestal lavatory instead of a
vanity cabinet with a sink. Understand that,
while pedestal lavatories do eliminate the
need for vanities and save space, some
models may cost more than a separate vanity
cabinet and sink. Look at all your options
before making a decision.
-
Cultured
marble lavatories can be a great budget
choice since it is an integrated sink bowl
and countertop sold in one easily installed
unit.
-
Define
what is truly needed in the bathroom.
Sometimes an extra bath is planned when
installing a double sink in an existing bath
would meet the need.
-
If you
are going to add a large jetted tub to your
project, consider adding a water heater
dedicated to that tub. A large jetted tub
can hold up to an average of 75 gallons or
more, which can easily overextend your
existing water heater and cause problems in
the future.
Be sure you look at the terrific energy
saving options before you remodel: From
windows to water heaters!
 |
2030 North Black Horse Pike
Williamstown, NJ 08094
Phone: (856) 875-0335
Fax: (856) 875-1948 |
 |
Copyright © 2003 We Have Great Prices, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
