A Guide to Staying On-Budget with Your Kitchen Remodel
One of the very first things you think about when planning a kitchen remodel is how much your project will cost.
Kitchen renovations bring up a million possibilities for how you can update, modernize, and reconfigure the space. With these endless options, remodeling can seem overwhelming and difficult to scope out.
That’s why we’re here to help! Here are some tips to help you plan your remodel with budget in mind:
Set Your Kitchen Renovation Budget
Before booking any design consultation, you should have a set budget range in mind. While you shouldn’t determine your remodeling partner on dollars alone, you should have an “ideal number” and “stretch number” set and ready for your dream remodel. During design consultations, ask if the company or contractor you’re meeting with if they can provide a ballpark range for your project after taking a look at your space.
Pro tip: Check out our design consultation checklist to make sure you get the most from your meeting!
Determine Your Kitchen Remodel’s Scope of Work
You don’t want to overpay for services you don’t need! The first step in keeping your project within your budget is figuring out the scope of work for what you’re looking to accomplish. Your price will ultimately depend on how much construction you’ll need in your kitchen.
A few questions to ask yourself:
- Am I only looking to replace my finishes (cabinets, countertops, fixtures)?
- Do I need to reconfigure the layout of my kitchen?
- Am I looking to add or remove an island?
- Do I need new flooring?
- Am I expanding the square footage of my kitchen?
Depending on what you’re looking for, you’ll either fall into the category of kitchen update or kitchen remodel.
Kitchen Updates
FBC kitchen updates are perfect for those who aren’t looking to reconfigure or gut their space. Updates focus solely on the look and finishes in your space to give it a modern facelift. Updates are lower cost than a standard remodel, and take half of the time to construct!
With a kitchen update, you’ll get new:
- Countertops
- Cabinets
- Backsplash
- Plumbing fixtures
- Lighting fixtures
Kitchen Remodel
Kitchen remodels allow homeowners to create virtually any kitchen within their existing square footage. With a remodel, you can choose to:
- Reconfigure the layout
- Add or removing kitchen islands
- Remove walls to open up the space
- Apply the highest-end finishes and luxury products
- Install flooring to flow with the rest of the home
At FBC, we custom-design every kitchen to fit the style and desired function of every homeowner. Before you spend any money, you’ll work with an expert architectural designer to create your dream kitchen from scratch. From there, you’ll collaborate with your designer in a live 3D rendering of your design to get every detail just right. Our proven design-build process ensures your project will finish on time and on budget.
Because each kitchen design is custom-built, we don’t have a “price per square foot” for remodels. The cost of your remodel would depend on a number of factors like the size of the space, the quality of your chosen finishes, and the amount of construction needed.
Our price ranges for a kitchen renovation, depending on the scope and space planning, are:
- Low-end: $40k
- Mid-range: $85k – $100k
- High-end: $200k+
This price includes everything — from your design to all of your materials, construction, and project management. All you have to do is sit back and get excited to enjoy your new space for years to come!
Keeping Your Kitchen Remodel Budget-Friendly
Now that you have your budget range and an idea of how much your project might cost, the next step is breaking down the top factors that drive the cost of a kitchen remodel and how to save cost within each one.
1. Reconfigure Your Kitchen Layout
Reconfiguring your kitchen allows you to utilize every square inch of your kitchen and create a more convenient layout. However, the more construction work needed (gutting, rebuilding, opening up walls, removing islands, expanding the space), the higher the cost can be. If your number one priority is refreshing the look of your kitchen, try to keep any major construction to a minimum to save money, and concentrate your budget more on the look and finishes.
2. Scope of Work
If you are gutting and redesigning your kitchen, there will be even more factors to consider that would influence the amount of work needed. At FBC, we get ahead of those “unforeseens” by having our construction management team walk your space prior and noting any additional work needed before you put down a deposit. When choosing a remodeling partner, be sure to ask them how they handle “scope creep” and if you should expect possible additional costs in construction.
3. Flooring
A common assumption is that new flooring starts and ends in the kitchen alone. When considering new flooring, it’s important that it flows with the rest of your main floor. If possible, try to choose a flooring option that matches or contrasts well with the current flooring you have in the rest of your home. Otherwise, replacing the flooring for your entire level will drive the overall cost.
4. Kitchen Appliances
Wanting some new appliances to go along with your brand new kitchen? We agree that new appliances will tie together your design for a completely cohesive, fresh look! Appliances are available in a very broad range of styles, features, and prices, so it’s important to note what fits in your budget when picking out a new dishwasher, microwave, and stove.
Pro tip: Ask your remodeling partner about any hidden mechanical or code updates that may be needed, as this affects the cost as well.
5. Finishing Details and Kitchen Materials
The choices for cabinets, countertops, flooring, and fixtures are incredibly vast. Finishing touches like these are what really make the picture-perfect kitchen. Choosing the right design style is imperative to love the space for years to come! However, when being mindful of your budget, it’s important to find a balance between quality and great cost. Designer finishes will certainly drive your price way up, so work with your FBC team to find the perfect finishes that fit your budget. Choose the finishes that matter most, and spend a little more on those “must-haves”.
Kitchen Remodeling with FBC Remodel
We’d love to work with you and your budget on your next project! We offer completely free design consultations, so give FBC Remodel a call today to book your kitchen consultation with an award-winning designer.