Renovation Series
Kitchen Renovation
PART ΙΙ: Costs and Future Value.
Click here for Part 1
Kitchens are one of the most functional parts of our homes, a place where we spend time with our loved ones and ourselves and engage into favorite recipes, meals, a relaxing tea and even coffee rituals. It is important our kitchens meet certain requirements to be as practical, comfortable and stylish as possible.
In our previous article we discussed how you can make the most out of your kitchen’s interior design and upgrade its aesthetic with the appropriate selections. In this article we will share tips on kitchen renovation costs and future value.
Future Value
Along with the bathroom, the kitchen is the area of the house that usually shows the most how old and how well or poorly maintained a house is. Renovating your kitchen does not just bring up-to-date its aesthetics, it also ensures a better value for your house, if you were to sell it or rent in the future. You can check out our article on future-proofing for more insight on this matter.
Technical is not Technicality
First things first. In the renovation of a kitchen – (as well as that of a bathroom, check our corresponding piece here), attention must be paid to the good quality of the technical elements that are installed (such as plumbing, electricals, materials and ironmongery). This can save you a lot of hassle and expenses in the future. It is very important to ensure all your technical elements are in good condition before you move your attention to the design, the look & feel and the furnishing! Don’t forget that the electrical elements are of major importance due to the fact that the kitchen is the room with the most technical equipment (oven, stove, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, ventilation, extractor…etc).
Costs
When it comes to renovating your kitchen, there are two main scenarios: the full renovation (including the rerouting of plumbing, replacing electrical, and maybe even structural changes) and the partial renovation (where it is only about the finishes, such as carpentry, surfaces and equipment). In the partial renovation, the cost will depend mostly on the quality of the carpentry, brands of the equipment and level of furnishings you will decide on.
When it comes to a full renovation, the cost will depend on more factors, such as the replacement of water and sewage pipes, changes in the electrical installation, the plumbing network and the installation of new equipment. If there is mold, a leak, or any other damage, this will also affect the cost. All of this is in addition to any structural changes, such as if you need to demolish a wall or create an opening in a wall for example.
Here are some high levels estimates of the most common items in renovating a kitchen:
Kitchen tiles: low average € 20/sqm | average € 40-60/sqm | high average € 80-90 /sqm
Kitchen equipment (incl. installation): average € 8-10K
Removal of current kitchen equipment and tiles: average € 1,5 K
Wall adjustments: € 4 – 5 K
Plumbing adjustments: € 1 – 1,5 K
Electrical adjustments: € 1,5 – 2 K
Tiling work: floor tiles average € 95/sqm | wall tile average € 45/sqm
Ask for professional help
Although your interior design taste may be great and you might already know exactly what you want, the kitchen is one of the rooms you should avoid renovating on your own. You will need professional advice to keep your project under control and within budget, especially when it comes to technical questions, plumbing and electrical installations. From your architect to your contractor, make sure you get the best help you can. This will save you a lot of effort, money and trouble in the long run.
TIPS TO SAVE MONEY
Combine special expensive tiles with more standard and cheaper tiles. It is possible to create a stunning space by using a combination of tiles. You can use some special tiles on one surface to create an accent wall for example, and use more standard tiles in the rest of the space.
Whenever possible, try to stick with the original kitchen layout so you can save some money on the rerouting of the plumbing and electrical wires. If this is not possible, try to plan the kitchen layout with as little moves as possible, and with the shortest distances.
While most projects start off well, many derail soon after kickstarting. It’s easy to get lost and go off-budget. When it comes to renovations, most people tend to underestimate the amount of time and the budget needed. Without an accurate budget estimate, you risk starting a project you will not be able to complete, leaving you worse off than before you even started. So to avoid this disaster scenario, it is important to take the time to create a realistic estimate for the costs of your renovation project. Get a cost estimate so that you have an organized plan from the start, know how much the renovation will cost and, most importantly, where and how the budget will be used.
If you are considering renovating your kitchen and would like some help, get in touch with us. We’ll be happy to help you with any questions you have.
