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Your kitchen is
probably the most used room in your house. Poor layout, inadequate lighting,
cramped spaces, outdated fixtures and old cabinetry are common complaints of
homeowners.
Before you
decide to go ahead with a kitchen renovation, it is important to clearly
identify the features you want in your new kitchen. Just as important is a
thorough pre-renovation inspection to identify any existing problems.
Common Situations
Kitchen
renovations are high on the list of the most common home renovations. A
renovation can be as simple as installing new flooring or be a major undertaking
that includes enlarging the space and replacing all fixtures and finishes.
Homeowners
consider kitchen renovations for many reasons including:
 | Size
and design —
the existing kitchen may be too small or poorly laid out.
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| Fixtures
and appliances —
The fixtures and appliances may be worn out, inefficient or outdated.
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| Cabinets
and countertops
— cabinet finishes, hardware or countertops may be outdated, need repair
or replacement.
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| Structural
problems—there
may be problems that require structural changes or repairs.
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| Moisture
— the floor, walls or finishes may be unsightly or damaged due to moisture
problems.
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| Plumbing
and electrical
— many older kitchens don’t have enough electrical outlets and circuits.
Older plumbing and plumbing fixtures may include lead or galvanized steel
piping.
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| Heating
and ventilation
— older kitchens often have inadequate ventilation or heating systems. The
area may be poorly insulated and have a high degree of air leakage, two
factors that lead to high energy consumption.
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| Finishes
— older finishes may be unattractive or not durable enough to withstand
the daily wear and tear.
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Healthy Housing
Renovating is an
ideal time to make your house healthier for you, the community and the
environment. When assessing your renovation project, be sure to consider the
five essentials of Healthy
Housing.
House as a System
A house is much
more than just four walls and a roof — it’s an interactive system made up of
many components including the basic structure, heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC) equipment, the external environment and the occupants. Each
component influences the performance of the entire system. A renovation provides
an opportunity to improve how your house performs. Kitchen renovations often
include changes to HVAC equipment that can improve indoor air quality and
moisture management in the house. Be careful if choosing large volume exhaust
fans because they can cause combustion heating equipment to backdraft.
Structural changes may give you a chance to improve air tightness and
insulation, resulting in increased occupant comfort and house durability.
Avoid Surprises
Once you start a
renovation, there’s no turning back. Your life is disrupted and any unexpected
problems will lead to higher costs and delays in finishing the project. Thorough
planning will help you to develop a realistic understanding of the work to be
done and the costs involved. Here are some of the likely situations that people
encounter. However, every situation is unique and you may need to hire a
qualified professional to do a thorough investigation, find the problems and
suggest the best solutions.
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Structural problems
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| Are
there any existing structural deficiencies in this area or nearby
areas of the house?
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| Do
any structural walls or lintels need to be removed?
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| Will
installation of new windows or doors require special structural
details?
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| Are
the walls, ceiling, floor or basement areas well-insulated and
air-sealed to provide a comfortable energy efficient space?
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| Carry
out a complete inspection before your start. You may want to hire an
expert.
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| Repair,
strengthen or replace structural components so they can carry the new
loads.
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| Insulate
and air-seal the building to provide warm interior surfaces and a
draft-free living space.
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| Remove
wall coverings, when possible, to properly insulate and install a
sealed air and vapour barrier. The open wall cavities will also make
it easier to install new wiring, plumbing and other services.
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| Structural
deficiencies can lead to cracked finishes, floor vibration, bowing or
displacement of walls, floors or roof structures and possible
structural failure.
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| Exterior
walls that are poorly insulated and not air-sealed will lead to
continued high energy costs, possible condensation problems and
discomfort in the living space.
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Rewards
| Repairing
structural problems, fixing leaks and making sure that all services
are adequate will prolong the life of your house and make the
renovation look and work better.
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| By
using low odour and easy to clean finishes, you will improve the IAQ
of your home. Reducing condensation and controlling humidity will help
to prevent mold growth.
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| Thorough
planning will result in a warm, comfortable, useable kitchen with good
lighting and plenty of work and storage space.
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| A
well thought out and executed renovation will increase the value of
your house.
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Skills to Do the Job
A
homeowner with good fix-it skills may be able to do some of the work on
the renovation such as:
| Removing
old fixtures and finishes.
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| Caulking
or repairing roof and window leaks.
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| Installing
insulation.
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| Air-sealing
the building.
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| Painting.
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Consider a
professional renovator for structural changes, finish work or to undertake
the complete project management. If you are doing it yourself, you will
still need to hire subcontractors to carry out the electrical, plumbing,
heating and ventilation work. Depending on the nature of the project, you
may also need to hire other tradespeople to do roofing, window and door
installation, install cabinets and flooring or paint and do drywall
finishing. Remember to obtain all necessary permits, sign a written
contract, ensure that workers use safe working practices, have
professional licenses where required and are covered by workers’
compensation. Protect yourself, your family and your home.
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Use the Kitchen Assessment Worksheet to record
the present condition, any problems and to estimate costs for your kitchen
renovation
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Kitchen
Assessment Worksheet
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Room
Dimensions
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Present
Condition/Problems
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Options
or Upgrades
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Cost
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Ceiling and Finishes
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Walls and Finishes
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Floor and Finishes
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Room Lighting
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Task Lighting
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Windows
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Doors
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Cabinets, Countertops and Hardware
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Sink and faucets
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Appliances
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Plumbing
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Electrical Services
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Heating
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Ventilation
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Other
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Costing Your Project
The cost of the
renovation work will depend on the condition of the existing structure, the
extent of the work to be done and local labour and material prices. Costs of
finishes and fixtures vary widely. A good budget checklist will help you to
develop a realistic cost for the project before you start. Some of the items to
include are:
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