Have you had your kitchen remodelled?

[zhuzhu]

We have been getting quotes from contractors on replacing our kitchen cabinets and granite countertop. Our kitchen has a U shape island and is a pretty standard 10*10 size with 38 linear feet of cabinet and 54 sf of countertop space. The quotes went all over the place from 12K to 18K.

Have you had yours done? Was your quote also this high? Do you have any regrets after having remodeled your kitchen?

Thanks for any input you may provide!

 

[Skippy123]

We remodeled our kitchen, we got quotes from Davis Kitchens, Lowe''s, Home Depot and a Contract person our neighbors used. I guess it depends on what you are doing but Home Depot and Lowe''s were the least expensive and inexpensive to have them come and install the cabinets. Also the contract person and Davis Kitchen were going to use the same brand of cabinets as Lowe''s Home Depot so that helped us realize it wasn''t worth spending extra to go with them. We went with Home Depot and hubby did the installation and tear down; he says it isn''t hard according to him, though. We did go with a granite place for the granite. The contractors charge more because they oversee the project and measure, etc. If you don''t mind doing that yourself you can save money.

 

[zhuzhu]

Thanks Skippy!

May I ask if you and DH were able to keep the total cost at under $10k, for doing the demo, and by replacing the countertop using a different vendor?

Thanks!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 9/28/2009 3:01:30 PM
Author: zhuzhu
Thanks Skippy!

May I ask if you and DH were able to keep the total cost at under $10k, for doing the demo, and by replacing the countertop using a different vendor?

Thanks!

Well, I think the cabinets were $9k and the granite was $7k or $8k; I would have to find the receipts to say for sure. The granite was by the same vendor Home Depot used but HD charged $500 more so we went directly to the granite place; it was easier too because we picked our own slab of granite but there are lots of choices in counter top options out there. I would measure the kitchen and go to Lowe's or Home Depot to get a rough estimate; they just set up an appt with you and you build your kitchen on the computer. here is the link to my remodel info https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/if-you-could-re-do-your-kitchen.55654/page-2
eta: we have no regrets, it is 1000x's better than our old kitchen.

here is Lynnb's beautiful kitchen remodel. https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/yay-kitchen-renovation-is-done.111700/page-3

 

[Italiahaircolor]

We did our kitchen about a year ago. It was very pricey...but that''s the way kitchens go if you''re picking high end finishes. If being in your kitchen is something you enjoy, then it''s worth every penny because it really does effect the way you feel inside that space.

Depending on the cabinets you choose, it can get over the top. Do you want wisper close (cha-ching)? Do you want dove-tail hinged drawers (cha-ching)? Do you want glazed finishes (cha-ching)? It adds up quickly. And when it comes to wood work, do really do get what you pay for.

Granite is different. It totally depends on what you want. I mean, when we were shopping it ran as low as $35.00 psqf all the way up to $200 psqf. Not to mention the different edging choices (oy vey).

I have never regreted spending any money on my house. But in this economy we made different choices for our condo than I probably would have if we were in a home we planned to stay in for a great while. I stretched my money by picking things that would stay beautiful and weren''t exactly cutting edge. I wanted a home and esspecially a kitchen that would stand the test of time in terms of years. I am proud of my home and it''s a reflection of our family. So...to answer your question...no, I have no regrets and it was worth every penny.

However, my advice to you would to be really consider your home, how long you want to live there, and what will you realistically get back from the house. What is the grand difference between the 11k and the 18k? Is it really worth the extra money, or could that be better spent/saved elsewhere? Shopping for the home is so fun, but its easy to go over the top...just keep in mind that a home is essentially an investment and you do want a return.

 

[kenny]

I don''t care what my kitchen looks like.

I''d rather spend the money on retirement savings or diamonds.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

We remodeled a home we bought (then rented it out and eventually sold it) and my husband did as much of the work as he could. The cabinets were from Home Depot and they came and installed them.

I have no idea how much we paid for everything, but can say for certain, it was no where close to $18K. Then again, we didn't pick out the most expensive cabinets and the counter tops weren't top-of-the-line. The only aspect we splurged on was the appliances. We picked out the fanciest gas range, nice fridge, etc. All that was a mistake. We sold the house and made a nice profit, but we ended up doing FSBO and knew the buyer. He would have paid the same amount even if we didn't go overboard on the appliances.

 

[zhuzhu]

Surprisingly, the HomeDepot gave us the highest quote (18K) for cabinet refacing and countertop. The other 2 quotes were cabinet replacement and were under 15K.

However it sounds like these prices were lower than last year, due to the bad economy? I am struggling with the idea of doing it ALL now, or just do the countertop first? The countertop alone will be 4-6K.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

If you''re handy, you could easily do the refacing yourself. Most stores, like Lowes or Home Depot carry "stock" cabinet faces. You can paint or stain yourself and install. Honestly, if you can swing it, it can save you $$$$! Then you can go forward and get some beautiful counters. Yes, it will be more work for you...but the saving might make it worth your while if dollars and cents are important.

I''m not sure if prices have increased, but it''s usually the install that gets you the worst. Often times it''s almost the same cost as the actual materials. I know that was our experience in some cases.

 

[diamondringlover]

We had our kitchen remolded, it was around $3,000 to do it, but my husband did all the work his self

I love my new kitchen

 

[Kay]

Date: 9/28/2009 5:09:03 PM
Author: zhuzhu
Surprisingly, the HomeDepot gave us the highest quote (18K) for cabinet refacing and countertop. The other 2 quotes were cabinet replacement and were under 15K.

However it sounds like these prices were lower than last year, due to the bad economy? I am struggling with the idea of doing it ALL now, or just do the countertop first? The countertop alone will be 4-6K.

If you might replace the cabinets (not just re-finish or re-face them), do not do the countertops first. The granite installers will measure and create templates for the counters after the cabinets are installed. If you have new counters done for your old cabinets, and later want to replace the cabinets, you will have extra labor costs to remove and replace the counters, the counters might get damaged in the process, and then you are stuck with the same cabinet layout you have now.

 

[pennquaker09]

Our quotes were higher, but we had a bigger kitchen and we used custom cabinetry (Wood-Mode). The differences in the quotes for us came in for the counter top choices. We got quotes on soapstone, quartz, and marble before finally settling on granite.

I can''t say I have an regrets, because what we selected went with the style of the house, but I wasn''t a huge fan of the granite.

As for advice, I don''t know if you''re going to be selling or staying put for a while, but I would keep that in mind before making final selections. Shaker style cabinets never go out of style (especially white).