Budget Kitchen Remodel Q&A
|
Are there good options for updating a kitchen on a small budget? Yes! Brian Schwaller answers some frequently asked questions about budget kitchen remodeling.
|
|
Commonly Asked Questions About Budget Kitchen Remodeling
Q: What are the best ways to save money on a budget kitchen remodel?
A: Here are ways to trim the budget for the most expensive parts of a kitchen remodel:
Q: Can I keep my old kitchen cabinets and refinish them?
A: Refinishing old cabinets is a great way to save money on a kitchen remodel, as long as they are structurally sound. Older cabinets are often solid wood and built much better than the cheap cabinetry you can buy today. Dated oak cabinetry and trim can be completely transformed with modern paint colors or a semi-opaque stain to hide heavy wood grain. “We see painted cabinetry and trim all over home makeover shows and sites like HGTV and Houzz,” says Schwaller. “It’s the quickest, least expensive way to update the look of your home.”
Q: Do I have to replace my kitchen cabinets?
A: If your current kitchen layout works for you and the cabinets are in good shape, consider painting them. “Having a professional paint your kitchen cabinets is far less expensive and much quicker than replacing them, typically finished within a week or two,” says Brian Schwaller. “We refinish the cabinet doors and drawer fronts in our shop, then deliver them finished and ready to re-install. Only the cabinet frames are finished onsite to minimize the mess in your home.”
Q: Is it better to paint or reface kitchen cabinets?
A: Cabinet refacing means replacing the cabinet doors and drawer fronts or applying new laminates, and is more expensive than just painting the cabinets. New and updated cabinet doors can be made and finished as part of this process. Since the cabinet boxes are staying in place, new cabinet doors can be a cost effective option for a brand new look without having to completely remodel the space.
Q: Is it easy to paint kitchen cabinets yourself?
A: Home improvement shows make cabinet painting look fast and easy, but the reality is that painting kitchen cabinets is not a great DIY project. If you want your cabinets to look like they just came from the factory, they must be correctly prepped, then primed and painted with a professional grade sprayer. Rollers and brushes aren’t used by professionals because they leave obvious marks in the finish, and the paint is more likely to chip or peel over time. Using professional quality cabinet paint is equally important. “We don’t use paint from your local home improvement store. You need a high-end, cabinet-grade finish with high washability that is formulated to stand up to household cleaners,” Schwaller says. This creates a smooth, durable finish that stands up to daily wear and cleaning.
Q: Can I refurbish my kitchen cabinets and still keep the natural wood look?
A: If you like your stained kitchen cabinets but they look worn, Schwaller’s pros can custom-match the stain to touch up scuffs and minor dings, then reseal them. Refurbishing kitchen cabinets can make them look new, at a much lower cost than buying new cabinets.
Q: Why should a homeowner choose Schwaller’s Painting, Staining & Drywall to help update my kitchen?
A: Schwaller’s has been serving Eastern Wisconsin homeowners and businesses for 21 years, with skilled professional painting and drywall crews working from Kewaunee to Milwaukee County. Our goal is simple: to make every client happy with great service at a fair price. We do things right, respect our clients, and protect their property. Our team members are highly trained with years of interior and exterior painting, staining, and drywall experience, ranging from residential, commercial and industrial projects to log homes and interior finishes. We have been recognized as the Best Painting Company 8 years in a row in the annual Community’s Choice Awards.
Q: What are the best ways to save money on a budget kitchen remodel?
A: Here are ways to trim the budget for the most expensive parts of a kitchen remodel:
- Keep the current kitchen layout. Maintaining the existing footprint can eliminate expensive structural, plumbing and electrical work.
- Refinish the kitchen cabinets. The biggest expense in a kitchen remodel is new cabinetry, typically 30% or more of a kitchen remodel budget. By refinishing vs. replacing kitchen cabinets, you can slash the cost of a kitchen remodel significantly.
- Replace kitchen hardware and fixtures. Coordinated drawer and door pulls, a new kitchen faucet, and new light fixtures are affordable ways to update a kitchen.
- Paint the walls. A new color is a very inexpensive way to freshen up any space.
- Replace the countertops. If trendy granite or quartz countertops are out of your budget, consider laminate countertops, which can mimic the look of stone and be replaced later when your budget allows.
Q: Can I keep my old kitchen cabinets and refinish them?
A: Refinishing old cabinets is a great way to save money on a kitchen remodel, as long as they are structurally sound. Older cabinets are often solid wood and built much better than the cheap cabinetry you can buy today. Dated oak cabinetry and trim can be completely transformed with modern paint colors or a semi-opaque stain to hide heavy wood grain. “We see painted cabinetry and trim all over home makeover shows and sites like HGTV and Houzz,” says Schwaller. “It’s the quickest, least expensive way to update the look of your home.”
Q: Do I have to replace my kitchen cabinets?
A: If your current kitchen layout works for you and the cabinets are in good shape, consider painting them. “Having a professional paint your kitchen cabinets is far less expensive and much quicker than replacing them, typically finished within a week or two,” says Brian Schwaller. “We refinish the cabinet doors and drawer fronts in our shop, then deliver them finished and ready to re-install. Only the cabinet frames are finished onsite to minimize the mess in your home.”
Q: Is it better to paint or reface kitchen cabinets?
A: Cabinet refacing means replacing the cabinet doors and drawer fronts or applying new laminates, and is more expensive than just painting the cabinets. New and updated cabinet doors can be made and finished as part of this process. Since the cabinet boxes are staying in place, new cabinet doors can be a cost effective option for a brand new look without having to completely remodel the space.
Q: Is it easy to paint kitchen cabinets yourself?
A: Home improvement shows make cabinet painting look fast and easy, but the reality is that painting kitchen cabinets is not a great DIY project. If you want your cabinets to look like they just came from the factory, they must be correctly prepped, then primed and painted with a professional grade sprayer. Rollers and brushes aren’t used by professionals because they leave obvious marks in the finish, and the paint is more likely to chip or peel over time. Using professional quality cabinet paint is equally important. “We don’t use paint from your local home improvement store. You need a high-end, cabinet-grade finish with high washability that is formulated to stand up to household cleaners,” Schwaller says. This creates a smooth, durable finish that stands up to daily wear and cleaning.
Q: Can I refurbish my kitchen cabinets and still keep the natural wood look?
A: If you like your stained kitchen cabinets but they look worn, Schwaller’s pros can custom-match the stain to touch up scuffs and minor dings, then reseal them. Refurbishing kitchen cabinets can make them look new, at a much lower cost than buying new cabinets.
Q: Why should a homeowner choose Schwaller’s Painting, Staining & Drywall to help update my kitchen?
A: Schwaller’s has been serving Eastern Wisconsin homeowners and businesses for 21 years, with skilled professional painting and drywall crews working from Kewaunee to Milwaukee County. Our goal is simple: to make every client happy with great service at a fair price. We do things right, respect our clients, and protect their property. Our team members are highly trained with years of interior and exterior painting, staining, and drywall experience, ranging from residential, commercial and industrial projects to log homes and interior finishes. We have been recognized as the Best Painting Company 8 years in a row in the annual Community’s Choice Awards.
