Let's Renovate: Kitchen Tips

A special two-part series on tips to renovate your home's kitchen and bathrooms. Today's installment is focused on getting a newly renovated kitchen. Given how long you will be without a kitchen, and the extent of the work that will need to be done, it's important you make the proper preparations in advance. Here's an overview of some of the steps you can take to prepare for your kitchen renovation, after you've got a contractor and design all settled.

• Make sure you have a backup plan for food prep: You may be without usable kitchen appliances for several weeks. If possible, move your refrigerator to another room in your home, or else find a small fridge in which you can store essentials. You might also consider using an electric skillet or other small plug-in appliances that can help you cook some simple meals while your kitchen is in progress. If it's the summer you can cook outside. You probably aren't going to want to spend the money that would be necessary for several weeks' worth of eating out, so plan ahead!
   
• Make a plan for your pets: There will be a lot of noise and mess associated with your kitchen remodel, which could make it a stressful experience for your pets. You may need to block off certain areas of your home to your pets, so make sure they have everything they need in other areas of the house to make them comfortable.
   
• Pack up your items: Pull out all loose items in your kitchen (anything that's not bolted down) and pack them away temporarily. Put these items into several categories: food, appliances, everyday use items and items you can pack away. These categories should be self-explanatory, and will help you stay organized during the several weeks of the job. This is also a good time for you to get rid of any items you don't intend to keep, be it expired food or kitchen items you don't use any more.
   
• Disconnect some lines: You're likely to need some utility work done on your kitchen remodel unless it's a very small-scale project. So before the remodel begins, you can disconnect gas, plumbing and electric lines from your kitchen. The contractor would probably do this themselves, but if you're doing some of the demolition before other contractors come in it's important to make sure all these lines are completely off before you begin, otherwise it could be a significant safety hazard.
   
• Make way: Before contractors start coming in and out of your home, make sure there is a clear path for them. Move furniture or other items, and put down cardboard to protect your floors or carpet for when they're bringing in heavy equipment, building materials and appliances.

Be sure to catch the next installment on bathrooms, next week. In the meantime, for more information about some of the ways you can prepare for your upcoming kitchen remodel, contact us today at PipeMasters: info@pipemasters.ca or (289) 404-9063.

PipeMasters is part of Oakridge Plumbing Ontario Ltd. and serves the East GTA, Durham Region, North to Lindsay & Peterborough, out to Cobourg and all points in between. All Rights Reserved.