My kitchen remodel - which went so much smoother than Loki's! (1551 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.59 on 29 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by jumpinjellyfish (View user info) at 2005-03-21 10:48:54 EST
I think most people are afraid to take on a home remodeling project, but if you have a rudimentary knowledge of hand tools, have access to information/advice from the internet and have some common sense, you'd be surprised what you can accomplish on your own.
My wife and I started remodeling our kitchen on the 2nd weekend in July of 2003. We decided to do it ourselves because the bids we'd received from contractors were between $25,000 and $50,000 and we didn't want to go that far into debt. In the end, we ended up getting everything we wanted for $11,013.
We started researching appliances, cabinets, etc. in December of 2002. We measured the kitchen and went to Home Depot to order the cabinets. We saved a bunch of money by using the cabinets that come in boxes and have to be put together. We shopped around and got a lot of stuff either on sale or on clearance. In fact the only thing we paid full price for was the cook top exhaust hood. Because of all this shopping around we didn't even have everything ready to start the project until the end of June 2003.
Along the way there were a lot of glitches...our sink was "on-order" for 6 weeks before someone at the store realized that the order had never been placed (we got a free sink upgrade out of that one). Also, I had to take a plane to the inside of the old wall oven cabinet to get the new wall oven to fit because it was 1/8 inch too narrow. And finally, finding and installing replacement floorboards to cover the holes left by the removed cabinets was an absolute nightmare.
We have a natural division of labor in our household. I do the physical parts of a given job and my wife does all of the design. She laid out the cabinet and appliance positions as well as selecting appliances, lighting, and color schemes. I did all of the carpentry, electrical and plumbing work, except for the items mentioned below. I rewired the overhead light fixture and ran new wiring for lighting over the new pass-through. I moved all of the electrical outlets except one. I put in the new sink and garbage disposal. I put in all of the new cabinets. My total labor costs were $1150 to a carpenter to cut a pass-through opening and do skylight installations and $141 to a plumber for the gas line. I also spent $1001 to have the counter-top manufactured and installed professionally.
We finished the kitchen just before Halloween 2003. The manual labor part of the project took us 4 1/2 months (working nights and weekends) and was some of the hardest work we've ever done. We'll be the first to say that contractors and sub-contractors earn every penny of their bid. But we also have to say that we were very happy we did the job ourselves for three reasons: first, the money we saved. Second, the satisfaction we got from doing the job ourselves. Third, both my wife and I are very particular about the quality of work we have done on our house. The truth is, we don't feel that most contractors will ever do as good a job on our house as we will. Final analysis: it was an enormous amount of work but the outcome made it all worthwhile.
Here is the list of items purchased for the remodel:
1210.00 Refrigerator
268.00 Kitchen to garage Door
46.00 Cutting Board
100.00 Pot rack
540.00 Double Oven
345.00 Sink
404.00 Skylights
700.00 Skylight installation
74.00 Kitchen to garage door hardware
1847.00 Cabinets
66.00 Floor wood, joint compound
138.00 Kitchen blinds
162.00 Faucet
450.00 Wall opening (pass-through)
50.00 Kitchen lights
46.00 Kitchen lights
862.00 Range hood
321.00 Remodel materials (lighting hardware/track lights/fridge side panel)
273.00 36" Pan Drawer cabinet
211.00 Cabinet Pulls
406.00 Remodel materials (plumbing supplies, cabinet organizers)
141.00 Garbage Disposal
474.00 Cook top
141.00 Plumber (gas line)
1001.00 Counter top
496.00 Remodel Materials (floor wood, caulking, paint, baskets, etc.)
127.00 bar stools
114.00 Kitchen tile
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11013.00 Total
User Reviews
Submitted by forensicgirl3 (user info) at 2005-10-06 17:15:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Clockwork Orange prize!
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2005-06-25 06:47:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You got burned by the carpenter($400) but sometimes, it is eaiser to, just write the check
when you value your time @ more than $30 an hour.(at least)
B + A........a very nice job indeed.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-03-23 12:33:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2005-03-22 17:25:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I love the lights.
I think we're in for a cool $20k but we went with Corian counters and a tile floor.
why?
because fuck if I am ever going to go through this again
IF we survive this bit, we're going to take on the bathrooms. One of them is a lovely green and blue and the other one is pink and brown. We have to recover emotionally and financially first.
I hate the 70's and everyone who did any remodeling during the entire decade.
Submitted by 1Point21Gigawatts (user info) at 2005-03-21 15:14:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh, Formica, I see you've answered that question.
Thanks.
Submitted by 1Point21Gigawatts (user info) at 2005-03-21 15:12:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
What kind of countertop is that? Corian? I'm in the midst of a kitchen redo myself, and I have three separate countertop pieces for a total of 26 square feet - my Silestone total estimate (installed) is like $2200 but I'm looking to pay half that for something of lesser quality.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-21 14:47:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
nice
Submitted by jumpinjellyfish (user info) at 2005-03-21 14:19:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Luckylacquer (user info) at 2005-03-21 14:04:04 (#)
Ranking: 1
Get rid of the ghey rug by the sink. But really nice job. I'm currently in the midst of remodelling the entire top half of my house. Ok, hubby is remodelling cause I'm 7 months pregnant. He started when I was about 2 months. We have the bedroom done...kinda sorta almost. *eyeroll*
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The rug is already gone!
Good luck with your remodel.
Submitted by jumpinjellyfish (user info) at 2005-03-21 14:17:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by badassmofo (user info) at 2005-03-21 13:22:29 (#)
Ranking: 2
Looks good man. The scale and layout seem very good. Kudos to your wife on the design and floor plan. Great work I like the color too.
Good job to you also, carpentry is a wonderful skill to have and practice. It's not rocket science but I believe some people don't make the attempt because they percive it to be.
A few questions if you don't mind:
Where are you located? (state and city is all just checking your prices against those hear)
What is the countertop material? (corian, zodiaq, stone)
What lead you to choose the painted cabinet over a stained cabinet?
All in all good stuff...So what room is next?
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- San Antonio, Texas
- Good old formica (cheap to replace when the wife gets tired of it)
- The wife likes the option of changing wall color and counter top color/type around white cabinets for a whole new look
- The guest bathroom is next, but not for awhile...I need to recover (financially and physically)!
Submitted by Luckylacquer (user info) at 2005-03-21 14:04:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Get rid of the ghey rug by the sink. But really nice job. I'm currently in the midst of remodelling the entire top half of my house. Ok, hubby is remodelling cause I'm 7 months pregnant. He started when I was about 2 months. We have the bedroom done...kinda sorta almost. *eyeroll*
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-03-21 13:36:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice job...I'm jealous because I can barely refill the fucking bird feeder without calling the "experts at Home Depot".
Submitted by badassmofo (user info) at 2005-03-21 13:22:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Looks good man. The scale and layout seem very good. Kudos to your wife on the design and floor plan. Great work I like the color too.
Good job to you also, carpentry is a wonderful skill to have and practice. It's not rocket science but I believe some people don't make the attempt because they percive it to be.
A few questions if you don't mind:
Where are you located? (state and city is all just checking your prices against those hear)
What is the countertop material? (corian, zodiaq, stone)
What lead you to choose the painted cabinet over a stained cabinet?
All in all good stuff...So what room is next?
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-03-21 12:51:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
sassy
Submitted by insanedoc (user info) at 2005-03-21 12:51:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Nicely done.
Submitted by jumpinjellyfish (user info) at 2005-03-21 12:47:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by kai070169 (user info) at 2005-03-21 12:33:59 (#)
Ranking: -2
My bathroom is next
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That man knows how to carry a grudge.
Submitted by kai070169 (user info) at 2005-03-21 12:33:59 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
My bathroom is next
Submitted by knucklesnelson (user info) at 2005-03-21 11:40:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
It looks great, although it seems it cost more than it should of.
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2005-03-21 11:39:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Looks fantastic. Great job!
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2005-03-21 11:38:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Great job. That looks real sharp.
Submitted by jumpinjellyfish (user info) at 2005-03-21 11:33:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Faithless_Whisper (user info) at 2005-03-21 11:26:50 (#)
Ranking: 2
Good, now come remodel mine.
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Hahahahaha!
No.
Submitted by Faithless_Whisper (user info) at 2005-03-21 11:26:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good, now come remodel mine.
Submitted by jumpinjellyfish (user info) at 2005-03-21 11:08:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2005-03-21 10:53:25 (#)
Ranking: 1
I liked it better pink.
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The pink tiles were badly chipped. Also, over the years, when tiles broke they were replaced with white or off-white. It was very odd looking with 3 different colors of tile in the counter top.
Submitted by pen_name (user info) at 2005-03-21 10:56:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2005-03-21 10:53:25 (#)
Ranking: 1
I liked it better pink.
................
no way, now it has that Pizzeria Unos look. In fact, now I feel like chicken thumbs. that cinches it.
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2005-03-21 10:54:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Dat shit is tight nigga!
Submitted by hcp28 (user info) at 2005-03-21 10:54:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Should have spent some money on a decent digital camera.
+1 because carpenters have to stick together.
Submitted by pen_name (user info) at 2005-03-21 10:53:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
the added window and counter extension kick ass.
next time throw in a disco ball and a drawer full of E.
*insert techno music*
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2005-03-21 10:53:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I liked it better pink.
Submitted by ess-arr (user info) at 2005-03-21 10:52:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
congrats, you got rid of that eerie fog in your kitchen too...
Submitted by fudgepacker (user info) at 2005-03-21 10:52:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i like the multi-windows. Nice touch.
I'm dreading the day that I have to spend 11 G's on remodeling a kitchen.