This post outlines the preparation required for a successful kitchen remodeling project. Your kitchen design and a good plan are the first step in the process. Work with your designer and construction team to ensure that all required planning for your kitchen is completed before the construction begins.
Here are three areas that will help with your kitchen project preparation:
1. Project Specifications/Job Folder
Documentation for your project should be prepared before construction begins. Prepare a kitchen product selection sheet and work with your construction team to put together a job folder that includes:
- Construction plans – Required if your kitchen renovation includes structural changes, beams, new doors or windows.
- Cabinet design – Include floor plans, elevations, cabinet specifications and installation details.
- Lighting / Electrical Plan – Electrical specifications including lighting (recessed, under-cabinet and decorative), counter and appliance.
- Kitchen appliances – All specification and rough-in guides.
- Plumbing fixtures – Sinks, faucets, disposals, pot fillers and other specialty items.
- Finish surfaces – Counters, flooring, wall colors, tile back splash, etc.
- Other specifications – Telephone, cable tv, audio visual requirements.
- Contacts – Provides a chain of contact as well as a list of who will be working in your home. Be sure to include your family contacts as well.
A well prepared job folder ensures that everyone working on the project has accurate information.
2. Temporary Kitchen
Once the construction starts, you still need to prepare food. Take-out food gets old fast! Consider the following items when putting together your temporary kitchen:
- Mini kitchen setup – A good temporary kitchen setup helps to ease the inconvenience of a kitchen remodel.
- Relocate your refrigerator, toaster oven and microwave to your temporary kitchen.
- Hot plate – Try cooking pasta in a microwave.
- Select essential pots, pans, utensils, plates and silverware (paper cups and plates).
- Kitchen Sink – No access to a sink is probably the hardest part of being out of your kitchen. Consider a temporary sink or dishwasher hookup.
- Temporary shelving – Using your old cabinets can be a good temporary option.
- Outdoor Grill – great for a warm weather renovation.
3. Pre-Construction Meeting
The pre-construction meeting sets the stage for a successful kitchen remodeling project. This meeting should be attended by all key trades and family members in the project. The meeting should address the following items:
- Construction zones – Define the areas included in the construction, materials storage, parking, access to bathrooms.
- Access/work hours – When should you expect work to start and finish? Will work take place on weekends? How will the workers access your home?
- Construction walk through schedule – Meetings should be scheduled for regular project reviews with Production Manager and relevant trades.
- Project schedule – The entire project schedule should be reviewed. Since day-to-day schedules often change, establish a daily communication method and consider using a firm that employs on-line scheduling.
Good preparation is critical to keeping your kitchen project on-time and budget. Time spent up-front preparing for your kitchen project pays off during construction and ensures that your new kitchen turns out exactly as you expected.