How to Remodel Kitchen Spaces, Step by Step

Looking to remodel kitchen items that are past their prime? It takes planning to properly install new cabinets, upgrade the flooring and purchase new appliances. It's especially important to order your project timeline efficiently if you plan on overhauling the entire space.

Here's a smart order in which you (and a contractor) should tackle the job:

1. PLANNING

To help in these planning stages, especially if this is your first remodel, you may want to work with a kitchen designer to find a layout that works for your family's dynamic. This Old House suggests taking cook style and cleanup into consideration. Who spends a lot time in this room? What sorts of food do you typically store? Keep in mind that custom flooring and cabinets can take months to manufacture and deliver, so you'll want to order supplies in advance. Your contractor or project manager will ensure materials are delivered at the right time.

2. DEMO

The next step in the project? Demolishing the original design. A destructive task, of course, but the process usually goes quickly. Many contractors can accomplish a complete demo of the kitchen remodel in under a day. You also may not want to hang out during the process, as you may kick up a lot of dust and fumes that can be unhealthy when breathed in. Now is a good time to run some errands or meet a friend for lunch.

3. PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL

When the kitchen is stripped and the demo debris is cleaned up, crews can get into the space to lay new electrical wires and plumbing pipeline before installing new walls and hardwood.

4. PAINT AND DRYWALL

With all electrical and plumbing hardware in place, the contractor can move on to framing the walls and installing the drywall. Before cabinets and flooring go in, you should hire a painting crew that is, unless you're feeling colorful enough for the job yourself. By painting the space first, more expensive elements like custom cabinets and hardwood flooring won't get damaged.

5. CABINETS AND FLOORING

The installation of Flooring and cabinets are actually interchangeable; it is possible to install the flooring first. If you do, make sure the construction team covers the flooring to protect it while they install cabinets. If the cabinets are already installed, this makes for quick work to lay the new floor.

Once the walls are dry, your specialists can begin installing cabinets and fixtures, properly measured for each countertop. At this point, the room will truly start to look like a kitchen again.

6. COUNTERTOPS AND MORE

The contractor will install counters next. With this component in place, the crew can complete the project, working on the finishing touches in this order: grout and backsplash, plumbing and electrical fixtures, built-in appliances, carpentry and trimming and, finally, touch-ups to the paint along new paneling.

When your vision to remodel kitchen design is finally in the works, following a project will keep you on task as you sift through those design decisions you've been itching for to make it feel like home.

This article was brought to you by Colgate-Palmolive Company, the makers of Murphy® Oil Soap. The views and opinions expressed by the author do not reflect the position of the Colgate-Palmolive Company.