Tools You May Need for Your Next Kitchen Remodeling Project

Are you a homeowner who has recently decided that a remodeled kitchen is just what you need? If so, there is a good chance that you may want to do that remodeling yourself. If that is the case, there are a number of tools, likely a large number of tools, which you will need. While there is a good chance that you may already have the majority of the tools needed for your next kitchen remodeling project, there is also a cha

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nce that you might not. Rest assure though because the majority of the tools needed can be found right at one of your local home improvement stores.

When it comes to determining the tools that you will need, when starting your remodeling, it is important to determine which type of remodeling you will be doing. For instance, if you are installing a new set of kitchen cabinets, you will find that the tools needed may vary a little bit from the tools that would be used to replace your kitchen floor. That is why it is advised that you determine exactly what in your kitchen you would like remodeled, as well as what types of tools will be needed. Despite the fact that you may need different tools for different projects, there are a number of common tools; common tools that you may need no matter what kitchen remodeling project you are working one.

Perhaps, the most important tools to have is a hammer. Hammers are used on a wide variety of different kitchen remodeling projects, particularly ones that require nails. Hammers can also be used to help position a tile or countertop piece into a tight space. Since hammers are used all around the house, sometimes on a daily basis, there is a good chance that you already own a hammer. In fact, there is a good chance that you own

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more than one!

Aside from a hammer, it is also a good idea to have a collection of screwdrivers on hand. Although there is a good chance that you already own a couple of screwdrivers, you may want a multi-function screwdriver. A multi-function screwdriver is one that easily allows you to change the screwdriver heads, in no time at all. In fact, if you are really looking to save time, you may want to purchase an electric screw gun.

A putty knife is another tool that you may need to use, when remodeling your kitchen. Putty knifes are ideal when replacing a kitchen countertops or when retiling your kitchen floor. They are great for removing unwanted or unneeded caulk or spreading around the glue that is needed to hold your kitchen tiles down. Putty knifes are common tools, but they are not as common as hammers or screwdrivers; therefore, you may need to purchase yourself one.

It may also be a good idea to have box cutters or handsaws on hand. If you are replacing the flooring in your kitchen or if you are installing a new laminate kitchen countertop, there is a good chance that you need to cut materials down to size. In some cases, a box cutter could do, but in other cases, you may need a handsaw. That is why it is best to have them both on hand.

In addition to the above mentioned tools, you may need to have a wrench, a measuring tape, a glue gun, a pair of pliers, and a ladder. Of course, it is also advised that you think along the lines of safety. In addition to the above mentioned tools, it may be a good idea to have a pair of safety goggles, a face mask, work gloves, and even a hard topped construction hat, just in case.

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Remodeling Your Kitchen: Should You Get a Dishwasher

Have your recently made the decision to remodel your kitchen? If so, do you already have a remodeling plan developed? If not, you may want to think about purchasing yourself a dishwasher, if you don’t already have one. Even if you all of your kitchen remodeling has been planned and you would like a dishwasher, you still should be able to have one. That is why you may serious want to think about purchasing yourself a dishwasher before you proceed any further.

One of the many questions asked about dishwashers and remodeling is how it is possible, especially after a remodeling plan has already been developed. In some cases it will be a little bit more difficult than other

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s, but in other cases it will be relatively easy, especially if you plan on redoing your kitchen cabinets. When it comes to installing a dishwasher in the kitchen, a large number of homeowners just eliminate one of their kitchen cabinets or cupboards. This will allow enough room for most standard size dishwashers. Therefore, even if you have planned your remodeling, right down to the last kitchen floor tile, you can still have that dishwasher you have already dreamed of, if you still want it.

Incase you aren’t already aware; there are a number of benefits to owning a dishwasher. One of those benefits is saved time, especially if you have a large family. The average family goes through at least three different sets of dishes each day; one for breakfast, one for lunch, and one for dinner. Whether you just dislike washing dishes by hand or you feel as if your kitchen sink never stops piling up, you could benefit from the use of a kitchen dishwasher. What is nice about dishwashers is that you just load them, turn them on, and return back to whatever you were doing before. In most cases, you will find that it takes less than five minutes to get a dishwasher loaded and running.

In addition to the above mentioned dishwasher benefits, you may also like that dishwashers come in a number of different styles. While most dishwashers are the same size, the designs are what set most apart. It is not uncommon to find traditional white dishwashers, black dishwashers, black and white dishwashers, silver, as well as stainless steel dishwashers. Essentially, this means that you could easily find a dishwasher to match the rest of your kitchen, even after the remodeling has occurred. In fact, purchasing a dishwasher when you purchase your other kitchen remodeling supplies is a great way to ensure that everything matches.

The price is something else that you may be pleased about. Even if you are remodeling your kitchen on a budget, you should be able to find a dishwasher that fits into your budget. Standard model dishwashers, which typically come in white or black, sell for as low as $150. If you are not necessarily shopping on a budget, but rather shopping for the dishwasher that would best match the rest of your kitchen, you should expect to pay more. High end dishwashers often sell for $1,000.

Perhaps, it would be easiest to add a dishwasher to your kitchen remodeling plan if you are doing your own repairs. Many homeowners, with an instruction manual, are more than able to successfully install their dishwashers. However, even if you are using a professional to remodel your kitchen, they could still easily add a dishwasher into their list of things to do. In most cases, you will find that the cost of remodeling is the same, but it isn’t guaranteed; you may have to pay a small additional fee. Whether or not these fees exist depends on who you are working with.

Although there are a number of benefits to working a new dishwasher into your kitchen remodeling plans, you may still be unsure as to whether or not you really want to. If this is the case, it may be a good idea to examine dishwashers online or in one of your local home improvement stores. There is a good chance that once you see all of the dishwashers that are available, preferably one that would look great in your kitchen after it was remodeled, it may be easier to make a decision.

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Ready to Modern Renovate

When dealing with people trying to sell their homes, Tori Stein hears this all the time:

The dwelling’s fascia is faded or worn, which can mean wood rot. Homeowners wonder if they can get by just with a paint job, but Stein advises against it. She says that some things are too important to touch up or gloss over.

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Stein, vice president of locally based Atlantic Builders Inc. and current president of the Charleston Trident Home Builders Association, has a pet five-word answer: “It is what it is.”

In other words, customers should be prepared to bite the bullet on home repairs and do the job right the first time. Homeowners, too, can at least break even on kitchen and bathroom remodeling in terms of cost versus added value, says Stein, who has specialized in home remodeling for nearly a decade with Atlantic Builders, a “turn-key design build” firm. Her husband Paul Stein founded the venture in 1978.

But she cautions that money savings may not result in a slowing housing market, where sale prices aren’t as high as in a stronger scenario. Price savings, she says, may be overrated. Quality of work and materials is most important. She used the analogy of two supermarket buggies, one filled with macaroni, the other with caviar. The caviar cart is going to cost more, but it’s a much more valuable commodity, too.

Home renovations are popular today as people remodel existing houses they plan to live in for some time or fix them up to prepare for sale.

Renovations can be extensive, expensive, cosmetic or basic. Sometimes, they aren’t the main focus of a house for sale but are important nonetheless.

Home renovations can be tricky because the design crew is dealing with older surroundings, whether just a few years or a few centuries.

“You are working with a pre-existing condition,” Stein says. “Old plumbing, old electrical work, old air conditioning. I have to know how they built over the past 200 years.”

Modern upgraded kitchens, along with luxurious master bathrooms, tend to be a big focus of design and remodeling businesses.

“That’s where you can make the most dramatic changes,” Stein says. “The kitchen is the heart of the house. There’s a living room but everyone wants to hang out in the kitchen.”

By the same token, some homes are renovated to eliminate rooms or features that were once popular but have fallen out of favor.

“We used to build homes with a formal dining room,” Stein says. They look elegant but may only get used three times as year. Lately, she has opened up kitchens by knocking out the nonstructural wall between the kitchen and the dining room.

Similarly, people don’t always have time to take baths, so homeowners design roomy showers with double showerheads and other features. Fireplaces, too, look nice but may be used only a few months out of the year, so they aren’t a necessity as in the past.

Hardwood floors give homes a solid, distinguished look. Upgraded lighting can make a house brighter and make it easier to see and read. Structured wiring can handle online service, audio systems, high-end TVs and even home theaters – one room of the house where she recommends carpeted floors to keep the noise level down.

Picking out a home remodeler can be a task. Stein says homeowners need to make sure businesses are licensed and bonded. Good sources are local municipalities and the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Specialists work with the homeowners to help them pick and choose what they want. Stein says, “OK, you’ve got $30,000 from plumbing to cabinets. We pull it all together. Most people can’t visualize.”

Stein, who recently won awards for a total restoration of a Kiawah Island villa, says, “I actually used to build homes, but I wanted something more of a challenge. I went into remodeling, which can be incredibly difficult.”

Home redesign – whether to take care of much-needed repair, adding or upgrading rooms, or major remodeling – may prove costly on the front end but can be worth it from a livability standpoint, whether it’s your dream home or someone else’s when you sell.

“Any time you remodel it’s an improvement,” Stein says.

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com.

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