Things to consider during your Kitchen Remodel
If you are in the market for a kitchen remodel for your New York City apartment, there is a lot you need to consider. Kitchen remodels are generally one of the most extensive repairs you can make in your NYC apartment, and that means you will want to have all the facts in front of you about what to expect during this process. Everything from cost, to style, to the type of contractor, and to what a project timeline will look like, you will want to consider the following:
Kitchen Remodel Cost
A kitchen renovation in New York City can range anywhere from $25,000 to $250,000 depending on the size of the kitchen, the extent of work, and the types of amenities that you decide to buy. There is a lot that comes with this price tag including, design work with a design build firm, materials, labor, permit fees, and demolition. The first question should always be what is your budget, and wherein it can you splurge. What is most important in a kitchen renovation is overall appearance and function, so make sure you pay top dollar for quality cabinets and for the tiles and fixtures that will be most visible. Alternatively, you can scale back appliances, and more times than not you should not need to hire an interior designer unless you feel you lack the ability to visualize the design.
Type of Contractor
As a kitchen is one of the more typical rooms a person will remodel in their NYC apartment, a lot of times you should hire a kitchen renovation contractor specialist who spends his entire line of work focused on kitchens. A kitchen remodeling contractor spends his entire line of work focused on kitchens and therefore has experience in understanding what works for a kitchen in terms of getting permit approval and typical unforeseen circumstances. They generally will have a fairly good handle on what the best brands of cabinets, fixtures, and appliances are and a more accurate quote on what the level of effort and cost truly is. You’ll also typically find that a kitchen renovation contractor usually has a team of people that work at a quick pace and can get the job done very quickly to minimize disruption.
Styles
When it comes to style this is where the hiring of a design build can come into play, especially if you are considering a full kitchen rebuild. As mentioned above, it is not necessary to hire an interior designer, as they will charge you only for their design work and do not consider the construct-ability of a project. By using a design-build, you can work with a firm that will handle every step of the project, from pre-planning to construction, including permitting and building approval. You will be surprised to find that using a design build can save you anywhere from $5000 to $25000 on design costs. These firms will work with you to understand what kind of style you are looking for and what brands to consider, along with design challenges and anticipated cost.
Project Timeline
The most important question you will want to know next to the cost is how long your kitchen remodeling contractor will need to get the project done. While in general, the design phase and permitting phase is usually the same time project to project, the size of the kitchen and the scale of work can greatly impact the range of timeline.
You should factor in at least a 4-6 weeks for design and permitting, and at least another eight to twelve weeks for actual construction. If the kitchen remodel is a moderate-sized layout and nothing more than replacing fixtures and cabinetry and preserving the existing layout, you should expect your construction time to take closer to six weeks. However, if the project involves a full renovation, this timeline can go to twelve weeks, as now this requires breaking up Sheetrock, as well as redoing electrical and plumbing.
Conclusion
So, if your Manhattan apartment needs a remodeling contractor for a kitchen renovation, then you should now know what to expect. Whether you live in a high rise condo or an old brownstone, nothing is more elegant than bringing guests into a Manhattan property and showing off a nice fresh kitchen that can entertain guests for hours. A kitchen is always the first room to show off in an apartment and you want to make sure that your investment reflects that. So, when it comes to hiring a remodeling contractor, you should always make sure you consider price, style, and timeline. Just make sure you hire someone who knows there way around the kitchen, meaning they know how to build one and at the right cost.
