When it comes to remodeling, planning is everything. In fact, it’s the difference between setback and success for many home improvement projects. A great, thoroughly detailed plan will guide you to the home of your dreams, but a lesser plan will leave you vulnerable to disastrous blunders. Incomplete planning even made our list of 9 Serious Mistakes That Risk Crippling Your Kitchen Remodel.

So, how do you make sure that your plans are complete, thought-out, and thorough? The trick is to ask plenty of good questions.

We here at Cabinet World would love to personally answer any questions you have. You can call us or visit one of our Kitchen & Bath Design Centers in the Pittsburgh area at any time. We will bring our expertise straight to you, as part of our Personalized Design experience.

During the experience, one of our highly-trained, professional design experts will pay you a visit in the comfort of your home to discuss your home improvement goals. They’ll offer you on the spot advice and helpful insight that you just won’t get from other contracting companies.

You can also find the answers to several questions right here in this blog post. We’re going to review some common doubts that homeowners express before they start a kitchen remodel, and you don’t want to miss our response for a single one.

What’s the difference between a kitchen remodel and a kitchen renovation?

While the terms are frequently used interchangeably, they’re far from synonymous, and knowing the difference will spare you from a lot of misunderstanding.

Renovating the kitchen means giving it a new look. You might redo the paint, replace the tiling, or reface the cabinets, but every adjustment is relatively superficial. Even if you add some counter space or rearrange the cupboards, the basic structure and functionality of your kitchen stays the same.

When you remodel a kitchen, however, the adjustments are slightly more transformative. Walls might be added/demolished, lights installed or moved, or plumbing reconfigured. At the end of a major remodeling project, it’ll be like you have a brand new kitchen.

How much will it cost?

The exact figure on your next project depends on a number of factors.The first of these would be the nature of your project. Moving a wall, for example, can add more cost than other adjustments. Another factor to consider would be materials, which often – though not always – cost more if they are of higher quality.

If you’d like to learn more about the cost of kitchen projects, check out our blog post on How to Budget your Kitchen Renovation. There, you’ll find a fuller breakdown of cost, plus some discussion on a project’s return on investment.

How long will it take?

From start to finish, kitchen remodels can last for quite a while. This rather big timetable is mainly the result of how complex kitchen remodels can be.

The room itself has a lot of critical, overlapping features – gas pipes, water pipes, electric wiring, supporting walls and so on. All of these must be carefully considered and accounted for before any work can begin.

And once the work begins, it usually includes several different changes to the kitchen. Each one must be made with dedicated time and attention.

With all of that in mind, it’s easy to understand how remodeling plans might commandeer your calendar. This time will stretch even longer if ‘surprises’ are encountered along the way or you change your mind about some detail during the project. The best way to avoid such delays is to plan ahead and proceed with care.

What does the remodeling process look like?

While every kitchen is unique and one-of-a-kind, most kitchen remodels follow the same general pattern; a standardized set of steps. And whether you end up taking one or all of these remodeling steps, it’s a good idea to know their chronological order.

The pattern starts with demoing your kitchen; out with the old to make way for the new. During this phase, our team will essentially clear everything away from the area on which we’ll be working. This could mean pulling the cabinets away from one wall, or gutting the entire room.

But don’t worry – this step isn’t as destructive as it sounds. Cabinets, shelves, and appliances can all be removed without being damaged. As a result, these fixtures can simply be reinstalled once the remodel is complete, or sold to help pay for an updated set.

Once the kitchen is demoed, it’s time to work on the walls. Whether the project involves removing or adding a wall, now’s the chance to do it. It’s also a perfect opportunity to strip the drywall, revealing the pipework and electric wires in order to replace or reroute these fixtures. Once completed, new drywall can be put up, and every affected wall coated with a layer of primer.

This will seal the vertical surface, not to mention provide the best blank canvas of all time. However, you’ll want to refrain from decorative painting until just before the cabinets are installed. Between those steps, there’s some heavy lifting to be done and the walls may get scuffed and scratched.

Then again, stray marks may not concern you if you plan to add or reframe a doorway or window. During such modifications, we will surround the openings with ample insulation and seal the edges properly.

Now that the walls, plumbing, and electricity are taken care of, we can take a look at the floor. Our design specialists can assist you in choosing what floor fits your lifestyle and your taste, from a wide variety of options including linoleum, ceramic, or wood. If you’d like to browse these options, a visit to one of our Kitchen & Bath Design Centers can show you all the possibilities. It can be easiest to install new flooring at this step in the process, while the kitchen is still empty and gutted.

Next, we come to the cabinets and countertop. The stylistic possibilities are endless, especially with so many gorgeous, practical options available. For a little inspiration, you can read our article that explains How to Select Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets. Our online kitchen gallery is another great resource to gather ideas. Feel free to look through our photos, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you like what you see. We’ll get you quality, American-made cabinetry at a price you won’t regret from one of our five brands: Candlelight Cabinetry, Brookhaven, Kountry Wood Products, Wellborn Cabinet, and Wood Mode.

Once the cabinets are in place, the backsplash is added. Though it won’t take up a lot of wall space, it will be a defining feature of the room. That’s because backsplashes are like the banners of kitchen design. They catch the eye and make a statement; a statement that you dictate by choosing the right color and material to represent your heart and your home.

Choosing the right backsplash for you can be difficult, but your assigned design specialist will help you with the decision as part of our Personalized Design experience.

Last but not least in our list of remodeling steps, we have appliances. Like the cabinets, you can keep your old stove, dishwasher, fridge, etc., or upgrade your kitchen with newer tech. At the end of the day (or remodel), it’s between you and your wallet.

Should I design my new kitchen before I contact a contractor?

Before you start any home improvement project, you need to have a well-defined vision for the end result. After all, if you aim for nothing, that’s what you’ll achieve. However, this does not mean you need to draft a meticulous blueprint of your dream kitchen.

Earlier, we mentioned the Personalized Design experience, in which one of our design specialists will conduct a consultation with you in the comfort of your home. Well, this is where that one of a kind service really shines, because our designers have the mindful understanding to see your kitchen as you’d like it to be. In addition, they possess the experience and remodeling know-how to bring that dream kitchen to life. They can also evaluate how you use your kitchen, and make suggestions as to what features can make the space work for you. For example, if you have an expansive spice collection, they may recommend adding a built-in spice drawer to your new kitchen plan.

If you’d like to meet with one of our designers, request your free consultation today. And, in the meantime, keep the image of a perfect kitchen ever in your mind’s eye. You may find it helpful to read these Layout Considerations for Kitchen Design.

Will I be able to use my kitchen during the remodel?

Whether or not you are able to use your kitchen while it’s being remodeled depends on the scope of activities. If you’re only working on part of the room, you may be able to utilize the remaining area throughout the whole process – provided safety is not a concern. On the other hand, a more thorough home improvement could freeze the room’s functionality.

But there are plenty of ways to make it through without relying on fast food and prepackaged snacks. Setting up a temporary kitchen, for example, is a brilliant survival strategy. To do this, simply find a room that is safe from the dust cloud of construction, taking essential ingredients and cooking tools with you. Store refrigerator items in a cooler just before preparing the meal, and use a microwave or camping stove to cook. On nice days, you could also try grilling food outside.

What is your number one piece of advice?

Home improvements can be stressful, especially when they involve a room as important as the kitchen. The process will be easier and the tension lifted if the aesthetic and practical choices are made early on.

The executive process can feel tedious in the moment, after you’ve spent time comparing factors such as paint chips and flooring samples. But you don’t have to go the process alone. Your assigned design specialist will be just a phone call or email away. Helping you make these decisions is a process that’s built into our Personalized Design experience, so you needn’t worry. Besides, it can also be a lot of fun to watch the pieces of your new kitchen fall into place.

So, have we answered all your questions, or is there something we missed? Remember, if you have any remaining doubts, you can always discuss them with us directly through a phone call or visit. You can also find us on social media, and while you’re there – why not share this post with friends? Chances are they have remodeling questions, too.

And if you like what you’ve read so far, don’t stop now! You’ll want to see 9 Features to Make Your New Kitchen More Efficient, along with these 10 Tips to Modernize Your Outdated Kitchen.