If your kitchen is looking a little dated, or you’re wanting a change, a remodel might be in order. Not only will you get an updated cooking area that all members of the family will be able to use and benefit from, but kitchen renovations usually end up adding greater value to your property should you have plans of selling in the future. Of course, with any kind of renovation, because it involves overhauling a frequently used room of the home, it’s important to understand what can make the project take a longer period of time to finish, which simple changes can instantly shift the look of your kitchen, as well as the significance of giving your plumbing system a careful assessment before changing anything of the plumbing. Below, our tips for when you’re renovating a kitchen.
Drawing Out A New Kitchen Layout
If you’re planning for a major kitchen renovation, it’s a good idea to map out your new kitchen layout in order to be able to visualise what type of work needs to be done. For example, if one of your main goals in remodelling your kitchen is to expand the cooking area further, or even just updating your existing function flow to be more efficient, this should be reflected in your new kitchen layout as it will also entail the rerouting and upgrading of existing utilities in your kitchen.
Working with a professional contractor can help you simplify this process and identify what work needs to be done. Getting a plumber to take a look at your planned kitchen layout will give them the proper information for placing shutoff valves not just for all the water, but also for the sink, the dishwasher, and also the refrigerator.
The Order of Trades Is Important
In the process of planning your kitchen renovation? Knowing what needs to be done using your kitchen layout and assessing your existing cooking space can give you an idea of the order of trades that need to be done. For example, try to start with your plumber or electrician before doing any of the cabinetry, flooring, or painting. This is because plumbers and electricians work on the internal systems of your kitchen, and as such would have to work around your newly placed kitchen items, appliances, and cabinets, adding to the length of time that they require to work on your project.
Try To Keep Plumbing In The One Area
It’s important to note that putting your plumbing fixtures and drains in one spot can really save you from a headache down the line. Having your sink, dishwasher, and plumbed fridge in one area not only minimises the costs of having plumbing changed or installed, but it also prevents the need to extend water connections and hoses, which can lead to pipe bursts that you’ll have to call a Perth emergency plumber for. So if your fridge has a water filter and an ice maker, try to make sure that water from the sink can be run to the fridge to make it easier to install and maintain the plumbing. Sinks in the middle of an island bench may be nice aesthetically, but it can be problematic as it will be more difficult to place pipes sourcing water to different locations in the kitchen from the sink.
Sink Consideration
Getting a new sink? If your kitchen renovation is mostly to ensure that you have a better function flow as you cook, take note of how you’ve been using your existing kitchen sink and your habits, too. For example, if you’re not planning for a dishwasher, or are wanting to handwash your dishes mostly, it can be a lifesaver to opt for a deeper sink that you can soak used dishes in positioned in a less-visible part of the kitchen, like a corner. This makes it so that your kitchen still looks well-put together, because having a full sink as the centrepiece of the cooking space can make your kitchen look messy and disorganised.
Not only this, but choosing a sink prior to major renovations like cabinetry can also ensure that when your cabinets are installed, the piping is at the right level, and any drain pipes necessary can fit under the bottom of the sink. Note that the plumber may have to remove parts of the cabinet to access the pipes, and this will end up costing you more if it is done inefficiently.
The Type of Dishwasher Matters
Not all dishwashers are made the same. Standard, compact, drawer, counter-top: there’s a lot of choices available on the market today. As with the previous tips, the dishwasher needs to be located near the sink to simplify its water supply and access to the main drainage pipe. Free-standing dishwashers are easy to install, but integrated dishwashers which are fixed into a position requires the expertise of a plumber to ensure that all the pipes and hoses and fitted properly and your dishwasher works without a hitch.
Energy-efficient and Water-saving
A kitchen renovation is the time to change up your appliances and fixtures. If you’re replacing your refrigerator, opt for a unit that consumes less energy so that you save money in the long run. Not only that, but getting a high-quality, water saving faucet can also keep your water costs down over time, too.
Following some of these tips can spell the difference between a well-renovated kitchen, and a kitchen that may look different, but has systematic problems that can spell disaster down the line, requiring you to call a Perth emergency plumber to fix. Inefficient plumbing systems can lead to burst pipes, clogged drains, and decreased water pressure, so it’s a good idea to invest in a good plumber during renovation to ensure that your plumbing system is constructed in the best way possible to prevent future problems down the line. Not only will this ensure that your kitchen is well-made, but it will also lead to a better workflow for your kitchen.