Estimating Costs

Getting an accurate estimate on your kitchen remodel is a tricky  business. While you might be able to find averages for your area, it’s  really going to come down to how big your kitchen is, how in-depth you  want your remodel to be, and the quality of the materials you choose.  This makes getting an estimate on your own quite tricky, and it’s  usually best to contact a contractor to work out the details and get a  more accurate number. However, if you want to get as accurate an  estimate as possible on your own, here are a few tips for estimating the  costs of a new kitchen or bathroom. 

First, you should know the square footage of your kitchen, bathroom or floor plan. The size of your kitchen will impact many of the costs associated with your remodel, including paint, cabinetry, countertops, and flooring.  Additionally, most of the cost estimates outlined below are based on  cost per square foot. So, figure out the square footage of your kitchen,  then come back to this blog to continue getting your estimate down.  Don’t worry; we’ll wait.

Okay, now that you’ve gotten your square footage written down (or at  least a pretty good estimate of it), let’s talk about different levels  of remodel. For the purposes of estimating costs, there are basically  three different levels for remodeling your kitchen:

• Level 1 – A Level 1 remodel is basically giving  your existing kitchen a major facelift. It will brighten up the kitchen  and give it a whole new look without making any major changes to the  layout. This includes things such as repainting the walls, refinishing  the cupboards and putting on new hardware, installing a new backsplash,  and so on. This type of remodel will cost you between $100 and $125 per  square foot.
• Level 2 – A mid-level remodel is similar to a Level  1 remodel in that it doesn’t make extensive changes to the layout.  However, it does allow you to choose from higher-quality materials and  to make some replacements in the kitchen. You can install vinyl flooring  or Corian-like countertops, which will cost about $200 to $250 per  square foot for the remodel.
• Level 3 – The highest, most in-depth level for a  kitchen remodel is Level 3. This is a full-scale gut it and start over  remodel. This allows you to change the layout of your kitchen (though  moving major fixtures will increase the cost), install semi-custom  cabinets, put in new countertops, and so on. From the major materials to  the small finishing touches, everything in this level is brand new,  which will cost you $300 or more per square foot, depending on the  quality of materials and appliances you select.

If you have an idea of what level of remodel you want, and you know  your square footage in your kitchen, you should be able to get a vague  estimate on what a remodel will cost you with these numbers alone.

Once you know about how much a remodel will cost, you’ll need to  determine how that budget is allocated—how much will you spend on  cabinets, flooring, and so on. First, we recommend setting aside about  20% of your total budget for unexpected expenses. The remainder will be  divided up based on your remodeling priorities. Is it most important to  you to get new cabinets, or are you okay with refinishing the ones you  have? These kinds of decisions determine how the budget is spent to get  the most out of your money.

If you want a more accurate estimate for your home remodeling, contact J Cor Construction.