How to Survive a Kitchen Remodel
This was published in the New Mexico Breeze, June 5,2009
HOW TO SURVIVE A KITCHEN REMODEL
By
Joan Saks Berman
This is a project that always takes a lot of planning. Of course, this depends on how extensive your remodel will be. Expect that you'll be without your kitchen for at least two months. This may also vary, depending on the nature and disposition of your contractor as well as how much work needs to be done. You may want to replace all the cabinets, counters, and appliances as well as the floor covering, or you may want only to replace the counter tops and the floor covering, and have the cabinets and walls painted. You should also decide well in advance whether the utility room will be done over at the same time. The cost, of course, will vary with how much will be done and the specific items chosen for replacement. The contractor may provide all the new materials and new equipment, or he may prefer that you go with him to his suppliers and pay for the counters and cabinets, for example, at the time of purchase. If some time has gone by since the cost estimate, be prepared for increased costs on materials.
It is important to get a written estimate of when the project will be finished. Some contractors are infamous for disappearing for various periods of time, in the middle of an unfinished job, when they take on additional jobs. (However, some particularly eccentric contractors are not willing to be pinned down.) It is also a good idea to get the labor costs in writing as well. Otherwise the contractor may say that he underestimated some costs, and needs several hundred more dollars, or that he needs to hire more helpers and must have more money to pay them. You will be vulnerable to contractor manipulations when your kitchen is torn apart and your house is in chaos. You'll want to do whatever it takes to get the job done and return your life to normal.
Set up an area in another room, for example the dining room, that will hold basic kitchen necessities. Use your buffet or a card table, but not the table you will use for eating. Your refrigerator will be moved into your dining room or family room and you will have to do without your automatic icemaker unless you have running water available. On the card table and/or buffet will go your toaster and/or toaster oven, microwave, electric coffeemaker, electric can-opener, coffee grinder, and whatever other electric appliances are indispensable for you . These may also include a hot plate, electric frying pan, and a crockpot or slow-cooker.
You'll also need some laundry detergent for trips to the laundromat if your washing machine will be disconnected and moved. When someone helps you pack up the kitchen, label each box so that you will know which box contains what when you have to put it away again. Before the workers arrive, you can prepare a box or drawer so you'll have what you need to use during your temporary displacement in a convenient place. Some items to consider are a few plates, cups, bowls, forks, knives, and spoons. In fact, if you can think of this as "camping" out and have camping equipment, you might want to use that. If you plan to use a hotplate or a camping stove, you'll need a saucepan and a skillet, a lid and a spatula, and maybe a teakettle. Of course, you'll need potholders
On the other hand, you may want to consider getting a supply of paper plates, cups, bowls, and disposable knives, forks and spoons. If that offends your environmental or gastronomic sensibilities, be prepared to wash what you use in the bathtub or bathroom sink, and put some dishwashing liquid there. Lots of paper towels, napkins, coffee filters and aluminum foil will be helpful. Some Ziploc bags will be useful, as all your Rubbermaid, Tupperware or Gladware will be packed up. (This is a good time, by the way, to recycle the empty bottles, jars, and bags that may have accumulated, if you're the kind of person who can't throw out anything which might be used again. Ground coffee or coffee beans and tea containers should be accessible. Keep some batteries handy in several sizes, because you might need them. And don't forget the garbage bags and recycle bags. If you are using disposables, you'll need them even more.
Your companion animals need to be considered, too, so don't forget to put their bowls in a convenient place, along with supplies of their food, treats, and toys. If you usually keep their leashes in the kitchen find a new place for them.
Depending on the layout of your house, you may want to protect your carpet from the dusty footprints of the workmen, and your own (if you'll be passing through the work area). Scraps and remnants of old carpeting or runners can be used, and be sure to keep your vacuum cleaner handy as well as a feather duster or a few dust cloths.
You might want to keep a bottle of wine handy to help smooth out the wrinkles of frustration and anxiety, so keep a corkscrew among your utensils. In any case, you'll need some bottled drinking water and/or soda.
Even with all this preparation, you'll probably want to eat out more than usual, so include this in your budget. You may also want to bring home prepared food from your favorite restaurant, fast food drive-thru, or supermarket. Think of the new salads available at Wendy's or Costco. Certainly this is a good time use microwavable frozen foods.
If you store boxes of dishes and other kitchen cabinet contents on the porch or patio, cover them with tarps as protection from wind and rain. And don't forget to tell neighbors if workmen will be going in and out when you're not home.
Now that you've read my simple suggestions, you may want to reconsider the whole project. A friend of mine was so traumatized after going through a kitchen remodel that she said she would rather move than do it again. Other people I know have avoided doing anything else to improve their homes after the nightmare of the kitchen remodel experience.
HOW TO SURVIVE A KITCHEN REMODEL
By
Joan Saks Berman
This is a project that always takes a lot of planning. Of course, this depends on how extensive your remodel will be. Expect that you'll be without your kitchen for at least two months. This may also vary, depending on the nature and disposition of your contractor as well as how much work needs to be done. You may want to replace all the cabinets, counters, and appliances as well as the floor covering, or you may want only to replace the counter tops and the floor covering, and have the cabinets and walls painted. You should also decide well in advance whether the utility room will be done over at the same time. The cost, of course, will vary with how much will be done and the specific items chosen for replacement. The contractor may provide all the new materials and new equipment, or he may prefer that you go with him to his suppliers and pay for the counters and cabinets, for example, at the time of purchase. If some time has gone by since the cost estimate, be prepared for increased costs on materials.
It is important to get a written estimate of when the project will be finished. Some contractors are infamous for disappearing for various periods of time, in the middle of an unfinished job, when they take on additional jobs. (However, some particularly eccentric contractors are not willing to be pinned down.) It is also a good idea to get the labor costs in writing as well. Otherwise the contractor may say that he underestimated some costs, and needs several hundred more dollars, or that he needs to hire more helpers and must have more money to pay them. You will be vulnerable to contractor manipulations when your kitchen is torn apart and your house is in chaos. You'll want to do whatever it takes to get the job done and return your life to normal.
Set up an area in another room, for example the dining room, that will hold basic kitchen necessities. Use your buffet or a card table, but not the table you will use for eating. Your refrigerator will be moved into your dining room or family room and you will have to do without your automatic icemaker unless you have running water available. On the card table and/or buffet will go your toaster and/or toaster oven, microwave, electric coffeemaker, electric can-opener, coffee grinder, and whatever other electric appliances are indispensable for you . These may also include a hot plate, electric frying pan, and a crockpot or slow-cooker.
You'll also need some laundry detergent for trips to the laundromat if your washing machine will be disconnected and moved. When someone helps you pack up the kitchen, label each box so that you will know which box contains what when you have to put it away again. Before the workers arrive, you can prepare a box or drawer so you'll have what you need to use during your temporary displacement in a convenient place. Some items to consider are a few plates, cups, bowls, forks, knives, and spoons. In fact, if you can think of this as "camping" out and have camping equipment, you might want to use that. If you plan to use a hotplate or a camping stove, you'll need a saucepan and a skillet, a lid and a spatula, and maybe a teakettle. Of course, you'll need potholders
On the other hand, you may want to consider getting a supply of paper plates, cups, bowls, and disposable knives, forks and spoons. If that offends your environmental or gastronomic sensibilities, be prepared to wash what you use in the bathtub or bathroom sink, and put some dishwashing liquid there. Lots of paper towels, napkins, coffee filters and aluminum foil will be helpful. Some Ziploc bags will be useful, as all your Rubbermaid, Tupperware or Gladware will be packed up. (This is a good time, by the way, to recycle the empty bottles, jars, and bags that may have accumulated, if you're the kind of person who can't throw out anything which might be used again. Ground coffee or coffee beans and tea containers should be accessible. Keep some batteries handy in several sizes, because you might need them. And don't forget the garbage bags and recycle bags. If you are using disposables, you'll need them even more.
Your companion animals need to be considered, too, so don't forget to put their bowls in a convenient place, along with supplies of their food, treats, and toys. If you usually keep their leashes in the kitchen find a new place for them.
Depending on the layout of your house, you may want to protect your carpet from the dusty footprints of the workmen, and your own (if you'll be passing through the work area). Scraps and remnants of old carpeting or runners can be used, and be sure to keep your vacuum cleaner handy as well as a feather duster or a few dust cloths.
You might want to keep a bottle of wine handy to help smooth out the wrinkles of frustration and anxiety, so keep a corkscrew among your utensils. In any case, you'll need some bottled drinking water and/or soda.
Even with all this preparation, you'll probably want to eat out more than usual, so include this in your budget. You may also want to bring home prepared food from your favorite restaurant, fast food drive-thru, or supermarket. Think of the new salads available at Wendy's or Costco. Certainly this is a good time use microwavable frozen foods.
If you store boxes of dishes and other kitchen cabinet contents on the porch or patio, cover them with tarps as protection from wind and rain. And don't forget to tell neighbors if workmen will be going in and out when you're not home.
Now that you've read my simple suggestions, you may want to reconsider the whole project. A friend of mine was so traumatized after going through a kitchen remodel that she said she would rather move than do it again. Other people I know have avoided doing anything else to improve their homes after the nightmare of the kitchen remodel experience.