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Remodeling Your Kitchen: DIY vs. Hiring a Contractor

by | Mar 13, 2020 | Home Renovation, Kitchen Countertops

When it comes to remodeling a kitchen, should you leave it to the professionals entirely or are there some things that can be done yourself? Hiring a professional contractor for your home improvement projects guarantees a job well done, but some might find it costly to hire a pro for certain kitchen remodeling tasks. 

Some things are better left for the professionals to handle, but in some cases, a DIY project will get the job done for you and your kitchen. #RDMarble Share on X

Should You DIY or Hire a Contractor for Your Kitchen Remodel?

If you’re planning on remodeling your kitchen DIY-style, you’ll need to know the dangers that can be involved depending on the type of work you’re doing. Hiring a professional contractor who’s trained for the job can keep you and your family safe while saving you from making costly mistakes to your home’s kitchen.

  1. Consider Your Safety: Electrical Work
  2. Consider the Home’s Safety: Plumbing
  3. Follow Permit Requirements
  4. Your Part in the Renovation Process

1) Consider Your Safety: Electrical Work

Major electrical work needing to be done as part of your new kitchen remodel could get you seriously injured, or killed, assuming you’re not a trained professional. If this is part of your remodeling plans, the best option is to hire a dependable electrician. 

Appliances like the refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave have circuits that might need rewiring. A trained professional will know that there are electrical requirements for kitchens that need to be taken into account during the renovation.

2) Consider the Home’s Safety: Plumbing

If you’re renovating your kitchen to improve the home’s value, you won’t want to skip over plumbing. Improper installation and loosely fitted fixtures can turn into a leak for your kitchen. If this goes unnoticed after finishing the remodel, it can worsen over time causing damage to all the new features you just had put in. Work with a trustworthy plumber to have your sink and dishwasher installed appropriately.

3) Follow Permit Requirements

Depending on where you live, you might be required to have a permit for certain renovation aspects of your kitchen. As covered before, major plumbing and electrical jobs are dangerous tasks that need professional care, and most likely require a permit. If part of your kitchen remodeling project requires a permit to get the job done, it’s safe to say that DIY is a no-go.

Pro Tip: Home renovation projects will most likely have major plumbing and electrical jobs to be done. If the job puts you or your home’s value in danger, get a pro to complete the task.

5) Your Part in the Renovation Process

While many of the steps toward getting the perfect kitchen renovation done require hiring a professional contractor, there are still jobs that can be done on your own. Painting the kitchen can be left entirely up to you with your favorite accent colors and stencils. Cabinet hardware can be installed as a DIY process, so you have full control of materials, design, and finishes. 

Remember that choosing a cheaper material for your kitchen countertops like laminate may save you some money for the time being, but investing in quality stone countertops will ensure strength and durability for a longlasting functioning kitchen.

Your Dream Kitchen Remodel in the Right Hands

When choosing a contractor for your kitchen renovation or deciding to DIY some tasks, make sure you do the research on what steps you need to take towards your remodel. Understand what the job will require and if it requires a trained professional to handle the situation. Take your time to plan how much time the renovation will take, who you will call to get the job done and what the overall budget will be. 

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