Most people, when they are planning to refresh their kitchens, think about the obvious costs like worktops, cabinets, appliances, and flooring, and of course, they will contribute to a significant amount of the overall costs. But you know what? They are not always the biggest factors in your overall spend when refreshing your kitchen.
In reality, some of the biggest and most overlooked kitchen refresh costs come from the practical side of the project, and they can knock you for six if you are not ready for them. So, to make sure that doesn’t happen, let’s take a look at a few of them, shall we?
The cost of removing the old kitchen
Before your new kitchen can be installed, the old one has to go. This sounds simple, but it can involve more time, effort, and expense than many homeowners anticipate. Units need to be dismantled, worktops removed, tiles stripped and sometimes even walls adjusted. Depending on the age of your kitchen, there may also be unexpected issues such as damaged plaster or outdated wiring that needs addressing.
Labour costs for removal and preparation can quickly rise, especially if the work is more complex than planned, so you need to be aware.
Waste and disposal adds up quickly
One of the biggest costs that so often gets overlooked is the cost of the waste that is produced during your kitchen refresh. Old cabinets, appliances, tiles, packaging materials, and other debris will need to be removed during the course of your kitchen refresh and although so many people assume they will be able to handle it themselves using their household bins and tip run or two, this is often ot th ecae, particularly in a bigger project.
This is where planning ahead becomes essential. You need to have the right waste solutions in place right from the get-go, whether that means hiring a skip and getting an answer to how big is an 8 yard skip, so you can get the right size, or having a professional in place who can come and remove it all for you. Doing this at the start of the project will mean no nasty financial surprises further down the line.
Temporary living costs
A kitchen refresh is one of those things that can disrupt your life way more than you expected it to. Without access to cooking facilities, it might be the case that you need to rely on takeaways and ready meals or dining out for a while, and that is an additional expense you might need to plan for. However, if it is going to be more than a few days, you might rather plan for alternatives like setting up a temporary kitchen space as that will probably keep costs under control more than the former ideas.
Delays and unexpected issues
No matter how well you plan, delays can happen. Deliveries may be late, tradespeople may run behind schedule, or unforeseen problems may arise once work begins.These delays can have a knock on effect, increasing labour costs and extending the time you are living without a fully functioning kitchen.
Building a contingency into your budget can help you manage these situations without added stress.
Now you kow the real cost of a kitchen refresh you can plan your budget with more accuracy.
Leave a Reply