We are often asked about what the average cost of a St. Louis kitchen remodel is and, the truth is, the answer varies so greatly from project to project, it’s a tough one to define.
Here are a few cost concerns that will factor into your budget:
1. Skills
Skills are generally the number one driver of costs in a remodel. The more complex the changes are, the more skilled workers you will need to hire, the greater the cost in the end.
For instance, the level of complexity will be significantly different for a kitchen remodel in a 100-year-old house than it will be in a same-size house that’s only 40 years old. Older homes were simply not built for change so, while it’s all possible, your final vision may not come as easily if you are updating an older home.
2. Product
Your choices of finishings, such as cabinetry (and all the “bells and whistles” of cabinetry), appliances, hardware, tilework, flooring, countertops – all these things drive costs. This is, however, an area where we can suggest a compromise.
For instance, there are countertops that deliver the exact same look and design aesthetic as higher-end materials but that cost considerably less. You may not get exactly what your heart desires but, in essence, you will, because it will look and perform exactly the same.
3. Your Involvement
The extent to which you want to be involved in the renovation process can also have an effect on the end cost of a kitchen remodel. This really only applies to a small percentage of our clients, but we recognize that many of you are keen to do at least some of the work yourselves while leaving the more complex tasks to us.
So, in our initial meetings, we will first discuss your overall goals for the design and then we will get into how it’s all going to come together. We want to make sure you have all the resources you need at your disposal so we are happy to oversee any aspect of the work – or all of it, as needed.
Transparent Pricing and Planning
Part of our process involve seeing how we arrive at our numbers. This is a great way to understand how your choices are going to impact the overall budget and it is here that we can help you make adjustments before the work begins. This way, you will be able to better predict your spend and timelines so that the project delivers on your vision.
Warranties and Guarantees: What You Should Know
All products have warranties from the manufacturer but read the fine print carefully if any remodeler offers you a lengthy, multi-year warranty. This may initially seem like a really good thing, but there is most likely a state-implied structural warranty that you’re going to get regardless of what the builder tells you. At any rate, you should not have to pay extra for this.
The reality is that if we have installed something incorrectly, we will fix it. However, this does not apply to things like paint, caulking or any changes that may have occurred as a result of seasonal fluctuations in temperature or humidity.
Here are some examples of our own projects and their cost ranges:
$100-130 thousand
An older home with older floors: This was a larger-scale kitchen remodel because we redid the flooring throughout the house. Redoing floors in multiple rooms tends to affect other things like resetting toilets, and so on.
$60-80 thousand
This was an older kitchen remodel as well. There was a column holding up the second floor, so we eliminated it and that increased the costs.
$65-75 thousand
This was an average kitchen remodel in which only minor alterations were done.
$65-75 thousand
An average kitchen remodel that did not require moving any walls although, in the end, we did do quite a lot of work.
Cost vs. Value
Ultimately, we like to look at the cost of the kitchen remodel versus the value it adds in the end. If you are planning to sell, whether it’s right away or in the next few years, this could be a driving factor in making your decisions.
On the other hand, if your remodel is aimed at enhancing your lifestyle over the long term, you may choose to spend a little more to have all the conveniences and features you dearly want. Check out the 2018 Cost vs. Value Report to get some ideas about cost ranges for various kitchen additions.
Thinking about a kitchen remodel in St. Louis? Reach out today and let’s talk about your ideas!
