Whether you plan to go the DIY route or hire a designer, general contractor or kitchen company, staffing a kitchen renovation depends on what you plan to do.
If you're just replacing the kitchen cabinets, a professional kitchen cabinet company will do. But in most cases, by the time you need new cabinets, you also need a new floor, new bulkheads, new electrical, new plumbing, new everything -- and that requires permits and all the right people.
Most kitchen renovations involve some type of electrical work, plumbing, HVAC -- especially if you're putting in a dishwasher or range hood.
Planning on taking down a wall? Make sure it's not load-bearing. A good contractor can tell you if it is, but I would get a proper structural assessment by a qualified engineer. You should know the exact structural components of your house before doing any major renovation.
Electrical work requires a permit -- even moving a receptacle, a job most homeowners think is DIY. Electrical work is never DIY. Hire a licensed electrical contractor to get it right.
Some homeowners like to get their hands dirty and do things themselves. I get it. That's how I learned. But I had someone watching my every move, making sure I didn't burn down the house -- or worse.
You might think a DIY reno saves money, but nine times out of 10 you cause more problems such as mould and moisture issues, structural damage or faulty electrical. It's not worth it.
One kitchen project homeowners might not find too risky is upgrading the backsplash. But they may need to bring in a pro at some point.
A new backsplash could set your electrical outlets more into the wall if the new tile is thicker than the old ones, so the outlets won't be flush against the new backsplash. A licensed electrician can bring the outlets out a bit, usually about six millimetres, depending on the thickness of your tile.
A backsplash can make or break your kitchen. It's an opportunity to give your kitchen some personality, but do it wrong and it's an eyesore.
If you plan on living in your home for years and don't mind looking at it every day, fine. But if you're thinking of selling within the next few years, stay away from anything flashy. For example, I'd love a bright green backsplash in the middle of a neutral kitchen, but my daughter, Sherry, would hate it. If you want to make your kitchen buyer-friendly, stick to classic and neutral.
What about sealing? Ceramic and porcelain tiles don't need to be sealed, but sealing is a must for stone tiles. Stone is porous and will soak up any spills on the surface, including grout. If you grout before sealing the stone, the tile will look cloudy permanently. You can't go back and fix that.
As far as grout goes, a darker colour is better as it hides stains. Some contractors might tell you to seal grout to prevent it from staining and looking dirty. But grout needs to breathe, so I recommend not sealing it.
As always, hiring the right people is key. If you do it right the first time, you pay for your reno only once. Talk to the right pros, and do your homework.
Bottom line, a kitchen reno is never entirely DIY -- even I bring in the pros.
Watch Mike Holmes on Holmes Makes It Right on HGTV. For more information visit makeitright.ca.
