Thompson Price understands that it can be difficult to remodel a kitchen or bath with out breaking the bank. For those of you looking to update your existing kitchen design without spending a fortune, Thompson Price has created this list of fairly simple things you can do to update your kitchen and keep some money left over in your pocket. Our third suggestion:
Replace Your Countertops: This option is a touchy subject. Many people automatically think it has to be inexpensive to replace your countertops and it can be, but when you’re replacing a countertop, you might as well plan on a new sink, faucet, and garbage disposal. This is especially true if you’re changing from laminate to granite or quartz. Not to mention, laminate and granite are typically not the same thickness, so if you have tile for your backsplash, you may end up with a gap between your new top and your existing tile if your installer has failed to do his homework. Many times, it’s impossible to salvage a tile backsplash depending on how it was originally adhered to the wall.
If your cabinets are older than 12 years, we recommend considering cabinet replacement since you’re replacing a countertop for a few reasons:
- You have the perfect opportunity to change any cabinet layout or poor kitchen designs.
- Once you have your countertops removed and your plumbing disconnected, you have already spent over half the labor amount it would take to get brand new cabinets.
- Customers have told us in the past that their existing cabinets look out of place or dated with a brand new expensive countertop sitting on top of them.
If your cabinets are 14-20 years old and you’re considering a new countertop, you would be foolish to not consider new cabinets. Think five years down the line when your cabinets are falling a part and now you have to pay someone to come out, remove your new counter without breaking it, and you’re locked into the same layout you originally had. One thing is certain; replacing the countertop without replacing old cabinets beneath it will not provide the same return on investment as replacing the countertop along with the cabinets.
A word of caution: we recommend that you not replace countertops in an effort to sell your home. While it can make your kitchen look a little nicer, chances are that your taste in countertop material and your potential buyers’ taste in countertop material aren’t the same. The new homeowner is most likely going to tear your new counter out anyway and re-do the kitchen. Save your money to invest in your next home, and let your buyers do what they want to your existing kitchen.
Tags: cabinets, kitchen design, Kitchen Remodeling
