Getting an accurate estimate on your kitchen remodel is a tricky business. While you might be able to find averages for your area, it’s really going to come down to how big your kitchen is, how in-depth you want your remodel to be, and the quality of the materials you choose. This makes getting an estimate on your own quite tricky, and it’s usually best to contact a contractor to work out the details and get a more accurate number. However, if you want to get as accurate an estimate as possible on your own, here are a few tips for estimating the costs of a new kitchen design in Orange County.

Know Your Square Footage

First, you should know the square footage of your kitchen. The size of your kitchen will impact many of the costs associated with your remodel, including paint, cabinetry, countertops, and flooring. Additionally, most of the cost estimates outlined below are based on cost per square foot. So, figure out the square footage of your kitchen, then come back to this blog to continue getting your estimate down. Don’t worry; we’ll wait.

Choosing Your Level of Remodel

Okay, now that you’ve gotten your square footage written down (or at least a pretty good estimate of it), let’s talk about different levels of remodel. For the purposes of estimating costs, there are basically three different levels for remodeling your kitchen:

  • Level 1 – A Level 1 remodel is basically giving your existing kitchen a major facelift. It will brighten up the kitchen and give it a whole new look without making any major changes to the layout. This includes things such as repainting the walls, refinishing the cupboards and putting on new hardware, installing a new backsplash, and so on. This type of remodel will cost you between $100 and $125 per square foot.
  • Level 2 – A mid-level remodel is similar to a Level 1 remodel in that it doesn’t make extensive changes to the layout. However, it does allow you to choose from higher-quality materials and to make some replacements in the kitchen. You can install vinyl flooring or Corian-like countertops, which will cost about $200 to $250 per square foot for the remodel.
  • Level 3 – The highest, most in-depth level for a kitchen remodel is Level 3. This is a full-scale gut it and start over remodel. This allows you to change the layout of your kitchen (though moving major fixtures will increase the cost), install semi-custom cabinets, put in new countertops, and so on. From the major materials to the small finishing touches, everything in this level is brand new, which will cost you $300 or more per square foot, depending on the quality of materials and appliances you select.

If you have an idea of what level of remodel you want, and you know your square footage in your kitchen, you should be able to get a vague estimate on what a remodel will cost you with these numbers alone.

Setting Your Budget Priorities

Once you know about how much a remodel will cost, you’ll need to determine how that budget is allocated—how much will you spend on cabinets, flooring, and so on. First, we recommend setting aside about 20% of your total budget for unexpected expenses. The remainder will be divided up based on your remodeling priorities. Is it most important to you to get new cabinets, or are you okay with refinishing the ones you have? These kinds of decisions determine how the budget is spent to get the most out of your money.

If you want a more accurate estimate for your home remodeling in Orange County, CA, contact Preferred Kitchen & Bath today.