PLANNING FOR INSTALLATION
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1. DEMOLITION.
Preparation is key. Before the demo
day arrives, you’ll want to completely
clear out—remove everything. Get
some boxes for storage, find an
alternate place for kitchen activity,
and empty the area. Remove artwork
from walls adjacent to the kitchen
(so the commotion doesn’t knock
them down), and think about where
the dumpster will go outside. Clear a
space in the garage for materials to
be stored as they arrive, and let the
neighbors know what you’re doing
and that there may be noise.
2. FLOORING INSTALL.
If you’re putting in new flooring, this
will be the first step after demolition.
Be sure to give your space a thorough
cleaning so you don’t trap dust under
the new floor. Figure out a path for
kids and pets to detour around the
construction.
3. CABINET INSTALL.
Here's the exciting part, from our
perspective—this is the moment when
you can really feel the new kitchen
take shape. Fair warning: this may
happen in stages, depending on when
everything arrives.
4. COUNTERTOP
MEASUREMENT.
This occurs after the cabinets are
installed. After the professionals
measure for the countertop, they’ll let
you know how long it will take to cut,
deliver, and install it.
5. FINAL INSTALLATIONS.
Remember, if you make changes
during installation, your cost and the
length of the project will both increase
6. BACK IN YOUR KITCHEN.
Welcome home.
TAKING IT STEP
BY STEP BY STEP
1. Expect dust.
Demolition and construction make dust.
Stock up on general cleaning supplies,
have extra vacuum cleaner bags handy,
and hang plastic sheeting over connecting
doorways to cut down on the dirt and
debris drifting into other rooms.
2. Build in extra days.
When you’re putting your renovation
timeline together, build in a few extra
days to account for delivery delays, work
interruptions, or unexpected repairs
behind the walls or under the floors.
Being prepared for the unexpected—
some might say the inevitable—will help
you maintain your sense of control.
3. Prepare for noise.
Kids have exams? Pets startle easily?
Neighbors complain no matter what?
Plan accordingly. Know library hours,
board pets for demo days, and invite
your neighbors to dinner in advance, so
they can see the new kitchen when it’s
complete and comment on the changes.
4. Plan for having no sink.
Maybe there’s a downstairs bathroom
you can rinse dishes in? Can you peel
fruit over a wastebasket on the screened
porch? This part of the project is like
camping in your house. Stock up on
paper plates.
5. Find other ways to cook.
Use the microwave or toaster oven, and
find that crock pot. Grill like crazy.
6. Stock up on non-perishable
groceries.
You know the ones—unwrap, microwave,
serve and enjoy. If you recycle, stage
bins in the basement or garage to hold
all the paper, plastic and cardboard
packaging from your dry goods.
7. Budget to eat out, if possible.
If you plan ahead and stick to a budget,
it’s good to get out now and then.
8. Set up a makeshift kitchen.
Get moving boxes to use as cupboards
and stage a makeshift kitchen
temporarily on the workbench in the
garage, or in a corner of the dining room.
HOW TO HAVE
REALISTIC
EXPECTATIONS
Your designer can help coordinate all
of this, and give you a sense of how
long each step is likely to take. Ask
for a written schedule, and updates
to that schedule along the way, so
you can plan to be available for
questions during important phases of
the renovation.
