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Giving Your Kitchen A Complete Makeover...And Doing It On A Low Budget At That--Post Demolition Phase Two Now that your kitchen walls and ceiling have been removed, and gone also are those once adored kitchen cabinets, as well as those outdated counter tops and of course that well worn floor; it's time to begin a new campaign for a more lovelier and more efficient kitchen that will usher in a new era for you and your family. In the first article of this series " Giving Your Kitchen A Complete Makeover..." we completed the task of demolishing the old kitchen and everything in it; now we will proceed with the rebuilding process. And before we do now is a good time to take a few moments to reflect on all the wonderful times you did have in your kitchen when it looked new and quite lovely. But indeed that was many, many moons past and although it's true that you still have so many wonderful and fun memories of friends and family gathering in your home for delicious meals and tasty treats; nevertheless, it is time to move on and prepare to create new memories that will be just as endearing and heart warming as the old ones. You see, you're about to lay the foundation for a new and exciting kitchen that will be even better and more beautiful than the one you had, so unbuckle your seatbelt and let all restrictions fly...at least at this stage (imagining and planning) and allow your ideas and dreams to run freely--after all, this is suppose to be the fun part. THE ANATOMICAL MAKEUP OF YOUR KITCHEN With the drywall (sheetrock) and insulation removed you can now get a first hand look at the skeleton, or structure of your kitchen. This is a rare and up close look that most people never get to see of their kitchen. Isn't it really fascinating to see what really holds your kitchen together? Well, maybe not fascinating but I truly find it interesting and informative. At this point I get a chance to look and observe the wall studs, ceiling joist, sole plate and even the rafters to see what condition the wood is in and if replacement (retro-fitting), or sistering up the studs/ceiling joist is needed...and if I listen carefully they will actually tell me a little about what has happen to the kitchen--for instance, if at some point in time there was a deluge or just a small consistent water leak that ran down the ceiling joist/wall studs the wood will usually show a slight pattern of the path that the water took, and if the water leak is something that happen in recent times the wood could still be slightly damp to the touch; these are direct tell-tell signs that you must not ignore and by all means take a closer look at your sole plates to see if these boards are dry and sound; if not, they must be replaced before you proceed. If at any point you're uncomfortable doing this type of work, by all means call a general contractor in your area that is experience and knowledgeable about this type of work. Again, as I have stated before, this type of work is not for everybody and everybody is not comfortable doing it, so if you have any reservations about proceeding please feel free to contact a reputable contractor--- now! However, If you have the background and the confidence to do this then 'follow the yellow brick road'. Remember, if you have damaged wall studs or ceiling joist, the weight of the drywall may eventually prove to be too heavy for the damaged studs and joists to support and fall to the floor...and someone could become severely injured--or worst! It is critical to make sure that your studs and ceiling joist are in really good condition to receive the drywall and while you're at it, check all the wood in the room to see if any need to be replaced or retro-fitted, it really couldn't hurt to do so; after all, it is far more important to have a kitchen that is safe and sound then to have a beautiful kitchen that is unsafe and poorly put together. So, go the extra mile to ensure that your kitchen is strong and solidly built because when you get right down to the brass tacks this is 'your kitchen' and what better way of showing love for your love ones than providing them with a safe and well constructed kitchen? CHECKING YOUR WALLS AND CEILINGS...AND CHECKING THEM TWICE! Before you reinstall insulation in your walls (usually exterior walls) check out your plumbing, electrical, hvac duct work and notate any irregularities,such as: water drips, bad pipes and hoses, electrical wires, outlets, hook-ups and so forth. If you are uncomfortable doing this please call the appropriate contractor to take a look at your situation. Most contractors will not charge to give you an estimate on work to be done, but again some do charge for an estimate and/or service charge, however, it will be money well spent. The mechanical aspect of your kitchen (plumbing/electrical/hvac) is far to serious of a matter to ignore or worst, try to do yourself; please call a professional and get the job done correctly! There is still a lot of good stuff to do when it comes to renovating your kitchen and I promise you that some of it will be fun and exciting... but let the pros handle the mechanical stuff, besides it's against the law in most places for an unlicensed person to do any type of mechanical work. INSULATION INSTALLATION Given that the mechanical aspect of your kitchen checks out fine or it has been properly updated we are now ready to put back the insulation. Whether you choose to use blown cellulose or insulation batts make sure your walls are properly insulated. There are a number of insulation options available you just need to speak to a couple of insulation contractors and see what they have to offer and why they think their particular type of insulation would work better in your kitchen then their competitors. Knowledge is king, so get all the information you can and go from there, and if you feel a little uncomfortable installing insulation then by all means hire a contractor. For the most part they are reasonable but be sure and check pricing in your region. If you choose to spray the cellulose type insulation you will need a machine and hopper to spray it, and it will have to be done after the drywall has been installed. You will need to put several holes in the drywall in order to fill the cavities behind the drywall with the cellulose.This type of procedure takes a little getting use to but with a little practice you can do a good job. If you choose to install insulation batts this is by far the most easiest to install, just be sure to follow the manufacturers' instructions and take your time. Now there is another option that is really gaining momentum and that is 'spray foam'. You must hire a contractor to do this and it is kind of pricey but I'm told it works very well. Personally, I haven't used it and the verdict is still out for me. COVERING UP THE WALLS AND CEILINGS Assuming that your insulation installation went great or you're going to wait after the drywall is up and spray the cellulose type insulation; we can now move to the next task and began installing the drywall on the ceilings and walls. In our 'Kitchen Makeover' series, installing drywall (sheetrock) will begin phase three of our kitchen renovation project, so please continue to follow this series as we give you a step by step guide to renovating a kitchen.
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