A kitchen renovation can increase the value of your home by more than double what it costs for that renovation. It’s a project that can present many challenges though, which is why it’s good to speak to a kitchen installer who has experience with solving common problems. Here are six ways to pre-emptively troubleshoot kitchen renovation issues.
1. Electrical wire mapping
Kitchen units need to be fastened to your wall, and that means lots of drilling. Your kitchen installer should understand this. He will likely ask your electrician for a map of the wiring network in the kitchen. If he neglects this step it could mean damaged wires which need to be extracted from the wall, repaired and concealed again.
2. Water pipe mapping
The same can be said for the plumbing. Drilling through a water pipe isn’t difficult, because copper is a soft metal. A kitchen is full of water pipes, so make sure your kitchen installer knows where it’s safe to drill.
3. Appliance housing
When your kitchen designer presents you with his or her plan for your kitchen, check to see that all your appliances are included. Once your kitchen is fitted, it’s very difficult to change something. Will there be enough space for your regularly used kitchen appliances? Furthermore, are your appliances (microwave, washing machine, dishwasher, etc.) housed adequately?
4. The height of your wall units
The best part about refurbishing your kitchen is getting loads of cupboard space. Wall units utilise space because of their height. There are two standard heights for wall units; 720cm and 1080cm. Homes have varying ceiling heights, so make sure you know which wall unit size will fit in your kitchen. If neither of these heights are viable, you may have to request custom height cupboards.
5. Kickplate options
A kickplate is the covering added to the base of your kitchen floor cupboards. You have lots of options for your kickplate, which include:
- Granite that matches your granite counter tops
- Tiles that match your floor
- Wooden kickplates that match your doors
Discuss these options with your installer during the planning phase.
6. Door hinging
Finally, make sure you confirm the hinging side of every cupboard door in your new kitchen. When opening cupboards, there cannot be clashes between two doors. Keep it practical so that working in your kitchen is seamless.