Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - New kitchen installed all by my self...and a friend.

I'm a big lurker here and I've gotten a huge amount of info and read a large number of posts. I've nearly completed my kitchen renovation and would like to pass on some info to others considering the project might like to know.

Cost: 6k for 15 cabinets and trim (cherry, Kraftmaid,), 1500 for flooring, 500 misc, 500 new tools, 300 for counter top relaminating supplies. I got a heck of a deal from Home Depot on the cabinets becuase Menards was having a sale right across the street. Save me about 1500. Shop shop shop and then shop some more. Deals are out there but you got to look for them.

Time: Two weekends to get everything ready, kept only the bare minimum in the kitchen and demolished what ever I could (remove the island, peninsula, one upper and one lower cabinet).

Took a week off from work lost a day due to a death in the family and a half day off around Wen. I worked at least 8 hours a day and had a helper for 4 of them. I still need to install the floating floor so I'm not quite done.

Here's what I've learned:
1. Having the right tools means everything. Buy a Dremil. Couldn't do it with out it. A small square, tape measure, and a pencil never left my side in the 9 days I worked on it. I have a miter saw that I used CONSTANTLY as well.

2. Reasearch, Reasearch, Research. Everything went very well but only because I was prepaired. Research common mistakes before you start working it will be a life saver. Read as much as you can and then follow the instructions, don't try and get too clever.

3. Demo will take longer than you think.

4. I hate drywall. I had to replace a lot of it. Not too hard but time consuming.

5. The smallest jobs take the most time. Trim work will take you a lot of time because you MUST go slow and take your time.

6. Installing a sink, faucet, disposal, and hooking up a dishwasher will take at newbie at least 4 hours if not 5.

7. If you plan on relaminating your countertops like I did, pray for good weather, get a friend to hold it steady and get ready to give up about 6 hours if they are complicated as mine were (I have a lot of odd shapes). Again, not hard just time consuming.

8. Drills. Cordless dirlls have batteries that run out of power. Get a drill with a power cord to keep work from being interupted. Also the more drills you have the better, one for drilling, one for screwing, one for contersinking is ideal. Oh...make sure you have extra bits you WILL brake them.

9. Customize as little as possible. I did not make any major changes to the layout of my kitchen. I didn't need to run any new electrical or water lines.

10. Sweating pipes is a bit scary but easy once you get the hang of it.

11. Take your time, do it right and the project will ultimately go faster.


Hope this helps.

While this is not a job for a casual DIY, it can certainly be done. Multiple ATTABOYS!!!!!!!!!

Now you can come over to my home and take care of my kitchen......:-p


Just kidding, good job!

Can you post some pictures?

Think I would have spent a little more on tools. When I am doing a project my loving wife never says no to tools. Such a good feeling to do it yourself, I stand back a lot and admire my work and have another beer.

Way to go! I now have faith, and the practical "here's what REALLY happens" to know what will go into our kitchen demo. Thanks for the full description and discussion. You give practical tips, and practical hope.

We are in the final stages of customizing/ buying "custom" cabinets ($5600 with island) and I am literally terrified of making the commitment. Yet every day I stare at our pantry/closet that will become a walk in pantry and think that today is the day I will get so frustrated I will rip it apart and rebuild, right NOW! Then chicken out. Now I know I need a full 10-14 days of stoic courage to get through the kitchen tear down and rebuild. Not to mention all the prep time (any advice on turning bowling alley rock maple into a counter?) And then revel in the ooohs and aaahs that I am sure you guys are getting when friends come over and admire the new kitchen! Yes please post photos! Can't wait to see!

I am remodeling my kitchen as well. I gutted to the studs and am replacing everything from plumbing, electrical, moving the door, removing a wall (contracted that out).

I have not bought my cabinets as of yet but did get a quote for $8000 from HD. For what you get, they are very over priced. I tried to go to an online retailer but they just stopped responding to me. I will have to check out some local places as the cabinets are breaking the bank.

Post pics of your kitchen - we all would love to see it!

Thanks to everyone. I'll post photos as soon as I rip them off the video DVD. Actually, I still need to lay the floor (kahrs engeniered wood floor) and do the trim. Easier work but time consuming as I stated before. Otherwise I'd fly to OKC and help you out. :).

STPA97- There's a huge markup on cabinetry, if you can wait and bide your time for sales from ANY home improvement store, they always match their competitors. If you can open a homedeopt card when the give the 10% your frist pruchase (good for $800 on your quote).

logcabincook- I know the feeling, go for it but take your time. You know I though about getting some bowling alley rock maples sections and making a desk. I'd keep the arrows and scuff marks. It's be a cool look. You'd need a VERY strong belt sander and LOTS of paper to finish it off nice. 40 grit to 80 to 120 and so on. You'd need a serious saw too I don't know if they'd be joined with nails, screws, or just glued.

skiz - I used my 10% on the granite countertop. That cost me $4k! I will have to search around but I don't want to order until I am ready for them. As it is I have my appliances in my living room and the contents of the kitchen all over the house so I have no room for cabinets until I am ready to install.

skizior, these are glued and have flexible metal rods inside to keep them together. Still if you pick them up perpendicular to the run of the wood they bow incredibly!

I think a belt sander, or even a floor sander, is in order. I have three pieces - two have the pin set up marks on one side and then completely unfinished on the back side. I don't know which side I will use for the kitchen island yet, but the two of them set together are nearly enough for the entire island - add some trim and it will look great. The third piece is smaller but has lots of puddy repair work (the opposite side has some sort of tar like substance on it). I am thinking of putting this smack dab in the middle of the mud room/enclosed foyer as a centerpiece when you walk in the front door. The only catch is getting the bowling alley even with the surrounding flooring - the alley pieces are 3 inches thick!

Regarding cabinets, I am finding a good deal at a local kitchen design company. Tiny shop, no showroom, just a guy and his desk and a bunch of samples sitting around. The price is second only to Ikea, but the quality seems a bit higher and things are more customizable. Other local kitchen design places with showrooms and piped in music wanted as much if not more than Home Depot.