The kitchen is the busiest room in the house. It’s where we gather with family and friends, prepare and eat meals. It’s a space that also makes many demands. It must be practical, functional, and welcoming all at the same time. It’s not surprising that kitchens are a top priority when it comes to home remodels. However, it’s easy for homeowners to fall prey to common misconceptions when planning a new kitchen or renovation. So, we’re setting the record straight on the top myths in kitchen remodels to get you started on the right foot.
Removing a load bearing wall is very expensive
In reality removing a load bearing wall might cost 2 to 3 thousand dollars This is very little compared to cabinet and appliance upgrades. Also, removing a wall with a lot of ductwork and plumbing could be far more expensive than removing a load bearing wall.
The More Expensive the Better
The more expensive the cabinets, countertops, and appliances the more durable they are. People that sell these products have a vested interest in consumers believing this. In reality, the cost of these materials has very little affect once you get to a certain level of quality. Custom cabinets, higher priced countertops, and professional appliances can be beautiful but don’t last particularly longer and can be damaged just as easily.
High End Fixtures are Right for Everyone
Some kitchen luxuries and higher end kitchen fixtures may be parts of many homeowner’s dream kitchen, but they can also be recipes for disaster. Some higher end kitchen fixtures come with risks usually never considered by the homeowners and designers that select them.
Minor Kitchen Remodel Risks
Some popular kitchen conveniences come with more minor risks of damage. For example, water damage on painted cabinetry is quite common.
These three kitchen fixtures can cause water damage to cabinetry:
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Tilt out trays on the sink base drawer
Wet sponges are placed in these tilt outs and over time the drawer front gets wet and the paint peels.
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Trash can pull outs
Water drips as people throw wet items and recyclables away. Overtime the pull outs front door can be damaged.
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Farmhouse sinks
Water drips down the front of the sink and falls on the cabinet doors below. Over time the paint on the tops of the doors will peel.
The good new is that all the damage from these issues is easily repaired for a few hundred dollars. Furniture re-finishers can repair paint damage or the cabinet doors and drawer fronts can be replaced fairly easily.
High Kitchen Remodel Risks
By comparison, pot filler faucets over cooktop stoves and Fireclay farmhouse sinks can cost many thousands of dollars in damage.
Imagine filling a large pot when your cell phone rings or the doorbell chimes. After answering the phone or the door, you return to the kitchen just 10 minutes later.
The average pot filler will have spilled 40 gallons of water onto the cooktop and floor during those ten minutes. Many types of floors will be ruined by that much water. There may even be a finished basement below with carpeting and a pool table that could easily add up to ten thousand dollars in damage.
Fireclay farmhouse sinks are very fragile. Heavy cast iron pots and pans should never be cleaned in a fireclay sink. Even utensils caught in garbage disposals have been known to make the disposal shake enough to crack a fireclay sink.
If a fireclay farmhouse sink breaks it is a huge problem. They are custom cut into the sink cabinet with a solid wood or steel cradle supporting the sink underneath. All the supports as well as all the plumbing below must be removed to replace the sink, and fireclay sinks are never perfectly shaped. So, the new sink will never fit like the old one.
An Educated Decision
Many homeowners still choose pot fillers, fireclay farmhouse sinks, and occasionally both. There is no denying that these fixtures can be beautiful and handy. Just taking these risks into consideration before your kitchen remodel can save many homeowners hundreds to thousands of dollars in repair damage.
At Top Tier Kitchens and Baths, we help our customers become informed about what they should consider and be careful of. Homeowners should have all the information they need to make the decisions that are right for them.
The Top Tier Difference
We at Top Tier Kitchens & Baths set a high standard for outstanding customer service, high-quality kitchen and bath remodeling products, and impeccable installation.
For all your kitchen remodel needs, you can trust us to complete the job with expertise and dedication to excellence. If you’re looking for ways to create your dream kitchen, the professionals at Top Tier Kitchens and Baths can help! Creativity goes a long way in choosing the right way to design and create your dream kitchen without breaking the bank. Top Tier Kitchens and Baths has completed many remodels over the years. Contractor experiences makes all the difference. We’d love to help you create your dream kitchen.
Submit a quote request on our website at toptierkitchens.com or give us a call at (417) 887-1100 to schedule a free, in-home consultation with one of our designers. We look forward to serving you!
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