At first glance, it seems economical to renovate your kitchen on your own. Before you decide to undertake such a project, take a moment to think:
- Do you have the time?
- Are you skilled in kitchens?
- Do you have the patience for a whole kitchen renovation?
We suggest you carefully consider the type of renovation you want to accomplish and whether doing it yourself is really the best option.
Can you renovate a kitchen yourself?
The short answer is yes, you can renovate a kitchen yourself, with or without the aid of a contractor or kitchen design team. If you like DIY projects, renovating your own kitchen can be rewarding and fun, as well as saving money. But be warned, you may not necessarily get the functionality in your kitchen you were hoping for. That’s where an experienced designer is your biggest asset.
Some aspects of kitchen renovation should simply never be done completely on your own without professional assistance and requires a licensed professional to accomplish safety.
What part of the kitchen renovation should you never do?
Unless you are a licenced plumber or electrician you are not legally able to perform these tasks. It’s also recommended that you use an experienced kitchen installer who knows what they are doing.
What part of the kitchen renovation can you do?
If you love diy and want to save costs then give these a go:
- Demolition
- Measuring the space yourself to save in home visit costs
- Kitchen planning (we still recommend seeking an experienced Kitchen Designer to ensure your kitchen meets your functional requirements).
- Organising trades – so you can get 2 or 3 quotes.
- Tiling – youtube how to and give it a go
- Installation – only if you are experienced in the trade.
Some considerations should you want to renovate a kitchen yourself
Sometimes the answer to “can you” and “should you” are not the same answer. DIY can be a great option, but you need to be honest with yourself about the undertaking.
Advantages of DIY Kitchen Renovation
1. Control.
DIY kitchen renovation gives you complete control over your kitchen. If you enjoy DIY projects and have a specific dream for your kitchen, this might be the best option for you.
2. Save money.
DIY means that you will save money on kitchen installation.
3. Timing.
DIY starts on your timeline – no waiting for a contractor to become available. Keep in mind, though, that your timeline must account for some pre-planning. You’ll need to be organised and plan trades in advance, or else this benefit disappears and you will still find yourself waiting.
Disadvantages of DIY Kitchen Renovation
1. Long-term costs.
You might save money renovating your kitchen yourself, but you will pay for it in time. A professional kitchen renovation crew has more expertise and will finish your project in less time.
2. Inexperienced mistakes.
If you don’t have a lot of DIY experience, kitchen installation may be overwhelming. Taking out your old kitchen is easier than putting a new one in. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you may find yourself returning to the same steps over and over, spending more time on the project’s individual components than you wanted.
3. Difficulty.
Building the kitchen from flat pack materials can also be extremely frustrating and time consuming. While these kitchens are lower priced, assembling them can be quite a challenge.
Fortunately, there is a very happy middle ground between complete DIY and turning the renovation over completely to kitchen installers and contractors. KitchenShack takes the difficulty out of flatpack kitchens. Our kitchens come fully assembled, meaning installation costs are a lot cheaper.. You have lots of options for taps, tiles, and hardware, and you can work with a designer to ensure that your new kitchen meets your needs. DIY doesn’t mean that you have to work completely alone. We are here to help give us a call or pop into one of our showrooms around Melbourne.
