Preparing for a Kitchen Renovation in 5 Simple Steps

Once you’ve selected all of your finishes and fixtures, and your kitchen design is complete, it’s time to prepare for the construction phase. At this point you should have an approximate start date from the contractor, but how do you prepare for that first day? Here are 5 easy steps.

1. DISCUSS EXPECTATIONS WITH CONTRACTOR

The first step is to have a frank discussion with your contractor of both of your expectations. This can include discussing how long the renovation should take, and how quickly decisions need to be made in order to not cause significant delays.

You should also discuss:

• Where the construction binder will be stored on-site (This is the binder containing all of the floor plans, as well as the lists of finishes and fixtures)
• Which bathroom the workers are allowed to use (if any)
• Where the workers should park their vehicles
• Whether the workers are allowed to smoke on-site
• Which of you will be ordering materials 

​For an exhaustive list of the items you should discuss with your contractor, download our free checklist.

​2. MAKE A LIST OF WHAT ITEMS ARE NEEDED AND WHEN

Once construction starts, life becomes more chaotic and it can be difficult to remember what you already have on site and what you still need to order. Things like ordering the faucet can easily be forgotten, which can cause delays when the contractor asks for something and it’s not there yet.

Once you’ve had the initial discussion with the contractor about what you’re responsible for ordering, make a list of what those items are and when they’ll be needed on site.

Some renovators, such as EBO Design+Build, will take full responsibility for all the ordering. This ensures everything is on-site when needed, and removes the stress from the homeowner. In this case, no list is needed.

3. EMPTY OUT THE SPACE

Ensure that all of the cabinets and such have been completely emptied. This might seem like a dreadful task, but it’s really a great opportunity to go through everything and donate any items that you don’t need anymore. Purging through your items while packing up means that moving everything back in will be much easier.

​Most of the items can be put away for storage, but ensure you keep some items for your temporary kitchen, such as plates, bowls, and utensils. 

4. SET ASIDE A TEMPORARY STORAGE SPACE

​Once construction starts it’s easiest to have all of the materials stored in one area. This may be a spot in your garage, your basement, or maybe even a spare room. Take some time to clear out a space that will be easy to access during construction.

​5. SET UP A TEMPORARY KITCHEN

You won’t be cooking extravagant meals, but it’s quite easy to cook simple meals using a temporary kitchen. Even if you plan to eat out every night, you should have a temporary kitchen set up that will allow you to make a quick snack or a cup of coffee. Similar to going camping, the nicer and more organized you make it, the happier you’ll feel during construction. 

For a list of what you should include in your temporary kitchen, download our free checklist.

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​KITCHEN RENOVATION CHECKLIST

​Do you feel prepared for construction to start? You can download our Kitchen Renovation Checklist for easy-to-follow instructions to prepare you for your kitchen renovation project, including:

• the tasks you should complete to ensure the project starts on the right foot
• an exhaustive list of the questions you should ask your contractor
• what should be included in your temporary kitchen

DOWNLOAD CHECKLIST