Reduce, Reuse, Recycle . . . and Reface
Canadians spent $19.7 billion on home renovations in 2007 according to a CMHC Renovation and Home Purchase Report issued in 2008. The majority of people surveyed said they renovated to add value to their homes. The Appraisal Institute of Canadas Renova, an interactive program that tells you what return on investment you get from a specific renovation, says homeowners can see anywhere from 75 to 100 percent return for their kitchen renovation. http://component.aicanada.ca/e/resourcecenter_renova.cfm
(This can vary with the quality of the upgrade and the housing values in the neighbourhood.)
So even in these tough economic times, renovating your kitchen is a sound investment.
Whether you want to renovate your kitchen with plans to put your house on the market or you want to give the room your family spends most of its time in a fresh new look, there are ways to do it efficiently with a minimum of money, inconvenience and time.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are the principles of waste management programs across the country. If you apply those same principles to your kitchen renovation, you will add Reface to that list. By choosing to reface rather than replacing your kitchen cabinets, you are reducing the amount of waste from your renovation, (most renovation waste goes to landfills), reusing your existing cabinets, and recycling them by adding new accessories, new doors, new hardware. With the money saved from refacing cabinets, you can invest in a better quality countertop, flooring, backsplash, cabinet drawers, light fixtures or new Energy Star appliances. Energy Star are those appliances that are best in their class for energy efficiency.
Like all budgets these days, renovation budgets are tight. Stretching your hard earned money to give you the most kitchen for the least investment is a challenge Kitchen Refacers enjoys.
Using a minimum amount of new resources, Kitchen Refacers can give your kitchen a brand new look. Renovations can range from refinishing existing doors to replacing them with solid wood or vinyl doors. They can also customize your cabinets, adding storage and convenience, with pullouts, pantries or islands. It is efficient, makes effective use of your old cabinets, and can be done in a matter of three days with a minimum of disruption for your family.
As in any renovation, take the time to plan, look at what you have, what you want to keep and what you want to add. Kitchen Refacers can show you many options. If you will be removing any of your original cabinets, consider using them elsewhere, in a garage or basement for extra storage. If you have extra unused space in your kitchen, consider how you work in the area and what needs could be met by adding new cabinets, a desk, or a pantry.
Plan to correct any workflow problems you have in your existing kitchencanned foods stored in the back of the cupboard out of reach, large dishes or pans that dont fit existing cabinets. New pullouts installed in drawers can have everything at your fingertips in seconds. Saving time as you unpack groceries, prepare meals or clean up also saves energyyour energy, and even though that is a renewable resource, you want to spend it enjoying your home and family.
