Home renovation is booming in Australia, but the rooms that are in the spotlight more often are the kitchen and bathroom because these are essential rooms in the house. The other places have their value, but these two rooms have a different appeal, mainly if you’re selling your home to potential buyers.
If you’re interested in renovating these areas, you need to have an initial idea of the costs because you can’t renovate without having a budget. For the kitchen, the average cost of renovations in Australia for 2015 was $17,226. In 2018, costs can run from $22,000 for basic renovation, $34,000 for luxury, and $40,000 for the ultimate renovation.
If you don’t have the money in your savings for a home renovation, you can try applying for a bank loan to help finance your home improvement project. When you have a set budget, you can start planning the things that you’ll do and the new look that you want to achieve after you’ve renovated your kitchen and bathroom.
However, there are things that you should not forget to do before you start renovating. This project will take time and effort from you, even if you’re working with a designer and labourers. Read on to learn more about the things that you should check before you start your kitchen and bathroom renovation.
KITCHEN RENOVATION
Before achieving a modern and fresh look for your newly renovated kitchen, check out these tips which you should consider.
Get Help From The Experts
You can’t do an extensive kitchen renovation through DIY because the process requires the knowledge and expertise of tried-and-tested designers. The best thing to do is find a Sydney, Brisbane, or Melbourne kitchens and bathrooms based designer which you’d like to work with for your renovation.
After finding one, ask about the crucial details like how much time will the process take, how much money should you prepare, and what are the things you need to buy for your kitchen. Planning is essential to ensure that you and your designer finishes on time.
Check The Area Before The Home Renovation
Do you want to extend your kitchen space? Maybe you want to add some fixtures like a kitchen island or more cabinets for storage. In that case, ask your designer if the existing space can accommodate the things you want to add. If not, measure the area and the fixtures that you want to add so you can plan how much space you’ll add to your kitchen.
Estimating space might leave you with not enough area to work in your kitchen after renovation. For kitchen islands, you need a 36-inch walk space around it for you to comfortably work your kitchen. So measure carefully, and consult your designer for the final plan.
Prepare Your Meals Ahead Of Time
Since your kitchen isn’t accessible while renovations are going on, look for a place in your house which can serve as your temporary kitchen. Prepare easy-to-cook meals so you won’t have difficulties in preparing meals for your family.
You can eat outside if you don’t want to cook, but this can be expensive. The ideal thing to do is to think ahead and plan your meals so you can adjust to your situation as quickly as possible.
Tell Your Neighbours
Renovations can get noisy, and this can disturb your neighbours. It’s respectful to be considerate of other people who might also be affected by your home improvement project. Even if you’re not close with your neighbours, it’s still better if you inform them of your plans.
To lessen the noise of construction, work within reasonable hours. Don’t extend the working time at night when people are trying to sleep because it’s not convenient for your neighbours.
BATHROOM RENOVATION
The bathroom is another focal point in the home that needs careful planning before the renovation. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Get The Proper Building Permits
In Australia, some home renovations need licenses like when you’re renovating wet areas in your home. A building permit and plumbing certification are necessary if you’re removing walls, changing your floors, or adding new fixtures. For installation of new water supply and replacing plumbing fixtures with a different component, a plumbing certification is needed.
There’s no need for a building permit or plumbing certification for maintenance, new joinery, replacing plumbing fixtures with the same components, adding a shower screen, and re-tiling the bathroom.
Prepare A Temporary Place For Your Family
If you have one bathroom in the house, you can’t use it during the renovation. So you should plan about your temporary living accommodations, especially if you’re also renovating other parts of your house like the kitchen, living room, or bedroom.
Assess how long the renovation will take, so you can also plan where and how long you’ll be staying in your temporary home. You can stay with a friend, your relatives, or you can also stay in a hotel if you have the money to spare.
Shop For Functional But Beautiful Fixtures
Some want to renovate their bathroom to upgrade its look, and some want to get more functional fixtures. For you, keep in mind your original purpose why you’re renewing. Are you after the aesthetic, or is functionality your main priority? Ask your designer for tips, but you can shop for the fixtures by yourself.
For the shower, you can get body sprays which comes with more than one shower-head. You can also get the rain type, so you’ll know what it feels like as you bathe in the rain outdoors. You can even get a vessel or pedestal sink.
Plan For A Ventilation System
Having the proper ventilation system is crucial for your bathroom. If you don’t have this in your previous bathroom, it’s about time you have one. There are a variety of ventilation fans on the market, and you can purchase a model with features like a motion sensor, a built-in heater, overhead lighting, humidity sensor, and night light.
Ask your designer about the exact size of your bathroom because you should base the model of your ventilation fan on your bathroom size. The air flow capacity of a fan is measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm). The recommended ratio is one cfm for every square foot of floor space in your bathroom.
TAKEAWAY
Major home renovations like kitchen and bathroom renovations require a designer’s help. Work with an efficient one and prepare your home and family for pending home improvement. There will be specific changes, so make sure to plan ahead to minimise unpleasant situations.
Illan Elberg
Managing Director
Illan is an accomplished professional with a wealth of experience in construction management and a deep understanding of bathroom and kitchen design. His dedication to staying current with industry trends, coupled with his creative vision and meticulous project management, make him an invaluable asset to GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens.
