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Green Remodeling That Makes You Money
Is there such a thing as a remodeling project that adds more value to your home than it costs to perform? There are several, but at the top of the list is a minor kitchen remodel. According to the 2008-09 Cost vs. Value Report* in the Bay Area a minor kitchen remodel will return 131.5%. For every dollar you spend, $1.31 is added to the value of your home. Not a bad deal! In addition, this type of remodel is “green” in ways you may not expect, as we will explain further down.
What is a minor kitchen remodel, you ask? The basic principle is to take a kitchen that has a functional floor plan and good, (not necessarily pretty), structurally sound cabinets and make everything look brand new.
For instance, a typical kitchen from the 1970’s: the cabinets are probably dark and worn, the cabinet hardware is rusty or just not fashionable anymore, the kitchen faucet is dripping, the porcelain sink is chipped and possibly the “harvest gold” favored thirty years ago. The appliances are in the right locations, just old and inefficient,while the Formica countertops are still holding up but look “soooo” avocado green.
You can have a whole new look with some simple steps. A qualified remodeler can replace your outdated cabinet doors and drawer fronts and add matching veneer to the cabinet boxes, and replace the counters with a stone or solid surface. New appliances can often pay for themselves with the reduced amount of energy they use.
Of course you can choose “green” products, such as recycled glass countertops, low VOC finishes on the cabinetry, and Energy Star appliances, but what makes this type of remodel truly green is its lower impact on the landfill. Since only the cabinet doors are being replaced,you’re reusing the major components of the cabinets and not creating a huge amount of debris from completely gutting the kitchen.
Not only does a minor kitchen remodel reward you by adding value to your home, it can be done from start to finish in just a few weeks. If your remodeler schedules properly and all the ordered materials are available, you should be cooking in a beautiful updated kitchen in 3 to 4 weeks!
What will a minor kitchen remodel cost? A good question, but one that does not have a simple answer. It depends on the size of the kitchen, the type of finishes that are selected and the mechanical upgrades that may be required. In the Bay Area you should expect prices to begin at $30,000 for a quality remodeler to complete an average-sized kitchen.
*2008 Hanley Wood, LLC. Reproduced by permission. Complete regional and city data from the Remodeling 2008 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded for free at www.costvsvalue.com
http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2008/costvsvalue/division/pacific/city/san-francisco--ca.aspx
click the “download City Data” button (the data displayed on the page is for the Pacific Region vs. National)