5 DIY Renovation Ideas for an Inexpensive Remodel
Being on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t turn your outdated kitchen into something special. With a little forethought and creativity, you can plan a cheap kitchen makeover that looks anything but. Use these tips for DIY kitchen renovations to save yourself more money without sacrificing style.
A Cheap Kitchen Makeover Starts With Smart Planning
The key to a cheap kitchen makeover is to avoid over-purchasing materials and unnecessary splurges. To accomplish that, design the entire project, from flooring to lighting, before you start working. This way, you’ll know exactly what materials you need, in what quantities, as well as which tasks you can DIY and which will require a professional.
Once you’ve got your design in hand, Stephan Sardone recommends spending up to a year looking for good deals on the materials and labor you’ll need.
Expert Advice: Hire a pro to help you with the design, they can help you make budget-friendly design choices.
DIY Kitchen Renovations to Save on Flooring
Updated flooring is a high priority in most DIY kitchen makeovers. You can go a long way toward keeping your kitchen remodel cheap by opting to improve the look of your current floor rather than installing something new.
How to Restore Tile Floors
If your tiles and grout have become discolored, you can restore them to their former glory with a deep-clean. Jeff Gill recommends cleaning porcelain or ceramic tile surfaces with a pH-neutral, soap-less floor cleaner.
Rejuvenate your grout lines using a grout restoring product—many of which can be purchased for under $10.00. Once the cleaning is complete, you can prevent future staining and discoloration by having your floors color-sealed.
This process can also be used to restore tile counter tops and back splashes!
Expert Advice: A good cleaner contains no rusting or corrosive properties, so it won’t discolor or damage the surface of your tile and grout. Avoid using acid or ammonia-based cleaners!
How to Restore Hardwood Floors:
Having to replace hardwood flooring will almost certainly stall a budget-friendly DIY kitchen renovation since hardwood is expensive and usually requires professional installation. To avoid this, Jeff Gill recommends the following steps to restore existing hardwood:
- Vacuum your floors as often as possible to remove abrasive particles.
- When washing your floors, use a pH-neutral floor cleaner.
- Protect your floor by applying a few coats of wood finish that contains a mixture of polyurethane and acrylic.
Wood finish can be easily applied with a microfiber mop and will last for about two years, at which point you’ll want to apply a new coat.
Expert Advice: Microfiber mops are gentle on hardwood floors and are machine washable. When washing your floors you will want to use a damp mop. Too much water will eventually warp the wood, so be careful not to saturate the mop head.
Cabinetry and Counter tops for a Cheap Kitchen Makeover
Cabinetry often represents one of the biggest expenses in any kitchen makeover. While countertops are a smaller expense, they’re one of the easiest areas to cut the cost of your kitchen renovation by being smart about your choice of material.
How to Cut Cabinet Costs
A thrifty DIY renovator can cut cabinet costs in several different ways:
- Paint your existing cabinets and change the hardware instead of replacing them.
- Remove existing cabinet doors and replace with doors in an updated style.
- Choose a laminate or Thermofoil option if you’re set on replacing existing cabinetry.
How to Cut Counter top Costs
There are several ways to keep your cheap kitchen remodel on track when it comes to counter tops:
- Choose laminate, tile or solid surfacing if replacing existing counter tops.
- Stay away from granite and solid stone materials.
- Install new counter tops yourself—most budget-friendly options are also DIY-friendly.
If you need further help in your renovation process, and find yourself with tons of excess waste material, give us a call! We at Waste Solutions 123 offer all size roll off containers perfect for any size home renovation!
Hazimihalis, Katina. “5 DIY Renovation Ideas for an Inexpensive Remodel.” N.p., n.d. Web.