Advice needed.

[nolawitch58]

I've decided not to buy a new car. I'm going to keep the batmobile running for another couple of years. The $20K+ I planned to spend on a car will go toward some home remodeling I've been needing to do. In order to get a realistic idea of what to expect, can someone advise me the best sequence in which to do my projects? They are listed below in no particular order.

1. Replace my cheap old windows with energy efficient ones.
2. Tile the floor downstairs.
3. New kitchen cabinets and counters.
4. Replace carpet on stairs with wood with an easy-to-clean runner.
5. Replace back patio french door with a sliding one.

Most of these projects would add value to my condo, but I can't really do any of them myself. I'm also planning to paint, but that I can do myself and enjoy it.

This is the first home I've ever owned, and I've been here for about fifteen years. It's time to do some serious stuff to it. Part of my goal is to make it easier to clean and for better energy efficiency. If I don't have carpet all over, I don't need to vacuum. A broom is low-tech, not requiring electricity to run. No carpet means fewer places for fleas to hide when we fog the house. Tile would be easier to clean the never-ending cat gak from. A remodeled kitchen could take advantage of all the space in there. I really resent the corner next to the stove that's dead space. I'd be able to put stuff on the counter, such as crock pot, in a cabinet and only bring it out to use it.

For those of you who have remodeled, do you do wall-related stuff first, such as cabinets and windows, or the floor stuff?

Comments

[ms-issicran.livejournal.com]

Won't you get that credit if you replace your windows and patio door with energy efficient ones before December 31st?

So yeah, those first, floors last cause if you're doing any of the other work where workers have to trudge over a floor it might as well be the old one instead of a nice new one.

Don't forget about the Habitat for Humanity's Restore. If you have one in the city you might check out what kind of stuff they have by way of cupboards or doors or hardware you could pick up for less expensive than new, and maybe they could use something you're pulling out to resell.

Okay, if pressed I'd have to say, windows & patio door for the timely tax credit, stairs because if planned right it might only take a weekend, kitchen then floors, unless the floor of the kitchen is what you're replacing then you'd have to do it before new lower cabinets go in.

See now what you did? Now I want to get going on the hall closet project, like I'm ready for men to track mud in again this December! >;]

[ozanbaba.livejournal.com]

Usually it goes like that windows walls floors cabinets. (Managed one. You can easily put time between window remodelling and wall remodelling).

[voxwoman.livejournal.com]

Well, something I feel qualified to answer! :-D

I say do the kitchen first - it's the biggest thing on the list, and will create the most mess.

What floor are you tiling? I am assuming that you are going to replace the kitchen floor as well? Ceramic (or even stone) tiles are popular for kitchens because they are easy to clean, but if you drop anything on them, it will shatter (or if you drop a metal pot, you could damage the tile). Just something to think about. I had a wood laminate in my old kitchen and it was wonderful to walk on, and pretty easy to maintain. Some people put in cork floors in their kitchen, but I wouldn't do that.

The non-kitchen floors should be done LAST - you don't want your new floors/carpet messed up by painting or dirty workman boots.

Budget for new appliances for your kitchen as well, and if you are changing your layout at all, you will be moving pipes (so plan for that extra expense).I don't know how old your appliances are, but if they are the same age as your condo, you can get new more energy-efficient ones now (and the desire to get new ones to go with your new cabinets will be quite strong).

Also finish painting before you tear up your old carpet. it makes the pre-paint taping that much easier.

so the order I would do these things is:

Kitchen, paint, windows, french door, floors.

[real-skeptic.livejournal.com]

Regarding tile strength, here in Israel we use Terrazzo tiles, not ceramic tiles. They are available in the USA as well. They are relatively cheap and very strong - they don't break easily (but they are sensitive to acids, so no cleaning with vinegar). They are very easy to clean, and they stay cool in the summer.

[zelda888.livejournal.com]

We just finished a complete remodel on our ~20-year-old kitchen. We kept the recently-purchased fridge and dishwasher; everything else went, right down to the drywall and the plywood floors.

I gather what you have in mind is a little less drastic, but our order of operations was roughly: 1 wait around for cabinets to be delivered 2 demolition, 3 plumbing and electrical to move appliances and come up to current code, 4 strip wallpaper and repaint, 5 hang upper cabinets while waiting for flooring to be delivered, 6 install floor tile, 7 install lower cabinets, 8 wait around for countertop to be delivered and installed, 9 install appliances. From first deposit check to final inspection was three months; the kitchen was actually non-functional for about five weeks.

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