The renovation budget: Kitchen

Posted on September 21, 2007 - Filed Under Business |

My budget for the kitchen was $10,000.

The breakdown was as follows:

The appliances were $3450:  the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and stackable washer and dryer.  This included delivery and installation.

The cabinets came out to $3800.  This was for 10 cabinets, which included two large corner cabinets and a pantry.

The granite counter tops final cost was $2000.  Back-splash included.  Originally I was thinking this would be $1500 but two things made the price increase.  First, plywood needs to be placed on top of the cabinets before the granite can be installed.  I asked that the installer do that.  Next, I had an undermount sink.

For some reason, I prefer undermount stainless steel sinks to regular sinks.  It gives the counter top a very clean look.  To do an undermount sink requires more work.  More work equates to more money.

This added $350 to the price.

When the original claim of $10,000 was set, there was no accounting for a sink or faucet.  And the garbage disposal?

In total, the kitchen "stuff" came out to $9750.  That could have been further reduced if (1) I had a Lowes coupon when I ordered the cabinets and (2) the undermount sink.  Those two items could have saved $730.

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Comments

2 Responses to “The renovation budget: Kitchen”

  1. Kenric on September 21st, 2007 9:24 am

    “First, plywood needs to be placed on top of the cabinets before the granite can be installed.”

    This must be a west coast thing, because I see it everywhere here. In the midwest, we put 1-1/4″ slab granite directly on top of the cabinets. They seem to use 3/4″ here with plywood.

  2. Clifford on September 21st, 2007 10:49 pm

    Kenric, being from Michigan I would have never considered AZ to be mid-west. :)
    Lord Google agrees with you. I found a few websites, talking about granite being thinner and therefore requiring a subcounter. I’m not sure why the granite is thinner.

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