Kitchen Remodel...

One of the first things I wanted to do when I bought a condo 3 years ago was to change the kitchen. I had several different designs worked out and did a few layouts for other units in my community. Everything was based on budget and future resale... that is before COVID and housing values to double in 3 years.

At the time I was working for a kitchen provider who purchased in volume from a Canadian source. I could have done something really nice for a good price.
I procrastinated and no longer have access to that supplier. The company I'm working for now does custom cabinetry and I cannot justify the expense... not for my condo.
Options are 2 companies who import from China and they assemble locally. I've seen their quality and it wasn't to my liking.

Last year, I found a new source. Around the industrial park is a supplier who imports from Central America. It's a plywood box with white laminate interior, white shaker style doors and soft close hardware on the doors and drawers. Nice for the price so I cannot complain.

Timing is everything and I was taking a few days off so I was possible to get the 4 base cabinets needed to start the project. Like IKEA, these come in boxes and need to be assembled. I've got one done and the others will happen after lunch... oh, it's 3pm. Make that a late lunch.

The existing kitchen was also assembly, probably from Home Depot where it was installed on a bare floor and the tiles were cut to fit after. That won't do as my partner and I are removing section by section and 'back filling' the voids with tiles and some cement so the whole thing is level. That way the stove doesn't drop 3/8" and require spacers to raise it level.

The appliances are old, but working. So it's not in my immediate goal to replace them... maybe the microwave hood as the handle cracked a few times and the repairs aren't holding up.

One cabinet is assembled and all the parts fit. This is promising.
I cut the plumbing so I can remove the sink cabinet, the plumber is coming tomorrow morning to replace the corroded shutoff valves. It's a 2-part job for him as I'll need him back when the new sink gets installed.

I'm trying to decide what body part hurts the most... shoulder, lower back, feet. I'm out of Tylenol and have reached the limit of Aspirin for the day. Maybe tomorrow, I'll take some blue pills... not THOSE blue pills... the Aleve blue pills.

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Comments (6)

Well done mate!
I renovated the apartement I'm in here back in 15/16. today I would not have had the streinght to do it that thurraly with dragging down walls to reveal bricks underneath and re-mortaring those. I even hand-grinded 25m2 wooden floor on my knees, used up two belt grinders. The dust... oh la la
But all in all good result:) Proud of it.

Oh and I did the kitchen plumbing and electricity too. cowboy
Hopefully you wore proper respirators when you did all that construction work. Inhalation of construction dust could have some serious respiratory trouble years later.

If it were my house I'd do the plumbing and electrical. The condo liability is different, so I'm using a licensed plumber. The change is moving the sink to one side by 10 inches and going from a double sink to a large single sink. The electric is for the dishwasher and disposal, no relocation.
Sounds simple, it's the liability should it spring a leak and flood my apartment and my neighbor below!
I know... i's the potential leak we have to keep an eye on!

Yes, mask. Actually the type with two filters. Dust not gas. Yeap....!
Don’t you have that liability without moving the sink and how does the use of a licensed plumber eliminate the liability? I live in a detached single-family condo so I am Just curious.
My insurance has a $1,000 deductible. Technically, all work requires a permit. We all know that's not practical. If I do the plumbing and it leaks, I'm totally responsible and doing plumbing work without a license has me in jeopardy.

By hiring the licensed and insured plumber, should something go wrong, I point the finger at him and his insurance pays. I've used this guy to replace a toilet 2 years ago and I've seen his truck a few times in the community. Also, He's got the tools and the parts handy. I have to schlep to Home Depot a few times for a torch, flux, solder, shutoff valves, pipe fittings, etc.

Right now, I need the hot and cold capped off and the drain cut. He will be here tomorrow morning at 7:30 to do that part.
Later in the morning, I'll install the new sink cabinet and he will need to return to do a temporary connect of the old sink.

I'm doing a stone top (hopefully) and that's 3 weeks to get. When the new top arrives, I'll have him connect the new sink and new disposal.

That would complete phase one of a kitchen renovation.

I have a backup plan on the countertop. 2 years ago I was gifted a mica top that was extra and stacked in the warehouse. It's in the living room behind furniture. Should the stone top cost too much, I'll have the mica top cut and installed. That way I can finish the project in a few days and probably save $2,000.
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chatillion

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created Dec 2022
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