Kitchen Renovations Okotoks

On average, a kitchen remodel job in Okotoks and the Calgary area will cost anywhere from $130 to $280 per square foot.  Most homeowners that deal with Landen Design Build tend to spend between $14,000 and $30,000 renovating there kitchen, with an average cost of $20,500 or on average about $180 per square foot.   We also do major kitchen renovations that add up well into the $60,000 to a $100,000 range, but that usually entails a major re-do of the structure, or an addition to the home to create a much larger kitchen, and includes high-end cabinets and appliances.

Of course no builder prices solely based on the square foot area of a kitchen, as the total cost will depend not only on the “floor area size” of the kitchen space, but also the quality of materials, specifications, and whether or not the existing cabinet layout will be changed. 

In most of the kitchen renovations that we do the client not only wants new cabinets, but also wants a whole new layout, and look, where in many cases this involves expanding the kitchen foot print area into other parts of the home by knocking out walls to open up the area, or adding a bump-out addition to the main home to make room for a more open kitchen concept.

Kitchen remodels tend to fall into three categories:

• A facelift remodel cost $6,000 to $15,000
• Total cabinet replacement (same Layout configuration)  $18,000 to $25,000
• Total kitchen renovation (remove walls and totally new layout) $30,000 to $60,000+

Of course there are varying versions of each renovation category that may cost even more to do than list above. 

The Appraisal Institute of Canada suggests that for a kitchen renovation you try to keep your kitchen renovation budget at no more than 25% of your homes assessed value that is if you plan to sell and want to try and recapture as much fair market value of your renovation cost as possible.  However if you plan to stay in your home long after you complete your renovation, then what ever you spend may deteriorate in value as time goes by, this based on new market trends that may change years down the road where your kitchen renovation becomes “old once again”.  So there is a fine line between getting added value and lifestyle convenience for you and your families “kitchen needs”.  A good rule of thumb is to keep your kitchen renovation at between 10% -15% of your homes appraised value to archive the best ROI in resale value. 

Keep in mind that whatever the cost you plan to budget for in a kitchen renovation, that the net result will add some value to your overall net assessed home value.  According to Laurentian Bank at kitchen and bathroom remodels can recoup the highest resale values, along with following comparisons:

Source: Appraisal Institute of Canada.

According to Money Sense kitchen renovations break down as follows:

• New cabinets and countertops: $7,483.16
• Wood flooring: $6,392
• Stone countertops: $3,839
• Cabinets (refinishing): $3,819
• Ceramic flooring: $2,333

The 20% rule

Experts advise that you should add between 15% and 20% on top of your budget to handle surprises and unexpected costs to cover anything that pops up after you open up walls etc.  I have been renovating a building  custom homes for over 40 years, and I think I have seen it all, but every once in a while we open things up and find a BIG problem that I have never come across before!

You should allow a few weeks to a month for kitchen renovations depending on the size of your kitchen and how complicated the design is.

When remodeling a kitchen most homeowners begin with their kitchen cabinets which create the most significant impact of the kitchen’s overall first impression.  Cabinets that are dated or damaged can leave future buyers or guest underwhelmed, even if the kitchen has a great layout. On average, you can expect to pay between $8,000–$18,000, for installed new cabinets, depending on whether or not you choose custom cabinets or “box store cabinets”.  If using our Landen’s custom cabinet shop, we actually hand make our own cabinets, cutting out the middle man, and in most cases we tend to be similar to what it would cost you for “stock cabinets” from the big box stores. 

• Pre-made, stock cabinet boxes cost between $75 and $150 per linear foot, plus installation cost of $100+ per linear foot. They are readily available from home improvement stores but are limited in designs and sizes, and require “fillers” to such-up wall measurement discrepancies.
• Semi-custom options run between $100 and $350 per linear foot installed, that are generally made in the same sizes as pre-made options. These cabinets can be detailed for an additional fee, and options include door fronts, resizing drawers, and cabinet depth.
• Custom hand-made cabinets will cost between $250 to $500 per linear foot, and this option requires a skilled carpenter and cabinetmaker. This option may cost a bit more, but you can custom design them any way you want them to look, and in the end you will have a one-of-a-kind kitchen that no-one else has!

If you’re purchasing BIG BOX store cabinets on your own, expect to pay an additional 75%-85% of the cost of the cabinets for cabinet installation, not including counter tops, or appliance installation. 

If you want a few higher-end features, focus on potential cost-saving strategies. For example, why replace cabinets that are in good condition?  By simply re-facing or refinishing them, you can achieve a whole new look for a fraction of the cost of all new cabinets. You can also replace certain things in stages, addressing your top priorities first.

If you don’t like the way your cabinets are laid out, they could be redone with custom cabinetry. If you’re having new countertops installed but aren’t happy with how they look, they will likely be replaced as well.

The possibilities for kitchen design and layout are only limited by what suits your tastes best!

Lucky Landen can provide you with design plans and specializes in custom kitchen in Calgary!

Alternatively, you can achieve great results by either refinishing or re-facing pre-existing cabinets. To compare:

• Refinishing – Refinishing/painting existing cabinets will yield a brand-new look without having to replace the cabinets themselves. While you will need to hire a professional for the best result, this will still allow you to benefit from significant savings, costing between $1,800 and $3,500 plus the cost of new hardware.
• Re-facing – The average cost to reface existing kitchen cabinet is between $3,800 and $5,500. Or put another way about $100 to $145 per cabinet door/drawer face plus any gables at about $300 each.  To re-face your cabinets, you can choose from various materials and designs, resulting in a fresh look for a fraction of the cost (compared to newly installed cabinets). Once again, to ensure that this option is done right and achieve a professional look, you need a qualified re-face contractor like Landen Design Build that has done many hundreds of re-face kitchen projects.  (See also our google and trusted Pro reviews)
• Hardware – Handles or knobs for your kitchen cabinets and drawers can cost from as little as $2 to $20 each, plus a good investment is adding new soft close cabinet hinges and drawer glides.

Permit cost can vary greatly, if you are not moving walls or making structural changes then permit cost may be minimal, however Permits are required if you move walls or alter the structure in any way, or if you install new electrical wiring, plumbing, or mechanical systems. Your contractor should take care of this for you, and all necessary permits should be filed and approved before any work begins.  On average kitchen renovation permits in Okotoks or Calgary and surrounding areas tend to run $500 to $1,000, depending on the complexity of the renovation.