Who to Hire for a Kitchen Remodel: A Complete Guide

Once you've decided to give your kitchen an overhaul, you'll need some professional help to make your vision a reality. Determining who to hire for a kitchen remodel can be tricky, as it largely depends on the project's overall scope.

You can choose between a general contractor with kitchen remodeling experience or a specialist kitchen remodeling contractor. Both types of pros are technically considered "general contractors" and should have the proper licenses, but there are key differences. Here's what to know before you book a pro for your kitchen remodeling project.

Who Do You Hire to Remodel a Kitchen?

Who you hire to remodel your kitchen depends on the amount and complexity of the changes you want to make. For smaller projects, like replacing cabinets, countertops, or appliances, a contractor specializing in kitchen remodels is your best bet. However, for larger projects, like a complete overhaul that involves tearing down walls and installing new gas lines or plumbing, you're better off hiring a general contractor.

As their name suggests, a general contractor has more "general" experience that covers flooring, roofing, masonry, etc. that kitchen specialists don't have. Hiring a general contractor is recommended if your kitchen renovation is part of an addition or whole-home renovation. Larger projects may also require hiring a designer in addition to a contractor.

On the other hand, a local kitchen remodeling company will focus on—you guessed it—kitchen renovations. They often provide design ideas to help you create your vision before construction begins. If your renovation focuses on removing or upgrading an old kitchen, these pros can offer unique insight into creating the perfect new space for your kitchen needs.

Benefits of Hiring a Pro for Your Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen remodeling professionals, including general contractors and contractors specializing only in kitchen renovations, are the experts in this major home project. They can help you design a kitchen within your budget, and make the whole process run smoothly.

Hiring a kitchen remodeling contractor for your kitchen revamp comes with many benefits, including:

• Code and permit enforcement: Your kitchen remodeling contractor should be up to date on local codes and permit requirements. Hiring a contractor to pull permits will save you from having to navigate this yourself. 

• Saves time: Since kitchen remodelers have the skills and the team of subcontractors necessary to design and complete your remodel, they can help you complete your project quickly and efficiently. 

• Custom options: Kitchen contractors can help you choose from custom materials and hardware to make your kitchen stand out from your neighbors, function better for your needs, and stay within your budget. 

• Quality and accuracy: Since contractors are skilled professionals, they can complete your project with the quality that you can only develop from years of experience.

Can I DIY a Kitchen Remodel?

Although you may feel tempted to test your DIY skills by completing a kitchen remodel entirely on your own, doing so isn't for the faint of heart. When renovating a kitchen, you must be knowledgeable in areas like plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry.

Even the most savvy DIY homeowners don't own the tools and supplies necessary to complete a kitchen remodeling project—and buying what you need would be costly. Plus, if your DIY skills don't measure up or you run into an unexpected problem, you could find yourself behind schedule and unable to move forward without calling in a professional. In that case, DIYing your kitchen remodel will cost you more money and time than hiring a general contractor in the first place.

The good news is that there are some aspects of a kitchen remodel that are DIY-friendly. Simpler tasks, such as painting cabinets or installing a backsplash, are popular DIY projects you can do after the kitchen remodeling professional finishes all the major portions of the job.

How Do Contractors Complete a Kitchen Remodel?

Every kitchen remodel is unique, but the process for completing a kitchen remodel is relatively the same. If you’re considering hiring a pro to redo your kitchen, you can expect the process to work similarly to this:

1. Meet with the contractor and explain your needs: Your kitchen remodeling contractor will meet with you to determine your goals, design ideas, and budget. From there, your contractor will draw up plans you'll need to approve before moving forward. 

2. Acquire necessary permits: Your contractor must submit plans for your remodel to the local government and wait for approval before they can begin working. The requirements for these permits will vary from municipality to municipality. Some building permits cost a pretty penny and can take months to receive, but a pro will wrap the price of your permit into the overall project cost.

3. Deconstructing your kitchen: Once approved, your kitchen contractor will begin deconstructing your current kitchen. Depending on the needs of your project, this can include anything from removing cabinets and countertops to ripping down everything to the studs. 

4. Updating or moving any necessary utilities: If your kitchen remodel requires it, your contractor will work on (or hire out) projects such as running new wiring, plumbing, and gas lines. 

5. Rebuilding your kitchen: Your pro will begin rebuilding your kitchen based on the initial plans. Every kitchen remodel is unique, but this could include installing new cabinets, replacing the flooring, setting countertops, and executing custom finishes. 

6. Cleaning your new kitchen: After all of their work is complete, a quality contractor will clean your kitchen of all construction debris and dust. At this point, your kitchen remodel should be complete, barring any needed touch-ups or adjustments.

Christopher Murray contributed to this piece.