Before starting your kitchen renovation, discuss your plans with a local building inspection department, obtain all the necessary permits, understand and follow relevant building codes and schedule the required inspections. Obviously, you should allow ample time for kitchen renovation. Otherwise, you’ll be tempted to move too fast, sacrificing safety and risking exhaustion.
- Protect what you’re keeping, whether floors cabinets, appliances or fixtures.
- Seal off the kitchen from the rest of the house to minimize dust and dirt in other areas.
- Rent and schedule the delivery of a dumpster for non-salvageable items.
- Make arrangements with Habitat for Humanity or another charity to haul off usable construction goods, cabinets, fixtures, hardware or appliances following the demolition. Your donation may qualify for a tax write off, so keep your documentation.
- Pull a linoleum sample to test for asbestos. If it tests positive, make arrangements with an abatement team for floor removal. If it’s negative, you may safely remove the floor yourself.
