How Much Does it Cost to Remodel a Kitchen in the Twin Cities?
Are you dreaming of a new kitchen and wondering how much you’ll need to invest? We breakdown the costs for two kitchen remodels and what factors drive those costs.
Lake Nokomis Mudroom Addition & Kitchen Remodel
A remodel is underway. Take a look inside.
See inside as we build a mudroom addition and remodel the kitchen of this 1920s Lake Nokomis home.
Framing an Addition
Demolition is needed before framing can begin.
Demolition is an essential part of the construction process and is often one of the first steps taken on the construction site. Here are some reasons why:
- Surprises happen – We might find a potentially hazardous condition that can now be properly addressed, protecting the value of your home and remodel investment.
- Demo provides the opportunity to clean and clear the site for more easily storing supplies and upcoming deliveries.
- The crew has clear working areas and a recognized plan for what areas must be addressed.
The first stage of the framing process starts with the lumber delivery. Materials are stacked neatly alongside the edge of the property to maintain a clean and efficient construction zone.
The existing wall and entry of the home will remain along the back of the house until we completely frame the addition, apply insulation, and finish the roofing. A storm midway through framing made us confident in our decision to keep the home intact, protecting it from potential water damage.
Materials Have Been Delivered. Why Wait to Demo?
On this Lake Nokomis area home, however, we knew that the interior of the house could remain unaffected by the stress of remodeling for as long as possible if we finished framing the addition before demolishing the back elevation of the home. Here are some good reasons to hold off on demo:
- Unpredictable weather, like a sudden storm can cause damage to the existing home if large areas of the home are demolished before new framing and roofing can enclose the structure.
- Consider the lead time on necessary components, like roof trusses, which would extend the time the home was left vulnerable to the elements.
- Heating and Cooling – You can maintain a temperature controlled environment inside the home for longer if the exterior of the home remains intact while framing an addition!
Framing Begins: From Foundation to Floor Assembly
Framing is simply the process of assembling the walls, floor system, and roofing which many other systems of a building will be hidden within (like insulation, structural supports, and plumbing) then eventually covered. Though our team considers the very particular ways this can be done from project to project, here is an outline of what we did here, starting with the floor assembly:
- Mounted 2×8 treated lumber, called bottom plates, to the top of the foundation wall
- Wrapped 2X10 rim joists/end joists along the perimeter of the addition to define the edge of the building and provide lateral support for the other floor joists
- Spaced additional 2×10 joists 16″ on center (apart from the centerline of each board)
- Installed a plywood subfloor, which the new wood floor will be applied to later
Forming Exterior Walls
With the floor framing completed, we switched our focus to creating the exterior walls of the addition. To do this, 2×6 studs are placed vertically, 16″ on center, and rest between 2×6 treated bottom and top plates. Whenever we have an opening for a door or window, we must increase the stability of the framing with headers that provide perpendicular supports above those openings, made here with 2×10’s.
We delegate tasks across the team to maximize efficiency. With a secondary wall being framed along the side of the house, we only needed to complete 1 more wall before we could move forward with truss installation.
Here our crew loads more lumber into the work area by passing studs through the window openings. Plans off to the right of the image indicate to the team how the building will be assembled.
A Roof Over Our Heads
To complete the framing process, next week we’ll review truss installation and roofing, at which point we can demo the existing exterior wall and begin our work inside the home!
Want to learn more about
this type of project?
We’re here to help! Check out our planning resources below, or reach out to us here.
What are shed dormers and why are they so popular around here?
The Twin Cities are filled with story-and-a-half homes that are perfect for a certain kind of addition, called a shed dormer. Learn more about this popular remodeling project.
Think you can’t afford that remodel? (There are more options than you think.)
So you’d love to upgrade your kitchen or add a shed dormer with a primary suite, but you’re not sure how to pay for it? Learn about three ways to finance your remodel.
