Kitchen Remodel: DIY or Hire a Professional?

By: Dan Graham with House Method

Are you thinking about renovating your kitchen? Are you willing to roll up your sleeves and do the dirty work yourself? Does hiring a professional sound like more your speed? 

If you’re handy and resourceful around the house, you may decide to remodel your kitchen yourself. There are certain factors to consider, other than your budget when deciding which kitchen renovation route to take.

Luckily for you, we’ve put together this blog to help guide you in your decision. Below you’ll find a discussion of the pros and cons of DIY kitchen remodel vs hiring a contractor.

What are the benefits of a DIY kitchen renovation?

If the thought of having a contractor in your home for weeks makes you shudder, a DIY kitchen renovation might be your best option. Renovating your own kitchen has several benefits over hiring a contractor. 

Will I save money if I DIY?

One of the biggest benefits most people think about when considering a DIY renovation is the dollars they can save. Hiring a contractor will cost you money; most of that cost is tied to the labor involved. If you can handle the technical work and you already have the tools you’ll need, renovating your kitchen yourself could save you money.

Will it be rewarding if I DIY?

A less obvious benefit to redoing your kitchen yourself is the satisfaction you’ll feel once you’ve completed the final details. Doing a kitchen renovation yourself is not something most people have on their résumé, but it can be very rewarding.

Can I customize my DIY kitchen remodel project?

When you are doing the work, you have another advantage over hiring a professional: you can customize every last detail of your new kitchen. Most professionals offer a level of customization, but nothing that can compare to the complete freedom you’ll have if you’re doing the work yourself. If you want to add personalized touches to your new kitchen design, or include less-common features, this is one way to achieve exactly what you want.

What are the benefits of hiring a professional for my kitchen remodel?

Depending on the scope of your kitchen renovation, your DIY project might involve a lot of hard work. If you have room in your budget to hire a professional contractor, this will afford you some important benefits over a DIY approach.

Will I save time if I hire a professional?

The odds are pretty good that a professional will be able to finish your renovation more quickly than you will, even if you’re pretty handy. 

Most contractors work in small teams and can easily tackle a task in a day or two. Even if you’re a seasoned pro, a task for one person could take longer than a team of people. Additionally, gathering supplies is often easier and faster for professionals who are prepared, and have the resources available quickly.

If I hire a professional will my kitchen remodel be done correctly?

Perhaps the biggest benefit of hiring a pro is that there is a good chance that the job will be done correctly and on time. Some people overestimate their own skills, and the worst time to find out you don’t know as much about plumbing as you thought, is when your brand-new kitchen has flooded. 

If you have any doubt about your ability to perform any of the individual tasks that need to be completed, safely, and to code, you should hire a professional to do it for you. 

Will I have more options if I hire a professional?

Hiring a professional might give you more options than if you choose the DIY route. Unless you are a multitalented carpenter/plumber/electrician, certain options will be off the table for you. 

A professional will be able to safely wire your electrical modifications, change plumbing fixtures, and whatever else is needed for your kitchen renovation. They might even suggest ideas you may not have thought of, due to your own limitations, or lack of experience with kitchen remodels.

What kitchen reno projects can I be confident to be able to do myself?

Here are a few elements of kitchen remodels that many homeowners might feel comfortable doing themselves:

• Adding a backsplash
• Installing shelves
• Repainting cabinets
• Improving drawer/cabinet storage solutions

What should I leave to the professionals?

Even if you pride yourself on your ability to handle most home improvement projects, some tasks may be best left for the professionals:

• Replacing the sink (or any other plumbing projects)
• Rewiring outlets for major appliances (or any other electrical work needed)
• Installing new windows
• Changing walls to create a more open floor plan

How do I decide to DIY or hire a professional?

We suggest that you do your research before beginning a DIY kitchen remodel project.

YouTube offers an exorbitant array of DIY kitchen remodel projects. These videos may help you determine if the individual tasks are ones you feel confident doing.

We also suggest talking to your kitchen designer. Many cabinet partners collaborate with highly experienced contractors, that they can refer you to, to help you with your project.