How Much Does it Cost to Remodel Your Kitchen in Houston?

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, and with your family spending so much time there, it makes sense to want it to be comfortable, inviting, and useful.

With 2021 lumber prices soaring and other costs rising as well, you may be wondering what it will cost to remodel your Houston kitchen.

Let’s look at the numbers so that you can have a better idea of what your budget should be. And when you’re ready, call Legal Eagle Contractors to deliver the residential general contracting expertise that can bring your vision to life.

Waynesboro kitchen remodel

 

Kitchen Remodels by the Numbers

These are some ballpark figures of Houston kitchen remodeling costs by quality of materials and project size.

Small kitchen Large kitchen Average cost
Basic up to $10,000 $27,000 $20,000
Mid-range up to $20,500 $41,000 $30,000
Luxury up to $40,000 $100,000+ $50,000

As you can see, the amounts vary widely based on these two broad factors. Generally speaking, the typical Houston kitchen remodel costs around $30,000.

 

Breaking Down the Costs

As with virtually any consumer item, the sky is the limit on how extravagant you wish to make your kitchen. Rather than give you theoretical costs for common kitchen features that are involved in a remodel, we’ve lined up below the current real-world price for a) a functional, budget-friendly option and b) a splurge/conversation piece/standout feature. This will give you the boundaries of what 99% of your purchases will fall between.

(Prices include a 6.25% Texas sales tax except for custom items and don’t include installation costs unless otherwise noted.)

Low-end/big-box price High-end/specialized rice
Sink $180 33-in. double-bowl, stainless steel drop-in $1,965 33-in. fireclay farmhouse with colander and cutting board
Cabinets $1,572 10 ft. x 10 ft. raised panel, pre-assembled, composite (hardware not included) $15,000 (installed) 10 ft. x 10 ft. custom
Lighting $74 13 in. color-changing LED ceiling flush mount (2-pack), brushed nickel $986 (each) Ceiling-mounted pendant with hand-worked glass shade and Edison filament bulb, brass
Range $668 4.8 cu. ft., gas, stainless steel $5,313 4.6 cu.ft., gas, black stainless steel with champagne bronze accents
Dishwasher $506 24 in. front control built-in, stainless steel $6,374 24 in. professional series with water softener, ADA Compliant, ComfortClose
Countertops $2.89/sq.ft. Formica laminate, white painted marble with satin finish $64/sq.ft. quartzite, white marble
Flooring $2.65/sq.ft. 10-mm wood plank laminate $23.67/sq. ft. herringbone Calacatta marble mosaic tile
Island $679 48 in. x 32 in. x 36 in. with butcher block top and 6 storage drawers $9,000 (installed) 60 in. x 30 in. x 36 in. with electricity, running water, dishwasher, sink

 

The Cost of Different Kitchen Projects

Sometimes the kitchen remodel you want involves just one or two low- to medium-complexity jobs, some of which you may even be able to tackle yourself (although whether you should is up for debate). Here are the typical ranges of costs (materials and labor) for some of the most popular:

 

Kitchen project Cost range
Updating the cabinets $1,000 – $3,000 to repaint/reface, $15,000 – $25,000 custom replacement
Upgrading the countertops $1,900 – $4,200
Replacing the sink $100 – $1,000
Redoing the backsplash $600 – $1,350

 

The Factors Affecting Cost

Because modern kitchens need to serve as both areas for entertaining and the hubs for daily family tasks, the factors that affect their renovation the most are the quality of the materials and the labor to install them. (As we’ve seen, custom items such as cabinets can raise kitchen remodel costs exponentially.)

How many major appliances you replace and whether you’re moving any utility lines or making structural changes also have a big impact, and the size of the kitchen makes a difference, as well.

 

What Kind of ROI Should You Expect from a Kitchen Remodel?

As always, we turn to our friends at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) to learn what kind of return on investment to expect from a kitchen remodel. The group’s most recent Remodeling Impact Report puts kitchen remodels near the bottom of a handful of common home updates when it comes to costs recovered in a sale, with a return of $20,000 on a $38,300 cost for a rate of 52%.

However, this doesn’t tell the whole story–40% of Realtors have suggested sellers complete a kitchen remodel before attempting to sell their home, and the project ranks #1 in both Realtors’ rank of projects’ appeal to buyers, and agents’ perceived value to the home for resale purposes.

In other words, remodeled kitchens are big movers in the housing market, so if selling is your intent, that benefit alone could be worth the effort of a remodel to you.

 

How to Save Money on a Kitchen Remodel

Beyond what we’ve covered about the impact of low-end vs. high-end appliances and materials, there are a few other ways to save on your kitchen remodeling project:

  • Break it up: If you don’t plan to move out in the immediate future, remodeling in stages allows you to spread big purchases out over time.
  • Shoot for impact per dollar: You might be surprised by how different a kitchen can feel simply by changing cabinet hardware, replacing the backsplash, swapping out fabrics like hand towels and rugs, or painting the cabinets and/or walls. These are all low-cost updates and if you can DIY them, you’ll save that much more.
  • Leave appliances where they are: Moving or adding plumbing and/or utility lines is fairly labor-intensive and an expense you can avoid altogether if you keep the stove, fridge, etc. in their current spot.
  • Skip the cabinets: It won’t be for everyone, but some homeowners are opting to forego either their upper cabinets or all their cabinets, instead relying on open shelving, island storage, rolling carts, drawers, and more. If your cabinets need to be replaced anyway, this could be a great way to cut costs while giving the kitchen much more of an airy feel.
  • Incorporate used items: You may have to hunt around and be patient, but everything including the kitchen sink can be bought second-hand or salvaged from somewhere and put to work in your kitchen. This is another tip that won’t be for everybody–and even those that do it won’t want to go full second-hand–but an artfully placed reclaimed item like a kitchen table can save you money and instantly become the coolest thing in your house.

 

Legal Eagle Contractors is Houston’s Best Kitchen Remodeler

However much you’re looking to spend, Legal Eagle Contractors are the kitchen remodeling experts to trust with this important part of your home.

With more than 35 years of experience, we can design and build to any style to give you the kitchen that fits your family perfectly.

 


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Article reviewed by Dan Bawden, CAPS, GMB, CGR, CGP, and President of Legal Eagle Contractors.