The Handyguys are two avid DIYers sharing their experiences working around the house. Our weekly video and audio podcasts feature answers to your questions, head-to-head tool tests and other DIY and home improvement topics. If you have a question regarding your home, let us know using the contact tab on our site or call us at (818) 804-8665. We respond to all questions and may use your question on-the-air in a future broadcast. We look forward to answering your questions and helping you around the home!
The Handyguys Brian & Paul discuss a DIY kitchen remodel.
Some of the topics discussed in this podcast:
Planning
Skills
Tools
Timeline
Budget
When to bring in a professional
Listen to the podcast for details and enjoy the before and after pictures. The first three are before pictures. The rest are after. Click on any image for a full size view.
Old site built wood cabinets, metal base cabs, no dishwasher in a very outdated disfunctional galley kitchen
The wall again from inside the kitchen.
This wall between the dining room and the kitchen needs to go
The Santos Mahogany prefinished hardwood floor is an awesome change from the dingy vinyl floor.
The refrigerator, stove and sink did not move location. The original dishwasher was a portable unit and was replaced with an undercounter unit. This made room for a pantry to the right of the refrigerator.
The built in microwave helps save counter space with little loss of cabinet space.
The new kitchen sports a built in dishwasher, gas/convection stove, granite and a tile backsplash.
Without the wall we were able to add some base cabinets for much needed storage and a countertop to acomodate a few stools.
By removing the wall the space is opened up and more functional
Good show!
I’m about to gut our master bath. I’ve been building a new double vanity, and we’ll be replacing the countertop, sinks, toilet, flooring, and lighting.
I’m in the process of planning the sequence of removing all of the old pieces and then installing the all the new elements so that the room is out of service for the least amount of time. Like with your kitchen, I’m having the countertop fabricated, so they will need the vanity in place before they can measure. So to expedite the whole process, I’m going to have to install the flooring after the cabinet is in place but before I install the new toilet.
Hope I’m not overlooking something!
Wish me luck…
We are engaged in this very type of project. We had a water tank in the kitchen that bust and poured water on the floor. The insurance company tore up half the floor. We decided to gut the kitchen and replace the vinyl floor with tile. We decided to remove the cabinets and old appliances that all needed to be replaced. We then found the roof was leaking.
Eddie – Good luck with your project. The roof is the first priority, you don’t want that leak impacting any new work. Feel free to drop us a ling if you have any questions along the way.
we are discussing adding a vent hood. I have heard that one possible problem with vent hoods that exhaust to the outdoors is hat they can draw gasses from hot water heater/furnacnes both which we have in the kitchen into the room. This could present a danger. we found a recirculating vent hood but my wife says this is ineffective at removing grease etal from the air. Does anybody have information on this?
Eddie – You are absolutely correct. There are very specific building codes regarding proximity of vents to one another. The documentation of the hood should outline this. If the hood documentation doesn’t cover it it is definitely covered in the furnace or water heater documentation. I seem to recall its a minimum of 3 feet from the next nearest vent but you should check your codes and the documentation of the hood. We are talking about where the vent exists the house, on the outside, there is nothing I am aware of that prohibits hoods from being in proximity to a furnace or water heater. We could talk some about ‘make up’ air but that usually isn’t an issue with most residential hoods. A hood that vents to the outside is always more effective and preferred if possible. So, you are both correct.
Good show!
I’m about to gut our master bath. I’ve been building a new double vanity, and we’ll be replacing the countertop, sinks, toilet, flooring, and lighting.
I’m in the process of planning the sequence of removing all of the old pieces and then installing the all the new elements so that the room is out of service for the least amount of time. Like with your kitchen, I’m having the countertop fabricated, so they will need the vanity in place before they can measure. So to expedite the whole process, I’m going to have to install the flooring after the cabinet is in place but before I install the new toilet.
Hope I’m not overlooking something!
Wish me luck…
Good luck Steve! Feel free to send us some before and after pictures.
We are engaged in this very type of project. We had a water tank in the kitchen that bust and poured water on the floor. The insurance company tore up half the floor. We decided to gut the kitchen and replace the vinyl floor with tile. We decided to remove the cabinets and old appliances that all needed to be replaced. We then found the roof was leaking.
Eddie – Good luck with your project. The roof is the first priority, you don’t want that leak impacting any new work. Feel free to drop us a ling if you have any questions along the way.
we are discussing adding a vent hood. I have heard that one possible problem with vent hoods that exhaust to the outdoors is hat they can draw gasses from hot water heater/furnacnes both which we have in the kitchen into the room. This could present a danger. we found a recirculating vent hood but my wife says this is ineffective at removing grease etal from the air. Does anybody have information on this?
Eddie – You are absolutely correct. There are very specific building codes regarding proximity of vents to one another. The documentation of the hood should outline this. If the hood documentation doesn’t cover it it is definitely covered in the furnace or water heater documentation. I seem to recall its a minimum of 3 feet from the next nearest vent but you should check your codes and the documentation of the hood. We are talking about where the vent exists the house, on the outside, there is nothing I am aware of that prohibits hoods from being in proximity to a furnace or water heater. We could talk some about ‘make up’ air but that usually isn’t an issue with most residential hoods. A hood that vents to the outside is always more effective and preferred if possible. So, you are both correct.
That’s a beautiful kitchen! You did a really, really nice job.
-Fringegirl
Thanks! I’ll tell my parents you like it.
It looks much more spacious now!
This is a beautiful kitchen. Great job you have done. I will do something like that.