Round Rock, Texas

Kitchen remodeling in Round Rock

New cabinets, new counters, or a layout that finally works? Text me what bugs you about your kitchen now. I’ll help you find a local remodeler and compare bids.

Text Terry about your kitchen

OnHand Home is not a remodeler. I help you find one, and you get their business name before you agree to anything. There is no charge for my help. You pay the remodeler for the work.

What the work involves

A kitchen remodel is a chain of steps, and the order matters. Demolition comes first. Then rough plumbing and electrical, then drywall, then cabinets. The countertop is measured after the cabinets are set, so it comes late. Flooring, backsplash, paint and appliances finish the job.

Cabinets set the tone. You can reface them (new doors and drawer fronts on the existing boxes), paint them, or replace them. Each path needs a different amount of time and a different trade. Ask bidders to price more than one path.

Countertops are made to fit. A fabricator measures your finished cabinets, then cuts the slab to that template. Until it arrives, your sink and cooktop may not work. Ask each bidder how long the gap lasts and what you do for water and a stove in the meantime.

Why Round Rock homeowners remodel a kitchen

Cabinets that sag, stick or have swollen from water
Counters that are chipped, stained or too small to work on
A layout where the fridge, sink and stove are far apart or in each other’s way
Not enough outlets, or breakers that trip when two appliances run
Old appliances that no longer fit, or a new range that needs a different hookup
A wall between the kitchen and living room that you want to open
Outdated lighting that leaves the counters dark
Getting the house ready to sell

Reface, paint or replace the cabinets?

This choice drives the plan more than any other. Look at the cabinet boxes before you decide.

Boxes in good shape, layout works. Painting or refacing keeps the boxes and changes the look. It usually means less demolition and a shorter time without a kitchen.
Boxes damaged or layout wrong. Water-swollen boxes and bad layouts are reasons to replace. New cabinets also let you add drawers, pull-outs and taller uppers.
Opening a wall. Taking out a wall can move wiring, ducts and plumbing, and the City requires an engineered design for wall removal. Ask early.
Keep the counters or replace them. New counters over old cabinets are possible only if the boxes are level and strong. Ask the installer to check.

What changes the price

Kitchen bids vary widely because the scope varies widely. Ask every bidder to price the same cabinets, counters and appliances, so you can compare.

Cabinet path: paint, reface, stock, semi-custom or custom
Counter material, edge style and the number of cutouts for the sink and cooktop
Whether the layout changes, and whether plumbing, gas or ducts move
New circuits, a larger panel, or more lighting
Appliance choices, and whether the contract includes them or you buy them
Flooring, backsplash and paint, if they are in the scope
Surprises behind walls and under the floor
The allowance amounts in the contract for items you have not chosen yet

Questions to ask the remodeler

Use these to compare quotes side by side.

Who designs the layout, and do I get a drawing before I sign?A drawing is how you catch a bad layout while it is cheap to change.
What is in the allowances, and what happens when I choose above them?Allowances are placeholders. The gap is billed to you, so ask what is realistic.
How will you protect the rest of my house from dust?Demolition makes fine dust. Ask about barriers and cleanup.
When is the countertop measured, and how long until it is installed?Counters are cut to fit after the cabinets are set. Ask what you will use in the gap.
What is the temporary kitchen plan?A microwave and a small table can carry a family for weeks. Ask what is practical for yours.
Who handles the electrical and gas work, and is it permitted?Ask whether your job needs a City permit and who applies for it.
How do change orders work, and who signs them?Every change should have a written cost and a written effect on the schedule.
How are payments tied to progress?Payments should follow finished stages, not the calendar.

Appliances and electrical

Appliances decide cabinet openings, outlet locations and sometimes the gas or electric hookup. Tell the remodeler your appliance models before cabinets are ordered, not after.

The City of Round Rock lists electrical, HVAC, plumbing and gas test permits that contractors can pull on their own for work that is not part of a larger project. A kitchen remodel is a larger project, so ask which permit path covers yours.

Older homes

EPA says paid work that disturbs paint in homes built before 1978 needs a lead-safe certified firm. Ask for proof. The City also strongly recommends an asbestos survey before removing walls in homes built before 1980.

Round Rock permit notes

The City of Round Rock has a remodel path through its Permit Portal. It asks for one set of plans showing any structural, mechanical, electrical or plumbing changes. Ask whether your job needs a permit.
The City says review typically takes 30 business days after acceptance and does not offer expedited review. Ask how that fits your schedule.
The City requires an inspection for permits it issues. Structural changes such as wall removal need an engineered design.

What happens after you text

You text meSay what is going on, add a photo if you can, and include your ZIP code. The message is already started for you, and you can change it.
I ask a question or twoI check the details a remodeler will need and confirm you are in our area. We are starting in Round Rock.
I look for a remodelerI check who can take the job. You get the business name before you agree to anything. If I cannot find someone, I tell you.
They quote and do the workThe remodeler confirms the time and the price with you. You pay them for the work. I follow up afterward.

Tell me what is going on.

Text me a short description and your ZIP code. A photo helps.