Kitchen remodeling jobs often seem like the promised land of the home-building business. They don’t face the weather complications that can affect new construction jobs. Plus, high-ticket items like stone countertops, new cabinets, and energy-efficient appliances drive up the budget of a full-room remodel.
 
According to Remodeling Magazine, the average cost of a major kitchen remodel was $62,158 in 2017. For the typical painting contractor, that’s a lot of money — and the work is more available than you’d think. The secret is bidding on and accepting jobs that make the most of the skills you already have and avoiding the jobs with a steeper learning curve.

Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are a good place to start. If the layout is OK but the look is dated, it’s not always necessary to replace the cabinets; just paint them with a high-quality enamel paint. You can add shaker trim to give them a new look or install all-new doors and drawer fronts. Have the customer review the different styles available, then pick the color and finish they prefer.
 
The customer should also select new pulls, knobs, and hinges for the cabinets. New hardware doesn’t cost much and can make a big visual statement. Plus, even a first-time remodeler can install these new components in a couple of hours.
 
Trendier styles — like slim gold or copper hardware — help an outdated kitchen feel brand-new and transform the look of the cabinets. Complete a rustic- or farmhouse-style kitchen with intricate matte black hardware. Polished nickel and brass are both timeless options that will keep the kitchen looking new for years to come.

Countertops
New countertops can dramatically change the look of a kitchen. However, stone or synthetic tops are expensive and not easy for a painter to fabricate and install. It’s best to hire a countertop specialist instead of attempting the job yourself. They will take measurements at the site, then fabricate and install the countertop. The customer may want to consider adding a new backsplash of the same material. It costs more but creates a custom look that practically screams “new kitchen.”

Appliances
New appliances are almost non-negotiable with a high-end kitchen job, but they are the death knell for an affordable new kitchen. The sticker shock alone can turn off many customers who may think, “Why should I hire a painter to update my kitchen when a local kitchen outfit can do the job?” Because of this, it’s important to work around the existing appliances, or at least some of them.
 
First, you should check the age of the appliances against their projected life span. Many websites offer this information, and though these estimates are imprecise, they do provide rules of thumb. If the dishwasher is nine years old and the typical life expectancy is ten years, it makes sense to include a replacement as part of your job estimate. But you shouldn’t replace a three-year-old refrigerator when it may have another ten years of reliable service.
 
It’s also important to calculate the possible energy savings from a new appliance. Appliances with an Energy Star rating are top performers with price tags to match, but potential customers expect their remodeling contractor to at least consider energy-efficiency.
 
If most (or all) of the appliances are near retirement age, you can include new appliances in your bid, but it’s generally wise to pick less expensive models. They’ll have fewer features and a basic design, but they’ll have new warranties and, if made by the same manufacturer, can make a strong design statement. It’s then up to the homeowner if they want to upgrade.

Flooring
If the existing flooring is still in good condition, you can give it a thorough cleaning — or refinish it, if applicable — and avoid the cost of installing new flooring. If the floor is outdated or completely worn out (or the homeowner insists on new flooring), look for durable, stylish, and inexpensive options like wood-look laminate tile.
 
You could also leave the existing floor for now, but offer to come back in the future with new flooring options and get some repeat business. If the customer is happy with the kitchen job, they are likely to give you a shot at other work.
 
Sinks
Updating the sink is usually on the to-do list of even basic kitchen jobs. Fortunately, the cost of most new sinks (along with new faucets, handles, and other hardware) is a fraction of the cost of new appliances.
 
Replacing a sink is a simple job that doesn’t require a plumber. Moving the location of a sink is more difficult and should be discouraged on lower-budget jobs. Most sinks are already located in the most efficient place in the kitchen, so putting the new one in the same spot is usually not a problem. If you are replacing the sink with a bigger (or smaller) model, you’ll need to supply exact measurements of the sink to the countertop fabricator.
 
Finishing Touches
Tying the whole job together is a painter’s calling. While neutral, off-white walls may be the default approach, adding some stronger colors — or a combination of colors — can make a dramatic change to the room and create a big bang for the customer’s buck. At the end of the day, no matter what the customer spends, they want to see a new room. If you can manage that with your crew and suppliers without losing money, you may have a new market for your skills.
 
 



 
Steve Willson was the home improvement editor for Popular Mechanics magazine for 22 years and previously owned a carpentry contracting business in Rochester, New York. He has also written three books about home improvement and tools. He now writes for The Home Depot. You can access their site here to start planning your new kitchen’s knobs, handles and other hardware as Steve describes above.