Do It Yourself home improvements can not only be extremely rewarding but can also give your home a breath of fresh air. Installing your sink, while a little messy, can be done by homeowners in a few hours.

Installing A Kitchen Sink In 8 Steps

Ready to start installing your brand-new kitchen sink? Here’s your guide with all the information you’ll need for your kitchen sink upgrade.

Prepare Your Tools | What You Will Need

As you get ready to make the cut and start installing your sink, there are a few tools you should have on hand when you start the process. These tools include:

• Putty Knife 
• Utility Knife
• Plumber’s Putty
• Sink Clips
• Slip Nuts
• Silicone Caulk 
• Bar Clamp or Hose Clamp
• Shop Towels
• Pipe Wrench
• Safety Glasses
• New Sink and Faucet

Measure Your Space and Find A Sink That Fits

One of the first things you need to do in your kitchen sink installation is to measure your space and buy a new appliance. Measuring is so important or else you’ll be heading back to the home improvement store. Be sure to measure the sink tailpiece between the basket and the tee. While it’s easiest to replace a kitchen sink with one of the same size, you can try for a larger sink or a smaller sink if you’re willing to put in the extra work.

Turn Off Water Supply and Drain Lines

The next step is to turn off your hot and cold water lines and your drain lines. While you’re underneath the sink looking at the water supply valves, you should also inspect the condition of the shut-off valves and supply pipes. You definitely don’t want to start installing your new sink if the pipes are stacking or need to be replaced. Next, remove any remaining water in your sink drain pipe before you get started on taking out the existing sink. Remove any clips beneath the appliance in the sink cabinet that would be holding it in place. The line for the dishwasher drain is typically connected to the drainpipe under the sink in most cases.

Remove Your Old Sink and Clear The Space

Once the water has been turned off, you can remove the old sink bowl from the countertop opening. Be sure to wear safety glasses throughout this entire installation process. Depending on the size of your sink, you may need to do some cutting around the sink’s perimeter and on the counter’s edge with a tile cutter or utility knife.

TYPES OF SINKS

If you have a drop-in sink, you can have one person push the drop in the kitchen sink from underneath while another person pulls it up and out of the countertop hole using the sink’s lip for a grip. For an under mount sink, you will need to loosen the clamps and lower it down into the sink opening. Sinks, especially under mount sinks, can be heavy and hard to remove. Work cautiously when completing this step and cut away any remaining caulk leftover along with the old appliance.

Prepare The New Sink and Install New Faucet Lines

The next step in the sink replacement process is to prep the new sink. Many stainless steel sinks have a terrible smell and require a good cleaning before they are installed. After the scrub, keep the sink upside down and place a good amount of putty around the drain hole and apply the drain strainer. Attach a rubber gasket onto the strainer with a slip nut.

INSTALL FAUCET FIRST

As well, many professionals recommend installing the kitchen faucet for the new sink before the actual sink. While you install the kitchen faucet, you can also install the garbage disposal, soap dispenser, and other extra features your sink has using a mounting bracket and mounting nuts under the sink.

Install New Sink According To Manufacturer’s Instructions

It’s finally time to install the sink itself! After prepping the sink and installing the kitchen faucet and garbage disposal, you are now ready to place the appliance into the hole. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the installation and sinks can look and act differently depending on brand and material. Use putty to secure the sink and then remove the excess putty from the edges. Connect the faucet to the shutoff valves and ensure that the sink is fitted correctly.

Turn On Water Supply and Check Water Pressure

Once everything has been connected again, you can turn on the hot and cold water supply lines and drain lines again. You will want to check that everything is working correctly and that the water’s pressure is where it should be. Missing this step could lead to other trouble down the line. 

Clean Up

Finally, when you are all finished and everything is working correctly, you can clean up. Remove excess caulk and putty, scrub your sink again, and replace any products for the cabinets underneath that you moved to install your sink. Then, you can wash your hands of this job!

Honest Renovations

If you don’t like to get your hands dirty and are looking for some professional help with your sink installation, contact Honest Renovations today to get started on your new project!

The media is flooded with inspirational and reasonably priced bathroom environments, ranging from interior design shows to celebrity bathroom remodels seen on Instagram. However, even budget bathrooms can be just as amazing as more expensive ones.

The majority of small bathroom ideas are still doable, regardless of your budget. You may still pay homage to the hottest interior design trends without hiring a contractor thanks to lookalike surfaces and creative DIY workarounds.

Keep reading to find details on how to achieve bathroom bliss on a budget, as well as general bathroom decor ideas for redoing your bathroom without spending too much money.

Get Rid Of Grime In Between Your Wall Tiles

You might not have to retile your bathroom. Tile grouting techniques can get your small bathroom look nicer without redoing everything. All that’s left are toothbrushes, lotion, and elbow grease.

When it comes to cleaning up the grout you will immediately brighten up your bathroom wall for just a few bucks. 1 tablespoon of mild dish detergent, 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, and 3/4 cup baking soda make a cleaning paste that can destroy grime buildup between tiles.

Place the paste around every corner and leave it for about 15 minutes. After leaving this for a while, wash it off using clean water. The combination of baking soda and peroxide is amazingly effective for cleaning grout.

Consider Small Design Details and Bathroom Furniture

When you want to improve the appearance of your toilet, it’s important to focus on the details. Simple mirrors can work wonders. Just adding one to the back of your toilet can completely change the appearance of a bathroom renovation.

Darker colours work extremely well against light porcelain. To maintain the contrast, keep an eye on extra accessories for sinks. Even with compact sinks, it’s important to have decorative and attractive items strategically placed. It just enhances the overall feeling.

Exchange Dated Country For A Chic Western Theme

Try to stick to darker shades of beige browns for a rustic bathroom suit. Mixing them up will keep the décor and add personality. Curtains for showers are perfectly matched by wood-covered sink tops.

Certain mirror frames can offer a cool, weathered appearance and take rustic charm to an entirely different level. Minimalist decor can go a long way, as the fewer items that take up a small space, the more effective each item can be.

Use Online Marketplaces For Materials and Go DIY

There is nothing more rewarding than doing something yourself. It can become messy and take longer than it might take professionals but there’s plenty of guidance available for those who are up to the task.

Not to mention, it offers obvious savings in labor. The more things you get done yourself, the less you will have to leave to a costly professional. Just make sure that you thoroughly read any guides or information you find online so that it gets done properly.

Light Colors and Open Storage Make The Room Bigger

If you need your small bathroom floor space to appear bigger, you can find many ways to achieve that effect. Alternatively, lighten it by adding bright colors, bathroom wallpaper, and bold illumination. Darker sinks are perfectly paired with white cabinets.

Both are compatible with warm bathroom walls. You can open the storage space up further by using open storage instead of closed cabinets or a vanity unit. This also allows the room to feel large and spacious. Plus, it keeps everything easily accessible to make it functional and attractive to visitors.

Fake Tiling With Adhesive Wall and Floor Solutions

No matter their level of expertise, DIYers can find installing tile to be scary. Choosing the ideal bathroom wall tile takes effort, money, tools, and time. If you’re on the fence about tiling traditionally, you may be curious about peel-and-stick tile.

Compared to traditional tiling, peel-and-stick tile installation may be completed quickly, affordably, and with a lot less mess. You only need a utility knife, ruler, and level in terms of equipment. You’ll also need some time, preferably not more than a day, but at least a few hours.

Hang A Printed Shower Curtain

The bathroom is often overlooked for color, pattern, and print. It is very much a place where you can easily embrace bold designs. A tasteful shower screen can make all the difference in the world while staying cost-effective. Adding upscale bathroom drapes with matching designs can also be an inexpensive way to make a bold style statement.

Don’t Forget The Bathroom Door!

When it comes to highlighting a home’s beauty and worth, bathroom doors are an often overlooked budget bathroom idea. There are tons of things you can do with different doors to open up your small room design and complement the decor of your home.

For example, you can replace a regular old wooden door with a sliding door. You can also use doors with frosted glass windows to add character while maintaining a level of privacy.

If you have an unfinished basement or just need to update an old, tired one, there are several advantages to fixing your basement space up.

Developing a finished basement increases the amount of living space in your home, effectively giving you a larger house. If you sell your home, having a finished basement increases the value greatly, for an excellent return on your remodelling investment. It’s also a good opportunity to increase energy efficiency and insulate this large area.

If you’re looking for inspiration on what to do with this extra space that’s often underused, here are some popular basement remodel ideas, to help you make the most of your entire home.

Open Up a Dark or Small Basement Space With a Basement Remodel

Basements can feel dingy and cramped, especially if you only have a small space to begin with.

A fresh coat of paint and new flooring will help, but to give the sense of a larger area, avoid paints or floors in a dark colour. Instead, opt for bright white walls, and a lighter floor. If you have a concrete floor, consider moving away from the industrial look, to a softer, warmer laminate or vinyl plank with a good underlayment.

Good lighting is essential to make the area feel more like a living space. Adding high-quality, bright fixtures brightens everything up and looks less utilitarian. Also, for a truly finished basement, don’t forget to finish the small windows properly to make them brighter.

Sliding barn doors are cost-effective and useful for separating rooms. They’re convenient if you do ever need to open up for a bigger basement area, and, because they don’t open outwards, they’re ideal for smaller areas.

An open ceiling with painted ductwork is relatively cheap but looks more finished and gives a feeling of space. A drop-down ceiling helps with insulation and soundproofing and gives the look of a more finished basement.

Recessed shelves, floating shelves, and storage cabinets keep the basement tidy as it gets used more.

Basement Remodelling Ideas

Before jumping into a renovation, consider how you would like to use your space. Is there a type of room that you would like to have, but didn’t think you had the space for? Would you like to have a larger, open-concept area for the family to congregate, or a secluded, quiet book nook or craft room? Beyond the obvious man cave, there are many types of recreational spaces that you may be interested in. Alternatively, you may simply need another all-purpose room to increase functional space.

Here are some finished basement ideas that are popular with many homeowners.

Home Gym

A gym is perfect to take advantage of a basement area of any size. Be sure the floors are suitable for the weight loads and activities. Wood or laminate floors are good for yoga, with carpeting or rubber mats to protect the ground from equipment and for reclined exercises.

Room for Family

You may need another bedroom for a child, or want an extra guest bedroom for when friends and family come to stay.

Bathroom

White walls and shower tile, with glass shower doors, open up an enclosed area, for a bright and polished look. A light floor completes it.

Home Theatre

Embrace the dark and take advantage of it with a home theatre and media room. A raised floor with extra seating, dark walls, and recessed, dimmable lighting give the perfect setting for family movie night.

Playroom

An area for the kids to play in is one of the more common finished basement ideas. It doesn’t need to be just toys scattered across an empty room. Lots of storage solutions to keep it tidy, bright colours, and soft flooring will make it a fun and attractive spot. You can get creative by adding features like a climbing wall.

Basement Laundry Room

Many people just have their washer and dryer on bare cement in a concrete corner. Create a proper basement laundry room, to make the space more functional. Doing laundry will be easier and more pleasant. Tile or laminate floors look better but are still easy for cleaning and handle wet spills well. Cabinets and cupboards for storage keep the area tidy.

Home Bar

A wet bar and wine cellar are fun for adults. A cellar is especially good if your basement is cool and dry, although you may want cozy furniture if you plan on spending time in your basement bar to enjoy the drinks. A built-in counter, bar stools, and artistic wine storage make it an attractive feature. Add a mini-fridge, and you’re set to entertain guests.

Office

If you work from home, a basement office can be an excellent location to work from, as it is more isolated from the bustle and noise of the rest of the house.

Apartment

To generate some extra income, if you have a separate entrance and don’t need the extra space, a basement apartment is a valuable addition. By adding a kitchenette, new appliances, a featured living area, and barn doors to separate the sleeping area, you can transform this area into a full apartment.

Ready to Create Your Dream Basement Space?

For your basement remodel needs, trust Honest Renovations. We have creative basement renovation services that can help you turn your finished basement ideas into realities. Our experienced contractors are experts who work with you at every stage, from design to demolition and construction, and can meet all of your project needs. 

All of our work is to code and we pride ourselves on results that are energy efficient. We are also highly experienced at conversions into legal apartments. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote. 

Many people resort to home additions to add rooms because they feel cramped in their homes and need extra living space. Their wish for a larger space can come true with a home addition project managed by a general contractor. Home additions come in various sizes and types, and there is an overwhelming number of home addition costs to calculate roughly.

If you’re thinking of creating an expansion to your home, you’ll need to read this home addition cost breakdown.

Average Home Addition Cost

Construction costs will depend on your existing home structure and what you’d like to build. Some additions won’t even need another room, like converting a garage.

The average cost for home addition or adding a room is $46,000, with most homeowners spending between $21,000 and $74,000.

How Much Do Home Additions Cost Per Square Foot?

Home additions cost between $85 and $400 per square foot, with most spending $80 to $200 per square foot on the first floor and $100 to $300 per square foot on the second floor. The project cost will vary greatly depending on material prices, labor costs, and location.

Factors That Influence The Cost Of A Home Extension Project

It isn’t easy to pinpoint exact costs when it comes to a home addition project, for many factors will affect the total project cost.

First off, the level of intricacy of the construction project will have a significant influence on the final cost and can raise or lessen the total expense. Include other costs, like applying a new foundation, insulation, and site preparation. The building materials you’ll utilize and the existing materials will also add to the overall costs.

In addition, your home addition cost could increase based on the building permits you acquire and conforming to specific local building codes. Water drainage, septic systems, and electrical wiring are just some features that might be monitored. A qualified local builder will be able to advise you regarding the prerequisites in your area.

Common Types Of Room Addition

Many homeowners want to add an extra room to their homes. And this can be executed on the ground floor or the second story. Room addition costs are primarily based on the type of room being constructed.

Take into account that unexpected costs will arise suddenly. Allocate an extra 10%-20% in case you come across circumstances demanding additional costs.

Living Room / Family Room

The typical range for a living room is $20,000 to $45,000, with the higher-end usually consisting of custom built-in cabinets or expensive flooring. Expanded living rooms provide more space for families and friends to gather.

Bathroom

A new bathroom addition costs around $35,000. Bathrooms are pricier as they need plumbing work and bathroom fixtures like toilets and showers. Some homeowners decide to splurge on a jacuzzi tub, influencing the overall price.

Master Bedroom

Adding a new master bedroom suite can cost between $59,000 and $100,000 and up. Considering it often has an attached bathroom and walk-in closet, master bedroom addition costs can quickly surge.

Attic

Most homeowners spend from $40,000 to $80,000 to convert an attic into a cozy room. This reconstruction requires owners to have sufficient ventilation and insulation for livable permanent use. Not to mention the installation costs for a staircase in this room.

In-Law Suite Addition Costs

In-law suites are often around 600 to 750 square feet, costing between $78,000 and $135,000, with an average cost of $90,000. The In-law suite includes one bedroom and bathroom, a small living room, a kitchenette, a laundry room, and maybe some storage.

Second story

Adding a second floor to your home is like constructing a whole house from square one. The cost can range from $300 to $500 per square foot since it requires removing and replacing the existing roof. The total expense can quickly jump into six figures depending on how many rooms are being constructed.

Garage

For a simple garage addition, expect to pay around $10,800. Usually, the larger the square footage, the less it will cost. An attached garage is more affordable; however, if you need to build a detached garage, expect to pay roughly $13,200 – $24,200.

Get Reliable Cost Estimates From Honest Renovations

Rather than making guesswork at the approximate total cost of the home addition you intend to build, call Honest Renovations.

A great way to save money is to hire a professional contractor. Honest Renovations has the expertise and professional connections to reduce your costs. We start the process by scheduling a thorough phone discussion. We’ll examine the specifics of your current home and what type of addition you’re considering. We will also check out your property to assess the extra space and landscape we will be transforming.

We will provide an approximate quote for your specific home addition projects. Call us now or fill in the form, and you will receive estimates from trusted experts.