What a CRC kitchen remodel includes
A kitchen remodel with us can be anything from new cabinets and counters to a reworked layout. We plan it around how your family actually cooks and gathers, and the first step is a free consultation at your home.
Here is what that covers:
- Full kitchen remodels
- Cabinet installation
- Countertops and backsplashes
- Flooring
- Islands and layout changes
- Lighting and trim
We do carpentry and general contracting. We do not do electrical or plumbing work ourselves, but we can coordinate licensed electricians and plumbers for the job. Scope depends on the project, and your itemized quote shows what we are including. We go over it with you at the free consultation.
Replace the cabinets or do a full kitchen remodel?
Replace the cabinets if the layout works and the problem is wear, storage or looks. Do a full remodel if the real problem is how you move through the room.
A refresh keeps the footprint. A rework moves things, and moving a sink or a range usually means plumbing, gas or electrical work, and sometimes a wall. That changes the scope and the schedule, so it helps to know early which path you are on.
| Refresh (keep the layout) | Full remodel (rework the layout) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fits when | The layout mostly works and the pain is wear, storage or looks | The trouble is traffic, appliance placement, light or storage |
| What usually changes | Cabinets, counters, backsplash, lighting, flooring | Sink, range or refrigerator position, sometimes walls |
| Trades involved | Fewer | More likely plumbing, gas or electrical |
| Permit | Depends on the town and the scope | More likely needed, see the permits section |
| Schedule | Shorter in general | Longer in general, set by scope |
Our post on planning a kitchen remodel walks through how to decide.
What drives the cost of a kitchen remodel
Every kitchen is different, so the cost depends on the job and we do not post prices. A kitchen remodel costs what its scope costs, and a few choices set most of it. After a free consultation at your home, you get an itemized written quote, so each of the drivers below shows up as its own line.
| Driver | Why it moves the quote |
|---|---|
| Size of the kitchen | More floor, wall and cabinet runs to build and finish |
| Layout changes | Moving a sink, range or wall adds plumbing, gas, electrical or structural work |
| Cabinets | Choice of cabinet line and how many you need |
| Counters | Material and the amount of edge, cutouts and seams |
| Appliances | What you choose, and whether the openings need to change |
| Flooring | Material and how much of the floor is replaced |
| Electrical and plumbing | The condition of what is already in the walls and any updates needed from a licensed electrician or plumber |
| Older-home surprises | What turns up once a wall or floor is open |
| Finishes | Tile, hardware, lighting and trim selections |
Permits for kitchen remodels in southern NH
Permit rules are set town by town, so the answer for your kitchen depends on where you live and what you are changing. Some towns list a kitchen renovation as work that needs a building permit, and others exempt direct swaps like new cabinets.
Portsmouth lists renovating rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms as work that needs a building permit. Stratham lists direct replacement of cabinets and countertops, flooring, painting and interior trim as work that does not. Bedford also lists renovating rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms. If your project needs a permit, we or one of our subcontractors can pull it. That includes electrical and plumbing permits when we coordinate those trades. Call your town's building office before you start. See what each town says on our Portsmouth, Stratham and Bedford pages.
How a kitchen remodel runs and how long it takes
A remodel feels manageable when the steps are plain. Material lead times for cabinets, appliances and countertops can stretch a project more than the construction does, so ask about them early.
- Free consultation. We visit your home, listen to what you want and take measurements.
- A clear, itemized written quote that spells out the scope.
- Permit, which we or our subcontractors pull where your town requires one.
- The build, with a clean site each day and updates as we go.
- A final walkthrough together. We review every detail and do not call it done until you are happy.
How long a kitchen remodel takes depends on the scope of the job and on how long your cabinets, appliances and countertops take to arrive. We go over the schedule with you when we give the quote.
Living without a kitchen during the remodel
Plan where you will cook and wash dishes before demolition starts. A temporary setup makes the time without a full kitchen easier.
A temporary setup usually means a microwave, a small refrigerator and a place to wash dishes outside the work area. Think about how dust will be kept away from the rest of the house, how noise and daily hours will work, and what the plan is with pets and kids in the house. Our process includes a clean site at the end of each day and updates as the job moves along. Our blog post on planning a kitchen remodel covers living through it too.
Remodeling a kitchen in an older New Hampshire home
We work on older homes. They hide things: framing is not always square, and what is behind a wall may not match what you expected.
That is normal, and it is a good reason to agree on how changes are priced before work starts. If your house was built before 1978, mention it up front, because older paint can contain lead. We do not handle lead paint on older homes. If your house was built before 1978, we test for lead, and if it turns up we work with regulated contractors as needed. For background, the EPA explains the federal rules on its lead renovation, repair and painting page.
Kitchen remodeling by town
We remodel kitchens across southern New Hampshire. These pages cover the permit details for individual towns:
If your town is not listed, call us.
Kitchen remodeling FAQ
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in southern NH?
It depends. Every kitchen is different, and the cost turns on size, layout changes, cabinets, counters, appliances, flooring, electrical and plumbing work, and what turns up in an older home. We do not post set prices. After a free consultation we give you an itemized written quote so you can see each cost.
Do I need a permit to remodel a kitchen in New Hampshire?
Permit rules are set town by town. Portsmouth, for example, lists kitchen and bathroom renovation as work that needs a building permit, while Stratham says direct replacement of cabinets and countertops does not. Check your town's building office or ask us. If your project needs a permit, we or one of our subcontractors can pull it. That includes electrical and plumbing permits when we coordinate those trades.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
It depends on the scope. A refresh that keeps your layout generally runs shorter than a full remodel that reworks it. Cabinet, appliance and countertop lead times can stretch a project more than the construction does. We go over the schedule with you when we give your written quote.
Should I replace my cabinets or do a full kitchen remodel?
If the layout works and the problem is wear, storage or looks, replacing cabinets, counters and lighting may be enough. If the real problem is how you move through the room, moving the sink or range means plumbing, gas or electrical work and sometimes a wall, which makes it a full remodel.
How do I live without a kitchen during a remodel?
Plan a temporary setup with a microwave, a small refrigerator and a place to wash dishes, and think about how dust will be kept out of the rest of the house. Our process includes a clean site each day and updates as the job moves along.
Do you do the electrical and plumbing work?
We do not do electrical or plumbing work ourselves. We do carpentry and general contracting, and we can coordinate licensed electricians and plumbers for your kitchen project. We or our subcontractors can pull the electrical and plumbing permits when we coordinate those trades.
How do I choose a kitchen remodeler in southern NH?
Look at the work they will actually do, not at a ranking. Ask for proof of insurance, an itemized written quote, references you can call, who pulls the permit, and how changes to the plan are priced. We are fully insured, we give itemized written quotes, and we or our subcontractors pull the permit when your project needs one.
Do you remodel kitchens in older homes?
Yes. We work on older homes. Tell us the age of your house when you call or at the consultation.
What will you find in an older home?
Framing that is not square, and walls that do not match what you expected. If your home was built before 1978, older paint can contain lead. We do not handle lead paint on older homes. We test for it, and if it turns up we work with regulated contractors as needed.
Which towns do you serve?
Across southern NH, including Exeter, Bedford, Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth, Stratham, Candia, Auburn, Epping and nearby towns. If your town is not listed, call us.
Get a free estimate
Call (603) 665-0447 or send the estimate form. The consultation is free, the quote is itemized and in writing, and we are fully insured. Related: bathroom remodeling and basement finishing.