Kitchen Remodeling in Atlanta, GA

A kitchen remodeling project in Atlanta goes more smoothly when it starts with a tape measure rather than a showroom visit. Countertop templating, appliance clearances and lighting locations all depend on exact dimensions, and a proposal drawn from the real room is easier to trust than one based on typical sizes.

We also write down the details you will notice every day once the work is finished: how the floor meets the next room, how the backsplash is trimmed out, and where the sink and faucet sit.

Start with three lists: remove, keep and add

Before you approve anything, you should be able to see what is coming out, what is staying and what is new. Maybe the cabinets go but the hardwood floor stays, or the layout stays and only the counters, sink and backsplash change. Each choice moves the line where demolition stops.

The list of additions should include repairs and transitions, not just products. A patched wall behind the range or a new reducer at the dining room doorway is part of the job, and a single lump-sum line hides it. If the project grows past the kitchen, our remodeling services in Atlanta cover other rooms as well.

Appliance clearances and the range hood

Appliance installation guides spell out cutout sizes, side clearances and, for a hood, a mounting height above the cooktop. Those numbers set cabinet widths and the height of the cabinet over the range, so we plan from the specification sheets for the exact models you choose.

The hood also needs a duct route. A ducted hood vents outdoors through a wall or the roof, which can mean running duct through a cabinet or the space between joists, while a recirculating hood filters the air and returns it to the room. Deciding which one you want before cabinets are ordered avoids cutting into new boxes later.

Templating countertops once the cabinets are set

A fabricator templates stone or quartz only after the base cabinets are leveled and fastened, because the slab is cut to fit the boxes and walls as built. That visit is when seam locations get agreed and overhangs measured, and the fabricator needs the exact sink and cooktop models in hand.

Overhangs deserve a moment of thought. Seating at an island or peninsula needs knee room, and a long overhang may need hidden steel supports or corbels, depending on the material and its thickness. Once the counters are in, the backsplash, fixtures and trim follow; then every door and drawer is opened and adjusted so the gaps line up.

Hardware, cabinet boxes and finishes

Cabinet construction affects both price and how the kitchen wears. Framed cabinets have a face frame around each opening, while frameless boxes give slightly wider access to drawers and shelves. Plywood boxes hold screws well and cope with an occasional drip under the sink better than particleboard, although good particleboard boxes serve many kitchens without trouble.

Painted doors give a clean, even color but can show hairline lines at the joints as wood moves with the seasons, while stained wood hides small dings more easily. Choose pulls and knobs in hand: try them with wet fingers and check that a pull on a corner drawer does not hit its neighbor.

Lighting and switch locations

Light fixture locations are fixed before drywall is patched. A balanced kitchen usually combines general ceiling light, task light under the wall cabinets and a focused fixture over the sink or island. Each layer is more useful on its own switch, and dimmers let the same room work for cooking and for a quiet evening.

Think about how you enter the room. Switches belong at the entrances you actually use, and this plan is also where the electrician lays out countertop outlets so they fall sensibly within the backsplash.

Plumbing permits and inspections in Atlanta

The city’s Office of Buildings requires a permit to install, repair or replace plumbing. Applications go through the Accela Citizen website, and the city notes that homeowners may apply for their own permit. A kitchen that relocates a sink or adds a pot filler involves exactly that kind of plumbing work.

Atlanta’s inspection list for trade work includes an underground inspection, and single-family inspections may be done in person, by video or by approved third-party inspectors. Ask early which route your project will use so the schedule leaves room for it.

Permit, layout and hood questions from Atlanta homeowners

Can Atlanta homeowners apply for their own plumbing permit?

Yes. The city’s ATL311 guidance on plumbing permits says homeowners may apply for their own, through the Accela Citizen website. That does not change the work itself: a permit is required to install, repair or replace plumbing, and inspections still apply. If a contractor is doing the plumbing, settle in writing who applies and who schedules the inspections.

How do I decide what to keep and what to replace in my kitchen?

Start with what already works. Cabinets that are sound and well arranged may only need new doors, paint or counters, while a layout that fights you every day usually means replacing the boxes. Flooring that runs into other rooms is often worth keeping if it can be protected. Write the keep list down so demolition stops where you expect.

How high should a range hood be mounted above the cooktop?

Follow the hood manufacturer’s installation instructions, which give a minimum and often a maximum height above the cooking surface, sometimes different for gas and electric ranges. Mounted too low, the hood gets in the way; mounted too high, it captures less smoke and steam. That height then sets the size of the cabinet above it.

Talk with us about your Atlanta kitchen

Give us a call at 404-409-4448. Tell us what you would change, and we can schedule a visit to measure, note the existing conditions and prepare a written estimate you can compare line by line.