Kitchen Remodeling in Dunwoody, GA

Before demolition starts on a kitchen remodeling project in Dunwoody, we plan how the crew and materials will get in and out and how the rest of the house will be protected. With access settled, a measured plan follows, with close attention to appliance clearances, lighting locations and floor transitions so the proposal reflects your home instead of assumptions.

Access, protection and delivery paths

A kitchen remodel moves a lot of material through a lived-in house: old cabinets out, new cabinets, appliances and stone slabs in. We plan the shortest route from the driveway to the kitchen, protect floors along it with heavy paper or boards, and cover nearby doorways with plastic sheeting to contain dust.

Measure the doors and turns along that route. A large refrigerator or a long countertop piece may need a door taken off its hinges or a different entry. Return-air vents near the work area are usually covered as well, so dust is not pulled into the rest of the house.

Appliance clearances, from refrigerator doors to dishwasher racks

Clearances go beyond whether an appliance fits its opening. A refrigerator needs room for its doors to swing wide enough to pull out the drawers, a dishwasher needs clear floor space when its door is down, and a wall oven door should not block the main walkway.

We work from each manufacturer’s installation guide, which lists the cutout size, side and top clearances and where the electrical and water connections should be. Having model numbers before cabinets are ordered prevents openings that have to be cut down or filled in later.

Planning light fixtures and switches

Lighting locations are part of the early plan because they affect drywall and ceiling work. Recessed fixtures should light the counters, not just the floor in the middle of the room. Under-cabinet lights fill in the shadows that ceiling lights cast, and a pendant over the sink or island adds focused light.

Plan the controls with the same care. Switches go at the entrances you use, and separate switches for each layer let you light only what you need. If a switch or outlet has to move, that is decided now, while the wall can still be opened easily.

Where the kitchen floor meets the hall

Floor transitions are easy to overlook until the new floor is down. If tile replaces vinyl, the kitchen may end up higher than the hallway, and if the old floor stays under new cabinets, its condition matters. We measure the floor level at each adjoining room and plan the transition piece in advance.

Backsplash layout, finished counter heights and appliance openings are tied together too. The counter height sets where the backsplash starts, and appliance widths determine where it shows. Both floor and backsplash tile are discussed on our Dunwoody tile installation page.

Cabinet construction, countertops and hardware

Cabinets, countertops and hardware should each be named in the scope by model and finish, so what arrives is what you picked.

Some practical trade-offs: a frameless cabinet gives slightly more interior space, while a framed cabinet offers a traditional look and a sturdy front edge. Quartz resists stains without sealing, and natural stone may need periodic sealing. Pulls should be long enough to grab easily but not so long that they overwhelm a small drawer.

Trade permits and inspections in Dunwoody

The city covers a stand-alone plumbing repair with a single trade component permit, which can be issued over the counter, and work may not begin until the city issues it. If your kitchen sits on a slab and a drain is moving, note that the city code calls for an underground plumbing inspection after the trench is dug and the pipe is laid, before any backfill goes in.

According to the city’s permits and inspections FAQ, permits are issued to owners only if they hold a contractor license or live in the home being altered, and photos are not accepted in place of inspections.

Allowances, change orders and responsibilities

Your proposal should make clear which work is fully priced, which items are covered by allowances, what you are supplying yourself and what would take a change order. It should also say who moves contents, receives material deliveries, handles disposal and does final touch-ups, which matters in a kitchen where several trades meet.

Use the site visit to sort what has to happen now and what can wait. Projects in other rooms are covered by our remodeling services in Dunwoody.

Permit timing, deliveries and dust: common questions

Can plumbing work start while a Dunwoody permit is still pending?

No. The city says work may not begin until it issues the permit. For a stand-alone plumbing repair, that is a single trade component permit, which can be issued over the counter. If your kitchen work needs a permit, build that step into the schedule so the rest of the job is not left waiting.

Will a new refrigerator fit through my doorways?

Check before you buy. Measure the narrowest doorway, hallway and turn on the route from the entry to the kitchen, and compare it with the refrigerator’s depth without doors and handles, which the manufacturer lists. Many refrigerators can pass through with their doors removed, and an entry door can come off its hinges if needed.

How is dust kept out of the rest of the house during a remodel?

Plastic sheeting with zippered entries goes over doorways, floors along the work path are covered, and nearby return-air vents are sealed so the HVAC system does not spread dust. Cutting is done outside or with dust collection when possible. Some dust still escapes, so moving valuables and closing doors to nearby rooms helps.

Plan access and protection with us

If you are considering a new kitchen, call 404-409-4448. We can come out to measure, look at access and existing conditions, and then prepare a written estimate for the work your kitchen needs.