What to know before you start
A kitchen remodel touches more trades than almost any other room. Cabinets, counters, plumbing, wiring, venting, flooring and drywall all have to land in the right order, and a missed detail in one can stall the rest.
DougCO Builds starts with a single visit. Our estimator measures the room, photographs the walls, floor and appliances, and draws a plan if the layout is changing. The True Bid lists every line, from demolition to the last outlet cover, so each contractor prices the same kitchen.
What the job includes
- Demolition and haul-off of old cabinets, counters and flooring
- New cabinets, or refacing and painting the existing boxes
- Countertops, backsplash and sink cutouts
- Plumbing for the sink, dishwasher, ice maker and any pot filler
- New circuits and outlets for appliances and countertops
- A range hood ducted to the outside
- Recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting
- Flooring, drywall repair, trim and paint
What we scope
Cosmetic refresh
New counters, backsplash, hardware, paint and lighting while the cabinets and layout stay put.
Full remodel in place
New cabinets, counters and appliances in the same footprint, with the sink and range staying roughly where they are.
Layout change
Moving the sink, range or island, or rearranging the work areas. This is where a drawn plan matters most.
Opening a wall
Removing or widening a wall between the kitchen and the living area. A load-bearing wall needs a beam and usually an engineer.
Island addition
Adding an island or peninsula with seating, storage, power and sometimes a second sink.
What drives the cost
Every project is different, so your True Bid prices yours line by line after the site visit. These are the things that move the price most.
- Cabinets
- Stock, semi-custom and custom cabinets vary widely in price, and cabinets are often the biggest line in the budget.
- Countertop material
- Laminate, butcher block, quartz and natural stone each price differently, and so do edge profiles and the number of cutouts.
- Moving plumbing and gas
- Keeping the sink and range where they are saves money. Moving them means opening floors and walls.
- Electrical upgrades
- New appliance circuits, more countertop outlets and added lighting can push an older panel past what it can carry.
- Structural work
- Taking out a load-bearing wall adds a beam, engineering, temporary supports and inspections.
- Appliances and venting
- Pro-style ranges and large hoods may need a bigger gas line, a dedicated circuit and makeup air.
Permits and HOAs in Douglas County
Swapping cabinets and counters in the same spot often doesn't need a building permit. New circuits, moved plumbing, gas line work and wall removal usually do. In Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Pines and Larkspur, permits come from the town. In Highlands Ranch and other unincorporated areas, they come from Douglas County's Building Division. Rules vary, so check with your building department.
Colorado licenses electricians and plumbers, and that part of the job should go to licensed trades. If your home was built before 1978, painted surfaces may contain lead, and the EPA requires lead-safe certified contractors for renovation work that disturbs it. We note permits and any lead concerns in the scope before anyone bids.
Built for Douglas County
Altitude affects a kitchen in ways people miss. Gas ranges and cooktops may need a high-altitude adjustment, so ask the installer to check the manufacturer's instructions before the first meal. Hood size matters in tighter, newer homes too. A large hood with no source of makeup air can pull exhaust back down a water heater or fireplace flue.
The dry Front Range air is hard on wood. Solid wood doors, butcher block and hardwood floors can shrink in winter and open small gaps. Letting materials sit in the house before installation, and sealing butcher block well, both help. Strong sun through a south or west window can also fade some cabinet finishes and countertop colors over time.
How DougCO Builds runs your project
- Tell us about itSend the basics through the project form. We call to set up a site visit.
- One site visitOur estimator measures, photographs what's there and talks through what you want.
- Your True BidYou get a written, line-by-line scope and a budget before any contractor sees the job.
- Contractors bid on the same scopeVetted local contractors bid without your contact details. You compare the bids side by side.
- We manage it with youWe check insurance and licensing before work starts, then walk the job at milestones and at the finish.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Are the cabinets stock, semi-custom or custom, and who builds them?
- Who templates and installs the countertops, and what happens if a slab cracks?
- Will my electrical panel handle the new appliances and circuits?
- Where will the range hood vent, and does it need makeup air?
- Where will we cook and wash dishes while the kitchen is torn out?
In Castle Rock?
Read our Castle Rock kitchen remodeling guide for the Town's permit rules and the stages of a kitchen remodel.
Kitchen Remodeling questions
Do I need a permit to remodel my kitchen in Douglas County?
It depends on the work. Cabinet and counter swaps in the same spot often don't need one. New circuits, moved plumbing or gas, and wall removal usually do. The town issues permits in Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Pines and Larkspur, and Douglas County handles Highlands Ranch and unincorporated areas.
Can I keep my cabinets and just replace the counters?
Often, yes, if the boxes are solid, level and in good shape. Our estimator checks them during the visit. Refacing or painting the doors can make old cabinets look new for less than replacing them.
Can I take out the wall between my kitchen and living room?
Many walls can come out, but a load-bearing wall needs a beam sized by an engineer and a permit. Walls can also hide plumbing, ducts and wiring that have to be rerouted. Our estimator looks for those signs and notes them in the scope, so every contractor bids on the same assumptions.
How long will I be without a kitchen?
It depends on the scope, cabinet lead times, countertop templating and inspections. Ask each contractor for a written schedule. Many families set up a temporary kitchen with a microwave, a coffee maker and a folding table.
