February 2011
Homeowners have many important questions about their Dining Room Makeover Project. How much will it cost? How long will it take? What problem areas do I need to watch out for? Can I recover my Dining Room Makeover investment when I sell? Can I do some of the work myself? What can I do to make sure that the work is done right?
Costs, materials and best practices for the example Dining Room Makeover project will help you answer these questions. Use this information to develop a budget, bid requirements, hiring contracts and a project plan.
Use the following information to understand your options, make good decisions and get quality work at a fair price.
The approximate costs and value of a typical Dining Room Makeover project are summarized below. Use higher estimates for larger metropolitan areas and the lower estimates where home prices are below the national average. Adjust costs for substitutions or refinements in the last section. For size differences of up to 25%, scale total costs in direct proportion to the size of your project. Use the adjusted costs as a basis for setting a material budget and for comparing contractor bids (if you choose to have a professional perform the work).
| Project description | Update dining room. Update molding, flooring, switchplates, window treatments and decorative hardware.Use above average grade of materials, fabrication and installation quality. |
| Project size | 200 square feet of renovation |
| Material and labor cost | $4,806 - $5,607 |
| Material cost | $2,921 - $3,407 |
| Do-it-yourself assessment | The typical Dining Room Makeover project can be completed by a moderately skilled do-it-yourselfer; as with any project, high quality Dining Room Makeover requires attention to detail and careful planning. |
| First year Return on Investment - ROI | Returns vary widely and are affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Dining Room Makeover project in an appropriate neighborhood can return as much as 77% - 91% of its initial cost. |
| Long term Return on Investment - ROI | Actual returns vary widely and are affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A good quality Dining Room Makeover project in the right neighborhoods can return 61% - 72% of its initial cost. |
| Green rating | Dining Room Makeover projects can incorporate renewable or sustainable resources and environmentally friendly materials. |
Review these tips, design suggestions, options and lessons learned before finalizing your Dining Room Makeover project plan.
The following list includes major work tasks commonly performed during Dining Room Makeover. Use this list to understand the timing and sequence of different steps in the Dining Room Makeover project. Click any Task name for a complete written specifications, FAQs and quality checklist for the task - this essential information will help you control Dining Room Makeover project cost and quality.
| Task | Service Provider | Duration | Do-it-yourself difficulty | Target cost |
| Develop Dining Room Decorating Ideas | Interior Designer | 3 to 5 d | Level 3 - Complex, Difficult | $285 - $476 |
| Prepare Dining Room Design | Interior Designer | 3 to 7 d | Level 3 - Complex, Difficult | $285 - $476 |
| Design Dining Room Lighting | Lighting Designer | 2 to 3 d | Level 3 - Complex, Difficult | $190 - $317 |
| Select Dining Room Furniture | Interior Designer | 3 to 5 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $285 - $476 |
| Remove Paint | Painting Contractor | 1 d | Level 1 - Basic | $7.00 - $11.69 per linear foot |
| Remove Wallpaper | Demolition Laborer | 1 d | Level 1 - Basic | $2.50 - $4.18 per square foot |
| Install Recessed Lighting | Electrician | 1 to 3 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $163 - $285 |
| Repair Wall | Drywall and Plaster Contractor | 1 to 3 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $34 - $60 |
| Install Baseboard | Finish Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $3.35 - $5.82 per linear foot |
| Hang Interior Door | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | Level 3 - Complex, Difficult | $230 - $407 per door |
| Install Window Blinds | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | Level 1 - Basic | $83 - $149 |
| Install Molding | Finish Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $2.75 - $4.77 per linear foot |
| Paint Rooms | Painting Contractor | 1 to 3 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $0.66 - $1.13 per square foot |
| Paint Door | Painting Contractor | 1 to 3 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $99 - $166 |
| Install Maple Flooring | Flooring Contractor | 1 to 2 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $8.70 - $15.65 per square foot |
| Install Wall Sconce | Electrician | 1 to 2 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $180 - $314 per fixture |
| Install Light Switch | Electrician | 1 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $98 - $165 |