Maybe you’ve just bought a home that you intend to rent out, or maybe you’re a seasoned veteran of the short-term rental game. Either way, eventually you’ll likely find yourself needing to renovate a kitchen. When you do, we can help you out with all of the design elements you’ll need to consider so that your rental property is ready to endure a constant parade of tenants and visitors.
The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home. Your renters are sure to spend ample time cooking and entertaining there, so you’ll want to select features that will last. By choosing high quality wood and hardware, you’ll be less likely to spend time and money on future repairs.
Florkowskys’ Woodworking and Cabinets has decades of experience, so we know how to create cabinets that withstand moving days, house warming parties, and of course, the test of time.
Choose a durable wood
Rental properties suffer through a lot of wear and tear. Even the most responsible renters are bound to leave a few scuffs and scratches. Because of the high turnover in rental properties, these units also endure a lot more moving activity. It’s easy for accidents to happen.
Avoid using softwoods that can be easily damaged in your rental properties. Common softwood varieties include evergreens like pine, cedar, and sprucewood. Instead, look for cabinets made of hardwood. Hickory is generally considered to be the hardest wood, but other strong and reliable options are oak, maple, walnut, and cherry.
Choose basic layouts
When you’re designing cabinets for your own home, it’s exciting to get creative. If you love wine, you can create cabinets designed to hold bottles. If you’re an avid home cook, you may want designated spice drawers with sorted slots. These can add a personalized touch that is suited to your interests and needs.
But for rental properties, you should go for standard cabinet layouts with very few extras. It might be nice to add a special touch like designated cutlery drawers (which can be enjoyed by everyone) but other add-ons are more likely to be used improperly and potentially even broken. Save the extras for your own house.
And classic colour
Kitchens, more than any other room in a home or apartment, tend to fall prey to quickly-changing trends. While choosing a trendy paint colour or finish (sage green? grey?) may attract renters initially, it runs the risk of going out of style and turning them away in the long run.
Opting for classic finishes and colours will ensure your rental cabinets maintain a timeless, neutral appeal. If, on the other hand, you enjoy jumping on new trends, we can help you select cabinetry that’s ideal for frequent painting. Maple, alder, and oak all have fine grains that allow paint to go on smoothly and can be sanded down with ease.
Don’t forget about hardware
Quality wood won’t overcome cheap hardware. It can cause shelves and drawers to become loose, which is more likely to lead to damage and breakage. It’s also a good idea to choose hardware that won’t allow renters to aggressively slam cabinets.
At Florkowskys’ we carry Blum hardware, which is a superior brand that allows cabinets to swing shut smoothly and drawers to slide close easily. An added bonus is that Blum hardware is exceptionally quiet, so you’ll receive fewer noise complaints from neighbours.
When it comes to picking the perfect kitchen cabinets for your rental property, it’s important to balance affordability with quality. Investing in durable kitchen cabinetry can ultimately save you time and money because it’ll require fewer repairs and replacements. It will also ensure that your renters love their temporary home.
Trust Florkowskys’ to deliver the highest quality craftsmanship for all of your rental cabinetry, and be confident that it will stand the test of time.
