The first question almost every homeowner asks us is some version of "what should this cost?" It's a fair question with a frustrating answer, because a kitchen remodel isn't one price — it's about eight decisions stacked on top of each other, and each one moves the number.
Cabinets are the single biggest line item, usually a third to nearly half of the total. Stock cabinets are the budget option, semi-custom is where most Charlotte homeowners land, and full custom makes sense when your layout has odd dimensions that stock sizes can't fill without filler panels everywhere.
Countertops come next. Quartz has largely taken over from granite because it doesn't need sealing and the pattern is consistent slab to slab. Butcher block is cheaper up front but wants maintenance. Whatever you choose, remember the fabricator templates after cabinets are set — that's a real gap in the schedule, not padding.
Then there's the stuff nobody photographs: rough-in plumbing, electrical updates to bring outlet spacing to current code, subfloor repair once the old flooring comes up, and drywall work after walls move. This is where cheap quotes get made up, and where change orders come from later.
Our advice after years of this: spend on layout, cabinets, and the work behind the walls. Those are expensive to change later. Backsplash tile and light fixtures are the easy things to upgrade down the road.
Want a real number for your kitchen instead of a range off the internet? Call M&E Restoration at (980) 371-3302 and we'll come measure and put a written scope in your hands for free.