Custom Renovation for Central Alabama Homes

The kitchen is the most used room in your home and the highest-return remodeling investment you can make. A well-executed kitchen remodel transforms how you cook, how you entertain, and how your home functions every day. Recon Reconstruction of Alabama manages full kitchen remodels throughout Clanton and Central Alabama — one licensed design-build team handling countertops, flooring, tile, lighting, layout redesign, and complete gut remodels from start to finish with no handoffs and no gaps in accountability.

Our Kitchen Remodeling Services

Kitchen Remodeling
Services We Provide

Every kitchen remodeling project is different. Some homeowners need a full gut — new layout, new everything from the studs out. Others need targeted improvements that transform the space without a complete rebuild. We manage both and everything in between. Here is the full scope of what we provide.

Countertop Installation and Replacement

New countertop installation is one of the most impactful single changes in a kitchen remodel. We install granite, quartz, and other durable surface materials throughout Clanton and Chilton County -- with proper measuring, templating, and installation that ensures a precise fit and long-term performance. We also repair chipped, cracked, and worn existing countertop surfaces and perform full countertop replacements where the existing material has reached the end of its service life.

Kitchen Flooring Installation

Kitchen flooring takes more daily abuse than almost any other surface in the home. Spills, dropped items, heavy foot traffic, and repeated cleaning cycles demand a material that holds up over years of use. We install tile, hardwood, luxury vinyl plank, and laminate flooring in kitchens throughout Clanton and Central Alabama -- with proper subfloor preparation and leveling that determines how flooring performs and how long it lasts. We also repair water-damaged and structurally compromised kitchen flooring systems including subfloor replacement where saturation has reached the structural layer beneath.

Tile Work — Backsplash, Floor Tile and Custom Tile

Tile is both a functional and design element in kitchen remodeling. A properly installed tile backsplash protects wall surfaces and defines the aesthetic of the entire kitchen. Floor tile provides durable, easy-clean surfaces under demanding use conditions. We install tile with proper layout planning, consistent grout spacing, and the waterproofing detail work that determines long-term performance. Our tile work covers backsplash installation, floor tile, custom tile patterns, and tile replacement where existing surfaces are damaged or outdated.

Kitchen Lighting Installation

Lighting transforms how a kitchen functions and how it feels. Inadequate overhead lighting creates shadows on work surfaces. Missing under-cabinet lighting makes detailed food preparation difficult. A kitchen without pendant lighting over an island feels unfinished regardless of how well everything else was executed. We install recessed lighting, pendant lighting, under-cabinet lighting, and complete kitchen lighting systems throughout Clanton and Central Alabama -- coordinating with licensed electricians as required for new circuit work.

Open Concept Kitchen Remodeling

Removing the wall between a kitchen and a living or dining area is one of the most transformative changes possible in a home remodel. It changes how light moves through the space, how people interact while cooking, and how the home feels on a daily basis. It also requires a licensed general contractor with structural knowledge -- load-bearing walls require proper beam installation and structural engineering coordination before they come down. We manage open concept kitchen remodels throughout Clanton and Chilton County from structural assessment through complete finish work.

Kitchen Layout Redesign

An outdated kitchen layout is often the source of daily frustration -- poor workflow between the sink, stove, and refrigerator, insufficient prep space, no island where one is needed, or a peninsula configuration that blocks natural movement through the space. We redesign kitchen layouts to improve workflow, storage, and usability within your existing footprint or as part of a larger renovation scope. Layout changes that involve plumbing rough-in relocation are fully coordinated as part of our project management process.

Kitchen Fixture and Plumbing Connection Repair

Kitchen remodeling frequently involves repair or replacement of sink fixtures, faucets, water supply connections, and drain systems. We repair and replace kitchen plumbing fixtures as part of the broader remodel scope -- addressing water supply connections, sink installations, and the water damage that commonly results from aging or failed kitchen plumbing components.

Full Kitchen Gut and Remodel

A complete kitchen gut removes everything down to the studs and subfloor -- cabinets, countertops, flooring, drywall, plumbing fixtures, and lighting -- and rebuilds the kitchen from scratch. This approach is right for kitchens where the layout needs fundamental redesign, where the existing components are at or past their service life, or where water damage or structural issues require rebuilding at the substrate level. We manage full kitchen gut remodels throughout Clanton and Chilton County from the initial structural assessment through the final finish installation.

Cabinet Work Our Sister Company McRae Cabinet and Design

Cabinet design, fabrication, and installation for kitchen remodeling projects is handled by McRae Cabinet and Design, our sister company operating out of Clanton.

McRae Cabinet and Design specializes entirely in cabinetry — custom kitchen cabinet construction, kitchen cabinet design and layout planning, cabinet installation, cabinet refacing, and cabinet refinishing and painting. Their open-to-the-public showroom in Clanton allows homeowners to review materials, door styles, hardware options, and finish selections before committing to a design direction.

When a Recon Reconstruction kitchen remodel includes cabinet work, we coordinate directly with McRae Cabinet and Design as part of the integrated project scope. You work with one primary point of contact — Recon Reconstruction — while the cabinet work is handled by specialists who do nothing else. The scheduling, sequencing, and quality standard are managed as a single project with one timeline and one accountability chain.

This arrangement means you get specialist-level cabinetry quality within a seamlessly coordinated full kitchen remodel. No scheduling conflicts between your cabinet installer and your tile contractor. No waiting on cabinets to arrive before countertop templating can proceed. We manage the full sequence.

The Design-Build Advantage One Team Handles Everything

Most kitchen remodeling problems do not come from bad materials or unskilled labor. They come from coordination failures — the tile contractor who does not know what the cabinet installer needs to leave clearance for. The countertop fabricator who templates before the plumbing rough-in is finalized. The flooring installer who shows up before the cabinets are set.

Recon Reconstruction manages every trade in the correct sequence. Cabinet installation before countertop templating. Plumbing rough-in before tile installation. Flooring after cabinets are set and before base trim is installed. Lighting rough-in before drywall closes. Every step happens in the right order because one team is responsible for the full sequence.

When something changes mid-project — and something always does in kitchen remodeling — there is one person to call. One person who knows the full project context, can assess the impact of the change on every downstream trade, and can resolve it without a chain of phone calls between contractors who only know their own scope.

Pre-Construction Planning Why We Do It Before Demolition Begins

The decisions that most affect a kitchen remodel’s timeline and budget are made before demolition starts. Or they should be.

Countertop material selection affects fabrication lead time — granite and quartz require templating after cabinet installation and then a fabrication lead time of one to three weeks. If you have not made that selection before demolition starts, your project stops and waits after cabinets are set. Tile selection affects what underlayment and substrate preparation is required. Cabinet delivery lead times from McRae Cabinet and Design need to be factored into the demolition start date. Lighting and plumbing changes need to be permitted before any electrical or plumbing rough-in work begins.

Recon Reconstruction works through every one of these decisions in the pre-construction phase. Every material is selected and either on-site or scheduled for delivery before the first wall comes down. Every permit is pulled before work begins. Every trade is scheduled in the correct sequence before demolition starts.

That process is the difference between a kitchen remodel that finishes on schedule and one that drags for months waiting on decisions that should have been made before the project started.

Countertop Materials for Clanton Kitchen What We Install and Why

Countertop selection is one of the highest-impact material decisions in a kitchen remodel. Here is how we approach it.

Granite is a natural stone material that offers heat resistance, scratch resistance when properly sealed, and a unique aesthetic that no two slabs replicate exactly. It requires periodic resealing to maintain its stain resistance and is among the more premium countertop options in terms of material cost. For homeowners who want natural stone character and are willing to maintain it, granite is an excellent long-term choice.

Quartz is an engineered stone product — typically 90 to 95 percent ground quartz bound with polymer resins — that offers a consistent appearance, does not require sealing, and provides excellent resistance to staining and everyday wear. It is available in a wide range of colors and patterns including options that closely approximate natural stone. For homeowners who want the look of stone with lower maintenance requirements, quartz is typically the stronger practical choice.

Butcher block and other surfaces have specific applications and performance profiles that we discuss when relevant to the project. Material selection is always a conversation based on your specific usage patterns, aesthetic preferences, and budget — not a default recommendation.

We do not push a single countertop material on every project. We discuss the honest performance profile of each option relative to how you use your kitchen and let you make the decision with complete information.

Open Concept Kitchen Remodeling in Clanton

The open concept kitchen conversion is one of the most requested remodeling projects we manage in Clanton and Chilton County. Here is what homeowners need to know before starting.

Not every wall can come down. Load-bearing walls require structural assessment before removal. A load-bearing wall that is removed without proper beam installation and structural support transfers creates a serious structural safety issue. We assess every wall proposed for removal and provide a clear answer on whether it is load-bearing before any demo plans are finalized.

Load-bearing walls can come down — with the right approach. When a load-bearing wall needs to be removed, the load it was carrying needs to be transferred to a beam above and posts or columns at either end. That beam needs to be sized correctly for the span and load. We coordinate structural engineering for open concept conversions where beam sizing requires engineering sign-off, which is required by Chilton County building code for permitted structural work.

The finish work is where the transformation happens. Once the structural work is complete and inspected, the real remodel begins — new flooring that runs continuously through the connected spaces, updated lighting for the combined area, a kitchen design that works with the new open plan, and finish work that makes the renovation look intentional rather than like a wall used to be there.

We manage open concept kitchen remodels from the initial structural assessment through complete finish work throughout Clanton and Central Alabama.

Kitchen Remodeling Timeline What to Expect

Every kitchen remodel is different and timeline reflects scope. Here is a realistic breakdown of what to expect at different project scales.

Cosmetic refresh — two to four weeks. New countertops, new flooring, new fixtures, and hardware updates in an existing layout with no structural changes. This scope assumes materials are selected and available at project start.

Mid-range remodel — five to eight weeks. New countertops, flooring, tile backsplash, lighting updates, and cabinet refacing or new cabinet installation in an existing layout. Cabinet lead time from McRae Cabinet and Design is the primary schedule variable at this scope.

Full kitchen gut with layout changes — eight to twelve weeks. Complete demolition, plumbing rough-in relocation, electrical rough-in updates, new cabinets, countertops, flooring, tile, and lighting. Permit approval, cabinet fabrication lead time, and countertop fabrication after cabinet installation are the primary schedule variables.

Open concept gut remodel — ten to fourteen weeks. Full kitchen gut scope plus structural assessment, beam installation, structural inspection, and the additional finish work required to integrate the connected spaces.

The single most effective thing a homeowner can do to keep a kitchen remodel on schedule is complete all material selections before demolition begins. We enforce this in our pre-construction process because projects that start without it routinely take twice as long as they should.

Kitchen Renovation ROI in Central Alabama

Kitchen remodeling consistently ranks as one of the highest-return home improvement investments in the Alabama residential market. Here is what that looks like in practical terms for Clanton area homeowners.

A mid-range kitchen remodel in the Central Alabama market typically returns 60 to 80 percent of its cost in added resale value at the time of sale. That means a $40,000 kitchen remodel produces $24,000 to $32,000 in added home value — while also delivering the daily quality-of-life improvement you experience throughout the years between the remodel and any eventual sale.

An outdated kitchen is one of the first things buyers discount in a home evaluation. Buyers cannot unsee a 1995 kitchen in an otherwise updated home. The discount they apply in their offer frequently exceeds the cost of a well-executed remodel. A renovated kitchen removes that discount and in many cases commands a premium over comparable homes with dated kitchens.

The return on a kitchen remodel is heavily dependent on execution quality. A remodel with misaligned tile, poor grouting, or cabinets that are not level and plumb does not deliver the return a properly executed one does. The contractor you choose is the most important variable in the ROI equation.

Why Clanton Homeowners Choose Recon Reconstruction for Kitchen Remodeling

Over 27 years of residential construction and remodeling experience in Clanton and Central Alabama
Owners Kyle McRae and Alex Price personally involved in every project from first consultation through final walkthrough
Design-build contractor -- one team handles the complete scope with no handoffs and no coordination gaps between trades
Sister company McRae Cabinet and Design provides specialist-level cabinetry coordinated within the full project scope
Licensed general contractor -- every phase performed by our own team, not subcontracted to unvetted crews
Pre-construction planning process that keeps projects on schedule and on budget
Locally based at 816 Center Avenue in Clanton -- accountable to this community

Frequently Asked Questions

Kitchen Remodeling
in Clanton, AL

How long does a kitchen remodel take in Clanton?

Timeline depends on scope. A cosmetic update -- countertops, flooring, and fixtures in an existing layout -- typically takes two to four weeks. A mid-range remodel with new cabinets and tile runs five to eight weeks. A full gut remodel with layout changes runs eight to twelve weeks. Open concept conversions add two to four weeks for structural work and inspection. The single biggest variable beyond scope is material lead time -- projects where all selections are made before demolition start consistently finish faster than those where decisions are made mid-construction. We build a realistic timeline at the outset of every project and hold to it.

What does a kitchen remodel cost in Clanton, AL?

Kitchen remodel cost in the Central Alabama market depends on the scope of work, the materials specified, and whether the project involves structural changes or plumbing rough-in relocation. A cosmetic refresh with new countertops and flooring runs significantly less than a full gut with new cabinets and layout changes. We provide written estimates on every project after a thorough site assessment and a detailed scope of work. Any estimate you receive without a site visit and a written scope is a rough number that will change. Call us at 205-955-0807 to schedule a free assessment and written estimate.

Do I need permits for a kitchen remodel in Clanton, AL?

It depends on the scope. Cosmetic updates -- replacing countertops, flooring, and fixtures in their existing locations -- typically do not require permits. Work that involves structural changes such as wall removal, plumbing rough-in relocation, or new electrical circuits requires permits from Chilton County. We handle all permit applications and inspections for work that requires them. Permits are pulled before work begins -- not as an afterthought when an inspection is scheduled.

Who handles cabinet installation for my kitchen remodel?

Cabinet design, fabrication, and installation is handled by McRae Cabinet and Design, our sister company based in Clanton. We coordinate the cabinet work as a fully integrated part of your kitchen remodel scope. McRae Cabinet and Design's team manages the cabinet design consultation, fabrication, and installation sequence. Recon Reconstruction manages the rest of the project -- flooring, tile, countertops, lighting, and drywall -- around the cabinet timeline. You have one primary point of contact for the full project.

Can you remove a wall to open up my kitchen layout?

Yes, but the approach depends on whether the wall is load-bearing. We assess every wall proposed for removal and provide a clear structural determination before any demo plans are finalized. Non-load-bearing walls come out as part of standard demo scope. Load-bearing walls require beam installation and structural support that we manage in coordination with a licensed structural engineer where Chilton County code requires engineering sign-off. We have managed open concept kitchen conversions throughout Clanton and Chilton County and understand the structural requirements specific to this market.

What countertop material is best for a kitchen in Alabama?

For most homeowners in the Clanton area, quartz is the stronger practical choice -- it does not require sealing, resists staining under everyday kitchen use, and is available in patterns that closely approximate natural stone. Granite is an excellent choice for homeowners who want natural stone character and are willing to reseal it periodically. The right answer depends on how you use your kitchen, your aesthetic preferences, and your budget. We discuss the honest performance profile of both options during the pre-construction planning phase and let you make the decision with complete information.

Do I need to move out during a kitchen remodel?

For most kitchen remodels you can remain in the home. Access to cooking facilities will be limited during active construction -- plan for meals that do not require the kitchen for the duration of the project. We contain the work area, keep the rest of the home accessible, and clean up at the end of each work day. For full gut remodels with extended demolition phases, some homeowners prefer to arrange temporary accommodations for the first one to two weeks of the project. We discuss this honestly during the planning phase based on your specific project scope.

Ready to Remodel Your Kitchen in Clanton or Chilton County?

Call Kyle McRae directly at 205-955-0807 to schedule a free kitchen consultation. We visit the space, understand your goals, and give you a straight assessment of what is possible, what it costs, and how long it takes.