Remodeling For Kitchen Safety

by AJ Fanter
Face Your Kitchen Columnist

These days kitchens are used for more than just entertaining and cooking. In fact, many kitchens are used for doing homework, paying the family bills, dining, and more. That's why a great kitchen remodeling project shouldn't only be about creating a more aesthetically pleasing and useful space, which makes cooking, entertainment, and food preparation easier. Your remodeling project should also enhance your and your family's safety.

Here are some guidelines from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) to ensure that your kitchen remodeling project will resulting in a space as safe to use as it is beautiful.

Remodeling for Light

While proper lighting ensures a beautiful kitchen, it is also essentials for safe cooking. No matter how you intend to use your kitchen after completing your remodeling project, the NKBA points out you need to have good task lighting that is focused on the various work surfaces throughout your kitchen. After your remodeling is complete you should have no glare or shadows on any of your kitchen's surfaces.

Remodeling For a Sure Step

When planning your kitchen remodeling project you'll want to choose a flooring surface that is slip-resistant to ensure that no one walking with a pot of scalding hot water or a sharp blade slips, falls and injures themselves. The NKBA recommends materials such as soft-glazed ceramic tile, textured vinyl and matte-finished laminate.

Cool Kitchen Remodeling

Along with safe flooring and good lighting "heat control" is important in the kitchen. In addition to incorporating a fire extinguisher into your kitchen remodeling project, the NKBA suggests that homeowners incorporate anti-scald devices and other water temperature control mechanisms, not to mention safe cooktops that feature controls along the side or front.  

Keeping safety in mind is an important part of any kitchen remodeling project.

Source

• National Kitchen and Bath Association, Steps to a Safe Kitchen

About the Author
AJ Fanter is a freelance writer based in Reno, Nevada.