Kitchen remodeling in Harford County

Before 1980 the county built 39%⁴ of the homes standing today, many of them in the two decades when 28%⁴ went up. Kitchens from those years were often separate rooms; if you want to open one to the dining room, ask early whether that wall carries load.

The EPA lists vinyl floor tile, vinyl sheet backing and flooring adhesives among products that may contain asbestos, which is released mainly when the material is disturbed.¹³ The EPA advises having an accredited asbestos professional inspect before a remodel that could disturb suspect materials, and not sanding or power-stripping suspect flooring yourself.¹⁴ For homes built before 1978, the EPA advises hiring contractors who use only lead-safe certified renovators.¹⁵

Harford County's water and sewer division serves more than 130,000 county residents, but it does not serve properties in the county's three incorporated municipalities, Bel Air, Aberdeen and Havre de Grace, and sends those owners to the town's own public works department.¹⁶ If the house runs on a private well, tell the company, since the well's equipment is part of the plumbing system it will be tying into.

The 2021 International Residential Code says a kitchen range exhaust must discharge outdoors through its own airtight duct with a backdraft damper, never into an attic, crawl space or other indoor area; listed ductless hoods are the exception.¹⁷ The EPA says a stove hood with a fan vented to the outdoors greatly reduces exposure to pollutants during cooking, and advises installing and using exhaust fans over gas stoves and ranges.¹⁸

Where a home has a fuel-burning appliance that is neither direct-vent nor mechanically vented, the 2021 International Residential Code requires makeup air for any exhaust system able to move more than 400 cubic feet per minute.¹⁹ In a Harford house with an oil furnace or a propane water heater, a large hood can trigger that rule, so ask about makeup air before choosing a high-powered fan.

The National Institute on Aging suggests keeping frequently used pots, pans and utensils where they are easy to reach, and preparing food while seated to prevent fatigue or loss of balance.²⁰ More than one in four adults 65 and older fall each year.²¹

State help is available to Harford County owners. Maryland's Accessible Homes for Seniors program serves owner-occupants with at least one resident 55 or older whose household income is no more than 80% of the statewide or Washington, DC metro median.²² The program makes zero-interest loans deferred for 30 years, or grants of up to $25,000 for applicants who don't qualify for a loan, for changes such as widening doorways, accessible showers, ramps, grab bars and lever handles; applications are available from local county housing offices and Maryland Access Point agencies.²² NAHB's Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) credential trains remodelers in home modifications for aging in place.²³

You call the number on this page. The call is recorded, and it goes to one independent company that handles kitchen remodels in the Harford County area. You talk with them directly about your project, timing and price.

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Before you sign anything, look the company up yourself. Maryland's Home Improvement Commission licenses home improvement contractors and salespersons, and its License Search shows whether a license is current.²⁴ Check a Maryland license