1.
How long does a kitchen remodeling project
typically take from start to finish? |
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At the
risk of sounding elusive, we really must
say that “it depends.” The scope of the
kitchen
remodeling dictates how long the project
will take. For example, if you are removing
a wall or two to open up the kitchen, which
is a very common trend now, the actual construction
will obviously take a little bit longer.
But, it is important to remember that removing
or adding walls will generally require building
department permits, which will also add
to the project time.
Here’s a sample timeline, for illustration
purposes only, of a kitchen remodeling project
that does not include removing or adding
walls:
| a. |
Meet with a remodeling
consultant for a Free Design Consultation
and get proposal – 1 week. |
| b. |
Meet at our showroom,
finalize the scope of the project and
the terms of a Remodeling Agreement
– 2 to 3 weeks. |
| c. |
Select all the
materials for the project – 1 to 4 weeks. |
| d. |
Materials are
ordered and delivered – 4 to 8 weeks. |
| e. |
Demolition and
removal of old materials and appliances
– 1 week. |
| f. |
Installation
of new materials and appliances, flooring,
plumbing and electrical work, painting
– 3 to 4 weeks. |
| g. |
Finishing touches
and clean up – 1 to 2 weeks. |
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2.
What do I need to do to prepare for my kitchen
renovation? |
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You can start by getting
a good idea for the type of look and style
you want. If you don’t know yet, look at some
magazines, websites, or watch some home remodeling
shows to get some design ideas. Then, contact
us for a Free Design Consultation with
a Remodeling Consultant. You will be instructed
by your Remodeling Consultant as to what exact
steps you need to take. But, generally speaking,
before construction begins, you’ll want to
clear out the area being worked on of all
your personal belongings that can be removed.
Although, we cover the areas surrounding our
work area, you’ll want to protect your furniture
from dust with plastic and/or sheets. |
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3.
What is the typical workflow for a kitchen
renovation? |
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| 1.
Create design |
9.
Electric |
17.
Sink and faucet installation |
| 2.
Select materials |
10.
Wall preparation |
18.
Appliance installation |
| 3.
Order materials |
11.
Priming and painting |
19.
Backsplash installation |
| 4.
Deliver materials |
12.
Cabinet installation |
20.
Light fixture installation |
| 5.
Demolition |
13.
Locating appliances |
21.
Accessories installation |
| 6.
Sub floor preparation |
14.
Countertop template |
22.
Door hardware installation |
| 7.
Flooring installation |
15.
Countertop fabrication |
23.
Final coat of paint |
| 8.
Plumbing |
16.
Countertop installation |
24.
Touch up items |
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4.
Will a MyHome designer help me choose all
of the materials? |
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Since we have all the
materials you need at our showroom, yes, a
MyHome Remodeling consultant will help you
choose everything you need. |
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5.
Can I buy those products from MyHome? |
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Yes. That is a major
component of what makes us a full service
firm. The fact that we are able to design
everything for you, help you choose the materials,
and sell them to you, makes it very convenient
for clients. But, it is also important to
note, that we don’t require you to purchase
the materials from us. You may shop at other
locations. |
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6.
Do I need to have design ideas before I
start the renovation process? |
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Absolutely not; but
it helps if you do. Your Free Design Consultation
is meant to help generate ideas or work through
the ones you already have. |
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7.
What features should I plan to invest the
most in for my new kitchen? |
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From a functional standpoint,
cabinetry is probably the most expensive item
in the kitchen, mainly because of its sheer
volume. However, you can also spend a lot
of money on your countertops and flooring,
depending on the style and materials you like. |
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8.
What type of return on investment can I
expect from remodeling my kitchen if I sell
my home? |
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Realtor® Magazine reported
that for the year 2005, the national average
return on investment for kitchen
remodeling is between 84.8% and 98.5%
depending upon whether it is a major or minor
project and whether the budget is upscale
or moderate. However, in large metropolitan
areas like New York City, the return ranged
from 119.5% to 135%. So, many people will
actually make a substantial profit on the
money they invest in their kitchen. |
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9.
Is re-facing a good solution when your budget
is tight? |
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Of course, re-facing
is less expensive than replacing cabinets
- but it is usually not recommended. If you
are planning to replace doors and drawer fronts
you’ll also need to replace the front face
of the cabinet frame to make sure the doors
and visible parts of the cabinet match. Re-facing
the frame is where problems usually occur.
If the laminate shifts or peels away, an unattractive
seam shows. This is most typical complaint
among re-facing clients.
Another reason not to re-face is cost. The
most expensive part - about 70% of a cabinet’s
cost - is the door. Consider this, if you
are already paying for most of the cabinet,
why not add a little more and upgrade to completely
new cabinets?
There are many options available in cabinets
for every budget. If you are already committed
to spending time, money and effort on remodeling,
consider the value and enjoyment you’ll gain
by opting for brand new cabinets. At MyHome,
we provide re-facing service because - on
occasion - re-facing can be a logical choice.
Cabinet re-facing is extremely profitable
since very little labor is involved. It’s
good business for the re-facing company but
not often the best solution for the homeowner. |
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10.
What’s the better cabinet choice - particleboard
or plywood? |
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This is one of the
most frequently asked questions when researching
cabinets. There is a general perception that
plywood is better than particleboard - maybe
because plywood has the word “wood “in it.
Most people figure plywood is real wood while
particleboard is a cheap imitation. Surprisingly,
in many cases particleboard is a much better
option than plywood.
In order to make the best decision; let’s
define these two materials. Plywood is composed
of thin sheets of wood glued together. Particleboard
is made of tiny wood particles held together
with adhesive. Both are strong, durable and
make a good cabinet. Also, there are different
types and grades of plywood and particleboard.
High-density particleboard is stronger and
will last longer than plywood. All wood expands
and contracts because of changes in humidity.
Generally, particleboard is more resistant
to expansion and contraction. So in areas
with significant changes in humidity – like
New York - particleboard is the better option. |
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11.
Is it a good idea to purchase kitchen cabinets
at Ikea? |
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We love Ikea. The Scandinavian
design is beautiful and the prices are too
good to be true. It’s a great place to research
European design ideas. Here’s how Ikea works:
Ikea is a high volume retailer offering low
priced European-style kitchens. All Ikea products
are manufactured in Sweden and shipped to
the U.S. To keep shipping costs low, all items
are shipped and sold disassembled and the
buyer must assemble the cabinets. This works
well with tables or bookcases, but is very
problematic with kitchens.
Imagine purchasing a kitchen consisting of
10 cabinets. If you receive 10 assembled cabinets,
all you have to do is install them. However,
Ikea kitchens come in hundreds – even thousands
- of pieces and there is a chance at least
one piece will be missing. In addition, the
assembly process takes time – which will be
more costly if you are paying for labor. Another
issue is the strength of the cabinet. A cabinet
assembled on the job site will never be as
strong and precise as a cabinet manufactured
in a factory. In addition, Ikea uses very
low-density particleboard. If you need to
re-drill or nail the cabinet in the future,
there is a good chance the low- density material
will crumble. |
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12.
Is Home Depot a good source for purchasing
kitchen cabinetry? |
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Home depot is a great
source. The huge stores are very convenient
with everything found under one roof. Also,
Home Depot’s prices are known to be the best
in the market. This is not true, however,
with kitchen cabinets. Actually, Home Depot’s
kitchen cabinet prices are very similar to
those of smaller kitchen cabinet dealers.
Home Depot has shown tremendous success as
a high volume, low priced retailer but if
you are looking for personalized, high quality
service, that’s not where Home Depot shines.
The most common complaint of Home Depot customers
is that “you are on your own.” No one devotes
time to your project - helping you understand,
plan, design, price and make the best choices.
To keep costs low and prices very competitive,
Home Depot’s service must remain basic. Stores
are generally understaffed and most employees
are not trained designers or contractors. |
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13.
Is it a good idea to install wood flooring
in the kitchen? |
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Wood flooring is not
usually recommended for kitchens. That said,
it’s still a very popular choice. If it works
visually, go ahead and use it - especially
if you are opening the kitchen into an adjacent
space with wood flooring. Generally, designers
choose other materials over wood because of
both the “wear and tear factor” and possible
exposure to water damage. Because the kitchen
is a high traffic area, the finish will wear
off a wood floor more quickly than in other
low traffic parts of your home and will need
to be refinished periodically. Also, because
there is plumbing in a kitchen, wood floors
are at risk for water damage. A tile floor
is more resistant to leaks and humidity. |
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14.
I have a “popcorn” ceiling. Is it possible
to make it smooth? Is it a good idea? |
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Popcorn ceilings are
usually made of stucco or sand paint. This
technique was used on construction during
the ‘70’s and ’80’s for the purpose of hiding
imperfections in concrete slab ceilings that
were never 100% level. In some cases, chunks
of these ceiling are beginning to crumble.
When repairing a popcorn ceiling, it’s nearly
impossible to make the repair invisible.
There are two ways to make these ceiling smooth.
One is to scrape and skim coat. This requires
more work but will not affect the ceiling
height. The second way is to frame and Sheetrock
the ceiling. This technique is faster, but
will drop the ceiling height by at least a
couple of inches. In some cases, it may be
an advantage because new framing will allow
you to run wiring for ceiling light fixtures
or speakers. Wiring through concrete slab
ceilings can be very challenging. In addition,
some buildings do not permit running wiring
in concrete slab ceilings. Changing a “popcorn”
ceiling to a smooth surface ceiling is a popular
trend. Not only does it allow for better wiring,
it also makes the space look cleaner, larger
and less dated. |
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