What is the Best Order of Sequence for Installing the Flooring Material in a Kitchen Remodel?
What is the Best Order of Sequence for Installing the Flooring Material in a Kitchen Remodel?
“flooring materials” “flooring material” “kitchen remodel” There are several different schools of thoughts about what is the best order of sequence for installing the flooring material in a kitchen remodel. There are many elements involved in a kitchen remodel including installing the kitchen cabinets, the countertops, the plumbing and electrical, the flooring and appliances to name [...]
“flooring materials” “flooring material” “kitchen remodel”
There are several different schools of thoughts about what is the best order of sequence for installing the flooring material in a kitchen remodel. There are many elements involved in a kitchen remodel including installing the kitchen cabinets, the countertops, the plumbing and electrical, the flooring and appliances to name a few of the things going on during your kitchen remodel.
When exactly the best time to install the flooring is depends on your preferences really. So here are a couple of options and the reasoning behind them:
One option would be to lay the flooring down after the base kitchen cabinets have been installed, which you would do after the painting is done. The main argument for this option is that you wouldn’t be wasting flooring material where it would never be seen by anyone and would save a little money in the process…(little being the key word)….however if you ever changed appliances to ones of a different size or dimension you might have to add flooring later on and it would not only be a hassle but would also incur labor expenses too.
If you go with this option you would just have to make sure that you remember to allow enough height for your appliances or that your appliances have adjustable height capability and also make sure to have some extra flooring material saved from this project so if you need to add it later on you will have matching stock.
The other option would be to put the flooring material down first before you install your appliances. The amount of extra expense of using the flooring material under the appliances is really quite nominal in the big picture and you would actually save on labor expenses that would be incurred to trim out the flooring material around the appliances.
The benefit of going this route is that it would be a lot easier to move the appliances in and out on an even surface although it isn’t really that difficult either way. Another benefit though is if you ever changed appliances that were of different sizes and dimensions you wouldn’t have to worry about missing flooring.
So these are just a couple of different schools of thought on the best order of sequence for installing the flooring material in a kitchen remodel. Just consider which option works best for you or your contractor and go with it.
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Find out the secret to remodeling your kitchen the easy way PLUS insider information that will save you 1000’s on materials, give you a more realistic way to estimate remodeling costs AND help you get your kitchen remodeling project done weeks faster! To find out more…..CLICK HERE
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Custom Remodeling, Do it Yourself Home Improvements, Flooring, Flooring Materials, Home Design, Home Designs, Home Improvement & Maintenance, Home Improvement DIY, Homes Renovations, House Remodeling, Ideas for Kitchens, Kitchen Remodel, Remodeling, Remodeling Houses, Remodeling and Construction
How To Find Out if Your Contractor is Licensed
“contractor” “contractors” Some of the biggest problems with contractors can be easily avoided by simply checking out the contractor first and making sure that you’re hiring a reputable, well established and professional contractor. While most states license electrical and plumbing contractors, only 36 states have some type of licensing and registration statutes affecting contractors, remodelers, and/or specialty [...]
“contractor” “contractors”
Some of the biggest problems with contractors can be easily avoided by simply checking out the contractor first and making sure that you’re hiring a reputable, well established and professional contractor.
While most states license electrical and plumbing contractors, only 36 states have some type of licensing and registration statutes affecting contractors, remodelers, and/or specialty contractors. The licensing can range from simple registration to a detailed qualification process. Also, the licensing requirements in one locality may be different from the requirements in the rest of the state.
Check with your local building department or consumer protection agency to find out about licensing requirements in your area. If your state has licensing laws, ask to see the contractor’s license and make sure that it’s current.
Since not all states require licensing you may have no choice in hiring an unlicensed contractor. This can still work out if you know what you are doing and he knows what he’s doing. The license doesn’t necessarily mean you get expertise, but it does mean you get leverage. A contractor will right his wrongs to avoid losing his license.
You can also check out the contractor with your local consumer protection officials. They can tell you if there are any unresolved consumer complaints on file, however, even if there aren’t any complaints on record it doesn’t necessarily mean that there aren’t any previous problems. It may be that problems exist but haven’t been reported or another possibility could be that the contractor is doing business under several different names….but checking anyway doesn’t hurt.
If the contractor doesn’t have a phone number listed in the local telephone directory that might be a red flag and should definitely warrant further investigation. Reputable, well established contractors are usually at least listed in the phone directory and many also have websites as well although not having a website is NOT an indication that a contractor isn’t professional and well established but an unlisted phone is certainly questionable.
I found this really great contractor’s license reference site that is very useful: Contractors-License.org/
For any state that requires a contractor or tradesman to be licensed they will keep records of the license and this site has direct links to every state’s contractor’s licensing board. So you could easily call or go online and check out if a contractor is licensed or not.
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Contractor, Custom Remodeling, Remodeling, Remodeling and Construction
What to Expect and Prepare for During Your Kitchen Remodel
Remodeling a kitchen is an incredibly huge undertaking that involves a vast array of details to consider, decide on and oversee their implementation. If you’re not prepared it can seem a bit overwhelming but here are some of the things you can expect and prepare for during your kitchen remodel. Obviously the first step is to [...]
Remodeling a kitchen is an incredibly huge undertaking that involves a vast array of details to consider, decide on and oversee their implementation. If you’re not prepared it can seem a bit overwhelming but here are some of the things you can expect and prepare for during your kitchen remodel.
Obviously the first step is to decide on the budget for your kitchen remodel. A good rule of thumb is about 15% of your home’s current market value. For a more detailed breakdown of this you can check out my blog posting: Estimating Your Kitchen Remodeling Costs.
Keep in mind that there will ALWAYS be additional expenses so try to plan your budget on 80% of what you want your total budget to actually be. Your remodeling costs can be broken down into two main categories: the labor and installation that your contractor will charge and then the materials you select.
The materials you select will be your biggest remodeling costs and where you have the most choice and where you have the most probability of going over budget.
For help with this you can check out my eBook Remodeling Recon Kitchens Edition that will give you comprehensive information on the materials and their price ranges and give you a more realistic way to estimate your remodeling costs and will give you a lot of ideas for planning your kitchen design and layout which is the next step in the process.
The planning of your kitchen design and layout is rarely a one step process so don’t expect to get it exactly the way you want it all in one shot. It’s a slowly evolving process which continually changes as you keep refining it. It’s a good idea to sit with an idea for a while to see how it feels and fits with your kitchen designs. Make sure the layout flows with how you work in the kitchen.
After you’ve fine tuned your kitchen design and have it all planned out the next stage ordering all the materials. Making sure you cover all the details and order everything needed is very important.
If you miss something and have to reorder it can delay your remodel quite a bit….sometimes by weeks and the last thing you want to do is give your contractor an opportunity to get busy on someone else’s project during the delay and then put your project on the back burner….although not all delays are controllable.
Another thing to be prepared for and expect are the unforeseen delays. In most any job there are unforeseen delays outside of the contractor’s control that can, and usually do, come up…things like out of stock materials on backorder, faulty existing construction that’s discovered that needs to be brought to code that couldn’t be seen or known about until after walls or floors are opened up after the remodeling project has already gotten underway or weather delays to name of the few of the things that could cause delays outside the contractor’s control.
The next stage involves demolition or deconstruction of the existing cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring and lighting…depending on the extent of your remodel and what you’ve decided to replace. It’s going to get really messy so just be prepared for that and just make peace with the fact that there’s going to be dust everywhere even after the demolition process is finished. You can count on the whole place being dusty and messy for most of the duration of the construction.
Actually during the entire remodel you shouldn’t expect neatness from your contractor. Believe it or not, it is sometimes a lot more efficient to leave things lying where they’ll next be used. It will be messy so just prepare accordingly.
Just make sure you spell out in your contract that the jobsite will be cleaned up at the end of the job.
You can cover up furniture that you want to protect from dust and will need to either plan on eating out during the remodel or setting up a temporary kitchen elsewhere.
Also not expecting any problems to come up is unrealistic. There will be some problems. Weather delays, employees quitting, and more will happen. Having problems is okay, but it’s not okay if the contractor can’t work out the issues to your satisfaction.
Make sure you have a good working relationship with your contractor.
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Custom Remodeling, Do it Yourself Home Improvements, Home Design, Home Designs, Home Improvement & Maintenance, Home Improvement DIY, Homes Renovations, House Remodeling, Ideas for Kitchens, Kitchen Designs, Kitchen Plans, Kitchen Remodel, Remodeling, Remodeling Costs, Remodeling Houses, Remodeling and Construction
Finding a Contractor for Your Remodeling and Construction Project
“remodeling and construction” “kitchen remodel” A question you might want to ask the contractor is how many remodeling projects like mine have you completed in the last year? Ask for a list as this will help you determine how familiar the contractor is with your type of project. If he primarily specializes in fireplaces and [...]
“remodeling and construction” “kitchen remodel”
A question you might want to ask the contractor is how many remodeling projects like mine have you completed in the last year? Ask for a list as this will help you determine how familiar the contractor is with your type of project. If he primarily specializes in fireplaces and all his previous remodeling and construction projects were fireplaces and you’re doing a kitchen remodel or a bathroom, he might not be the right contractor for you.
You should also always ask the contractor for a list of references. The contractor should be able to give you the names, addresses and phone numbers of at least three clients who have projects similar to yours. Ask how long each of those jobs took to complete and how long ago they were completed and ask to see them. You can also tell the contractor you would like to visit some of his current remodeling jobs in progress.
When you contact the clients he gave you as a reference you may want to ask them if you can visit their home to see the completed job. You can also ask them things like: were you satisfied with the remodeling project? Was it completed on time? Did the contractor keep you informed about the status of the project, and any problems along the way? Were there any unexpected remodeling costs? And if so, what were they? Did the workers show up on time? Did they clean up after finishing the job?
Probably the most important questions though would be were you happy with the work? Would you recommend the contractor? Would you use him again?
Happy clients are your very best bet!
remodeling and construction remodeling costs kitchen remodel remodeling
Planning a kitchen remodel?
Find out the secret to remodeling your kitchen the easy way PLUS insider information that will save you 1000’s on materials, give you a more realistic way to estimate remodeling costs AND help you get your kitchen remodeling project done weeks faster! To find out more…..CLICK HERE
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Custom Remodeling, Discount Kitchen Cabinets, Do it Yourself Home Improvements, Home Design, Home Designs, Home Improvement & Maintenance, Home Improvement DIY, Homes Renovations, House Remodeling, Ideas for Kitchens, Kitchen Cabinets, Kitchen Designs, Kitchen Plans, Kitchen Remodel, Remodeling, Remodeling Costs, Remodeling Houses, Remodeling and Construction
Estimating Your Kitchen Remodeling Costs
“remodeling costs” “kitchen plans” The first question most people ask is: How much is it going to cost? What you end up paying depends on three things that you can choose and one that you can’t. First, the material you select for your kitchen plans will have the biggest impact on the price; it’s also where you have [...]
“remodeling costs” “kitchen plans”
The first question most people ask is: How much is it going to cost?
What you end up paying depends on three things that you can choose and one that you can’t.
First, the material you select for your kitchen plans will have the biggest impact on the price; it’s also where you have the most choices.
Then there is the cost of installing the materials you have selected. For this you can take the lowest bid.
Finally, how much you pay will vary with where you live. You can’t do much about this! Construction costs vary widely throughout the country so the geographic location you are in will pretty much dictate the going rates.
When doing a remodeling project figuring out how much to spend can be the big question.
Some things to consider would be:
What condition is the house in and what era does the current style suggest and what would you like it to be?
What is the current market value of your house before remodeling and what is the average market value of comparable sized homes in the neighborhood? How long do you actually plan to stay in the home? Is it a flip? Are you planning to live there for 2-4 years? 10 years? Forever?
Whatever amount you feel comfortable spending…or that your budget will allow…you should keep in mind that your home is still an investment…possibly your biggest investment…and you want to have the highest return possible on your investment, especially if your turn around time is sooner rather than later.
You don’t want to remodel all of your equity away. Some projects add value to the home and others just eat away your equity with no return at all. Fortunately a kitchen remodel is something that recaptures nearly 100% return if you stay within the maximum 15% of the home’s current market value.
It’s always a good thing to check out other homes in your neighborhood and see what the competition is with comparable homes so you can stay in the game and even have an edge when it comes time to sell. You want to make sure yours compares best to others in the same price range, however, your net profit is still the end game.
But on the other hand, if this is the home you plan to be in for many years to come, the pleasure you would receive from having your perfect dream kitchen, experiencing delight and appreciation on a daily basis, should never be underestimated either.
I personally believe we should all do things that bring us pleasure and joy into our lives on a daily basis….but it’s all a balancing act so the purpose of your remodel needs to be taken into definite consideration.
The 5% to 15% Rule is a handy tool to help determine how much you spend on your kitchen project.
kitchen cabinets remodeling
Remodeling Costs * Kitchen Cabinets
Planning a kitchen remodel?
Find out the secret to remodeling your kitchen the easy way PLUS insider information that will save you 1000’s on materials, give you a more realistic way to estimate remodeling costs AND help you get your kitchen remodeling project done weeks faster! To find out more…..CLICK HERE
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Custom Remodeling, Discount Kitchen Cabinets, Do it Yourself Home Improvements, Home Design, Home Designs, Home Improvement & Maintenance, Home Improvement DIY, Homes Renovations, House Remodeling, Ideas for Kitchens, Kitchen Cabinets, Kitchen Designs, Kitchen Plans, Kitchen Remodel, Remodeling, Remodeling Costs, Remodeling Houses, Remodeling and Construction
A Great Way to Avoid Remodeling Project Nightmares
“remodeling and construction” “remodeling project” “diy” “remodeling” When doing any sort of remodeling or construction project, if it’s not a diy project and you’re not the contractor or doing it yourself, you’ll most likely end up hiring a contractor or tradesman to work on your remodeling project. There are a lot of horror stories floating around [...]
“remodeling and construction” “remodeling project” “diy” “remodeling”
When doing any sort of remodeling or construction project, if it’s not a diy project and you’re not the contractor or doing it yourself, you’ll most likely end up hiring a contractor or tradesman to work on your remodeling project. There are a lot of horror stories floating around of remodeling project nightmares and litigation with contractors that probably could have been easily avoided with better communication.Communication is critical in making sure that what you’re trying achieve is clearly understood by your contractor. For an example, in some parts of the country it is standard practice for some drywall contractors to screw in the ceiling drywall but nail in the walls.
If your remodeling project is in a humid part of the country, with all the fluctuations in humidity, you’ll have the nails start popping out within a couple of years whereas screwing the drywall eliminates this problem but if you just assume that your contractor knows you prefer him to screw in the drywall instead of simply nailing in the drywall and it doesn’t go the way you assumed it naturally would there could be a problem.
Another example is the exact height or placement of something. I remember one project I had to put in a through the wall air conditioner into a room and to me it seemed logical that the contractor would line up the top of the air conditioner with a hung picture on the adjacent wall because aesthetically that would flow much better and it never even occurred to me that he wouldn’t automatically know to do that. I had only left the room for a few minutes but when I came back the hole was already cut and it was nearly 6 inches below where I assumed it would be but I hadn’t specified this with the contractor so he put it where HE thought it would be most logical to put it.
Photos are another great way to get your point across. For example if you are trying to design your landscape you might take a photo of your house to the nursery so they can give you their suggestions about what might be most suitable to what you’re wanting to achieve. Or if you are having issues with the building inspectors and something isn’t passing inspection bringing a photo to them can be very helpful for clarification.
Don’t just assume your contractor knows what you want. Make sure you specify everything EXACTLY how and where and when you want it. Putting all the exact details in writing is not just good practice but an absolute must. That will save you lots of frustration, do overs, and possibly even litigation.
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Contractor, Custom Remodeling, Home Improvement & Maintenance, Homes Renovations, House Remodeling, Remodeling, Remodeling Houses, Remodeling and Construction
One Way to Go Green When Remodeling Houses
“go green” “remodeling houses” One of the first stages of a kitchen remodel or any type of remodel is the demolition process. One of the ways you can go green and avoid adding to landfill is to employ gentle deconstruction methods to remove items and if possible recycle them. While not everything is in recyclable condition, [...]
“go green” “remodeling houses”
One of the first stages of a kitchen remodel or any type of remodel is the demolition process. One of the ways you can go green and avoid adding to landfill is to employ gentle deconstruction methods to remove items and if possible recycle them. While not everything is in recyclable condition, many items are.
Consider the salvage opportunities first. Trained deconstruction crews can gently remove materials that can be reused rather than disposed of in a landfill. This provides opportunities for homeowners, builders, architects etc. to purchase needed materials at reasonable prices that otherwise may not be available.
Gentle Deconstruction Results In:
· Lowering-building removal costs
· Saving money on dump fees and trucking
· Reducing the environmental impact of construction debris in landfills
· Saving landfills with items, which can be put to another use
· Preserving materials which otherwise would be destroyed
· Providing homeowners with valuable materials for remodeling houses
· Creates accessory jobs and employment in the Recycling Business
There are also some great organizations like Habitat for Humanity for example that builds homes for less fortunate families in real need of shelter that you might consider donating items to.
By donating and reusing items instead of just demolishing them into construction debris landfill you could be helping families in need and creating less of a harmful impact on the environment at the same time. This is a wonderful way you can begin your efforts to go green.
remodeling houses * remodeling houses * remodeling houses * go green * kitchen remodel
Planning a kitchen remodel?
Find out the secret to remodeling your kitchen the easy way PLUS insider information that will save you 1000’s on materials, give you a more realistic way to estimate remodeling costs AND help you get your kitchen remodeling project done weeks faster! To find out more…..CLICK HERE
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Custom Remodeling, Do it Yourself Home Improvements, Eco Friendly, Go Green, Green Materials, Home Design, Home Designs, Home Improvement & Maintenance, Home Improvement DIY, Homes Renovations, House Remodeling, Ideas for Kitchens, Kitchen Cabinets, Kitchen Designs, Kitchen Plans, Kitchen Remodel, Remodeling, Remodeling Costs, Remodeling Houses, Remodeling and Construction
Using Chromatherapy in Your Home Design
“chromatherapy” “home design” When it comes to remodeling houses and picking out the color scheme for your home design just how important is the color choice? Color touches us on a very deep intuitive level. Whether you realize it or not, colors speak very loud to our subconscious and have a positive or negative reaction within 90 [...]
Whether you realize it or not, colors speak very loud to our subconscious and have a positive or negative reaction within 90 seconds.
Color psychology is a complex field of study and goes deep into the meaning of combining colors for a particular desired effect. The field of industrial psychology has a sub-field that studies only the psychology of color. It is no accident that Campbell’s soup has used the same colors on their labels for years and years.
The colors you select for a room will impact you on a very deep level every time you spend time in that room so consciously choosing the colors for your home design with this in mind is very important.
chromatherapy is sometimes referred to as light therapy or colorology and is still used today as a holistic or alternative treatment as well as one of the newest trends featured in bathtubs and shower systems.
One of the reasons color affects us on a subconscious, intuitive and physiological level is tied to our energy centers or chakra system. Chakra is a Sanskrit word used by the Hindus. It literally means “wheel of light”.
Chakras are major energy centers located in the body that govern physical body systems, emotional qualities and areas of consciousness. They are also associated with specific colors so the use of a specific color in a room’s color scheme will stimulate the chakra and the physical body systems, emotional qualities and areas of consciousness governed by that particular chakra or a combination of chakras if you’re using blended colors.
Individuals also associate particular colors with particular things in their lives. Colors have different meanings for adults and children. The purity of color reflects the purity of its symbolic meaning. Being aware of these colors and how they affect our perception and the responses they evoke inside of us is important.
Primary colors for example, red, yellow and blue, appeal to primary emotions. Young children respond to primary emotions. They unconsciously reject mixed or impure colors because these shades mean nothing to them. This is why Fisher Price marketing colors are primary colors…they know their target audience and understand the secret psychology of color.
Different cultures also have different attitudes and preferences in the attribution of qualities of color. Eastern and western cultures assign different meanings to color. Choosing a color scheme for the room you’re remodeling should take into consideration the people who will most frequently be in the room and what energy or feelings you may want to evoke or create in that atmosphere.
home design * chromatherapy * remodeling houses
Planning a kitchen remodel?
Find out the secret to remodeling your kitchen the easy way PLUS insider information that will save you 1000’s on materials, give you a more realistic way to estimate remodeling costs AND help you get your kitchen remodeling project done weeks faster! To find out more…..CLICK HERE
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Chromatherapy, Custom Remodeling, Do it Yourself Home Improvements, Home Design, Home Designs, Home Improvement & Maintenance, Home Improvement DIY, Homes Renovations, House Remodeling, Ideas for Kitchens, Kitchen Designs, Kitchen Plans, Kitchen Remodel, Remodeling, Remodeling Houses, Remodeling and Construction
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