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Appliances a Key Part of Project
Ask any realtor — a remodel in your kitchen or bathroom will instantly improve your home and increase its market value. But remodeling is most often done to make an outdated,
inadequate or inefficient space into a functional
dream kitchen. The sink has leaked for so long that
the cabinets below are soggy and broken out, or you've
had to resort to stacking dishes on the counter for lack
of decent cabinet space. At this point, there's little doubt
that the most effective solution is to just tear it all out
and start over.
If you've been bitten by the remodeling bug, and you're
thinking about doing it yourself, reconsider. Remodeling is
no small feat, especially in a kitchen. If we were to review
the list of things for a do-it-yourself remodel, you would
discover a process that takes more money, time, tools
and skills than you could have imagined. In general, when
you're contemplating a remodel, the more you educate
yourself about how a kitchen makeover should go, the
better you’ll be able to select the right tools and people
for your project.
Home Improvement Companies. Many consumers immediately go to big home centers, where there are large areas with displays and sales associates to help. They sell all the pipes, sinks, nails, glue guns, tile, flooring, counter tops and just about anything else you need. You can, if you have the patience and time, plan almost your entire job without ever leaving their warehouse.
Truthfully, this works only if you've got the skill, the knowledge and the time. You can sit with a cabinet designer who will offer designs from their list of manufacturers. You can add the various pieces and features from catalogues or from sample kitchen displays on the floor. They often will arrange for installation. Then you will have to go to the plumbing department for a sink, disposal and piping — and don'’t forget the light fixtures.
Consider appliance upgrades. You must evaluate your appliances to see which should be replaced. Will your current appliances still look good with your newly remodeled kitchen? If you opt to purchase new ones, make sure you get quality, name-brand appliances and that the supplier provides service and warranty options as well as a competitive price.
Do It Yourself: Think ahead. Make arrangements for demolition of the old cabinets. You also need to know how to prepare the area for installation. Sinks are installed, but be sure to ask who provides the plumber to disconnect and reconnect. New lighting and outlets, even 220-volt power lines for a new electric stovetop and ovens, might have to be put in. Ask who will provide the electrician. You have to coordinate a cabinet installer, a plumber and an electrician for the tear-out and reconnection after the installation. Keep your time line organized. If this will all be your responsibility, decide whether you are prepared to take it on.
A Professional Remodeling Company.
Many homeowners prefer to use a professional remodeling company. Here, homeowners sit down with a design professional who help design the whole project — the products, the time line, coordination and overseeing the quality of work. Since a remodeling company's main business is remodeling, the designer will have intimate knowledge of products, materials and supplies as well as how they might work best in your application.
Companies like this offer the entire project at one quoted cost and take care of the design, the carpentry, the plumbing, the electrical, the tear-out (or demolition), waste disposal, delivery, installation, clean-up and service after the fact. When dealing with a remodeling company, ask for an estimate or a quote. Be wary of an estimate that can float upwards in cost overruns and time extensions. Make sure you ask all the right questions up front. And always ask for a referral from previous customers. The professional remodeling shop gets a high percentage of its business from referrals.
Quality is key and service after the installation is very important to them. Ask about warranty on the products and on the complete job. A good shop will offer names and numbers of clients for whom they have done installations. Ask how long they have been in business and how long they have been in the Coachella Valley. Reputable companies won’t hesitate to answer your questions.
Adapted from The Desert Sun How-To Guide
November 19, 2003
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