Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling Info You Must Know
The Kitchen & Bath Studio has pulled together some great information you may find helpful as you embark on your remodeling project.
Simply click on the link that interests you most or scroll down and read the entire page. This information will help make your remodeling project a success!
Frequently Asked Questions About Remodeling Your Kitchen or Bathroom…
Why Hire a Designer?
Kitchen Planning Myths You Can't Afford to Believe…
Kitchen Changes That Pay YOU Back…
Frequently Asked Questions About Remodeling Your Kitchen or Bathroom…
How much can I expect to spend?
You can use our budget calculator to get a rough estimate. The bottom line is what are you willing to invest? Remember that we aren’t expensive, kitchens and baths are expensive.
NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) Guidelines…Kitchen complete remodel = 11 – 22% of home value
Value $ 350,000
11% = $ 38,500
20% = $ 77,000
Category Breakdown
Cabinets = 35%
Countertops = 15%
Appliances = 20%
Flooring = 10%
Lighting = 5%
Labor/Installation = 15%
2010-11 Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs Value Report
Midrange Major Kitchen Remodel = $ 56,032
Midrange Minor Kitchen Remodel = $ 21,035
Upscale Major Kitchen Remodel = $ 110,773
Above figures include cabinets, countertops, appliances, lighting, flooring, basic plumbing fixtures and installation of a 200 sq ft kitchen
How long will it take?
Depending on the complexity and scope of your project, it can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months including the discover, design and deliver stages. Installation itself takes as little as 2 days to as much as 4 weeks. The biggest impact on the timing of any project is driven by you – your schedule and the timing of your decisions.
Should I get several firms to bid on the same project?
It’s important to visit several companies to get an idea of who they are, what they offer and how they operate. You want to determine their ability to satisfy your needs.
Getting more than 2 or 3 bids can be counterproductive. Each plan or concept will be different and comparing the proposals will be like comparing apples and oranges—they’re both fruit, but it ends there.
One of the most important services you should expect from a professional firm is a detailed and well articulated Needs Analysis, which comes from their “discovery" efforts. This involves finding out as much as possible about what you want, why you want it, and your priorities.
From this discovery, the genesis of the design solution will begin to emerge. This is why it is very important for you to truthfully share your budgetary needs with anyone you begin to work with.
Most professionals in the remodeling industry will work to your budget. To make sure you get what you want, both the professional and you have to be on the same page and working with the same budget.
How can I tell which company’s proposal represents the best value?
There are 4 factors which influence every remodeling project:
1. The scope or size of the project
2.
The quality of the products specified
3.
The nature of the design
4.
The number and quality of services performed
Use a kitchen remodel as an example. Assuming you have asked the 2 or 3 potential firms to bid on the same parameters (budget, scope and priorities), you will need to analyze how well the design of each satisfies your needs and how thorough their services are relative to the total price. From this you will be able to determine which offers you the best value.
If the plans are comparable, won’t the lowest priced proposal represent the best value?
Not necessarily. The lowest bidder could be the worst value. Kitchens, bathrooms and other remodeling projects are largely intangible (until they are delivered). As such, unlike a car, you can’t take it on a test drive before buying it.
Since there are many tens-of-thousands of options and it takes many types of human efforts to complete a kitchen or bath, you won’t know how good the “ride” is until the project is completed and you and your family begin to use it.
For this reason, if you could potentially recognize substantial savings from a low bid, it is a lot of risk to take—one that may stick with you for years to come.
With intangible products (such as legal advice), there are more important things to consider. A good price just isn’t enough.
What other “values” should I be considering?
A designer who exhibits the skills and experience suited to your project is critical. The designer also must demonstrate they are concerned with you and your project as well as be able to build a comfortable rapport with you. Can they express concepts and ideas that make sense to you? Do they understand your priorities, limitations and vision? These traits don't show up in a price - but are critical to the overall success and satisfaction of your project.
A good design includes creativity, long-term functionality, aesthetics, the reduction of having to live with design errors, the small details, plus a willingness and ability to listen to your input and provide problem-solving solutions. Ultimately, a good design value can only be determined by you.
Other values come into play in the delivery phase. These include, on-time delivery, minimizing delays, safety precautions, courtesy and professionalism of tradesmen, quality and timely communication, willingness to make things right, trouble shooting skills, quality of supervision, attention to detail, clean-up and follow through.
Veterans of remodeling consider these values highly important, as well as a provider’s integrity, honesty, ability to give objective advice, flexibility, courteous service and willingness and ability to back up their work years later.
How can I be sure that showrooms furnish these values?
Your instincts will tell you a lot about how open and thorough a supplier’s approach is, including:
You should feel comfortable with the objectivity and accuracy of the information given to you by a supplier so you can make a sound decision.
The quality, nature and quantity of services they provide will be much more tangible indications of a supplier’s values. Their effort, how it is organized and how it is performed give you the assurance of receiving certain values.
A positive affirmation that a firm possesses important values is when they are willing to provide evidence of value-driven services, the quality of their staff and subcontractors, as well as the systems they use to control the numerous details involved in your project.
Can I save money by purchasing the materials myself?
Usually not. Buying the design, cabinets, countertops and installation from four different sources ultimately is about the same or even higher than if they are all purchased from the same source.
More importantly, all of the complexity of the details and services required to communicate, coordinate, control and manage a remodel falls into your hands.
It is these details and services that minimize or eliminate extra costs associated with delays, omissions, errors, corrections, after-thoughts and future repairs. Bundling all of this into one source is like purchasing an insurance policy that pays off in the short run and long term as well.
What kinds of services do I need to receive a quality job?
From our experience, these are the most important:
- Collaborative Design - a designer who realizes they are designing for you - not themselves.
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Documentation – specific drawings, perspectives, specifications, approvals, agreements and warranties.
The more services you pay for up front, the more successful your project will be. This will also reduce the anxiety and stress involved. The fewer services you pay for, the greater the risk of having surprises and/or problems with the installation and the finished project.
Should I be concerned if a company offers to reduce the price 15% to get my business?
Yes. Either past clients paid too much, or the company may have a dishonest streak and you may pay too much for job changes, should they arise. It’s one way to make up for a lower contract price.
If you’re like most people, cutting prices could leave you with the impression that a company’s products and services may not be as good as other firms.
In fact, there is a higher likelihood of delays, poor follow-up and shoddy workmanship as lower-priced firms try to cut corners to make up for lower contract prices.
How can I check out the credentials and financial stability of companies?
If a company is hesitant in producing references, they are probably not worth your consideration.
Is it reasonable to expect an established company to match another firm’s price?
No, for all of the reasons stated above. The firm may be willing to discuss cost-saving options, which should be detailed for you. A successful firm will survive and prosper only if it has consistently delivered a level of product and service that is equal to the price paid. If not, it will fail to survive, and if it charges too much, word will spread and sales will drop.
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Why Use a Designer for Your Kitchen or Bathroom Remodeling Project?
A designer can help you communicate your vision effectively to others.
Shopping for the materials and products that you want in order to fulfill your vision is a time consuming process. Sometimes it’s difficult to describe exactly what you want, and then each person you talk to will interpret what you are saying differently.
This means the tile, cabinets, countertops, wall treatments, and so forth may each fit your description, or they may not work together due to various interpretations, etc.
A designer knows the market, what is available (both good and bad) and will work with you to define exactly what you envision. They will then be able to pull together a manageable number of options for you to consider.
A designer can help with unusual areas, and work around obstacles.
Does a specific room have too many windows or doorways? Unusual angles? Too small? Not enough storage space? Kitchen & bath designers are experts at space planning and through their years of experience know how to get the most from any type of space. They may use lighting to change the effect of a room or they may use the latest options in cabinet designs and storage to maximize space efficiency.
Designers can help sort through the clutter to bring the possibilities and combinations into focus for your tastes and situation.
Many people throw in the towel or just take the easiest route—even if it doesn’t fulfill their vision completely. Instead of doing nothing or settling for something less than what you want, a designer can bring it all together and, in many cases, give you a greater bang for your investment dollars.
Temptation is tugging at your purse strings.
Emotions can sometimes get the better of you and all of a sudden, you are over budget—by a lot. A designer will work to your stated budget and help you avoid exceeding it. In fact, the smaller the budget, the more helpful a designer can be. They know how to achieve the greatest impact and improvement within any budget.
You need personalized advice.
Asking the right questions and objectively determining your priorities is the most important job of an experienced designer. They consider lifestyle, use and application of the room, physical attributes of the space and the people using the rooms, as well as other factors. Each area of discovery begins to narrow down the best options and choices so they can design a room that will work for you and stay within your budget.
You’re having trouble blending styles or developing a theme.
Spouses often have differing tastes. Designers know how to blend different preferences into something that makes both spouses happy. This can be done through careful selection of the style of products, texture, colors and even lighting.
You’re concerned about overlooking important details.
Overlooking the details can cause unexpected surprises during installation and/or costly overruns. Having a designer spot just one of these issues can save you time, money and a lot of heartache.
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Kitchen Planning Myths You Can't Afford to Believe…
Myth #1 – “I can add that easily at a later time.”
It’s better to plan for the future use of the room or even future homeowners. For example, someday you may want a flat panel TV in the kitchen. Even if you don’t know, plan ahead and have it pre-wired for cable and electrical – otherwise you may have to tear out the wall, backsplash, etc. you are installing to do this. It’s costly and in some cases you may not be able to replace things that had to be torn out.
Myth #2 – “I’m not having any clutter in my new kitchen.”
No matter what we think, life is not a catalog picture—it’s messy and “stuff” piles up, especially if you have children. Remember that open floor plans are very nice, but they require adequate storage space. You need to balance function and style—too much of one and not the other can have its disadvantages.
Myth # 3 – “Bigger is always better.”
It is better to choose quality over quantity when designing a kitchen or bath, especially if budget is an issue (and when is it not an issue?). If a homeowner is over budget on a huge kitchen and is forced to use 2 cm granite instead of 3 cm with the nice dropped edge, they will be reminded of that decision every time they walk into the kitchen.
Myth # 4 – “I don’t need a designer.”
A designer can prevent many mistakes and costly errors. Not every project needs a designer, but most of us need someone to help us see the big picture and oversee the entire project. This includes working within the established budget and coordinating the efforts of subcontractors and craftsmen.
Myth # 5 – “Yes, it will fit!”
Homeowners who insist on certain items, regardless of the room required, wind up with an island (a popular option), but also aisles that are too narrow - or appliances that are too small. This can adversely effect the resale value of the home should a prospective buyer require wider aisles, etc.
Myth # 6 – “I want what she has.”
Remember to be somewhat practical. What works in someone else’s home may not work in yours. What you do in your kitchen may impact future renovations in other parts of your home. It’s your home, not someone else’s, and a kitchen or bath remodel is a big investment. Make sure it’s what you want and is appropriate for your home.
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Kitchen Changes That Pay YOU Back…
Of all the rooms in your home, the kitchen recoups the most value on resale. According to the 2007 Remodeling Magazine “Cost vs Value” report, a minor kitchen remodel recovers 83%, while total home renovations recoup about 70%. Why? Because families spend so much time in their kitchens, they want style and functionality that suits their needs.
Counters
Laminates, while vastly improved over the years, is considered passé and low end. Granite is the new standard and people are more than willing to pay for upgraded counter surfaces. In many cases, people are now looking beyond granite for a more unique expression and look. Consider quartz, slate, soapstone, metals and “green” materials made from recycled glass, bamboo and even paper.
Wood
Wood is always a good choice for cabinets and floors. Pick stains that aren’t too dark or too light, as they tend to have greater appeal and are less trendy.
Sensible Storage
Cabinetry that is mid-priced (not extremely high-end, or cheap) provides the best return at resale, while offering many amenities to make your kitchen work better. Roomy cabinets that offer flexible use and built-in organizational accessories are also a plus.
Kitchen islands
If you have room, kitchen islands are convenient and help create a work triangle that’s appealing and efficient.
The Kitchen Sink
Stainless steel is a safe choice for sinks as well as appliances. Instead of a double bowl sink, try a single bowl with dual dishwashers as people don’t wash and rinse like they used to. Adding a second sink will boost appeal and functionality. Cast iron or farmers sinks allow you to add a unique touch to the kitchen. It’s your kitchen, so go bold if you like, though soft or neutral colors are easier to work with. Make sure the style and color of the sink fits with the overall design and look of your new kitchen.
Faucets
Attractive faucets that are high enough to fill large pots are a wise choice. Most homeowners expect a pullout or pull-down faucet.
Worthwhile Extras
A walk-in pantry adds appeal to prospective homebuyers. They are also willing to pay extra for crown molding on the cabinets, under-cabinet lighting, wine coolers, professional grade appliances and pot fillers over the stove.
Entertainment
A hidden or wall mounted TV is something that will be more attractive with each passing year. Families can picture having family pizza night at the movies, etc.
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We hope this kitchen and bathroom remodeling information has been helpful for you. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We have the staff, passion and expertise
to help you achieve your goals.
Give us a call at 303.771.5910 or stop by our showroom today to learn more about how we can help you. Or click here to learn more about how we work…
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