Kitchen Cabinets Expert

The first step for kitchen remodeling

2012-10-14T19:45:00.004-07:00

Your dream kitchen will take some planning to meet the needs of your household. Find your focus in a family conference, discussing the new kitchen from each person points of view .First, look at the kitchen you’ve got. What is good about it? What is not so good? Is it too small, to dark? Is storage lacking? Are the appliances old, the finish faded? Have you always detested the cabinets?

Next focuses on the future. How will each family member use the new kitchen? Will everyone cook? Is this where the kids will hang out with their friends or do the home work? Will you want a baking center, planning desk, dining area? Do you love to entertain? How sociable do you actually want to be? Will you chat with gest while you cook, or do you want to prepare your culinary masterpieces in private? Will you want to open your new kitchen to surrounding rooms o to the outdoors?

What about the size? Can you expand your present kitchen by annexing nearby space, thus avoiding major structural change? Does your budget permit an addition? Perhaps just reconfiguring your present kitchen will do the trick.

Your family conference will produce a clear picture of the kitchen your family wants. Put the ideas you discussed on paper in the form of a rough sketch. Whether you do the work yourself or turn the sketch over to a professional, you’ll have taken the first step towards making your kitchen dreams a reality.

How to make your laundry room more functional

2012-10-11T16:50:00.000-07:00

Is your laundry room as functional as you would like it?

This picture shows great ideas of how to maximize your storage space in your laundry room. Cabinets above your washer and dryer machine give you extra needed space for storage, not to mention a countertop in your laundry room makes folding laundry so much easier.

The Pros and Cons of Countertop Options

2012-07-11T00:28:00.003-07:00

Whether expanding your kitchen, adding an island, or building a new home, the right kitchen countertops are an essential ingredient for your cooking pleasure. Countertops can make a huge difference in the value of your home, and the right countertop can also bring out the gourmet chef in you. You will want to consider style, beauty, durability, and price. The do-it-yourselfer may also want to bear in mind the ease of installation. Here are a few options to ponder:

Plastic Laminate

Laminate is the most widely used countertop material in home improvement.

• Pros: It is inexpensive and low-maintenance. It resists grease and stains, and it comes in a vast array of colors, and patterns. It also can come prefabricated with its own seamless backsplash. It is ideal for the do-it-yourselfer who loves to update the kitchen frequently. (Note of Caution: If you have allergies or asthma, the materials and glue in laminate could bring on a serious attack.)

• Cons: Laminate does have its drawbacks. Since it is, basically, made in layers (hence the name "laminate") the dark under layer (usually pressed wood) may be visible. The top is also susceptible to damage from sharp knives and hot pans. It easily melts at the touch of a dropped cigarette, and once damaged, it cannot be easily repaired.

• Installation Tips: To keep laminate looking new longer, reserve for less used areas of the kitchen. Locate seams at corners to avoid wear and tear. It is one of the easiest countertops to install yourself.

• Cost: $15 to $60 per running foot.

Ceramic Tile

Beautiful and durable, ceramic tile is the experienced do-it-yourselfer's dream come true. This is where you can celebrate your creative side. You can make that counter anything you want. How about a mural? Or how about using your children’s drawings as patterns? Or simply go with your favorite colors broken up and mixed? It can be as simple or as complex as the artist in you desires.

• Pros: Ceramic tile is heat, scratch, and stain resistant. Damaged tiles are easily replaced.

• Cons: Grout can stain or collect food particles, therefore giving way to bacterial infestation. Tiles can chip or crack, and if used for cutting it can dull your knives. Scrubbing with abrasives can ruin a high-gloss finish.

• Installation Tips: To cut cost, use solid-colored tiles and create your own patterns. Use epoxy and acrylic grouts, which are more stain resistant. Remove stains from regular grout with ordinary household bleach.

• Cost: $4 to $8 per tile.

Solid Surface
A solid surface countertop is a step up from plastic laminate. It comes in a larger variety of colors and patterns which are uniform throughout the piece. It can resemble glass, granite, and any other stone.

Pros: Since the color goes through the entire counter, scratches and blemishes can easily be buffed out. It is strong and self-supporting, so it needs no underlayment. It is non-porous. It resists both mildew and stains. It can be ordered custom-formed to hide seams, and it can be designed to suit your taste.

Cons: It can be cut easily by sharp knives. Hot pans will leave a permanent discoloration. Installation is difficult for the do-it-yourselfer.

Cost: It's expensive at about $125 to $200 per running foot, professionally installed.

Stone

Nothing beats stone for sheer beauty and durability. This high-end choice is for the serious cook. Marble and granite are the most popular choices.

• Pros: Granite is impervious (when properly sealed) to cuts, scrapes, burns and stains. Marble must be frequently sealed with mineral oil (which is not particularly food friendly, since it is made from petroleum). Its beauty is undeniable, and both surfaces are perfect for the serious gourmet cook. Pie crusts, pastries, and homemade chocolate love these surfaces.

• Cons: Both stones are expensive, heavy, and often difficult to cut. They are brittle, so they must come in thick slabs. Marble requires frequent resealing. Both are expensive to repair. Both require regular waxing and polishing to maintain sheen.

• Buyers Tip: You may be able to find suitable pieces at an antique salvage yard.

• Costs for New: Expect to pay up to $200 a running foot, installed.

Stainless Steel

This tough surface is very popular with the high-tech crowd. It is the counter of choice in most upscale restaurants.

• Pros: It is tough and impervious to stains and hot pans. It gives your kitchen a contemporary look.

• Cons: It shows nicks, and it scratches easily. Avoid scouring powders, and never use steel wool to clean it. It needs a solid, firm underlayment, or else it will dent. While beautiful, stainless steel is very cold to the touch.

Butcher Block

True butcher block uses end-grain hard-wood for counters; however many counters come in a lesser grade. You will want to make certain that you have a true hardwood.

• Pros: The warm natural appearance of hardwood is an attractive choice for the homeowner. It is ideal for cutting and chopping. It's relatively simple to install, for the do-it-yourselfer, and it is easy to repair. Surface scratches are easily sanded out.

• Cons: It must be sealed or frequently treated with mineral oil. It must be cleaned immediately after food preparation and moisture exposure. Protective surface sealers are not always food safe. It is humidity sensitive, so it is not recommended for high humidity areas. It scorches and dents easily. If it becomes contaminated with meat juices or dirty vegetables, it must be disinfected, then resealed.

• Buyer's Tip: Many cooks use olive oil to season the wood after each use; however this can also darken the wood.

• Cost: About $50 a running foot.

These are just a few of the counter choices available to the homeowner. Each must be weighed by the evidence of your own kitchen traffic patterns, whether or not you are the sole cook, or anyone can just haul out a knife and have at it. Each material is suitable in the proper environment; however, the final choice is up to you.

How to get a Home improvement grants

2012-07-11T00:14:00.000-07:00

Home improvement grants can significantly help in budgeting for a kitchen remodeling project. Home improvement grants are not difficult to obtain. Complete government grant application forms and list all of your needs and wants. Approval should take a short period of time. Once approved, the funds should be available in a couple of weeks.

Eligible Applicants

Most American taxpayers who own a home are able to apply for a home improvement grant. The requirements are typically few and a large number of applicants are approved. These homeowners have made sure to carefully follow the necessary procedures and to properly complete the appropriate forms. For their efforts they have been awarded thousands of dollars for home improvement projects. This money will never have to be repaid.

Finding Grant Organizations

Research to find out what type of grants you can apply for and which organizations provide the funds. Some grants are locally funded and some are state funded. Check with the yellow pages, the internet and local government services for the necessary information. You will need to read and understand the specific rules and regulations that must be followed for applying and being approved for the various home improvement grants available throughout the country.

USDA Grants

Determine whether you are eligible for a grant through the Individual Water and Waste program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture. The grants in this program can be used to for installing plumbing systems and fixtures. The funding can also be used for utility fees and connections services.

Getting an Estimate

Decide on the kitchen remodeling plans you are going to make. Get an estimate of the costs for your remodeling plans. Consult the local yellow pages to find a reputable contractor in the area. Contact the contractor to get an accurate estimate. Most contractors will perform this service free of charge.

Supporting Financial Documentation

Be sure you have all of the necessary personal information required for completing an application. Tax returns and pay stubs should be properly organized and if necessary, photocopied to submit along with the application form to the grant organizations.

Finding a Contact Person

Locate a contact person in each of the grant organizations who can assist you in proceeding through the grant application process.

Completing the Application

Be sure you meet the grant restrictions before you begin to complete the application form. When you have read all of the necessary information and discussed your plans with the contact person, fill out the paperwork. Make a copy of your applications before you submit them to the proper addresses.

Awaiting the Response

Wait for a response from each of the grant organizations. If the response seems to be taking longer than you expected, be sure to give the organization enough time to receive and consider the application before you contact them. If you do not receive an approval letter, contact the office to inquire whether you can make any changes and resubmit the application. If you do receive an approval letter, read the documentation provided regarding the processing of the grant money.

Two scams to avoid

2012-07-11T00:03:00.001-07:00

When someone makes the decision to begin a home kitchen remodeling project, they can open themselves up to risk by entrusting their home to a stranger. Here are two scams to avoid:

“Free” Inspections

Beware of companies that advertise free home inspection. Often times, burglars use these ads as a ploy to check out your home. Seemingly-legit contractors can also use free inspections to find non-existent problems with your home. If a contractor offers a free inspection or estimate, be sure to check their credentials before allowing them into your home.

Handshake Deals

When it comes to a construction project, relying solely on a stranger’s promise is risky. By not getting your contract in writing, you run the risk of being overcharged, having deadlines ignored, and getting shoddy workmanship. An oral contract can be unenforceable in court.

Unless you know and trust your contractor and have seen their work before, get everything – from the estimate to the timeframe and deadline to all work the contractor will be performing – in writing.