Working with a Designer for Your New Kitchen

All designers work a little differently but this article should give you a general idea of what to expect and how to prepare.

Make an appointment
Most designers (including P & B Finishers) want to have the initial meeting in your home. This allows the designer to visualize how your ideas fit into your space. Some designers will want the initial meeting in their office or showroom. They feel you are more serious if you come to them. Either way, you’ll need to get on their calendar to start the process.

Before the meeting
Many designers will give you an hour or so of free consultation at the initial meeting. But remember, time is money so make good use of this time by being prepared.

1. Gather some ideas of what you like. Styles and colors, wood specie, etc. Magazines are a wonderful source of ideas and you can easily tear out pages and keep them in a folder for your meeting.

2. Ask the designer if they have a design questionnaire that you can fill out in advance of the initial meeting.

3. Input from your family members is critical. Everyone in the house will likely use the kitchen extensively. It needs to work for the family.

4. Establish a budget. Having at least a range can help your designer steer you in a direction you can afford. An average size kitchen can cost from $18,000 to $100,000 or more to remodel, depending on your taste and budget. A good designer can steer you into your budget or at least let you know that what you want is outside your budget.

At the initial meeting
That first meeting is all about getting to know one another. It’s important that both parties establish what is needed from the other in order to do business. Good designers won’t give you a hard sell but instead want to hear about what you want and need out of your new kitchen and what your budget is. The designer will measure your kitchen and probably take a few pictures.

If the initial meeting is to be in the showroom you should prepare further by having a sketch and dimensions of your kitchen along with some photos.

After the first meeting the designer should be able to come up with an initial estimate. This may be done on the spot or may require a second meeting, usually within two weeks. You can expect some rough concepts and a ballpark price.

Design Phase
The initial design will be conceptual based on the budget and ideas established at the initial meeting. Drawings can range from mere sketches to computer aided designs.

Once the initial design is presented the designer will likely require a retainer to continue. This is not a hard sell but rather a commitment. Again, time is money and design work takes a lot of time. By now you should be comfortable with your designer and know if the company is one you would seriously consider. Most design retainers are based on project scope and can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. P & B’s average retainer is $600 but does vary and does have restrictions on the maximum number of hours spent on your design.

Once you have paid the retainer your designer will refine the drawings, selections and specifications to your desire. Remember that this can and most likely will change the initial estimate. Good designers can help you maintain your budget as long as it is a reasonable one to begin with. Remember, you may need to compromise so keep an open mind if you are budget conscious.

The design phase can take a week to a month or more. A lot depends on the complexity of the design and how quickly you can make decisions.

Signing the Contract
Once you are comfortable with the design you are ready to enter into a contract. Many firms (including us) will credit you the design retainer with a signed contract. This doesn’t always include additional hours above and beyond the design agreement spent on your design. The contract will include the final price with any stipulations that might change it, the drawings and specifications and payment schedules. Keep in mind that some designers offer just design service and cabinetry while true design/build firms and full service remodeling companies will handle the entire project from permits, demolition, materials and installation to final cleanup and everything in between.

Remember that if your home was built before 1978 your contractor MUST be certified by the EPA as a Lead Safe Firm and must follow the EPA regulations regarding lead safe work practices. Lead is a health hazard especially to young and unborn children and should not be taken lightly. You can learn more at http://epa.gov/lead.

 

 

The NKBA Uncovers 11 Kitchen & Bath Trends for 2011

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (February 8, 2011) – More than 100 designers who are members of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), and have designed kitchens or bathrooms during the last three months of 2010, participated in an NKBA survey to reveal design trends in the marketplace for 2011. The results of this survey suggest there will be some changes in the direction that kitchen and bath styles will take this year. Below are 7 kitchen trends and 4 bathroom trends that are poised to take hold in 2011. These are overall trends across the United States and Canada; they won’t necessarily appear in all geographic areas.

Kitchens

1) Shake It Up

The Shaker style began a rise in popularity in 2009 and gained momentum in 2010. By the end of the year, Shaker has supplanted Contemporary as the second most popular style used by NKBA member designers. While Traditional remains the most popular style, having been used by 76% of designers surveyed over that last three months of 2010, that’s a slight drop from the previous year. Meanwhile, the percent of respondents who designed contemporary kitchens fell to 48%, while Shaker rose to 55%. Cottage was the only other style to garner at least 20% of the market, as it registered at 21%.

2) Dark Finishes

Dark natural finishes overtook medium natural, glazed, and white painted finishes to become the most specified type of finish toward the end of 2010. While medium natural fell from being used by 53% to 48% of designers, glazed from 53% to 42%, and white painted from 49% to 47%, dark natural finishes rose from 42 to 51%. Light natural and colored painted finishes remained fairly common, as each rose slightly from the previous year: 24% to 25% for light natural and 24% to 29% for colored paints. Distressed finishes dropped significantly from a year ago, when they were used by 16% of designers, to just 5%.

3) A Place for Wine

While the incorporation of wine refrigerators seems to be on the decline (see Bonjour Réfrigérateur below), unchilled wine storage is growing in popularity. While only 39% of surveyed designers incorporated wine storage areas into their kitchens at the end of 2009, just over half—51%—did so as 2010 came to a close. While other types of cabinetry options remain more common, most are on the decline, including tall pantries (89% to 84%), lazy Susans (90% to 78%), and pull-out racks (81% to 71%). Appliance garages also seem to be falling out of favor, as their use declined from 36% at the end of 2009 to 29% a year later.

4) Bonjour Réfrigérateur

The French door refrigerator has strengthened its position as the type specified most often by NKBA member designers. While freezer-top refrigerators were only specified by 8% of designers as 2010 d

Read the entire article via The NKBA Uncovers 11 Kitchen & Bath Trends for 2011.

Update Your Home Safely with a Lead Safe Certified Remodeler

You’ve made the decision to finally remodel the outdated kitchen and living room of your home.  But if you live in a house built before 1978, a new federal law regulating the removal of lead paint may affect your home remodeling project.   In 1978, the use of lead paint was officially banned from residential construction. Before that, however, lead paint was used in more than 38 million homes, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

  Beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

  The Dangers of Lead Paint

 During a renovation or remodel, dust from lead paint removal can fill the air and be breathed in or small children could ingest lead paint chips that fall from the wall.  For young children, lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, hearing loss and behavior problems. In adults, lead poisoning can lead to hypertension and high blood pressure. Pregnant women run the risk of passing the poison on to their unborn child.

 It is important that you find a remodeler who is trained in lead-safe work practices rather than try to do the work yourself.  To ensure the safety of the home’s occupants, the EPA’s new regulation requires that any major renovation to homes built before 1978 must be performed by a certified remodeler or renovator.

 What are Lead-Safe Work Practices?

 EPA has a free brochure on its website called “Renovate Right” that provides guidance to home owners and contractors about the safe removal of lead paint. Your contractor should follow specific work practices, including these three simple procedures:

  1.   Contain the work area so that dust and debris do not escape. Warning signs should be put up and heavy-duty plastic and tape should be used to seal off doors and heating and cooling system vents and to cover the floors and any furniture that cannot be moved.

  2.   Minimize dust. There is no way to eliminate dust, but some paint removal methods create less dust than others. For example, using water to mist areas before sanding or scraping; scoring paint before separating components; and prying and pulling apart components instead of breaking them. Methods that generate large amounts of dust and should not be used include open flame burning or torching; sanding, grinding, planing, needle gunning, or blasting with power tools and equipment not equipped with a shroud and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter vacuum attachment; or using a heat gun at temperatures greater than 1100°F.

  3.   Clean up thoroughly. When all the work is done, and before taking down any plastic that isolates the work area from the rest of the home, the area should be cleaned up using special cleaning methods . These include using a HEPA vacuum to clean up dust and debris on all surfaces, followed by wet mopping with plenty of water.

  How Do I Find a Certified Firm?

 To become lead-safe certified the firm must submit an application to the EPA and complete a federal or state-administered eight-hour class with two hours of hands-on training.

  To find a lead-safe certified contractor or firm near you visit EPA Certified Firm Locator.

Get the Best Bang for Your Remodeling Buck

Your home is your castle, but sometimes that castle may need a facelift. Remodeling is a great way to create a home environment that can meet your family’s changing needs and tastes without you having to spend a lot of money. 

Before you spend your hard-earned dollars, however, make sure that the changes you make now will have longer-term benefits for you when you look to sell your home in the future. 

You should find out what features are standard for homes in your neighborhood.  If you only have one bathroom but most of the other homes average two or more, you will want to bring your house up to that standard.  On the flipside, do not make changes to your house that are too extravagant or out-of-place for your neighborhood. 

Make sure you are not making changes that will turn off prospective buyers. Keep in mind what future home buyers would like to see in their next home. It is often wiser to add an additional bathroom or bedroom rather than a sunroom or sauna, for example, which are costly and will not necessarily be a priority for anyone else.

The size and cost of your project matter as well. The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University advises that smaller or midrange jobs overall will tend to recover a higher percentage of their cost than larger, higher-end projects.

For example, replacing old windows will generate a higher payback ratio than adding a high-end kitchen with all of the bells and whistles and it costs significantly less, according to Stephen Melman, an economist with the National Association of Home Builders.

Maintenance-related projects, such as siding and window replacement, are especially popular because they are repairs that are seen as needed, but can also help improve curb appeal at fairly low costs in relation to other projects.

The top-ten midrange projects cited in Remodeling magazine’s “Cost vs. Value Report” that provide the highest percentage return are: 

1. Deck Addition (wood)  -  81.8 percent 
2. Siding Replacement (vinyl) – 80.7 percent 
3. Minor Kitchen Remodel - 79.5 percent
4. Window Replacement (wood) – 77.7 percent 
5. Window Replacement (vinyl) – 77.2 percent 
6. Major Kitchen Remodel - 76.0 percent 
7. Bathroom Remodel - 74.6 percent 
8. Attic Bedroom - 73.8 percent
9. Deck Addition (composite) – 73.7 percent 
10. Basement Remodel - 72.9 percent

 These numbers represent the national average and percentages may vary in your region.  To get information on projects that are the best investment for your area, check out the Remodeling magazine’s “2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report” published by Hanley Wood online at www.costvsvalue.com.  If you would like a copy of the Detroit area Cost v Value report contact P & B Finishers and we will send you one.

 Whether you are looking to sell your house soon, or are just looking to remodel for yourself, it makes sense to keep an eye on how the changes you make now will reflect on your biggest investment down the road.

 To find a professional remodeler in southeast Michigan, contact your local home builders’ association at http://www.biaremodelor.org/ or visit www.nahb.org/remodel.

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Michigan Appliance Rebate Program

The program will spur economic growth, save energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging appliance replacements.  This program will create jobs in retailing and manufacturing and Michigan companies make many of the products included in this program.  The Michigan strategy will have the following objectives: 

1. Complement existing utility energy optimization programs by providing rebates for appliances not covered by utility programs. 
2. Reach rural areas not served by utility natural gas programs.
3. Push the marketplace by providing rebates for appliances that exceed the ENERGY STAR standards.

 The program will start on February 10, 2010 and end when funds run out.  Rebates are not retroactive. Only Michigan residents will be eligible to participate and rebates are limited to one per product per household. Appliances have to be replaced.  Customers can go online or call a toll-free number to reserve a rebate. Participants will be required to mail in a rebate application and valid receipt for proof of purchase.        

Products to be Rebated	Rebate Level ($)	Targeted Quantity	Total Cost
Clothes Washers Tier 3*	$50	30,764	$1,538,200
Refrigerators  ENERGY STAR	$50	30,000	$1,500,000
Refrigerators  Tier 3	$100	28,073	$2,807,300
Dishwashers  ENERGY STAR	$25	10,601	$265,025
Dishwashers  Tier 2	$50	10,600	$530,000
Propane Furnaces –AFUE 95%	$300	4,280	$1,284,000
Propane Storage Water Heaters EF>=.67	$100	1,280	$128,000
Propane Tankless Water Heaters EF>=.82	$100	3,000	$300,000
Oil Furnaces  ENERGY STAR	$300	770	$231,000
Solar Water Heaters ENERGY STAR	20%, max $1200	200	$240,000
Total Rebates		119,568	$8,823,525

* Tiers refer to Consortium for Energy Efficiency standards.

Websites to reserve rebates:
http://www.MIrebates.com/ – Refrigerators, dishwashers, & clothes washers
http://www.michrebate.com/ – Furnaces & hot water heaters

 Call-In Numbers for additional information or to reserve a rebate:
1-866-621-8782 – Refrigerators, dishwashers, & clothes washers
1-888-MICHNRG (1-888-642-4674) – Furnaces & hot water heaters

P & B Finishers is a Certified Green Professional

Cheapest is Seldom Best — When to say “NO”

We’ve gotten a lot of calls recently for remodeling and I’m noticing an expected trend in the outcome of my sales calls: Contractors are quoting unbelievable (and unrealistic) prices for remodeling. This will be a problem that both contractor and homeowner will likely pay for in the end.

One of the most basic things a business must do to stay in business is make a profit. There is no faster way to go “belly-up” than to take jobs too cheap and break even or lose money on them. Yes, even the guy who breaks even will fail, sooner than you might think. And when that happens, you could get stuck with an unfinished project or long delays, a warranty claim that can’t be filled, or suppliers and tradesmen to pay — for a second time.

The best way to protect yourself is to hire professionals. There are a lot of “trunk slammers” coming onto the playing field right now. Unemployment is high. Almost anybody can drive a nail, paint, or finish drywall and that’s all it takes to be a remodeler–right?

Wrong.

It takes more. Professional remodelers know what it takes to run a successful business. They may have years of experience, hold a variety of credentials and even have college degrees. It’s not just about driving nails and finishing drywall. It’s about business practices and managment skills.

When you are ready to start a project you should always seek referrals from your family and friends who have used a professional remodeler before. If you don’t have that resource, call your local Home Builders Association or NARI chapter for recommendations of an accredited contractor in your area. Get three quotes from professional contractors. Look for professional designations such as NAHB’s Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) or NARI’s Certified Remodeler (CR). Earning these designations means the remodeler is serious about his/her business and wants to be successful at it…and that benefits you, the homeowner, too.

Review each quote carefully to make sure the contractors are bidding apples for apples. There’s nothing like getting well into a job then finding out the contractor didn’t include plumbing fixtures in the proposal.

How do you as a homeowner know when to say “no thanks?”

Look for the obvious first. A bid that’s considerably cheaper than others you’ve received should probably be dismissed immediately. A bid that’s considerably higher might also be dismissed but, you may want to make sure everyone is bidding the same thing and has the same allowances for fixtures, cabinets, etc. You’re usually better off taking the middle bid. Notice I said usually.

A professional will come to you with licensing, insurance and references, usually without your asking. Steer clear of uninsured contractors. They can be big trouble for you. You can be liable for them, their workers and any damage they may cause. If they ask you to secure the permit, beware. There’s usually a bad reason.

You can check licensing online in most if not all states. Remember that electricians, plumbers and HVAC (Mechanical) contractors must have their own corresponding licenses. The remodelers Builders’ License does not cover it. You can feel secure if you’re remodeler is using licensed electrical, mechanical and plumbing contractors and is providing you with all the necesary permits — Building, Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical — for the project. Remember too, that some jobs — painting, many repairs, cabinet replacements, etc. — don’t require a permit. Check with your local building authority.

If you’re still not sure, look for advice at your local Home Builders Association or check you state’s Builder Licensing Division for useful information. Oh, and don’t discount the gut feeling.

What’s a Certified Graduate Remodeler?

Good afternoon.

The Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designation is the title given to remodelers who complete the necessary educational course to achieve that recognition. They are also required to have aminimum of 5 years of remodeling experience.

The CGR course teaches business practices, marketing, contruction and project management, construction practices and numerous other subjects related to the industry.

Going a little deeper, finding a remodeler with the CGR designation means you have found a professeional. This remodeler is serious about what they do…serious enough to take the time for practical education and instruction in their field of expertise. It’s what helps distinguish those who just dabble or do side work from those who do high quality, professional remodeling.

I received my CGR designation 3 years ago and continually find value in the things I learned by attaining the designation. It helps me better serve my customers and give them a project that is of higher standards and better value.

It’s important to hire companies that know what they are doing and are seious about it.

–Lenox

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