FAQ

Start with an idea: 
The first step in planning a new kitchen or bathroom is one that you may have already taken – probably because it’s such a natural place to begin. Build an idea file. This is nothing more than a collection of things that appeal to you. Look through magazines and tear out photos of rooms, products and floor plans that catch your eye. Collect fabric, wall covering and surface samples. And don’t limit yourself to what you think you can afford at this point. The purpose of your idea file is to help you create a context, a look and feel that best reflects your personal tastes, and which will act as a stimulus and constant reference point for your plan.

Look closely at the space: 
Start to look closely at how you and your family use the kitchen and bathrooms. Note traffic patterns and how accessible the important features are to all family members. Question everything; don’t overlook the obvious.

Map out the terrain: 
As you make your observations, it also helps to map out your routine on paper. The best way to evaluate the functionality of a space is to give yourself a clear picture of what works – and what doesn’t work. As you do this, be sure to note all obstacles that now keep your current kitchen or bathroom from meeting your needs.

Set a budget: 
You’ve seen what you like. Now you’re getting a sense of how the things you like coincide with how you actually use the space. The next logical step is to look at what all this will cost you. Money is always an object, so this is a good time to determine just how much you want to invest in your kitchen or bathroom

Response given by the Staff at the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

The best wood cabinet finishes use a multiple step process of sanding, sealing, hand-wipe staining, finish coating of conversion varnish, and baking in an oven. Ask your Design Consultant for the finishing steps in the cabinet line(s) that interest you.

If you look closely at a wood cabinet door, you might discover flaws in the less expensive cabinet qualities such as:

• Globs of stain in crevices.
• Tiny dirt particles trapped under the finish.
• Rougher areas to the touch where uniform sanding procedures were absent.
• A murky look where the natural graining seems masked, a result of using a toner stain coat to blend the different wood pieces prior to the hand coat.

Because local cabinet shops rarely have the capital to invest in state-of-the-art finishing equipment, their finishes are usually the most suspect. Indeed, it is this cabinet quality that is most frequently being torn out in a kitchen remodeling project.

Excess moisture can result in warpage, swelling, and possible damage to the finish of the cabinets. Likewise, the lack of sufficient humidity, particularly during the winter, may produce equally drastic damage such as loosening of joints, warpage and checking. Preventive measures should be taken to control humidity during all seasons. A humidity level of approximately 35% is recommended. Warping of wood cabinet doors due to low humidity during winter months is a common condition that usually will correct itself when the humidity in the home returns to normal. Experience has shown that any tendency for cabinet doors to warp during the first heating season will not recur the second year. Leave your cabinet doors open for a few days after installation to allow both sides of the doors to adjust to your climate.

Lead times vary from 3-4 weeks to 12-18 weeks, depending on the manufacturer, cabinet construction, style, finish and the time of year.

Yes, we can install all products we offer. Our highly trained, experienced installers are some of the best craftsman in our service area.

Some homebuilders and remodeling contractors prefer that their own crews handle the installation. In those instances, we provide support services just as if we were doing the job ourselves.

No, we do not reface or refinish existing cabinetry. Past clients have found that new cabinets and countertops can be installed for a comparable investment. The ability to improve the kitchen or bath design is a bonus — an option not available when refacing.

We do not recommend placing a hot pan directly on any solid- surface countertop. Although most solid-surface materials remain stable in temperatures up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, extreme heat or flame will cause damage. Always use a hot pad or a trivet with rubber feet when placing hot pans or heat-generating appliances on your solid-surface countertop.

Engineered stone is a new category of surfacing materials commonly referred to as quartz surfaces. Quartz and silica are bonded together with polyester resins and colorfast pigments under extreme heat and pressure to produce an engineered stone that’s incredibly beautiful, and a durable surface with many advantages over quarried stone. An Italian company, Breton patented the process of making quartz surfaces over 15 years ago. Quartz surfaces are the leading countertop material in Europe and the Middle East, surpassing granite as the preferred choice for countertops.