5 Questions You Want to Ask Your Kitchen Contractor Before Your Kitchen Renovation

When it comes to renovations the kitchen is a complex home improvement projects you can get involved in. As a homeowner you must make all decisions throughout the renovation project. The kitchen has changed from a place of simple food preparation to an open area, multi-functional space that is the soul of your home.

No matter what size, the kitchen is a big part of every modern household. Kitchen design contractors consider several elements including the size of the space, the desired style, trends, and the best use of space when preparing for each unique kitchen renovation. This installment will help offer you suggestions on the working with your contractor on planning for your new kitchen. Your contractor will go over elements such as appliances, cabinetry, surfaces, and finishes as well as material to use and extras that you desire.

Soon your dream kitchen visions will become a reality. Before you sign on the dotted line and hire a contractor there are a few questions to ask that will help you make sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. These questions will help ensure you stay within your given budget, your home is secured while contractors are working on the home and that you get your kitchen put back together in a timely manner.

How will you itemize your bid breakdown?

Tell the contractor to itemize the bid by breaking down the bid into stages, this will give you a better understanding of what you are been charged. Some contractors will supply you with an overall quote, but that’s not the best way to go if you want to make sure your contractor isn’t overcharging.

What are the extra costs outside the original quote?

Before your final deal signed with the contractor, make sure he or she isn’t going to add on extra fees without asking you first. This you make clear to him/her during the process of deal negotiations, that you will not bear or accommodate addition fees which are outside the real deal. Some contractors charge for things such as demolition, junk removal, painting, and other tasks. In some cases, you may be able to handle these things yourself to avoid extra charges.

Who are the members of your team that will be working on the renovation?

Security of your home matters, and it is foremost in a situation like this. Depending on the size of the contracting company, there might be few or many workers deployed to your home on daily basis during the period of the renovation, if you have children, pets or other valuable, it’s important that you get to know your contracting team before allowing them to enter your home. Once hired, you want to secure a plan with the team to make sure they’re properly locking doors, securing pets and keeping materials out of harm’s way.

What is the time frame on our kitchen remodeling?

Naturally, the duration of the project should be well spelled out; this will enable you to have proper time planning during the project execution having known the start and end date. It’s only natural to want a detailed timeline of your cabinet installation. Time contractors take in your home is time spent away from your kitchen, and it can be hard to spend several weeks eating out. You may even consider setting parameters for your contractor and asking for discounts and other incentives if work isn’t completed in the time frame you’ve agreed upon, and this will also propel the contractor to work hard to enable him to meet the time frame.

Can you provide references? Do you offer a warranty on your work?

You might meet contractors that will play down on you with the pretense of giving you the best of renovation job, as such you need more assurance that you are dealing with the right contractor, and you do this by looking for contractors that will guarantee their work with written warranties. If they don’t offer one at the outset, make sure you request one to protect your kitchen from sub-par workmanship or low-quality materials.

Also, if the potential contractor wasn’t recommended to you by someone you trust, or even if they were, it’s perfectly acceptable to do a little reference work yourself. If your contractor is happy to supply references, give past clients a call and gauge their overall feelings on the completed work he has done for them before now.

JFC Remodeling is a full-service licensed contractor out of Howell, Michigan. Specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations, flooring upgrades, and home remodeling services. More information can be found online at https://jfcremodeling.com/.

August 23, 2018

Dark or Light Cabinetry in Kitchen- Which Is Better

You have finally decided that it is time for those kitchen renovations you have been thinking about for so long and now you are faced with the 101 important decisions that goes into every kitchen remodeling task. One of the most important decisions is in regard to kitchen cabinetry since they take up a great deal of space in your kitchen and are the first things most people notice when entering the room.

Along with the style of your kitchen cabinets you also must decide whether to go with dark or light cabinetry. The decision to have either light or dark cabinets will depend on many things including your own personal preference and even the reason for your kitchen renovations. Here is a look at the benefits and drawbacks of both light and dark cabinetry.

Light Cabinets

Choosing light cabinetry can make a small kitchen look larger and if they are the same color as the walls and back splash they can also make your kitchen appear more spacious. In addition, light cabinets especially those that are white gives your kitchen a more sanitary feel. In addition, light cabinetry is suitable for any wall and counter top color.

However, you do keep in mind that light cabinets show dirt far more easily than dark cabinets so may not be a good choice for families with small children. Light cabinets also show wear and tear more such as cracks more easily dark cabinets.

However, if your kitchen remodeling is being done in order for you to sell your home for a higher price the recommendation is that light cabinets may help the overall price of your home more than dark cabinetry.

Dark Cabinetry

Dark cabinetry on the other hand can work well in larger kitchens especially against a light-colored background such as your walls and back splash as well as a kitchen with good lighting. Dark cabinets add a warmth and richness to your kitchen you don’t get with light cabinets. They also can look quite sophisticated depending on the style of cabinets you choose. For example, dark gray kitchen cabinets can look stunning against light walls and light marbled counter tops.

Dark cabinets are less likely to show dirt so may work better if you have small children in the house. They are also less likely to show wear and tear such as cracks.

Other Considerations

There are other considerations that go into choosing light or dark cabinetry when doing a kitchen remodeling. One of the most important considerations is your own taste and the style of the rest of your home. If all of the furniture throughout your home is dark, then light cabinets may look out of the place with the rest of your home. The reverse also is true, dark cabinets may look out of place in a home that is mostly light neutral colors.

As you can see when it comes to light or dark cabinets one is not clearly better than other it just depends on your own personal style and taste and the reason for your kitchen renovation project.

JFC Remodeling, out of Howell, Michigan, offers a variety of construction services for the home including: kitchen and bath remodeling, flooring renovations, and home remodeling. You can find out more information at http://www.jfcremodeling.com or by reaching out to our home renovation specialists at 810.923.1123.

July 6, 2018

Most Popular Bathroom and Kitchen Remodeling Trends of 2018

More and more people are looking to stay in their current homes longer and not having to go through the hassle of selling their home and buying a new one in order to get something new that they don’t currently have. This makes contractors and interior designers really happy because it gives them more opportunities to help people figure out how to breathe new life into their old house.

It seems every year there are new trends and new ideas in the remodeling world and two of the more popular spaces in the home to remodel is the kitchen and bathrooms. This article will be looking into new trends for 2018 in order to help give you some ideas for your own home.

The Top 5 Trends in the Bathroom and Kitchen in 2018

For the Bathroom

Smaller, more efficient size – Smaller sometimes is better and in the case of today’s bathrooms smaller has become better. Fitting more into a small space is definitely the in thing.

High tech toilet – Features like heated seats, automatic opener/closers, air drying and even some with built-in automatic deodorizers.

The revival of the brass and gold fixtures – The use of gray tones in bathrooms now are beckoning to the return of the brass or gold tone fixtures to add a much less chrome look.

New style vanity lighting – Lighting in today’s bathroom is much more a much more integral part of the bathroom designs. There are much more options in lighting with pendants and lighting bars to go along with the sconces.

Underfloor heating – In the colder climates, having the floor warmed under your feet in the winter adds that extra touch of luxury.

For the Kitchen

The smart kitchen – Smart kitchens today have gone beyond the smart appliances to include motion sensing faucets and lighting that can be controlled by your smartphone. We are almost to the point of the nearly automated kitchen.

Cabinet colors – White cabinets are still number one for cabinet colors with a light gray a distant second. However, when there is an island there should be darker colors to contrast all of the white or light grays.

New textures and material – The trend has been reducing the number of upper cabinets to give the kitchen a more open look and feel. Having open shelving where storage is needed and more textures to the backsplash for the necessary focal points.

Quartz countertops – Quartz countertops are still all the rage since there is such a wide range of colors you can choose, and they look fabulous all the time.

In cabinet storage systems – With kitchens almost never having enough room or a pantry is not always an option, in cabinet storage is a simple solution that would work in almost all situations.

July 6, 2018

Remodeling for a More Accessible Home For Seniors

As people age, there always seems to be more and more limitation that makes it difficult for them to be able to do the simple things that they once took for granted. Whether it not being able to climb the stairs like you used to, to be able to stand for long periods of time or even reach items in the kitchen like you used to. All of these things could happen over time or change due to a medical issue that makes it difficult to do the things that you use to do with relative ease.

These days more and more families are taking in their senior parents rather than see them have to live out their senior years in a home. While some medical reasons may make that necessary, most people would rather make it where their parents can either stay in their own home longer or simply move into their home.

To be able to do this there are often things that can be done to remodel their home or your home in order to make life a bit better for them. Some things are quite easy and other things will require a bit of remodeling and that usually means hiring a contractor and could cost a pretty penny. Below is a short list of some of the things that we came up with. Remember, not all of these will apply to your unique situation.

10 Things to consider when remodeling for a senior person

Pay attention to the specific needs of your senior parent or loved one – Always remember that you are doing this for your loved one and you need to include them in any changes to be sure they fit with them. One size remodeling truly does not fit all.

Be sure you have a complete plan of what you want to do – Be sure to formulate a plan and put it in writing so that you have something to follow when you go to put your plan into action.

If you have any doubts bring in a professional to evaluate the home – While you may be able to come up with some good ideas, you may want to have a professional come in and evaluate the home and make some recommendation.

Remove any obstruction in all access points – A very simple change that virtually anyone can make is to remove any and all obstructions at points of entry in a room. When you have difficulty walking even a bump in the carpeting can cause an obstruction.

Talk to all of the professional caregivers of your parents to get ideas – Another great resource for you to consider is to talk to all of the people who provide care for them to get some ideas on how to make their home life better.

Get a professional contractor – When the time comes that you need to do any type of structural changes to your home you should bring in a professional contractor for advice and help.

No-step entry is the first best step – Like the obstructions at all access points into/out of a room, a no-step entry point into and out of the home is a must. This will more than likely require you to hire a professional.

Consider pocket doors versus swinging doors – Turning door knobs and twisting handles on doors can be difficult for seniors, if it is possible you should consider replacing all of them in the home.

Electric stair lifts – Having a two-story home climbing stairs for many seniors is not only a chore but at times it can be potentially extremely dangerous. If you can afford it look into the electric stair lifts, it will give all of you peace of mind.

Reconfiguring the home – If climbing stairs are completely out of the question then you should immediately look into reconfiguring the lower level to have everything on one that level for them.

Learn more about licensed and insured general contractor Glen Miller the Home Doctor and the variety of home improvement services he offers clients including: home maintenance plans, handyman services, kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, handicap ramp installations, age in place modifications, basements transformations, and hardwood flooring installation and refinishing at www.glenmillerthehomedoctor.com. To contact Glen Miller the Home Doctor call 734.255.9793 for a free estimate.

June 21, 2018

The Ultimate Guide for Kitchen Remodeling

Home remodeling takes a lot of your time, energy, focus, and money. Whether you are renovating your bedroom, bathroom, lounge, kitchen, or even the entire house, you must plan everything from your budget to the color schemes and how to make it all work together.

In home improvement, kitchen remodeling is the most lucrative as well as painstaking. It is the center of every function in your house. It is especially difficult when you must live in the house as it is being renovated. Contractors do their best to work with families throughout this stressful time to ensure that homeowners can still use parts of their kitchens.

To simplify the predicament, we have made a list of top 5 tips to help while you are having your kitchen space remodeled.

Budget

Before you start remodeling, you must determine that how much money you are willing to spend on home remodeling. In the case of remodeling a kitchen, you must decide that you want a low-end, medium-end or high-end kitchen. For that purpose, you can scan the market and your residential area that what type of kitchen designs are being adapted there. From that you can decide for the optimum choice that you want to consider for your kitchen. Kitchen remodeling contractors will often help homeowners with this process.

Changing or Keeping the Existing Floor Plan

If you are on a budget, home improvement plans can be a tricky situation and in kitchen remodeling changing your plumbing and/or your kitchen layout can be even trickier. As a rule of thumb, if you change one section of your plumbing or move the position of your appliances, it adds an extra $5000 to your budget. It looks very easy to change your plumbing and floor plan, but in fact it is not easy at all. Whatever you decide to do, you should always keep in mind the triangle shape between your stove, refrigerator and sink for the optimum use of the workspace and traffic flow in your kitchen.

Bring Focus to Your Cabinets

New cabinets, new flooring, and new appliances are not the only solutions to consider when having your kitchen remodeled. Refacing existing cabinets, adding splashes of color, updated hardware and accessories can make a lot of difference.

Incorporating Color

You can add a new life and buzz into your kitchen by incorporating contrasting colors in it. It will give a visual interest to your kitchen. It is important in all home improvement projects that you choose a color pallet that accentuates all the good features within your home. Similarly, in your kitchen you can make a contrast of a bold and a neutral color or if you are going for a monochromatic look, you can choose contrasting tones.

Small Changes Make Big Impacts

There are many ways to renovate your home and kitchen. When deciding what and how you want each space done consider why you are remodeling. Are you remodeling spaces to add functionality or mainly for aesthetic purposes? If it is for functional purposes? If yes, then many times your renovations will be a bit costlier as they may require moving walls, electrical outlets, lighting, and plumbing. If you are remodeling mainly for aesthetic purposes and a change in the look of your space is desired then changing the color of paint, updating accessories, and some modified lighting may be more than enough.

We hope that the tips that we have mentioned above will give you the idea on tips and tricks required while remodeling your kitchen. JFC Remodeling, out of Howell, Michigan, offers a variety of construction services for the home including: kitchen and bath remodeling, flooring renovations, and home remodeling. You can find out more information at http://www.jfcremodeling.com or by reaching out to our home renovation specialists at 810.923.1123.

May 11, 2018

Professional Kitchen Renovations Can Increase Your Home’s Value

A kitchen renovation is one of the smartest ways to add value to your home and you can achieve this by hiring a licensed contractor. Real estate experts agree that a well-designed and updated kitchen attracts buyers. Whether you are doing a complete kitchen remodeling or simply making a few updates, homeowners can improve the appeal of their home and increase the value with a professional kitchen renovation.

According to the industry, a homeowner can expect to recoup about 95% of the cost of a major kitchen remodel. This makes it one of the best remodeling choices for homeowners looking to increase their home value. A modern kitchen makes your home more valuable and more attractive to buyers when the time comes to sell.

The kitchen is the heart of a home. It is a place to gather as a family, visit with friends, and share meals. Because it is one of the most popular rooms in the house, kitchens tend to suffer a lot of wear and tear over time. Countertops, appliances, and flooring can get worn and damaged, decreasing the style and appeal of the room. Below are some common areas of interest that are addressed in remodeling.

Kitchen renovations may include knocking down walls to add space or redesigning the layout to improve functionality. Homeowners have the chance to design the room they have always wanted. Make the most of it by increasing storage space and improving traffic flow.
Consider upgrading your appliances to high-efficiency models. Not only can they save you money in energy costs, you may be eligible for tax rebates. Be sure that your electrical wiring and plumbing are properly installed by a licensed contractor to prevent damage and ensure that your appliances will work correctly.
Your existing cabinets can be re-surfaced, or you may decide to replace them entirely with new ones. A licensed contractor will help choose a countertop surface that will blend well with your cabinets. Stone, especially granite, used by a licensed contractor when doing your kitchen remodeling gives your kitchen an up-scale and classic look that will last the lifetime of your home.
Hardwoods and ceramic tiles are the most popular choices for kitchen flooring. Both materials are attractive to buyers and need very little maintenance to look good.
Lighting is extremely important in the kitchen. Ambient lighting will keep the room bright. Task lighting illuminates the food prep and cooking area. Under cabinet lighting can accentuate the beauty of your room.
A wall color that will accentuate your new cabinets, flooring, appliances, and countertops. Consider the addition of a colorful backsplash or accent wall to create a focal point in the room.

Kitchen remodeling is a large project and can take months to fully complete. Discuss a timeline and a specific budget for your project with a licensed contractor so you will know what to expect. Not every homeowner is willing or able to complete a large-scale kitchen remodeling. Even minor improvements can change the entire look of your kitchen and make it more appealing to potential buyers. Whether you are selling your home or simply want to improve the room’s appearance, small projects like painting or replacing outdated appliances with a licensed contractor can make a big difference to the value of your home.

March 8, 2018

Eye-Catching Kitchen Cabinet Details You Will Want to Use In Your Kitchen Renovation

Kitchen and bathroom renovations are the in-thing and for good reasons. There are stunning kitchen cabinet designs that you will love to have for your kitchen’s new facelift. If your kitchen’s layout works for you, you do not need to spend thousands of dollars for a complete kitchen remodeling. Instead, work with a licensed contractor to design your kitchen improvements to keep some of what you have and replace the cabinet doors or fronts depending on your budget.

Glass Kitchen Doors

Glass is very versatile and can be used in almost any part of the house to create a luxurious feel. You want the help of a licensed contractor to help you chose a high-quality glass so that it remains flush with the cabinets for its entire lifetime. Instead of leaving the doors bare, your contractor can add an X-design on the front to give it a sophisticated look and finish.

Copper, Brass, and Bronze Cabinet Handles and Faucets

Warm, soft shades of brass, burnished copper and hammered bronze are all the rage right now and has recently appealed to designers as a modern interior trend. These elements are a fantastic alternative to traditional fittings. The good thing brass matches with any color, making it ideal for a kitchen, and because it is reflective, it will make your kitchen look bigger. Brass and copper add an earthy feel to a kitchen when used on the kitchen islands, cupboards or stovetops, plus cleaning is a breeze.

Metallic Screen Doors

The metallic screen door pattern can either be of chrome, aluminum, bronze, or brass and can be used on the doors to add a touch of luxury and to let the cabinets breathe while at it.

Cabinets with Exposed Hinges

If they are not too busy looking for your space, exposed hinges give a period feeling to any kitchen. Imagine white or brown wooden cabinetry with rustic, or black exposed hinges.

Modern Minimalist

Think clean lines, muted monochrome colors, and minimal embellishments.

Under-Cabinet Lighting

Installing lights inside your cabinets is not only functional, but it also enhances the décor, saves energy, and brings about a soothing ambiance.

Backsplash

A kitchen is not complete without a modern backsplash that will fit in with your cabinets and transform your entire cooking space. Backsplashes come in a wide variety of colors, styles and materials such tile, stone, glass, ceramic, that extend from the countertop to the ceiling to lend a contemporary look and warm up a sleek, contemporary space.

February 9, 2018

Clever Kitchen and Bathroom Storage Ideas

Both kitchens and bathrooms are filled to the brim with a number of different accessories. In fact, it would not be a stretch to call them the busiest rooms in the entire house because of how many valuable accessory objects that they hold. Therefore, it is essential to effectively utilize as much space as possible and use every single inch in a useful manner. It is imperative for you to know how to use your space while undertaking kitchen and bathroom remodel. A licensed contractor can bring the most out of the two rooms and their renovations.

Here are some very clever kitchen and bathroom storage ideas to use during kitchen and bathroom remodeling:

Kitchen Storage Options

The kitchen is the room where most of the hard work takes place. Therefore, it is important to make sure that there is less clutter all around it. A clean and tidy kitchen ensures greater productivity.

Following are some clever ideas to tell your licensed contractor for kitchen storage:

Plastic Bag Holder

Place this holder inside the door of a cabinet to make sure it is just as usable but does not interfere with anything. It saves a lot of space.

Racked for Cans

Placing cans all around the kitchen can cause a huge clutter and interfere in many kitchen tasks. Placing all the cans on a designated rack ensures less of a clutter and more organization.

Knife and Measuring Cups Hanger

Much like a plastic cup holder, you can make a holder for knives for measuring cups inside cabinet doors. This ensures usability while also saving a lot of space.

Wine Glass Molding

To save space while also not letting go of your glasses, you can always add a wine glass molding to your kitchen and hang all appropriate glasses from it.

Cookware Organizer

Instead of using standard cabinets for cookware and utensils, it is better to install cabinets that act as cookware organizers. This helps to organize your cookware while making it ready to use.

Bathroom Storage Options

Bathrooms are one of the most used rooms in the entire house. Having a number of accessories in them, such as towels, mats, lotions, body sprays, and such need a lot of care when organizing bathrooms. Here are some clever bathroom storage options:

Wall Cabinet

The most simple of them all, the wall cabinet helps you keep most of your bathroom accessories in the wall and not have them lying around. While making everything neat, it also makes the accessories more accessible.

Vintage Storage

Having small straw storage closets beneath your sink is a great way to keep your things at hand and secure.

Storage Tower

Storage towers are a great way of keeping your things right in the middle, while keeping them all in one place. This is a great way to store toilet paper, towel, and such.

Storage Ladder

Much like the storage tower, the storage ladder keeps your accessories in one place. Preferably the corner. These ladders are also perfect for hanging towels.

Ask Your Contractor For More Ideas

Give your licensed contractor all these great ideas when you are having your kitchen or bathroom remodeled. Most contractors will have some tricks of their own when it comes to extra storage in kitchen and bathroom renovations.

January 11, 2018

Hiring a Contractor Verse Remodeling On Your Own

There is so much plumbing involved in kitchen and bathroom remodeling contracts that it can represent a problem for most do it yourself homeowners. Unless you know exactly what you are doing, hooking up pipes and rerouting them, you can end up with quite a disaster. This is where professional contractors for the home come in to play. They know the intricacies involved in full service home remodeling including how to connect and route plumbing correctly.

If you are not used to dealing with circular saws or other types of machinery needed to do the job, they can be dangerous for a novice. Many people have been hurt using these over the years. Proper operation is a must. Think about that before ever taking on a home improvement job on your own. It is best to be safe and hire a professional for renovations around the home.

Many times what contractors find is that a do it yourselfer will begin a project and end up hitting a snag. They will not understand how to work out the problem which will lead to another project around the home that goes incomplete. Then a professional has to be called in anyway. Does this sound familiar?

Calculating Cost Mistakes

You could easily calculate the cost of a kitchen and bathroom remodeling project wrong. There are lots of little things that can be forgotten and not correctly accounted for when pricing out a project of this magnitude. These mistakes are easy to make; measuring too much pipe, not enough tile, or buying insufficient hardware to complete the project are all problems novice homeowners run into when attempting renovations on their own.

Benefits of Hiring a Contractor

A contractor is trained to handle all the pitfalls that come in full service home remodeling. They can work promptly to finish your project. There is typically a guarantee offered in case something is not right after they are done. Contractors will come back and fix it to your satisfaction.

It is best to hire the right contractor to do all kitchen and bath remodels to guarantee the job is done right. This will give you some backup in case there are problems that arise during the process.

Tips on Kitchen and Bathroom Artistry

It is important that homeowners take their time when looking to find a contractor. Most homeowners will seek out three professional estimates and meet with each contractor before deciding on who they wish to hire. When it comes to your home yellow pages roulette will just not work. Homeowners need face time to get to know the contractor and develop a relationship. Intuition plays a big role in who ends up getting hired. Some homeowners say they simply feel it when they finally decide who will perform with the level of artistry you deserve.

Another thing to look into is a contractor’s portfolio. A company’s website is a great place to begin but also ask to see projects throughout the entire time the company has been in business. It is also important to speak with the companies references. Contractors with sufficient experience will have several references of jobs performed recently and in the past. Be bold and call the references that have been given with the contractor. Watch their reaction and you will get a sense of who they are. Even if this makes you uncomfortable it is necessary to see how the contractor reacts in this situation. Also, it is a great way to hear both sides of a conflict, if there was one and how it was resolved.

Obtain everything in writing. A written documentation, signed by you and the contractor, is really the only thing that guarantees can be based off of. All kitchen and bathroom contractors will readily supply homeowners with a detailed written agreement that describes what work is to be performed, materials to be used, and time frame in which the job is to be completed.

Final Thoughts On Hiring a Full Service Home Remodeling Company

These key points should help during the journey into the unknown of remodeling. The goal is to achieve quality craftsmanship at a price that you are comfortable with. Listen to your intuition as it often provides the answer to the hardest of questions when it comes to hiring a contractor and more.

Kearns Brothers is a full service home remodeling company that specializes in customer satisfaction with guaranteed results in bath and kitchen remodeling, commercial and industrial roofing, siding, and more. For more information check out our website at https://www.kearnsbrothers.com or call our experts at 888.355.6700.

How will you itemize your bid breakdown?

What are the extra costs outside the original quote?

Who are the members of your team that will be working on the renovation?

What is the time frame on our kitchen remodeling?

Can you provide references? Do you offer a warranty on your work?