Remodeling Tips !!!
For a FREE Estimate Call 1-888-770-cdhb(2342) 
TIP # 1: Have a Plan!
You wouldn’t head off on a long expensive trip without a road map or plan of where you were going unless of course you were not concerned about the outcome and were excited about surprises along the way. Well, in remodeling, the only surprises are disastrous ones. Figure out what you want BEFORE you start and put it on paper with your Designer or Contractor. What is the layout? What are the exact products you want? What colors are you using? Answer and document all of these answers BEFORE a single hammer hits the wall.
TIP# 2: Don’t Start Until You Have Everything You Need
So your contractor demolishes the bathroom (the only one you have in the home by the way) and tells you that the tile you picked that he thought was going to come in today is delayed 6 weeks. Not a good scenario but, an all too often real one. Order the products, get them in, open the boxes and make certain they are the right color, not broken and fit together properly before you allow anyone to tear up your home.
TIP# 3: Hire a Professional. All Companies Are NOT Created Equal
A remodeling project is one of the largest investments you can make in your life and home. For example, a properly constructed bathroom remodel can return over 132% of the invested value. In contrast, a poorly constructed project can create damage that far exceeds the savings you thought you had enjoyed by hiring “the guy your friend used to paint his room.” Protect your assets and your personal belongings by hiring a licensed and insured contractor to build your project. Require a contract that lists EXACTLY what you are getting, a “guaranteed price” (a professional should be able to tell you exactly what it will cost) and a guaranteed time frame. Tell them to put their money where their mouth is and sign a penalty clause if they don’t finish on time. You’ll find out whthe real professionals are.
TIP # 4: Hire Experience
Jacks of All Trades abound in the remodeling and construction industry. Everyone wants to be everything to all people. You wouldn’t hire a heart surgeon to do a nose job so why would you hire a kitchen specialist to remodel your bathroom. Hiring someone who specializes in your type of project increases the experience level which leads to a much higher quality project, a more efficient and timely project and a higher level of product and design knowledge. Don’t let your general practitioner perform a chin implant. o
TIP# 5: Let Your Contractor Buy The Materials
I know. I know. You can save a few bucks if you buy that tub yourself and cram it into the trunk of your BMW. The problem is that most homeowners don’t know what to buy, what fits with what or how much to buy. Making a mistake in product procurement takes a great deal of responsibility out of the hands of the contractor not to mention the inevitable blame game that can ensue if something goes wrong. Do you really have time to go back and forth from the plumbing supply house to return the wrong thing and get the right one... five times!
TIP # 6: Don’t Make Changes
Changes are the single largest cause of remodeling nightmares. You’ve done everything right so far. You’ve followed the previous five secrets but you just can’t help yourself and you make changes during construction. Well... all bets are off. The schedule flies off track, your contractor can’t manage his or her time and new materials have to be bought. The key to not making changes is to LOVE your plan and be certain that your team knows exactly what you want. Yep. Back to secret #1: Have a Plan. But don’t just have one... LOVE IT! Don’t sign a contract until every product, color and layout is exactly what you want and then let the professionals go to work.
For a FREE Estimate Call 1-888-770-cdhb(2342)
Services: 10 steps to keep your cabinets looking great.
Cabinet care instruction:
1. Start with a soft, damp, lint free cloth to clean your cabinets. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain.
2. For stubborn sports, use a mild dish soap, rinse and dry immediately.
3. Extended exposure to water damages cabinetry. Blot, don’t wipe. Don’t drape wet towels over your cabinet doors.
4. Don’t use anything containing: ammonia, wax, solvents, silicone, citrus oils, bleach, organic solvents, harsh detergent or paste wax. Avoid all abrasives, including cleansers and steel wool.
5. A vinegar and water solution may be used sparingly.
6. Don’t activate your coffee maker, toaster, or any other heat generating appliance directly under the cabinet.
7. Don’t allow over cleaner to come into contact with your cabinetry.
8. Polish your cabinets yearly with a high quality furniture polish , available at your local paint supplier. Don’t use any furniture polish containing silicone, such as pledge on your cabinetry.
9. When clearing the glass door cabinets, do not spray glass cleaner directly on the door. This may damage or discolor the wood. Instead spar the cleaning onto a cloth first.
10. To clean cabinet hardware, most manufactures recommend gentle soap and warm water. Rinse and dry immediately.
| Measuring Your Kitchen or Room Below is a step by step guide for measuring the space for your cabinetry. NOTE: If you are remodeling, do not include current cabinetry or other furniture that will not be kept, such as kitchen tables, in your measurements. NOTE: All of your measurements should be in inches. For example, if you measure a wall that is 10 feet, write it as 120" ( a quotation mark (") denotes inches ). Sample Drawing
Tools needed: 1.) 2 Sheets of paper 2.) Pencil 3.) Tape Measure 4.) Helper 5.) These step-by-step instructions STEP 1 Draw shape of room (as if you are looking at it from the top) on the paper. Label the walls (wall #1, wall #2). Draw where the windows and doors are and label them as well. STEP 2 Draw in and label any obstructions such as radiators, pipes, sink plumbing, etc. that you either can not, or do not, want moved. STEP 3 A.) Using your measuring tape, measure the length of all the walls and write them down next to their appropriate number on your paper. B.) Measure the doors and windows. When you are measuring them, remember to measure from the outside of the trim on one side to the outside of the trim on the other side. As you are measuring, write down the measurements on the sheet of paper where you have already labeled them. B) Measure the ceiling height and write it in the center of your drawing. You might want to measure the ceiling in a few different spots because the height of the ceiling may change around the room. C) On your next paper, you will need to put some more information about the measurements. Measure from the floor to the bottom of each window, and write that down. Then measure from the bottom of the window to the top of the window, and write that down. Remember to measure using the inches mark on your tape measure.
STEP 4 Next to each wall, write the name of the adjacent room. If the wall is an "outside wall" write "exterior wall." STEP 5 A) Measure any obstructions such as radiators, pipes, etc. that you either can not, or do not, want moved. If the obstruction is close to a wall, measure out from the wall to the edge of the obstruction. Write these measurements on your first paper next to the labeled obstruction. B) Measure from the second closest wall to the edge of the obstruction. Write these measurements on your first paper next to the labeled obstruction. C) If the obstruction does not reach the ceiling, measure the height of the obstruction. You can write that information on your second paper. Final Step: Check your measurements. If your room is rectangular add up the measurements of the parallel walls and make sure they match (or are at least very close). For example, in our sample drawing, you would take the overall measurements of the top wall and add them together. Then do the same with the bottom wall. Once you have added each walls measurements check the totals to see if they match. | |||||
