Laminate Kitchen Cabinet Refacing
Lots of people don’t want to deal with the hassle of remodeling their kitchen. They don’t like the way it look but they’re not willing to put in the time, effort, and money it takes to redo the most popular room in the house. But it doesn’t have to create problems in the most trafficked room in the home and it definitely doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. It’s possible that your kitchen just may need some new cabinets. This doesn’t mean you necessarily have to fork out thousands of dollars by tearing out all the old cabinets and putting in new ones. You could just look into some cabinet refacing to find the look and change the feel of your kitchen. A great way to do this without hurting the pocket book too much is using laminate surface for your cabinets.
If your cabinets and shelves are in good condition then you don’t need to worry about tearing them out, purchasing new cabinets, and having them installed as well. When you tear them out it also adds an extra burden on preparing food in your kitchen and puts you out of a kitchen for a certain amount of time. That’s why a lot of people find that their shelves and drawers are in good condition so refacing the cabinet faces, drawer fronts, and cabinet hardware may be the only things that you need replaced. There are a variety of options to do this with but the least expensive and may be the most durable is laminate.
Since the cabinets will not be torn out you will not lose any down time in your kitchen. You just need to choose the type of laminate cover you want on the outside of your cabinets and drawers and then also choose the hardware to go with. The handles and knobs can also make the difference in the look of your kitchen. If you are happy with the layout with of your cabinets you can add little things to make them more efficient by adding cookie sheet dividers or silverware separators in your drawers.
Laminate covers are much less expensive than solid wood or stainless steel cabinets. This will help in your overall costs of remodeling your kitchen. Your cabinet refacing project can be affordable but still allow you to change your kitchen enough through using the laminate surface for all your drawers and cabinet needs.…
The Best Seasons For Home Improvement
The ideal seasons for a home improvement phase are during the spring and summer seasons. Make home summer changes and you’ll find that extra help is always just a stone’s throw away. The summer season is a very good time to move from one house to another house, one city to another city, or even from one state to another state. There are many summer deals and summer bargains during this season which involve your home summer changes like truck rentals, moving van rentals, storage house rentals, warehouse, rentals, and shopping deals. These kinds of bargains and deals are also available during spring season.
There are 5 stages for every home improvement project that you may go through when you are moving houses, changing cities, or changing states. These stages are as follows: concept, planning, implementation, assessment, and evaluation. Though, if you are going to make changes and alterations for your house: these 5 stages are also relevant to your objectives. For changes to be made in the interior make of your house, the first home alteration stage refers to the idea or concept behind the changes which you want to make. There are two kinds of remodeling concepts. The first kind is known as interior concepts while the second type of concept for home remodeling is known as exterior concepts. The concept distinction is quite simple to figure out. Interior concepts refer to the rooms of your house and the exterior refers to the entire surface structure of your house. When you have decided on a type of home remodeling concept, the planning stage involves activities where you can choose the materials you need, choose where to purchase these materials, and plan your expenditures around your financial budget. The expenditure phase includes home remodeling activities which involve the actual purchase of home development materials and the actual use of these materials for your house remodeling activities. The phase of assessment that follows implementation gives room for you to make additional adjustments in your house. Finally, your remodeling evaluation will come from your own feelings and from the opinions of your house guests regarding your remodeling work.
In the same way that home moving is ideally conducted during the seasons of spring and the seasons of summer, house remodeling projects are best implemented during the same aforementioned seasons. These seasons give you the best bargains and discounts on the materials that you need to purchase. You also get similar deals and discounts for the various types of home items which you might need. One of the most important remodeling stages is the planning stage, since this is the stage is where you decide on a purchasing budget for your house remodeling project. The success of your project centers on your plan for home improvement in either the interior or the exterior parts of your house. This will depend on your ability to work with your financial budget and not against it. So make sure that you keep a close watch on everything.…
Questions to Help Hire the Right Bathroom Remodeler
The bathroom has finally grated on your last nerve. The 80’s brown and orange has got to go. If you have reached a similar point, it can be very intimidating to decide on a bathroom remodel contractor. The last thing you want to do is discover that you have hired a sub-par professional. Not hiring a quality contractor can lead to the job costing more than estimated, missed job completion deadlines and much frustration.
To avoid this, be sure to interview several contractors. This will allow you to get a good feel for what is standard in the industry in your area and to become comfortable with the person you decide to hire.
Here are several questions you might want to ask during the interview process.
1) “How long have you been remodeling bathrooms?” This question is similar to “How long have you been in business?” but gets at the heart of the experience a particular contractor might have. He or she may have recently started a new business but has years of experience in the industry. Just because the business is new does not indicate that the job will be done poorly. However, it is probably best to ask both questions and steer clear of new businesses if you can. They may be good at the work but business issues can distract and cause delays.
2) “Are you insured?” This is a big one. If something goes wrong with your job you want to be sure that you can recoup losses and you are protected.
3) “Do you pull the appropriate permits and is this cost covered in the estimate?” You want to make absolutely sure you have proper permitting for your job. Not having permits can cause you to run afoul of government agencies and cause headaches. Making sure the costs are in the bid ensures you don’t receive add on “surprises” at job completion.
4) “Do you provide references?” This is a great way to help select an bathroom remodel contractor. By talking to previous customers, you can get a feel for the kind of work the contractor does and how he or she conducts himself during the job. You can find out if the workers were rude, cleaned up the job site poorly, played loud music, etc. These might not impact the quality of the job but they can be very frustrating and are good to know up front. Ask for several references from recent jobs.
These are just a few questions to ask. In the end, however, listen to your intuition and make sure you are 100% comfortable with the company you hire. Ask lots of questions and wait a day or two before signing a contract to give you time to reflect.
If you follow these guidelines you will much more likely to hire the right contractor for your bathroom remodel. Happy remodeling!…
Save the Planet – Going Green on Your Bathroom Remodeling Project
Last year, my daughter decided that she was going to go on a “Save the World” binge and do everything she could to save the planet. This meant that we had to sign up for recycling pick up, buy products with responsible packaging, only use recyclable products or products made of recycled materials, and remodel our bathroom. Yes, Salt Lake City bathroom remodeling can save the planet. After consulting with a contractor who doubled as an ecologist, I realized that some people might need a Salt Lake City bathroom remodeling guide- for going green.
Replacing the Windows
Believe it or not, you can save on energy costs by replacing old bathroom windows. As windows age, the seams that keep the weather outside will slowly spread open allowing for cold winter air and hot summer heat to find their way in. When you replace your windows you cut back on the cost of heating and cooling because you don’t have to have the AC and heater on quite as much. Saving energy saves on resources, and this can help save the planet.
Using Recycled Products in Your Salt Lake City Bathroom Remodeling Project
You’d be amazed at the amount of building materials that are being created out of recycled materials. There are wood floors made of reclaimed wood. There are custom countertops made of recycled glass.
Wasatch offers many renovation and remodeling services stores that offer these products for reasonable prices. If you have any green ideas that you want to turn into a renovation or repair project go right ahead and design your heart out. Creating an indoor haven out of recycled outdoor materials can save the planet by allowing the decrease in logging, a reduction in toxin producing processes, and less dependence on harmful energy production.
Reusing What you Already Have
In some cases, you don’t have to completely replace everything. You could opt for cabinet re-facing rather than cabinet replacing. Reuse the cabinets you already have but give them a new look but changing the color and putting on new fixtures. In Utah, Salt Lake City bathroom remodeling isn’t all about gutting and replacing- reusing is always an inexpensive way to remodel a bathroom and save a little bit of the planet in the process.…
Time For A Little Bathroom Remodeling?
A bathroom is supposed to be a room of comfort, for some a sanctuary. Just like all of us, after years of use, we start to look and feel a little worn and out dated. Think of a bathroom remodel as an eye lift for your home. How should you go about it?
The first thing you’ll want to determine is budget. Unfortunately, most of us have to be concerned with this factor, as it will dictate the extent and limitations of your improvements. Next, you will want to formulate a plan of attack for the renovations you would like to see done in your bathroom remodeling. Then you should locate a good contractor that will do the job for you.
The size of your bathroom is one of the most critical elements in deciding what to do, because it will determine the types and sizes of sinks, shelves, and fixtures that will be placed inside. Believe me, you don’t want to feel too cramped in your bathroom. If you have a small space to begin with there are opportunities to create the illusion of a larger space with a more open and uncluttered feel. The proper choice of fixtures should do the trick to create an illusion of openness. Choices like using a pocket door to save more space. If you have linen closets installed, you can replace them with wall cabinets.
You can actually purchase complete bathroom suites if you don’t want to purchase bathroom items separately. You can check your local showrooms or view them online. If you are working with a contractor, often times they have access to these types of assets for you to review as well. Try to find out which one will suit your taste and budget. Choosing a whole suite, if it works with your budget, can make a bathroom remodel project a little quicker and easier.
If your personal style requires you to get the items separately, you my want to analyze what current items could potentially work with your new vision. For instance; if you have a great bathtub already and a toilet that works, you could maximize your dollars by updating the floor, counter tops, mirror and lighting at a significantly lower price. You can often shop locally or online for great deals on these items yourself.
You can choose between different types of toilet seats and hinges and cisterns that are hidden or mounted on the toilet itself. Cisterns may also be operated by a push button or a lever.
Sinks come in different sizes and shapes and materials. Some are over-the-counter, some are under-the-counter, some are wall-mounted, and some are on a pedestal. You would be surprised at how much your bathroom space would change with a new sink and counter space.
Bathtubs are usually rectangular or circular and if space allows, you may have a shower room in the bathroom. You can pick your choice on the different kinds of standard and handheld shower heads.
The color of the wall and floor and material for the tile should be carefully chosen. Let it give an ambiance of cleanliness in the room, while not dating the look within a couple years.
A home remodel of a bathroom is not as daunting as it may seem if you proceed with proper planning. You may just feel comfort inside that you may not have felt before for a long time.…
Vinyl Composite Tile Versus Other Types of Flooring Material
Vinyl composite tile, also known as VCT, is a material preferred by many contractors and builders for floorings and walls. If you look at the floors and walls of new or newly renovated hospitals, schools, warehouses, factories and other commercial and industrial establishments, you will realize that most of them use VCT.
Although VCT is popular for commercial and industrial uses, there is no reason for you not to use this type of material for flooring at home. In fact, more and more households in the country are making use of vinyl tiles as an alternative to conventional flooring materials. In order to help you decide whether vinyl is best for you, check out the comparison between vinyl and other types of flooring materials.
Vinyl composition tiles are popular because they are not only affordable, but they are strong and durable as well. The average life span of vinyl tile flooring, particularly the one that is made of the highest quality, is around 15 years. For something that costs $2 to $5 per square foot, this can really be a good deal.
Besides, vinyl floor products that are sold in the market these days can be made to imitate the texture and appearance of most traditional materials. Furthermore, VCT comes in different colors, designs and styles. Whatever the motif or design of your home is, you will surely find a tile that will perfectly fit the look of your home interior.
It is without a doubt that wood is more durable and stronger than vinyl tiles. Even if you buy the most expensive VCT, well-maintained wood will still outlast the VCT when it comes to lifespan. Besides, wood flooring is also elegant and timeless. However, wood is very expensive, at least three times the price of ordinary vinyl. Wood can also warp or bend due to water damage.
When used for years, you will also see expansion and contraction of wooden materials. With VCT, you will not have a problem with water damage because this material is resistant to moisture. In case some areas of the vinyl flooring are chipped or damaged, you can easily replace the affected areas.
Carpet flooring is another preferred type of flooring in the US. This is also inexpensive and it comes in different designs and colors. However, carpet is quite difficult to maintain.
With vinyl composite tile, you will not have this problem. Cleaning and maintaining VCT flooring can be very easy and convenient.…
Bathroom Remodeling – Tips for Improving Family Bathroom Safety With Your Remodel
The bathroom can quickly turn into one of the most dangerous rooms in your home if it isn’t appropriately designed for safety. Safety is even more important if you have small children, elderly people, or someone with a disability in your home. If you decided to do a bathroom remodel, this is the perfect time to work in improving the safety of the bathroom for your family. Here are a few bathroom remodeling tips that are important for keeping your family safe and comfortable in the bathroom.
Tip #1 – Start with Non-Slip Flooring
One great tip for a bathroom remodel is to start off with non-slip flooring. The right flooring is essential in the bathroom. Your flooring needs to stand up to water, since the bathroom often deals with puddles and humidity. You also need to ensure that the flooring has a non-slip surface so there is less likelihood of a fall occurring.
Tip #2 – Avoid Steps if Possible
While many people feel that steps add some visual appeal to the bathroom area, you should avoid steps if you can for safety reasons. Steps that lead into the shower, tub or the bathroom can end up being dangerous. Older people and children are more likely to have problems with steps. Instead of using steps when you’re working on a bathroom remodel, consider adding a platform area around the tub. This allows you to easily sit down while getting in and out of the tub.
Tip #3 – Use Anti-Scald Faucets
When installing new faucets as a part of your bathroom remodel, make sure you use anti-scald faucets to keep your family safe. These faucets should be used on the sink, shower and bathtub. This is especially important if you have small children that will be using the bathroom. Anti-scald faucets will help prevent accidental scalding accidents in the bathroom.
Tip #4 – Go with Shatterproof Shower Doors
If you’re planning to have a shower that includes shower doors, make sure that you install shatterproof shower doors. Shatterproof doors are much safer in your bathroom. They won’t shatter, helping to prevent injuries within the bathroom area.
Tip #5 – Ensure Electrical Outlets are GFCI
It’s also important to ensure that the electrical outlets in your bathroom are GFCI outlets, which stands for ground fault circuit interrupters. These special outlets are designed for areas where water may accidentally be splashed in the area. Not only will they keep your electrical system safe, but they’ll help prevent electrical injuries from occurring in your bathroom as well.
Tip #6 – Use Grab Bars Throughout the Bathroom
You’ll want to make sure you add some grab bars throughout the bathroom as you remodel the bathroom area. Grab bars help to provide more safety in the bathroom, especially to those who are elderly or disabled. Of course, the entire family can benefit from the improved safety that comes with installed grab bars. These bars can be added in bathtubs, in showers and in toilet areas as well. When choosing grab bars for installation, make sure that you choose models that hold at least 250 pounds. You can find these bars in various finishes, shapes and sizes, allowing you to find the options that work best with your bathroom remodel.…