Services: Kitchens

We do three basic levels of kitchen remodeling however there are  infinite variations within those levels.  With the slow down in the economy, other remodeling options that leave the cabinets in place to help control costs have also become more popular.  We are happy to help with these projects as well.

• Level 1 – Plaster and flooring remain. Replace cabinets and countertops. Paint entire room. This is a lower cost option to freshen the appearance of the kitchen and is a very good option if the walls and floors are in good condition.
• Level 2 – Gut the entire kitchen. Remove everything down to the framing. Upgrade electrical, add lighting and replace outdated wiring. Replace plumbing. Correct any framing issues. Correct any heating and ventilation issues found once the demolition is complete. Adding, moving or replacing a window or door is common during this type of kitchen remodel. Insulate walls, flooring and ceiling as needed. Install new blueboard and plaster. Install new cabinets, countertops and flooring. Install new baseboard, door and window trim. Paint the entire room.This is our most common type of kitchen remodel. It ensures that problems that are hidden behind the sheetrock are corrected and you are left with a beautiful updated kitchen that will perform perfectly for decades. Some examples of problems that are found and corrected during a full kitchen remodel are:
  • Corroded plumbing lines that can cause expensive water damage when they fail
  • Knob and tube wiring that is not suitable for today’s high power appliances and can pose a fire or electrical shock hazard
  • Openings in duct work that cause contaminated air to be blown into bedrooms and cause rooms to heat unevenly
  • Old insulation, no insulation or poorly installed insulation that is allowing heat to escape from your home and costing you money
  • Asbestos insulation around duct work creating dangerous air quality conditions
  • Amateur remodeling that creates unsafe conditions particularly through poor framing, plumbing and electrical work

  Some examples of amateur remodeling include:

  • Cutting out too much of a floor joist to run a plumbing line. This weakens the floor and can create sagging, cracked floor tiles and cracked plaster at best.
  • Moving or removing lally columns. This creates a similar problem where floors will sag and tiles and plaster will crack at best.  Collapses can occur in extreme circumstances.
  • Poor water management. If a window is not flashed correctly when it is installed it will allow water to leak into the wall which will create the perfect damp environment for mold to grow. It can also cause the framing to rot and hardwood flooring to cup. The same thing can happen with a poorly installed roof or siding.
• Level 3 – This remodel includes all of the components of level 2 but uses very high end finishes and/or pertains to a very large kitchen. For example, a 16′x32′ kitchen or a kitchen using fully custom cabinets that can be five times as expensive as a stock cabinet.  Other common options are to combine an addition with a kitchen remodel to increase the size of the kitchen or taking down a wall between the kitchen and the dining room to create a more open floor plan if the formal dining room is rarely used.

Whatever you might be considering, we have probably seen it before and would be happy to help guide you through the design and remodeling process.