Don’t be a victim of the Low-Ball
So you’ve decided to start a remodeling project and you want to start getting quotes. You notice that one is significantly lower than the rest. A low price is certainly attractive but it can also be a red flag. For example, you’ve decided to replace your kitchen cabinets and find one quote is $6,000 less than the rest. This is where you need to stop and ask why. There are many reasons, but here are a few to consider: 1. Something was missed in the quote. Sometimes, less than honest contractors will lowball a bid to get the job, then try to make back any lost money on change orders. In the end this may cause you to spend as much or more than the other quotes while also leaving you with a poor opinion of the contractor you hired. 2. It’s not apples to apples. It can be difficult to get a true apples to apples comparison when it comes to a custom remodel, but you should be able to get pretty close. Are the quality of materials the same? Do the timelines match up? Are you getting exactly what you want from each contractor? 3. Business practices. Is the company properly licensed to perform the scope of work? Are they insured? Will they be using subcontractors, or in-house employees? Unlicensed companies can surely do the work for less, but that can lead to greater headaches down the road. 4. Is there a warranty? Are the warranty terms the same? Is there a warranty? Be wary of any contractor that doesn’t provide a detailed warranty in writing. We pride ourselves in giving the most accurate quotes possible with a 30 day price promise. The only time the price will change is if you request a change in scope. We provide a 1 year warranty against defective workmanship on all of our cabinets. If you ‘re ready to begin your project, we would be honored to bring your vision to life.
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One of the questions we are frequently asked is “Why should we get custom made cabinets? Isn’t that more expensive?”
Sometimes custom work is more expensive up front. There is no denying that. But in the long run custom built cabinetry from higher quality materials and finishes can save you repair and maintenance costs. Many “custom” companies will happily supply you with particle board cabinets, stapled together, with a finish that might last a year. We do things differently. All of our cabinet boxes are made from high quality plywood, which is a much stronger material, and finished with modern 2 component polyurethanes specifically formulated for the cabinet market. What about odd spaces? Stock cabinets are made in widths of three inch increments. 18, 21, 24 etc. But what if the space from a cabinet to the end of the run is 19 ½ inches? You’ll be stuck with an 18 inch cabinet and a three inch filler strip. But when you buy your custom cabinets from us, we’ll make every cabinet to your specified width. Next time you’re in the market for an entertainment center, home office or full kitchen cabinet remodel, give us a call. We’d love to make your dream a reality. What to look for when hiring a cabinet refinisher.
While having your kitchen cabinets refinished is a very cost effective way to give your space a new look, it’s still an investment and one you shouldn’t take lightly. Here we’re going to look at some of the things you should look for when hiring a refinisher.
2. What products are they going to use? Is it solvent based, or water based? If solvent, be sure they explain the risks of those products (flammability, explosion). Is it paint, lacquer, or polyurethane? What benefits does one have over the other? Ask about durability, and resistance to chemicals, hand oils, kitchen grease, etc. Do they use an off the shelf product from one of the home centers? It’s almost guaranteed the finish will fail in about a year's time and you’ll be doing it all over again.We can all be tempted by low prices, but in that case the old adage is true. You get what you pay for. 3. Ask for a sample. Every refinisher should be able to provide you with a sample that you can see and feel, and this is what you should expect as a final product. 4.Ask about the process. Are the doors going to be sprayed on site, or in a dedicated shop? How long will they be in your house? Here, we only use the highest quality 2 component finishes specifically formulated for cabinets. We spray your doors and drawer fronts off site in a dedicated spray booth and while in your house we do our best to be minimally intrusive. Any remodeling project will have some level of disruption, but we do everything we can to make it a great experience for you. You’ve been thinking about painting your cabinets. So like many people do, you start the google search to see what it takes. Maybe you can save some money and do it yourself. There are hundreds if not thousands of DIY blogs out there that can teach you how to paint your cabinets for just a couple hundred bucks! That’s great, right! Easy as pie and a new kitchen over a weekend. There is only one problem.
Those blogs are all wrong. Now, before we get too deep, let me explain something. I’m not against anyone doing their own work around the house, aside from highly skilled trades like plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc. Always hire a pro for those. Painting is a very popular DIY project and a skill most people can pick up (generally speaking). It’s not that I think these blogs are wrong for encouraging you to pick up a paint brush, it’s the why, what and the how behind it. Let’s start with the why. There are usually two parts to this. The first, of course, is saving money. After all, who wouldn’t rather spend a couple hundred dollars rather than a couple thousand? I mean, those pros are so expensive. The second part is the sense of accomplishment one gets when finishing a medium to large scale home project.You can sit back, look at what you’ve done and be proud. Who doesn’t like that feeling? I know I do, which is why I do what I do. Now, let’s get into why these blogs are misleading you. It’s really simple. Let’s start with the what. Materials. There’s really nothing wrong with off the shelf primer and a gallon of good paint from your local home center or paint store, unless you use that paint on cabinets. I’ve seen these posts sing the praises of everything from latex paint, to milk paint to even chalk paint, and all of those are terrible choices for an environment like kitchens and baths. For instance, chalk paint needs to be waxed, and do you want a wax coating over everything in a steamy, moist environment like a kitchen? I know I don’t. These coatings will wear, flake and chip and before you know it, your cabinets look worse than before they were painted. (maybe we can call it rustic?) And lastly, the how. I know not everyone has access to spray equipment so a brush and roller may be the only option. But only the correct brush and roller combined with the right coating will give you a smooth, glass-like finish. That’s not an easy thing to do and is most likely going to leave you disappointed. And remember that money you saved? It may not be a savings at all when it comes time to refinish again. And if you decide to hire a pro, it will most likely cost more due to the increased time needed to prep those cabinets for a stellar coating. When we refinish cabinets, we remove the doors and drawer fronts from your home and spray them off site using high quality water based industrial grade coatings that meet or exceed the standards of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association. Unlike some other companies, we also spray your cabinet boxes. This is usually a two to three day process and while that may seem like a disruption to your daily life, we do our best to leave your most used items accessible during this time. This process allows us to give you the best quality finish possible. If you’re interested in renewing the look of your kitchen contact us for an estimate. I want to refinish my cabinets. What is the process? This is an often asked question when considering a kitchen cabinet refinishing. The kitchen is arguably the most highly trafficked room in your home, and being without one even for a short time is an inconvenience. When we refinish your cabinets, we'll remove the doors and take them off site to refinish them in our paint booth. This process, depending on the size of your kitchen, usually takes 2-3 days. During this time you can continue to use your kitchen as you normally would. When it comes time to put the new coating on your cabinets, we will come in, cover your floors with liquid impermeable paper, mask off your walls, counter tops and appliances with plastic, seal off the kitchen to prevent overspray throughout your home, and begin spraying. We will spray two coats of primer and one top coat. There is a minimum drying time of four hours between coats, so depending on the number of cabinets you have, this will be a two to three day process. The next day we will bring in the doors and reinstall them. And if you provide new cabinet hardware, we'll install it for free! We use only the highest quality 2 component water based polyurethane coatings for your home. They are low VOC, so you won't have to deal with any nasty chemical off gassing. If you want to give your kitchen a fresh new look, contact us today for a free quote. Hiring a contractor for medium and large jobs can be a stressful thing. Here are a few helpful tips to make the process smoother for both parties:
Know what you want Spend some time thinking about what you want and how you want it to look. Often times people overlook details such as style of cabinet doors, whether the shelves need to be adjustable or fixed, and what exact color you want. Gather photos from online sources if you have trouble finding the words to express your ideas. Set a budget We understand that it isn’t always possible to guess how much a custom job might cost. And if you know someone who had similar work done, bids from multiple contractors can be all over the map. Our free phone consultation can give you a rough idea of what you might expect when it comes to price. Check the license It’s easy for anyone to call themselves a contractor. But by only hiring a state licensed contractor you have more protections than you would by hiring someone who hasn’t gone through the process. In Arizona, a license can be verified at roc.az.gov. Contractors doing work totaling $1000 or more are required to be licensed. Get a detailed quote Our quotes include multiple drawings, a detailed list of materials and a comprehensive scope of work so you fully understand what we are doing, and also what we are not doing. This document can be used to ensure all work agreed upon has been performed. Ask questions Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Whether it’s about materials, scheduling, the finish or anything else we want you to be comfortable when it comes to decision time. Take time Lately we have had to keep our bids good for a period of 14 days due to the volatility of the lumber market. Don’t feel like you need to make your final decision in one, two or three days. Make sure all the details have been covered before you agree to the work. |
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