| Author |
Message |
    
summerbabe
Citizen
Username: Summerbabe
Post Number: 41
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 11:59 am: | 
|
Hey all,
We are planning a kitchen renovation in the next couple of months and we're looking for advice about whether we need to hire a contractor or not. Here's what we want to do:
new floor -- hardwood to replace linoleum
new countertops -- soapstone to replace linoleum
new backsplash and partial wall - subway tile
custom bookcase/hutch -- to be built
We're keeping the cabinets and sink, and there is no relocation of any electrical or plumbing.
Also, we're not sure how this whole process works: Does the contractor select the subcontractors or do we, because we would want the same guy to do our floor that did the rest of the floors in our house?
If anyone has any information/experience with this whole process, we'd really appreciate it! Thanks!
|
AES
Citizen
Username: Room_to_move
Post Number: 18
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 12:04 pm: |
|
We did almost exactly the same project - new floors, new counters, subway tile backsplash, paint and custom built table and benches. We did not use a contractor, just hired each person individually. It probably took more time but we were happy with the prices we got. Good luck! |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 3846
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 12:11 pm: |
|
From my 10 years renovating this house I have to say it sounds fairly cut and dried.
If you're not ripping out walls or cabinets, plumbing or electrical, you're basically changing it cosmetically. I would get a tile guy & contact the stone yard first and foremost. If you're leaving the cabinets in place, I'd have a wood floor guy come in to look, but I wouldn't do the floors until after the tiling. Perhaps you can try to rip out the lino on your own...you may have hardwood beneath that just needs to be sanded buffed, stained and polyed. The bookcase/hutch is not hard. Just go to an unfinished furniture place —I recently did a built-in looking desk this way, got all the components and had a custom top built from American Woodline in Union, they finished it too. There are a lot of styles which would probaby match your existing cabinets nicely. |
Jennifer Pickett
Citizen
Username: Jpickett
Post Number: 142
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 12:21 pm: |
|
We also are doing the same without a contractor, but it does take time to hire each individual person. Getting someone to do your floors and countertops will be a snap. I'm not sure about the other two- does the wall need to be built or just tiled? Depending on the nature of that part of the project, and if it requires permits, it might be good to have a contractor to get guys to come in for little jobs (drywaller and framer, tiler, carpenter), it is hard for a homeowner to get people to come in for small stuff.
A contractor may be reluctant to use your floor guy, since he would then be responsible for the quality of work of someone he may not know. I'm sure you can make the floor a separate project.
I would recommend getting a quote from a contractor to help you decide. If the number sounds good to you, it is worth having him do the thinking, calling, supervising, etc. for you. If it comes out too high, or contractors are unresponsive (which they can be if your job comes out to less than $5K and they have more lucrative jobs lined up), you may decide you are better off doing it yourself. |
summerbabe
Citizen
Username: Summerbabe
Post Number: 42
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 1:02 pm: |
|
Wow -- thanks for all the suggestions! It is definitely just a cosmetic renovation. We love our old farmhouse cabinets and we have an awesome milkglass-green color sink that we adore. We basically want to spruce up everything around it so it looks like the classic white French/'40s-looking kitchen that you see in the Williams-Sonoma catalog.
Jennifer -- No new walls to be constructed, just want to extend the subway tile backsplash up the wall on one side, so one entire wall will be subway tile.
VIG -- The cabinet we would want would go next to an already-existing pantry that goes all the way up to the ceiling, so I'm not sure if an already-built piece from a unfinished furniture place is going to look right or fit, but I'd be happy to check it out, especially if it's cost-effective! |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 550
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 1:06 pm: |
|
We also did something similar, without a general contractor. I hired all the trades individually -- plumber, electrician, countertop/tile person, etc. It probably did take longer, but the kitchen was never completely out of commission, and the price was definitely right. |
summerbabe
Citizen
Username: Summerbabe
Post Number: 43
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 1:09 pm: |
|
Mim & AES-- May I ask how long your renovations took? We are hoping to do this in about five months since we have a bambino coming then. Is that an unrealistic goal? |
mimi
Citizen
Username: Mimi
Post Number: 196
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 2:03 pm: |
|
summerbabe,
we are in the process of making similar cosmetic improvements to our kitchen. like you, we love our simple wood cabinets. we're keeping the them, sanding, repainting a soft white (greyish white called panda white), and replacing hardware with stainless handles to match our new appliances. we're also ripping out our formica counters and backsplash. putting in new butcherblock counters. adding a white subway tile backsplash. adding floor to ceiling open shelves where we ripped out the old fridge (we put our new fridge in the nook where the pantry used to be). repainting the whole kitchen. and adding a restaurant-style butcher block island and new lighting fixtures. we already redid the floors when we did the rest of the house before moving in this summer. we're doing everything ourselves save the counter installation because we don't have the tools to cut out the sink and mitre the corner seams.
i can attest to the fact that the job itself is a relatively quick and easy one (except for the floors, since removing linoleum and resanding is bound to be messy). especially considering the dramatic results. we also have a bambino arriving (ours in just 1 month--congratulations to you!), and after 2 weekends of work (and not crazy work, considering my state), we only have the new counter install, the backsplash, and the reattaching of the cabinet doors to complete. we expect the kitchen to be completely finished in 2 weeks--that's a total of 8 working days start to finish.
you'll be finished in no time. 5 months is totally reasonable (imho), even if you hire a different contractor for each leg of the job.
good luck.
|
AES
Citizen
Username: Room_to_move
Post Number: 19
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 2:55 pm: |
|
I would agree about 5 months. Ours took longer but that was because we had to replace our countertops 3 times (problems with Silestone, ultimately went with granite.)
Good luck! |
summerbabe
Citizen
Username: Summerbabe
Post Number: 44
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 4:24 pm: |
|
Great! I think we will go without a general contractor and just hire individual subcontractors ourselves to do the work. Thanks everyone (and congrats Mimi--I can't believe you've done all that work on your own with only a month to go!). |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6609
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 4:32 pm: |
|
Do you have a good marriage counselor?
It's quite doable but stressful. I only say this because you sound like first-timers. Even in the simplest projects, there are always "surprises" in these old houses and it can get really frustrating when no one particular person is in charge.
I am not advocating one way or the other and I am all for saving money, but do lots of research on how these things are done. Otherwise, you are at the mercy of whatever each one tells you. You are also at the mercy of each person's schedule. Someone doing a small job for you (like a floor or tiling) may give preference to the GC who throws him a lot of work if two jobs are ready at once.
VIG is right about the floors - are your cabinets currently sitting on top of flooring? Will there be clearance for doors to open, dishwasher to come in & out, etc. or will cabinets have to be moved to sit level on the new floor.
DIY contractor is a great way to go, but you must know what you are doing and what to look out for. We've done it both ways. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 321
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 11:31 pm: |
|
AES, may I ask what was your problems with Silestone? That is the quartz product, like Cambria, right? We are strongly leaning toward that over granite since it is more scratch resistant and much less porous. (heard it is about the same cost as granite too, at $65-$100 sq.ft.)
Thanks, Peg |
Mummite
Citizen
Username: Mummite
Post Number: 206
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 8:28 am: |
|
We compared Silestone to granite and it was much more expensive. Granite is scratch resistant - it'll blunt your knives but it has to be sealed to reduce absorbency rate/stains. |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 553
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 9:17 am: |
|
I started in July and finished in late September. I did NOT do our floors. I'm also a Formica person, so perhaps that sped things up. |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 848
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 9:38 am: |
|
The one potential bump I see is the countertops...we thought ours were some sort of formica/linoleum & they ended us being metal with something on top & so the removal was tough (it was a 50's original kitchen)...I would just get that checked out, but otherwise, seems pretty doable...good luck & congrats! |
AES
Citizen
Username: Room_to_move
Post Number: 20
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 10:04 am: |
|
Pdg....Yes, Silestone is a quartz product. We ordered them through Home Expo. We picked Black Annubis, which is a solid back with no specks of other color. The first round we had scratched and nicked horribly. After a few months, we finally got the installer to replace them (AMJ&G Marble in Fairfield). The second round was discolored which we did not notice until the next day because it was dark when they were done installing. After many months of phone calls, letters, threats to go to small claims court, Home Expo finally gave us our money back and we went with granite through All Granite and Marble. Turns out Silestone discontinued Black Annubis because they were having so many problems. Whatever you do, do not use AMJ&G - they were horrible to deal with. |
AES
Citizen
Username: Room_to_move
Post Number: 22
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 11:15 am: |
|
Another note about Silstone...for our smallish kitchen, we paid $500 less for granite and All Granite and Marble turned the job around in 3 days. Silestone was 2 weeks (each time!) |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 328
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 11:27 am: |
|
Cambria's website lists the closest "authorized dealer" for installation as
Design a Dream
354 North Avenue
Garwood NJ
They quoted $65-$10 sq.ft. over the phone and said they usually have a 7-10 day turnaround from order to installation.
Anyone have any experience with them?
(I chose Camria b/c Paul Harvey can't stop going on about it... Gotta love that guy!) |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page