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When it comes to buying cabinets, there’s a lot you have to handle. Managing all of the potential “what-if” scenarios of a remodeled kitchen can be pretty tricky. There are many steps where you can make mistakes. That’s why we have a list of the most common mistakes that people make when buying cabinets.
If you want to avoid those mistakes, here is a list of the most common errors with their solutions:
#1: Having Cabinets with the Wrong Dimensions
It’s easy to buy cabinets from any old showroom with standardized dimensions. However, those standard cabinets might not work for your kitchen. Be sure to measure out your current cabinet space.
There should be some leeway for maximum allowable space. If you go smaller, be sure to account for the newly exposed wall with extra paint or work.
#2: Having the Right Materials (Below the Countertop)
The wrong salespeople will tell you almost anything to get you to buy. Many times, they emphasize the beauty of surface-level details while downplaying the bottom half. If you are installing cabinets in your bottom half, it’s crucial to ensure that you have a good structure.
Prioritizing high-quality materials includes avoiding weak particle boards, which is an easy fallback. You also often see people not correctly sealing fiberboard, causing them to absorb leaking water and expanding, ruining the wood in the process. Don’t be afraid to ask your contractor about how they plan on preventing common issues.
#3: Following Trends
Woodwork will always have trends that go in and out of style. At some point, you may want to break out those old-fashioned bell bottoms. You might be shocked to see that this style is back in style in some areas already.
Trends exist for a reason, but they don’t fit with some aesthetics. Suppose your contractor is vacillating between the latest trends and has a vision for your kitchen. In that case, they might not have your best interests at heart. Make sure that whoever you hire has your best interests at heart.
#4: Not Accounting for Electrical or Plumbing Restrictions
Aesthetic is excellent, but your kitchen cabinets need to be functional and beautiful. One common mistake, especially among DIY cabinet projects, is forgetting about electrical and plumbing restrictions. You have to ensure that both of those areas are up to code, or your house may end up exposed to some dangerous situations.
Have an awareness of where everything is. Avoid overlap, or you might have to end up changing up your entire kitchen design.
#5: Installing Floating Cabinets on Drywall
You ever seen that joke where someone runs a stud detector across themselves and starts verbally beeping? Well, there is a practical use for that device as well, such as finding studs in the wall, so your floating cabinets receive support. Some people like to drill a series of holes, but that shows shoddy work.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are doing some minor DIY modifications or hiring a professional, these common mistakes can be avoided by having the right tools available. To ensure a clean finish, Bertone’s specialists can help you find a cabinet in Scarborough, Markham, and Pickering. Give us a call to take a closer look at your cabinets.
Going through a complete kitchen remodel is an excellent way of improving your household. It increases home value, provides your home a “breath of fresh air” feeling, and allows you to make a home truly yours. The euphoria of going through this process wears off when you realize the cost is way over whatever increase in home value you want. Where is all this money going?
Typically, the most expensive part of your kitchen remodeling process is the cabinets. Depending on the materials and labor required, cabinets’ cost can be up to $20 thousand. This number is assuming that you plan to replace all of your cabinets.
In the rest of this article, we plan on digging into methods you can use to save money on your kitchen remodel costs.
Four Ways to Save Money on Your Kitchen Remodelling Costs
With the high cost of any kitchen remodel process, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the whole process. With these four tips to save money, we hope to take some of the burdens off of your wallet:
Stick to a Budget
The beginning of any good kitchen remodel process is to create a budget. You will have a good idea of how much it should generally cost your goals from a bit of material and labor research.
This research will allow you to set a priorities list to know what you can cut first. It may also give you more opportunities to add extras if you happen to be under budget.
Buy Used or Wholesale
It’s easy for us to stick with new materials and products. Many retailers would be happy to handle the entire project for you. But, if you happen to have access to lightly used material or something you can buy on bulk sale, you can save some money.
Do some research on buy and sell pages. If you plan on buying used, be sure to inspect the products for quality. If you feel uncertain, bring along a contractor friend.
Don’t compromise on something you want for savings. If you like this kitchen to be truly yours for the long-term, make sure it’s something you could see yourself staring at for years to come.
Keep Appliances and Sinks Where They Are
Besides cabinets, having to rearrange electrical outlets or plumbing can easily be just as expensive. This type of renovation may also require you to hire an additional plumber, which can easily add to your budget.
If you can avoid it, try and leave fridges, stoves, sinks, and dishwashers where they are.
Get it Right the First Time
If you hire a contractor that puts in no effort, it’s going to show. Rehiring may involve a legal battle with the old contractor and the need to hire a new contractor. If you hire someone to remodel your kitchen, make sure you hire someone who has the experience to do it right the first time.
Final Thoughts
Kitchen renovation is one of the most expensive investments you can make. However, creating a budget, buying used, and keeping appliances where they are can save you money. To make sure you don’t have to hire a second contractor, contact Bertone for more ideas on how this can save you money.
Solid surface countertops are one of the most beautiful types of countertops available. With the proper care, these countertops can last multiple decades. But it’s always good to have a solid base down for what you need to do when it comes to maintaining these countertops. So, how do you maintain solid surface countertops?
Use a damp cloth alongside a mixture of dish soap and water. For harder-to-clean areas, you can use ammonia-based cleaners. Make sure that strong chemicals do not get on this countertop.
In the rest of this article, we will detail some additional concerns you may have when cleaning this countertop. We will also provide you with some general maintenance advice.
Cleaning Messes On Solid Surface Countertops
Solid surface countertops are unique in that they have a surface coating on them. Manufacturers make these countertops out of materials like acrylic, epoxy, or polyester resins.
Compared to natural stone or other types of counters, these have a seamless and clean surface. This feature makes them reasonably easy to clean when compared to other options. That’s why you should avoid some of the more heavy-duty cleaning chemicals, like bleach, when cleaning up a solid surface.
What Cleaning Solutions Can I Use?
For standard dusting and mild messes, use a combination of some water and a small squirt of dish soap. Be sure that the dish soap is of a mild variety. You shouldn’t need anything that advertises itself as “heavy-duty.”
For any tough-to-clean stains, you can use standard glass cleaners with relative effectiveness. The shiny surface takes well to being cleaned by these ammonia-type products.
If both of these fails, you can choose to mix a baking soda paste. Typically, this means 1/8th of a cup of baking soda combined with some water. Otherwise, you can choose to purchase some over-the-counter solid surface cleaners.
Other Ways To Maintain The Longevity Of Your Solid Surface Counters
Maintenance is just one part of ensuring the longevity of your counters. In the rest of this article, we will provide you some other methods you can use to confirm your counters stay in good condition.
- While solid surface countertops are heat-resistant, you should still use a hot pad when placing your pots and pans down on the countertop.
- When doing food prep, be sure to have a sturdy cutting board that isn’t known to slip.
- Do not use any strong chemicals nearby the counters. These include acetone products, oven cleaners, paint removers, and bleach.
Do Solid Surface Countertops Require Maintenance?
Solid surface countertops are among those that do not require regular maintenance. Compared to some natural stone countertops or wood countertops, you are sometimes required to perform specific activities to ensure they stick around.
Suppose you see any damage on your solid surface countertop. In that case, that is the only time you should expect to need some maintenance.
Final Thoughts
Through regular cleaning and avoidance of bad habits, solid surface countertops can last for many years. If you want to explore installing your own solid surface countertops, ensure you have a professional that can help you do it right.
When looking for alternatives to granite countertops, you may be a bit picky when trying to find an adequate replacement. The idea of picking something of a similar style during your kitchen remodel can be a difficult task. To address this concern, we’ve taken some of the leg work out of it for you. In the rest of this article, we will give you five cheaper options to granite your kitchen.
#1: Laminate Counters
Laminate is a material you can use to mimic the appearance of granite without breaking the budget. As one of the most inexpensive options, the cost of laminate is typically around $50 per square foot.
Using laminate also prevents you from having to cut out huge slabs of stone. As a result, you save time on the labor costs behind using other materials.
#2: Quartz Countertops
Quartz allows you to keep the appeal of natural stones in your home without the cost of granite. However, the quality behind quartz is not comparable to something you would call cheap. This material can cost up to $150 per square foot.
The real savings of this surface come from the low maintenance needed for these counters—also, their durability appeal to homeowners looking for a long-term solution.
#3: Wood
If you look for an overall natural look with no preference for getting stone surfaces, wood is your next stop. On the heat resistance scale, wood can be pretty lousy. You gain a warm appearance but lose out on the “purely stone” style options. The cheapest options go for around $40 per square foot.
Consider an epoxy seal if you don’t want to spend a lot of time on maintenance. The epoxy will give you a shiny appearance that can resemble most granite options. If you don’t want a polished appearance, keep a close eye open for any scratches. Wood also allows you to consider butcher-block counters, which are an appealing addition to modern homes.
#4: Soapstone
Soapstone is a soft alternative to a granite surface, making it somewhat prone to imperfections on the surface. As you might expect, you trade out the softness for cost. This stone is also far more durable than wood and requires far less maintenance.
The low end of soapstone goes for around $70 per square foot. It also doesn’t need to be sealed, saving you some money on that initial labor investment. If you are looking at granite for durability, soapstone is a great alternative.
#5: Marble
When you hear “marble,” you probably don’t think about the word “cheap.” However, it is surprisingly affordable when used for countertops, with the lower end going for around $70 per square foot. This price made it comparable to quartz and engineered stone.
When searching for marble, be aware of its high maintenance requirements. Most marble types require you to re-seal the surface every year. Marble is also easy to scratch compared to other options.
Final Thoughts
The appeal of natural granite countertops is clear. With its modern appearance, stone provides you a wide range of colors and unique styles. They are also naturally heat resistant, providing you another way to avoid burning down your home.
But granite is a premium-level material, making it somewhat difficult to perform. Thankfully, there are many materials you can choose from that are appealing and hit many of those requirements. If you want help finding alternatives to granite, let us help you out.
What can we say about 2020? I’m sure we can think of more than a few expletives, but it has allowed us to appreciate what we have. In some cases, we might be thinking of how we want to modify that inside. In this case, we are talking about what’s new for custom kitchen cabinets Toronto has available in 2020.
Through the rest of this article, we will go through the design changes that have come with this year. With many of these changes, we expect them to maintain popularity in 2021.
The Top 5 Custom Kitchen Cabinets Trends Of 2020
Marble (or Quartz) Kitchen Countertops
Marble provides you an elegant solution to your custom kitchen cabinets. However, the amount of upkeep behind marble requires much more dedication.
Marble has been a hallmark of luxury for centuries. These days, a hint of marble on the top of your countertops is the key to maintaining style. Provided that you aren’t rough with your marble surface, you won’t have to worry about its tendency to scratch or scuff.
If you want the style of marble without the cost, consider quartz. Quartz is considered to be nearly indestructible. It is even more formidable than granite countertops.
Two-Tone Counters
With some awareness of complementary colors, two-tone cabinets provide a combination of bright and neutral colors. For example, a dark blue and an eggshell white create a good deal of contrast when put next to each other.
This is also assuming that the two cabinets are made of similar materials. To maintain some relation, they would need to be made of the same woods. You can also use woods of similar textures.
Reclaimed Wood
While it won’t save you much money, the idea of using reclaimed wood allows you to contribute your part to the environment. This prevents old cabinets, desks, or other wooden items from being tossed into a landfill. Instead, supporting this type of wood allows you to feel good about your contributions.
Reclaimed wood also happens to be pretty trendy for this reason. As we continue to learn more, and understand what our level of waste does to the environment, expect more people to use reclaimed wood in their projects.
Butcher Block Countertops
While butcher blocks used to be limited to chefs’ homes, these countertops are quickly becoming of mainstream interest. What makes a butcher block unique? These countertops won’t dull your knives as you cut food along them. They are utility and style in a combined function.
You can also choose between finished and unfinished material, which creates different feels depending on your want. With the natural wood sense combined with utility, you can make some beautiful countertops.
Rich Colors
Most kitchens have a habit of sticking with natural, cool colors. Instead, it might be time to go for something a bit bolder.
With bold colors, your kitchen can stick out as unique. It is because of this that they are more appreciated in kitchens as a method to wake up. Kitchens like this are full of energy. Applying that to your own household’s energy will help your kitchen stand out.
Conclusion
As 2020 comes to a close, we look to 2021 to see the latest trends. When looking at custom kitchen cabinets, Toronto has many options to offer. Many of these will still apply in the following year, which reminds us of the importance of enjoying our homes.
If you are considering a kitchen remodel, any of these ideas can apply to your home. There is no reason why you shouldn’t want to admire the counters in your room.
When designing your exciting new kitchen remodel, keep this handy remodel worksheet handy. Why do you need this worksheet? Unbelievably, you will make hundreds of decisions for your new kitchen. Having a handy place to write down whether you wanted bright red painted kitchen cabinets or a subtle dark wood finish helps you keep focused. Make extra copies and keep them handy.
Getting Started on Your New Kitchen
Before you decide on a new kitchen island, painted kitchen cabinets, or a bold backsplash, take the time to jot down the answers to these important questions:
1. What do you like about your current kitchen?
2. What do you dislike the most about your kitchen right now?
3. How often do you cook or entertain?
4. Do you plan to change the overall layout? How?
5. Do you need to remove windows, walls, or doors?
6. Do you need your room to be multifunctional?
7. Do you need a workstation, study area, butler’s pantry, or pet feeding center?
8. Do you need space for laundry?
9. What type of kitchen seating do you need?
10. Do you need accessibility?
Cabinets
1. Do you plan on keeping any existing cabinets or will you replace all the cabinets?
2. What finishes will you choose?
3. What style of door will you need?
4. Will the cabinets be stock, custom, frameless, or other style?
5. What type of hardware do you need?
Backsplashes and Counters
1. Do you want an island?
2. What type of counter material will you choose?
3. What counter edge style will you choose?
4. Do you want a full wall or partial backsplash?
5. What type of material do you want for your backsplash?
Sinks and Faucets
1. How many sinks do you need?
2. Do you want single or double basin?
3. What type of faucet do you want?
Kitchen Appliances
1. What type of appliances will you need?
2. Do you want any Smart Appliances?
3. Do you need a trash compactor?
Flooring
1. Do you want to refinish, keep, or replace your floor?
2. What floor material do you want?
Display and Storage
1. Do you want a butler’s pantry?
2. Do you need more pantry space?
3. Do you need specialty storage options for wine, cookbooks, or appliances?
Additional Options
1. What color and wall treatment will you have for your kitchen remodel?
2. What windows and window treatment do you want?
3. What type of lighting do you need?
4. What other touches like artwork or furniture do you want to accent your new kitchen?
Call Bertone Woodworking Today for the Best Kitchen Remodel Design in Ontario
When you want to build the kitchen of your dreams, call the experts at Bertone Woodworking. We promise to build the most gorgeous kitchen you have ever envisioned. Contact us today. Our talented team of designers will be happy to help you.