Find a Kitchen Remodeler

The Perfect Kitchen Floor?

2006-11-28T11:30:00.000-08:00

What is the best material to use on your kitchen floor? Whenever anyone plans their kitchen remodeling project, it's usually the 2nd question -- after deciding on the kitchen countertop material. What type of flooring you use in the kitchen is very important. The kitchen has become one of the most important rooms in the house. More and more homeowners are spending more time in their kitchen. Kitchens usually have a lot of foot traffic. Even people who do not cook extensively in their kitchen still spend a large amount of time, on their feet, on those floors. The kitchen flooring needs to be comfortable, durable, low maintenance, and aesthetically pleasing.

Many love the look of natural stone - like marble, slate, granite, or travertine - for their flooring material. It can be very durable and could withstand a lot of traffic. But most natural stone flooring needs to be sealed to avoid stains, and there can be a lot of potential for staining on a kitchen floor. It's also too hard to stand on for lengths at a time.

Decades ago, people put carpeting in their kitchens. Carpeting was certainly comfortable to stand on. But, again, because of spills and stains, carpeting is not a great idea for the kitchen.

Your best bet is to consider a tile, wood, or laminate flooring. Vinyl, laminate, or linoleum flooring brings back horrifying images of bad kitchen designs from the 60's and 70's, but check out some of the latest versions of these materials. They've come a long way to looking more like wood but with less maintenance requirements.

Wood is also a great option for kitchen flooring. Nothing can compare with the look and feel of natural wood on kitchen floors. It can be purchased in a contrasting color or stain to the cabinets to really stand out and make a statement. But keep in mind that wood is not impervious to moisture and there can be a lot of moisture in a kitchen.

Two materials to consider as a slight alternative to wood - Bamboo flooring and Cork flooring. Both are similar but have less environmental impact and can be more durable and less expensive than a traditional hardwood floor.

The nice thing about going with vinyl, wood, cork, or bamboo is that you can soften the material further by adding non-slip rugs to the room.

To help keep installation costs down, make sure you go with a compatible flooring material that will match up with your current kitchen floor substrate. If you've got a concrete substrate in your kitchen, your flooring contractor may need to install additional materials before installing a hardwood floor. This can add to installation costs. Especially if adding a thick wood flooring affects cabinet and door height in the room. If you've got a wood substrate, you may not be able to go with ceramic tiles directly applied to the wood because of structural weakness. Adding to the wood substrate could also increase installation costs. It's best to save money if you can make sure your flooring choice matches your kitchens substrate.

If you need to find a local Kitchen Remodeling Company, look no further than Construction Deal. We'll match you with Kitchen Remodeling Pros in your area - and you can post the job free of charge. It's the fast, free, and easy way to find a Kitchen Expert!

Kitchen Remodeling Budgets

2006-11-20T11:31:00.000-08:00

We discovered an interesting survey in the latest issue of Kitchen & Bath Design News. It could be something to consider when you're planning out your budget for your kitchen remodeling project. Many always want to try and save as much money as possible - no matter what your overall wealth or fiscal situation is. Everyone wants to get a good deal.

The study involved some 10,000 consumers who had recently had their kitchens remodeled. When asked what they would do differently, most responded they wish they'd taken more time to plan and budget their project. Many times this had to do with not knowing about new products and what they could do. Hindsight is always 20/20.

It was also interesting to note that 3 in 10 surveyed said they would have spent even more money on the project if they could start over and do it all again, while only 7% said they would spend less...

The survey was conducted by Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI).

Another interesting aspect - two thirds hired professionals to do their kitchen remodeling work, but that means that one third did some or all of the work themselves. When asked about the experience, 33% of those who did some or all the work on their own said they would bring in professional help the next time they were to undertake such a big remodeling project.

Contact Construction Deal to find a local kitchen remodeling specialist to help plan and budget your renovation project. It's a free service to have kitchen designers contact you instead of you having to try to call them all by yourself - it's the smart way to find a contractor.

technorati tags: kitchens, kitchen remodeling, kitchen improvement, kitchen renovation,kitchen company, kitchen designer, kitchen refacing, cabinet refacing, kitchen cabinets, kitchen contractor, kitchen and bath, remodel my kitchen, find a kitchen remodeler, kitchen referral,contractor referral, construction deal, constructiondeal, free kitchen referral, kitchen services,kitchen appliances, kitchen floor, kitchen cabinets, kitchen counters, kitchen countertops,granite countertops, granite kitchen, stainless steel kitchen

Kitchen Remodeling: the Banquette

2006-11-19T10:48:00.000-08:00

Kitchens have become the new dining rooms. In fact, many are expanding their kitchens by knocking down a wall or two and invading the formal dining room space. Why? Because people love to spend time in the kitchens. While mom or dad is preparing dinner, they like to be able to talk to the kids as they do their homework. Or perhaps the guests want to talk with their host at a dinner party as the meal is being prepared.

Whatever the reason, it's important to make sure you include a place to dine or sit and talk or do your homework when you remodel your kitchen. A great idea from days long gone is being resurrected in the modern kitchen. The banquette has made a comeback. It's a great seating and dining option and you may have room in your new kitchen design plans. Talk with your kitchen remodeling company about having a banquette installed in the room.

The banquette comes in several forms. It can be two benches, with a table between, and chairs or stools as an optional seating choice for the exposed end. The banquette could also be U-shaped with benches surrounding the table on three sides. If you have limited space, you can set up a banquette with benches in an L-shape with chairs or stools on the other ends. Finally, you could even do one bench and a table with chairs on two or three sides.

The great thing about the banquette benches in your kitchen is they provide additional storage. It's almost like having two or even three whole new cabinets to handle kitchen items that are used infrequently.

No matter what your kitchen style is like, you can incorporate a banquette. If you've got a retro 50's kitchen with black and white tiles, you can insert a diner-like red vinyl booth. With a country flair kitchen, you can add a pine table with curvy, stylish ends on your bancquette benches and cushion material to match your kitchen linens. Asian, French, contemporary... no matter what your kitchen style, the banquette can be a great choice when you're remodeling the most important room in your house.

If you need to find a local kitchen designer or kitchen remodeling company, post your project for free with Construction Deal and we'll help you find a qualified company in your area. It's the smart way to find a contractor!

technorati tags: kitchen remodeling, kitchen banquette, kitchen company, kitchen designer,kitchen banguette, kitchen seating, find a kitchen company, find a kitchen remodeler, kitchen installer, kitchen installer, kitchen installation, remodeling my kitchen, local kitchen companies,banquette installers, banquette builders

Kitchen Remodeling Components

2006-11-16T17:03:00.000-08:00

What's involved in a major kitchen remodel? There are 5 components to any kitchen renovation project. A kitchen owner can have all four completed at once, or have them done separately to avoid complete disruption or a longer remodeling time. It's usually best to have them all done at the same time by the same company to make sure the finished product works aesthetically and functionally.

Cabinetry
New kitchen cabinets are the biggest part of any remodeling project. They set the tone for the rest of the room, they usually cost the most, and can bring the most overall value to the project. Choices in styles of cabinets, types of wood, and dimensions are the first major decisions. Placement of the cabinetry and overall storage come next. Finally, the kitchen work triangle, that allows the entire room to be a functional cooking area, is planned out as part of the kitchen renovation design. All things to consider with your new cabinets.

Countertops
The kitchen counters on top of those new cabinets are the next component to revitalizing the room. Choices of countertop material is the key element - it's got to tie in to the cabinets and the floors to make a cohesive decorating style. A quality kitchen designer can give you countertop choices that will match existing or new cabinets to make sure the room's separate components works as one. Also, remember that the countertop spaces are going to be heavily used and very visible. It's necessary to review choices and look over large sections and not just small samples to make sure you're happy with your final decision.

Flooring
Next, flooring is going to fill the room and surround the cabinets. The material must be able to withstand your family's foot traffic as well as be able to handle plenty of moisture. If you're a cook or just like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, it's important to make sure the flooring material is not too hard on your feet or legs. You may love marble floors, but they can be hard to stand on for hours at a time in the kitchen. Also, to save money, don't put in your flooring until after your new cabinets have been installed. This way, you're not extending the floors to places you'll never see.

Lighting
Your kitchen's lighting scheme is usually an afterthought to a remodel. Lighting can highlight your new surfaces, make it easier to do kitchen chores, and can make the room safer while handing hot foods or working with dangerous appliances and cutlery. Make it part of your design and make sure you have a multitude of lighting choices. Adding dimmers, recessed lighting, hanging lights, and being able to have a variety of lighting settings can add wonder and value to your new kitchen.

Appliances
Many homeowners are adding new appliances, additional appliances, and storage options in their new kitchens. Plan out what you want your kitchen to have. Think about the colors and styles of new appliances. Consider if you have room for additional ones (a second microwave, dishwasher, or fridge.) It's your change to make sure your kitchen is right for you and your needs. Don't just go with what's popular. If you don't drink, don't install a wine cooler unit. If you don't entertain a lot, don't add a second dishwasher. Seems to make sense but sometimes people add something because it's in style but don't really need it.

When you're ready to remodel your kitchen, consider Construction Deal - our mission is to help you find a local, reliable contractor or kitchen designer to bring new life to the most important room in your home. Post your project for free, receive a multitude of bids from local remodeling companies, and save yourself some time and money in the process.

It's fast, free, and easy!

Find a Kitchen Remodeling Company!

2007-12-31T14:05:00.000-08:00

It used to be when you needed to find a Kitchen Renovation company to remodel your kitchen, you'd have to scour your yellow pages. Or you'd have to ask a friend for a referral.

These days, it's not so easy to find the best remodeler. With more homeowners going online to search for information, it made sense to offer an Online Contractor Referral Service. So, we created ConstructionDeal.com!

On our website, you can:

Post your Kitchen Remodeling Project in minutes!

Receive bids from local Kitchen Renovation Pros.

Meet with prospective remodeling companies and make your decision.

You save time by not calling remodelers at random from your outdated phone book!

Save money by receiving multiple bids from several companies - you have the option to go with the best bid!

You do all of this free on our Construction Deal website...

Do you need to hire a kitchen improvement contractor? We can help.

Many homeowners know that remodeling their kitchen is the key to improving their quality of life and the value of their home. The kitchen is the place where families spend most of their time. By finding a kitchen design and remodeling company, you can transform your most important room into the best room in your house.

The national average age of American houses is 36 years. As your home ages, it's important to maintain and improve your most valuable and largest investment. When you need a Kitchen Remodeling company, think of Construction Deal and post your project with us!