Relative cabinetry prices: brand vs. brand: take 2
12 years ago
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- 12 years ago
- 12 years ago
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Help with paint basics - brands, finishes, prices
Comments (6)This topic is very broad and difficult to answer because every single person wants something different from their paint. If you want something truly washable, you are probably looking at spending $40-$50 per gallon retail. BM's Aura is the most washable paint around that retails for around $58-$62. You probably want to use eggshell. Aura has a washable matte that is very low sheen if you are trying to avoid having shiny walls. The other washable mattes that are available are not really that washable IMO. Generally speaking, paints sold at Lowes and Home Depot are considered average to low quality paints by the pros. This does not mean that homeowners buying paint there are always unhappy...like I said, it depends on who the person is and what they are going to demand in terms of performance from their paint. This is why you see so many opinions out there for each brand. For the stucco, you want to go with elastomeric or 100 percent acrylic paint....See MorePaint Finishes Brand vs. Brand
Comments (6)In my kitchen, the hairline fractures of the painted finish on my Wood-Mode cabinets (the finish itself is available on either Brookhaven by Wood-Mode or Wood-Mode) were not just in the joints where the panels come together but also other random places. The panels came that way from Day One. Knowing what I do now, I'd probably opt for stained instead of painted cabinetry even though I like the painted look better in my particular kitchen. Our 25 plus year old Wood-Mode cherry cabinets that were stained never had any problems with their finish. That was one reason we went with Wood-Mode brand product again. But, Wood-Mode cabinets weren't structurally perfect. During our time owning our old Wood-Mode cherry kitchen, we did have to repair it, and one upper cabinet did fall apart to the point that it was unrepairable. Showrooms aren't a great place to see how good a finish will look in your home because anything flawed in a showroom's display was likely replaced to give a good impression. They are likely to have used their best installers with their best skills and more patience when building the showroom displays. We've been to 6 Wood-Mode and Brookhaven by Wood-Mode showrooms. None of them showed the painted finish cracks that our cabinets show. The Wood-Mode Home Care touch up kits do not fix the hairline cracks, either. After the kitchen is done, we actually do have more cabinetry needs. We had planned to do Wood-Mode or Brookhaven cabinets for our hallways, entertainment center and two bathrooms, but because of the poor customer service from the manufacturer when we have had complaints, we will be favoring other cabinet companies and we will be favoring stained finishes. At first, Wood-Mode tried to blame my house for the cracking on the newly installed cabinets. They sent someone out to test the humidity in the house. Our house is reasonably climate controlled. We are in a temperate climate and use our heating and air conditioning in a usual fashion. We don't use humidifiers or swamp coolers. The house is not the problem. Something with their finish is the problem. Really, these big cabinet companies need to invest in research to figure out a way to make a painted finish that doesn't have so many problems. If you do buy painted cabinets, carefully inspect all doors and reject all doors and drawers with defects at the door of your house. Don't let them bring it in. Demand immediate replacements even if it slows down the project. Here is an example of the fissures in my kitchen. This door is at eye level. It is very noticable:...See MorePella Architect vs. Designer: relative cost?
Comments (4)Architect series is double glazed (insulating glass with Low E and argon gas). Designer series is usually triple glazed (insulating glass Low E argon plus gas a 3rd pane) but they do have a double glazed (single glazed plus a removable 2nd layer - stick with triple in Designer). Designer series costs more than Architect series in part because it is three layers of glass instead of two. It's been my observation that Designer series triple glazed costs about $50-$100 more than Architect series double glazed. That price does not include between-glass blinds. Blinds probably add another $175-$225. Blinds, shades, grilles, are optional. As for which is the higher end product, it depends on what you're looking for. In casements, they use the same frame, hardware, weatherstrip, etc., and only the sashes are different. So they essentially perform the same (for air/water infiltration resistence) except for insulating propertirs of double glazed vs. triple glazed. In double hungs, both are vey good, but Architect series is the higher rated of the two for air/water and Designer is higher rated for insulation because of the three panes. Frankmol, if you're paying $425 for Architect but $1,100 for Designer there is something definately wrong there. I've put in a LOT of windows from various brands over the last 30 years, and I like Pella, but there is NO WAY the difference should be that much. You should expect to pay maybe $100 each more at most, plus the cost of blinds if you get those. It sounds like your dealer or contractor is artificially jacking the price way up on one series but not the other....See Morefavorite cabinet brands at different price points
Comments (47)I actually drive a Honda Fit and spent more on our cabinets than I did on the car. I hadn't considered it in those terms, but -- yes -- I will spend more on my cabinets than I did on my car. I've also heard that men are like automobiles. That Porsche is gorgeous and SO exciting, but the maintenance will be VERY high. That Taurus sedan is functional and ordinary and will never stand out in a crowd. A Suburban is highly functional and will last forever if maintained. I married a Suburban. I think my husband is a Jeep or a good, solid truck. He's solid as a rock, highly functional, can stand a little abuse, and will last a lifetime. Incidentally, that's one of our goals for the next two years: Buy him a Jeep as we head into retirement, a very real possibility being that he will never buy another vehicle. I drive an Audi Q5 - I lease it as I can't afford to buy one. You bring up a good point: A lot of people are leasing cars they couldn't afford to buy ... others are making payments that are probably beyond what's wise for their incomes. So how does this "game" work for those people? A person might have "Lexus taste" but a "Ford budget". In general, I think semi-custom is probably a good option -- not cheap but not horrendously expensive. You will have many, many options in a semi-custom line, including unusual sizes to fit your space, if needed, as well as better finishes, etc. I agree with you. I started with the idea that I'd go with Custom. My current cabinets are Custom, and they're pushing 50 years old. They really did last well for a lot of years. However, as I've become better informed, I've realized that Semi-Custom will give me 95% of what I wanted ... for not too much over half the price. My agreement with my husband: I'm allowed anything I want in this house, but I have to be sure it's good value. I probably send out a bunch of mixed signals. Currently driving a Hyundai Santa Fe, pre-owned. Previous car, Subaru Forrester, gave up the ghost alas at 184K miles. Unfortunately with my back, SUVs are the only comfortable vehicles. House: quartz counters, IKEA sleeper sofa. Cabinets, custom, but competitive price with standard big box cabs. Currently live in southwestern CT. Moving to rural MA. Clothing: whatever fits comfortably, I have no concept of style when it comes to garb. At any rate, i do high end very selectively, when I think something may call for it. So I would want to know price ranges. We are the same person....See MoreRelated Professionals
Hershey Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Philadelphia Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Verona Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Sunrise Manor Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Charlottesville Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Idaho Falls Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Morgan Hill Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Trenton Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Princeton Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · North Chicago Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Alton Cabinets & Cabinetry · Richardson Cabinets & Cabinetry · Charlottesville Tile and Stone Contractors · Scottdale Tile and Stone Contractors · Gardere Design-Build Firms- 12 years ago
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