Some areas are "job-rich" others "job-poor".
Elmer J Fudd
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
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WittyNickNameHere ;)
2 years agonickel_kg
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Distributor, Fabricator, Stone Yard...
Comments (9)I'm a KD so I guess that makes me a distributor. In my area there are at over 3 dozen fabricators within range (up to an hour away), and even more full yards (in the Northeast). A few also stock slabs but are not yards. Most of fabricators will give me a small trade discount. While it is not really reasonable to "make margin" on counters as a kitchen dealer, some places try to get close. That makes the counters a bit more expensive than going directly to the fabricator. In some cases you get something for that, in others you don't. Many dealers will price your counter with several vendors and then offer you the least expensive. Having worked with many of the fabricators, either somewhere I was employed or where a client got the counters on their own, I don't find that a good way to select a fabricator. Simply put there are a very few fabricators I know of who are relatively problem free and have superior service if needed. ALL of them are NOT the cheapest. For us, instead of trying to make margin, we simply sell the tops at the same price as the fabricator. We make very little on them, yet we do include the added services of helping to source slabs at yards by phone and email, working things out with the fabricator, being present for template and install. Why? First- I want my clients ENTIRE job to come out well. I'm already using pricier sources, if I were to try and make a decent dollar on them more customers would go out price shopping. Some of those will end up with a problem, which is heartbreaking. To encourage them to use the people we use we keep the prices reasonable. It is not largesse, simply customer satisfaction. Second is self protection-, if I supply a top and the fabricator messes up it ends up costing me more in time and money than I can make on it. Finally those services are included because I think we should be doing something for our money. OTOH- We only sell counters if we are supplying cabinets, never by themselves. Will gladly supply the contact info for who we use, just won't have anything to do with it. Similarly if a kitchen client decides to use their own fabricator we have absolutely nothing to do with it other than supplying a drawing for quote, with the notation "only suitable for quote, responsibility for details of template and installation are assumed by the client". The point of all of this is that even for our business making a profit we do not shop price. We only shop service. So if you go into a "dealer" and they offer to price your top at 3 places ask why and what makes each different. Then ask what how they handle selection, template, and install. Note: I do now use 3 places only because of logistics (I cover a large area) they price within a few dollars of each other as a rule. Sure the bargain places do many jobs that come out just fine. That means that someone somewhere will recommend them, but someone else wants to kill them. The fabricators I use all have superior service so every job come out fine. Looking for good referrals- find out who the pros and dealers that care are using, they can't afford problems. There is no guarantee that paying more will get you what you pay for, due diligence is still needed. You may not get what you expect if you don't pay for it....See MoreProfession Remodel Cost - is it reasonable?
Comments (18)A fellow Pittsburgher here - over in the North Hills. And wow - your project sounds rather similar to ours - 1950's house, removing the DR/kitchen wall, getting rid of bulkheads, etc. For the health of our marriage, we are not DIY people either - better to get someone else in who can do it for us...remodels are stressful enough, would rather someone else to have to be upset with if things need fixed! Quotes for us have been ALL over the place. We thought that we had someone lined up and he disappeared off the face of the Earth! So, we're looking again. We're looking for custom cabinets because of some of the special things we want and prices for those have ranged from low 20's to around 50k - plywood, full overlay, frameless, dark stained cherry, Shaker, almost all drawers, Blum hardware - full extension, soft close....but we are going to have a load of cabinets and we're having a custom banquette built also...so, our cabinetry is pretty extensive. We're having a tough time coming up with a GC right now, but just got a quote from the guy who has done some general "handyman" work for us and we trust in him. His quote didn't include the install of the cabinets and is not inclusive of materials (he bills us at cost - picks up what we need at Home Depot or wherever)...but is tear out of old kitchen, demo of the wall, repair of the ceiling, electrical wiring, installation of two replacement windows, install vent and damper for exhaust fan, etc. and we're around 6k. But again, this isn't including the install of the cabinets and doesn't include materials costs. As others have mentioned, don't skimp on lighting. As much as I hate my current kitchen, if I had adequate lighting, it would make it much easier to work in the kitchen. Lighting can be decorative in nature, but in a kitchen it really is about making it truly functional. The value of your home is a bit higher than the value of ours and we will be putting more money into our kitchen than you are. BUT, the kitchen is going to be a very usable space for us - one that I will spend significant time in because I enjoy cooking. We are likely over-improving and wouldn't recoup our money. If we were planning on selling in the near future, we would modify our plans greatly. However, we are very happy where we are located - quiet neighborhood, easy access to major highways, and a nice piece of ground...the previous owners were the original owners (house built in the 1950's) and we absolutely know why they never moved - we have a treasure. Seeing as our plans are to stay here, we want things to be how we would like them rather than stick within numbers of what others feel is appropriate to put into a remodel of a house in our price range. What I'm saying is - if this is a longer term home for you, and you have the means, get what will make you happy to have long term. If you get the laminate countertop now, is that what you are keeping or will you want to replace in in two years or so when the honeymoon of having a new kitchen has worn off. If that's likely, then you will have paid twice for something. So, be honest too with yourself on where you've decided to cut back...if you can honestly say you can do it and be happy, then by all means, do so. But, if there's even the slightest suspicion that you will long for what you originally were planning, you may benefit yourself in modifying your overall budget, IMO....See MoreFaint straight line on my new quartz island. Any idea what it is?
Comments (40)Update: I stopped at the kitchen cabinet maker today. It's a well known and reputable company in my area. I picked my counter top sample actually in his showroom. The counters were ordered through him. He already knew about the mark and that they were coming today to try and fix it. I showed him before and after photos. I explained when you walk right around the perimeter of the kitchen island you don't really see it so I thought it was fine when they left.......BUT the reason is because they dulled the finish. When you enter the room and you aren't standing right at the counter you can see the dull spot. The owner of the cabinet company has been in the business over 35 years and I trust his advice. I'm just not sure if it will matter to me as much in a few weeks as it does today.... He told me I can wait to decide. He sent my photos over to the counter top company so it's documented. He said in a month from now once I am using my kitchen (and my pendant lights are in) if it's still bothering me we will address it. He also said he does a large amount of business with them (about 100k per month) so he will make sure that they make it right if I choose to revisit the issue. So glad I went with this company. Love the owner. He's great to work with....See MoreStripes on my door/window frame? (Uneven paint)
Comments (28)@Verna Lee : "A huge regret. I should have spent more money to build with a custom builder." Please don't kick yourself, thinking this is your fault for not going custom. I can testify from personal experience that custom does not always mean higher quality, no matter the reputation of the custom builder. My husband has spent weeks working on our new custom home after it was declared completed and the CO issued. We will probably spend the next year correcting errors and cleaning up the messes made. The builder takes no responsibility. He just shrugs and complains about people not wanting to work and the low quality of labor these days. We had second homes built by a tract builder in 2004 and again in 2019 while our primary residences at the time were custom built houses. There were far more code violations, mistakes made and sloppy finishes by the custom builders than by the tract builder. The only reason we went with a custom builder yet again was our need for a wheelchair accessible house and my husband's desire for a detached garage/workshop which would not fit on the standard lot here. I hope your contract allows you to hire an independent inspector to make sure that the important things (structure and systems, not finishes) are done correctly. Don't just rely on your local building dept. inspectors....See MoreLoneJack Zn 6a, KC
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoBookwoman
2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoZalco/bring back Sophie!
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoOutsidePlaying
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agoOutsidePlaying
2 years agonicole___
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agonickel_kg
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoLars
2 years agollitm
2 years agoLynda (Zn9b/23 - Central CA Coast)
2 years agollitm
2 years agochisue
2 years agoBookwoman
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoLars
2 years agonicole___
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoZalco/bring back Sophie!
2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agoZalco/bring back Sophie!
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agoZalco/bring back Sophie!
2 years agoLoneJack Zn 6a, KC
2 years agoJupidupi
2 years agoLoneJack Zn 6a, KC
2 years ago
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Elmer J FuddOriginal Author