Counter Top Remodeling - Kitchen Remodeling Questions
1.00How much are fake granite countertops and where can i find them?
Q.Im looking to buy new cabinets and countertops for my kitchen and cant seem to find any fake granite countertops. any websites you know of or stores? thanks in advance!
A.Any home improvement store or kitchen remodeling company will have a variety of counter top types, including fake granite (silestone or corian) and Formica (printed veneer over press board). Figure that the fake granite will be about half the price of the granite, and the Formica about 1/4 the cost.
1.00Can you lay laminate over existing laminate?
Q.I have laminate on my kitchen counters. I have a reputable contractor who wants to lay my new laminate over the existing laminate I have now. Does anyone else do this? I am just unsure because I am getting the high definition laminate installed and I want it to look good. He is telling me that my existing laminate is bonded sooo well with my countertop that it would not be a good idea to rip it up. Thanks so much for taking the time to anwer my question!!!
A.Hi,
YEP you can!!
Although I have heard on more than one "remodeling program", on the radio, that it was a no-no, many websites, among them places like HomeDepot / Lowes give the following advice:
"
* New laminate can be installed directly onto an existing laminate counter-top that is not loose or damaged.
* Removing old laminate is time-consuming and often results in damage to the underlayment.
* If the existing laminate is damaged or loose, screw a sheet of 5.2mm import hardwood plywood on top of it to provide a solid base for the new surface."
For more exact info, you can go to Lowes.com homepage, and under Projects look in their Library section.
There is a lot of useful tips and extra info on the subject of laminating.
Good luck with your new kitchen!!!!
1.00Are the sales tax for the remodeling of kitchen tax dedeuctable?
Q.We have remodeled oue kitchen in 2007. I we like to know out of curiosity if the sales tax paid for the kitchen applience,(dishwasher, microwave and stove) the cabienates and the counter top can be deducted from our taxes in this year?
A.Not until 2113
1.00Remodeling kitchen: Is there a stone counter top that hot pans can be placed on?
Q.And it won't crack? I have been looking at granite and quartz, but not sure what others are out there. I'm looking for durable and low maintence too.
"Laminate" is not a stone. Does this mean there is no such thing in the stone version I'm seeking?
A.The only natural stone counter top used for kitchens is granite. Concrete, stainless steel, Quartz and granite are the heat resistant counters most people use.
Marble is not used for kitchens because it is soft. Laminate isn't heat resistant. Corian is not very heat resistant as it is softer than granite and quartz.
Your best bet is probably granite, since you are asking for stone counters, and it is stone and heat resistant. Quartz is great too, but only consists mainly of quartz stones.
But be aware that if your pot has crud on the bottom, and is hot, when you place it on any of the counters, it can cause scratches or other marks. It's always a good idea to place it directly on a towel or mat instead of directly on the counter.
1.00Do they breach a contract with us? how do we pursue the $ that they owe us?
Q.My bro and I have this remodeling business. We have a counter top and tile projects in the kitchen of this old couple. We had a set back in term of our project due date because one of our employees did a really bad job when my bro left the project site, and made the customer angry. So, we re-do as much stuff as we can after what the employee did and everything went smooth. Anyway, in short, the customer asked too much stuff to add in the project but they do not want to pay extra. So, we decided just to go ahead and do it without extra charges. 2 days ago, we found out the husband was working on our tile and we told him that it takes a process to finish everything. He was swearing and bombing us with F words and stuff. We warned him about what he is doing to our project and yesterday, when we went back into the house to finish the project. We found out all our tools are outside the house, the husband does not want to pay, he almost run us over with his car, and he was swearing saying things and he was pissed because he has a small cut on his finger due to trying to finish the tile project on his own. He was threatening us with 1M dollar lawsuit and etc. We have tried to explain things to him but this is what we got at the end. The first proposal that we had with them, they signed the proposal and agreed to pay half of what the project is worth. Now, they refused to pay when the project is 95% done. We would like to finish the project but the husband said yesterday that we are not allowed into the house anymore. If he did not act crazy, we would've get things done yesterday. We tried so many times to explain to the owners that we contractors can set a approximate time to finish one project but the result is not always exactly the same. We were planning to finish the project last Saturday but because of what our employee did, we had to add another day to finish and on top of that, the customer added couple more stuff into the project and we had to add another 2 days to finish. Do any of you have suggestions for us?
A.Small claims court
1.00Remodeling?
Q.I am remodeling and want to put a "bar' between my dining room and kitchen,only i do not know how to go about it,anyone know where i can find some plans or can anyone walk me through it???
A.Is there a wall between the two rooms? If yes, take out part of the wall. You should hire a professional for this as there could electric or plumbing in the wall that would need to be moved. If there's no wall between the two rooms, install free-standing cabinets to your desired height (or build a wall to the desired height) and place a counter top on top for your bar. The actual process will vary depending on what's currently there.
1.00What is the best method to install new vinyl flooring?
Q.I'm remodeling my kitchen. The orginal vinyl flooring is really ugly, but not really that bad shape. I want to put new vinyl flooring. What is the best method. I don't see the option of removing the old flooring but instead, putting the new floor on top of the existing. Should I just lay down 1/4 inch luan or is there a better, more professional method?
A.If its only 1 layer down, most manufactures ok it it to go over the existing as long as its in decent shape like you say. Yes the use of a luan or birch luan is the best way to go. The new glue will take to the pores of the wood the best.Filling in the seams w/ a special cement based filler and if theres any imperfections in the wood. I ve always have used Ardex but there are other names out there.
Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar. GL
1.00What Fasteners Should I Use To Install Birch 5-ply Underlayment?
Q.I am remodeling my bathroom and decided to go with Loose Lay Sheet Vinyl Flooring, I have 3/4" subfloor and am going to install 1/4" 5-ply Birch Underlayment on top of this, however, I need a way to fasten this to the subfloor, I have seen Chisel Staples, Ring-Shank Nails, and Underlayment Screws. My problem is deciding which to use, but also, I have been told that you do not want to have the fastener break through the subfloor, meaning I need a fastener < 1" long. Assuming 3/4" is what I need, I cannot for the life of me find 3/4" nails or screws, but I would rather use these then staples. Is there any way I can get 3/4" nails or screws for underlayment installation?
A.Underlayment is normally installed with staples. They are normally 1/4 inch wide and 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches long.
Directions call for a staple every six inches on the entire underlayment. These staples will shoot into the top layer of the underlayment.
Once fastened, floor leveler is used to fill the dents and joints of the underlayment. This is then sanded lightly to remove excess floor leveler, and make the surface smooth and ready to install the vinyl.
Screws or nails will work, but the finished product will look much better if staples are used according to the directions for the underlayment.
More Kitchen Remodeling Questions
Counter Top Remodeling
The varieties of materials and styles that are now available in kitchen countertops ensures that you will have no problem finding kitchen countertops that are just right for your kitchen. Don't scrimp on the price of your countertops. They will take much use and abuse over the years - you use them to hold hot dishes, cut vegetable and fruits on them thereby exposing them to scratches and nicks and spill gravies and liquids that leave stains. A new kitchen countertop will be the crowning glory f your brand new kitchen. This isn't an investment that you will have to make again and again and you can expect your countertops to last as long as your house, so don't pinch pennies here.
The first choice of home owners when it comes to kitchen countertops is granite. Its more affordable than ever, is sturdy and resistant to satins and spills and can resist scratches and nicks with ease. The variety of colors may disappoint however. If you're'; looking for unusual colors consider quartz or engineered stone instead. Ceramic tiles are affordable if you want to stay within budget but cleaning between the tiles and the presence of grout can be a nightmare. Marble is one of the finest materials money can buy, but might prove pricy and beyond your budget. An island counter top made of marble is a better alternative. Wood provides a high quality rich finish but can't resist nicks and scratches very well. It's also priced on the higher end, depending on the kind of wood you choose. Laminated kitchen countertops are affordable and can be cleaned easily.
No matter what the size of your budget, there' enough variety in countertop material for you to find a custom kitchen countertop that's good looking and suits your lifestyle. Take your use frequency into consideration before you decide on the kitchen countertop of your choice. High maintenance material is perfect only if you can afford to invest the time and money that's required for their upkeep.
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remodel kitchen. new stove cabinets counter icebox W/D sink etc.etc. MOVE Breaker box. Now the breaker box is under the sink. Need to move to another location and bring it up to code. want to move stove to another location and add electrical outlets. Also install an island with cabinet space.
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Had a pipe/plumming issue and need to rebuild part and re-face or new cabinets. Looking to get the most for the money.
Steve S
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The varieties of materials and styles that are now available in kitchen countertops ensures that you will have no problem finding kitchen countertops that are just right for your kitchen. Don't scrimp on the price of your countertops. They will take much use and abuse over the years - you use them to hold hot dishes, cut vegetable and fruits on them thereby exposing them to scratches and nicks and spill gravies and liquids that leave stains. A new kitchen countertop will be the crowning glory f your brand new kitchen. This isn't an investment that you will have to make again and again and you can expect your countertops to last as long as your house, so don't pinch pennies here.
The first choice of home owners when it comes to kitchen countertops is granite. Its more affordable than ever, is sturdy and resistant to satins and spills and can resist scratches and nicks with ease. The variety of colors may disappoint however. If you're'; looking for unusual colors consider quartz or engineered stone instead. Ceramic tiles are affordable if you want to stay within budget but cleaning between the tiles and the presence of grout can be a nightmare. Marble is one of the finest materials money can buy, but might prove pricy and beyond your budget. An island counter top made of marble is a better alternative. Wood provides a high quality rich finish but can't resist nicks and scratches very well. It's also priced on the higher end, depending on the kind of wood you choose. Laminated kitchen countertops are affordable and can be cleaned easily.
