countertops: Articles tagged with “countertops”

Consumers are often puzzled by the wide range of prices they can receive from contractors bidding on the same job. Understanding the basics about tile purchasing, design, and installation can help consumers compare estimates to get the best return for the time and money spent.

Repairing tile is a cumbersome job that can be done by the average homeowner. But it is a messy, dirty job. Professionals can do your repairs in a quick and timely manner, saving the pain of doing it yourself.

Kitchens and baths are the most important, the most expensive and the most complicated rooms to remodel in a home. These rooms where families spend so much of their time merit attention because they have to be functional and pleasant. Remodeling an outdated kitchen or bathroom is not only a smart investment, but will also bring your family more comfort than most any other home improvement.

Finding the right individual or team of professionals to plan, draw and build your new home or major remodeling/addition project can be a time consuming process because there are often no clearly defined boundaries among various home design professionals. Whether you decide to hire someone to design your home and another to build it, or find one firm to do it all, you need to find professionals who understand the nature of your project and can serve your needs. The more time spent during the hiring and planning phases, the fewer problems you should encounter during building and completion.

Q: I am looking for information on how to remodel the countertops in my kitchen. Could you provide me with step-by-step instructions on how to do tile countertops? I am also going to refinish the cabinets in our kitchen. I already have the stain picked out. What are the correct steps in doing this project?

Kitchen remodeling ranks among the most popular remodeling projects each year, as kitchens have become the functional and social hubs for many families. Almost every kitchen has a design flaw or something that can be changed to make the space more workable. However, no challenge is quite as difficult as reworking a small kitchen space. If you are on a tight budget, have building restrictions, or own a condominium where you must work with the space allotted, there are options that can help transform your kitchen. Use the following tips as a guide.

Laminate countertops can be repaired and resurfaced at a fraction of the cost of replacement.

If you're looking to buy new countertops, the material you choose will depend on your budget and the appearance and serviceable qualities you want.

A modern kitchen serves as an ideal hub for the home. Whereas kitchens were once private places solely for food preparation and dishwashing, they are now often well lit, open spaces used for everything from entertaining to surfing the net. While nearly everyone would like an up-to-date, multi-purpose kitchen, many are overwhelmed by the prospect of major remodeling.

This information can clarify and help answer some questions about remodeling your kitchen.

This information can clarify and help answer some questions about installing tile countertops.

Solid materials, including stainless steel, man-made products such as Corian and wood can be used for entire countertops. Sometimes solid materials are installed on just an island or other limited area in a kitchen with mostly tile or laminate countertops, for example, to provide a smooth surface for rolling dough or chopping.

Countertops are made from materials that are durable and, in most cases, easy to maintain. Most combine a base of plywood or particleboard that spans across the top of a cabinet and the finish surface material.

The Changing Role of Kitchens

Years ago, the kitchen was considered a room for messy work and was hidden away from the rest of the house. Attitudes about kitchens have been changing. We are adding more functions and more style to kitchens, which are becoming hubs for modern families. As a result, kitchen remodeling ranks among the most popular projects each year.

Q: I would like to expand my countertops. I'd also like to widen the new countertop in this section to allow for an eating bar. Looking to use granite, if costs allow.

Nothing compares to tile for adding personality and practicality to a home. The results are immediate, the effects can be dramatic, and it is often inexpensive. But as with all home improvements, care must be taken to assure that each project turns out to be an asset to the property.

This information can clarify and help answer some questions about countertops.

The most important role of design is to make sure the project meets as many functional needs as possible. Therefore, the first step in designing your kitchen should be to list the things you want this room to do for you. Then brainstorm around these central uses. Having these two steps completed before you contact your remodeling professional will get your project off to a good start.

Q: I want to keep my cultured marble countertops because they are in good condition, but I want to change the color from tan to white. What kind of a contractor does this?

This guide will review the many functions of kitchens. The goal is to open your mind to all possibilities so that you ultimately realize the full potential of your new kitchen.