Refreshing Your Countertop
If you’d like to complete a kitchen or bathroom renovation, or refresh or replace existing countertops, you’ll probably find that the options are fantastic. However, the many details that are involved – especially the fact that a renovation can be disruptive – can hold up your project or even prevent you from starting the process. While many design and renovation firms boast about their on-time completions, it’s very common for timelines to unravel, leaving a frustrated homeowner with half of a kitchen still to be completed and no finish date in sight.
That doesn’t have to happen! If you choose the right single-source remodeler, you’ll enjoy a smooth process that starts and finishes on-time and gives you the new kitchen or bathroom of your dreams. When you begin to think about a kitchen or bath remodel or countertop replacement project, you should consider what a remodeling company will do to minimize any disruption to your lifestyle. Be sure to ask the following questions before hiring a countertop company.
How Do You Outline Your Renovation or Countertop Replacement Timeline?
To ensure that you won’t end up waiting months to finish a renovation, it’s important to first ask design and renovation businesses how they successfully adhere to timelines. When your renovation’s completion revolves around a deadline, such as a holiday, celebration, or home sale, it’s essential that a plan is developed and the scheduled timeline followed.
Are Countertops Fabricated In-House?
Many homeowners assume that countertops will be made in a far-off shop. If a countertop is fabricated by the remodeling company, then work can progress smoothly to completion. Some firms, like Kingswood Designs, actually have an on-site shop, which benefits customers in several ways. For full renovation projects, once the new cabinets are installed, the new countertops are cut and fabricated immediately for a prompt turnaround time. Which is a superior process to waiting for weeks at the mercy of a third party. For countertop replacement projects, Kingswood Designs removes your old countertop and installs your new countertop on the same day!
Do You Have Full-time Employees or Do You Use Subcontractors?
Some renovation companies employ subcontractors to fulfill parts of the remodeling process. Subcontractors will often hop from one project to another in an attempt to appease homeowners. Full-time countertop fabrication employees, on the other hand, will be assigned to one project and one project only until its completion. It also means that they are invested in every remodeling project and are committed to providing homeowners with quality materials and services.
Do You Have a Showroom?
A countertop showroom allows customers to see the many options that are available, such as granite samples, Zodiaq® Quartz, Mont Quartz, and Corian®. Design and remodel shops like Kingswood Designs invite you to come to the showroom with measurements for a countertop refresh or replacement, so estimates can be offered on the spot. If you have selected a slab of granite or quartz that has veining and unique characteristics, customers can visit the fabrication shop to identify the slab layout; choosing areas of the material selected to highlight or avoid.
Choose the Material That’s Best for Your Lifestyle
In addition to choosing the right company to manufacture your countertops, you’ll need to select a material that’s right for you and your busy lifestyle. Countertops are not just an important aesthetic component of your kitchen, they are the staple upon which meals are prepared, food is served, and the place upon which families gather to eat, work, and share time together.
Today’s busy families are spending more time in the kitchen, and trends in kitchen cabinetry and countertops reflect the need for durability as well as style.
To select the right countertop for your kitchen that works best for your family, it is important to consider the application as well as the amount of traffic that your kitchen countertop will receive. With so many choices available in today’s market, it’s best to first define your use, and then determine a budget. Below are two of the top choices that have come up consistent in consumer ratings and surveys for durability:
1. Quartz Countertops are the top-scoring material in Consumer Reports’ most recent test of kitchen countertops, withstanding hot pots, serrated knives, abrasive pads, and most stains. Resistant to heat, spills, and scratches, Quartz Countertops are also easy to maintain, requiring no special cleaning products – simply wash them off with soap and water and they will look as good as new.
A Quick Breakdown of the Benefits of Quartz Countertops:
- Durable
- Easy to maintain (never needs sealed)
- Heat resistant
- Scratch resistant
- Non-porous
2. Granite Countertops are steadily becoming the standard in newer homes. Most homes being built offer granite countertops as an upgrade or, in some cases, as a standard feature. Granite Countertops are very durable, and can withstand significantly more wear and tear than traditional laminate countertops. In addition, Granite Countertops’ stone surface can last a lifetime, whereas laminate countertops typically last 10 to 15 years. Consumer Reports kitchen countertop tests showed no harm to the material from heat, cuts, and scratches, with polished and matte finishes resisting most stains when sealed properly.
A Quick Breakdown of the Benefits of Granite Countertops:
- Made from stone, with each slab being a unique piece
- Increase the value of the home
- Can withstand heavy use
- Heat resistant
- Scratch resistant
- Wide range of price points
Kingswood Designs in the South Hills of Pittsburgh has a showroom, on-site countertop fabrication shop, and dedicated full-time employees who can help you design the perfect kitchen or bathroom renovation on a schedule. Call us today to learn more about what we can do to create your ideal kitchen or bathroom.
