Remodeling your kitchen is an exciting project. There are a lot of factors which come together to produce a new kitchen which you will enjoy for years to come. During the construction phase there will be lots of activity, and you will very probably have questions. We’ve prepared this section of our website to try to answer the most common questions. Look through this in your leisure, and if any other questions arise please feel free to call your designer. We here at Kitchen & Bath Solutions hope your kitchen remolding will be a fun and exciting project. THE PROCESS QUESTION: What do I need to do to get ready for installation day? ANSWER: Your old cabinets must be completely empty and countertops completely clear. Any wall decorations should be taken down and packed away to avoid damage, and rugs, tables and chairs must be removed. We will need to have a suitable place to cut moldings, panels, fillers, etc. This must be under cover in case of rain. We will need to have access to your home during the construction phase, so someone must either be home, or you will need to give us a key or leave the door unlocked. If you have any pets, they must be kept secured away from the installation area. QUESTION: What will happen to my old cabinets? ANSWER: That depends. If your old cabinets are what are called “built in place”, they will have to be dismantled to remove them. They will be destroyed in the process. If they are “modular,” they will be taken down one-by-one. These usually come down reasonably intact. If you have any use for any or all of them you are welcome to them. Make sure to mark the ones you want to save (a sticky-note works well) so our installer will know to save them for you. If you wish we can arrange to dispose of them for you, for an appropriate fee. QUESTION: How long will it take to complete my kitchen? ANSWER: It depends a great deal on the scope of work. Generally the carpentry phase will last for about a week, and the countertop and final plumbing hookup will be at the end of the following week. If the job calls for renovating walls, intricate moldings, etc., it could take substantially longer. Generally we will have you “substantially complete” in about two to three weeks. By substantially complete we mean a kitchen with the majority of the cabinets and countertops installed, and running water. There will almost always be a “punch list” of smaller items which will take longer to complete, but life can return to normal. QUESTION: When do I have to pay for my new kitchen? ANSWER: Kitchen & Bath Solutions will work out a payment schedule with you and you will need to make these payments at the specified times. (i.e. “upon delivery of cabinets”). Failure to make required payment on time will delay the completion. QUESTION: What do I do if I notice something wrong? ANSWER: If there is something you think may be different than what you and the designer spoke about, please ask questions as soon as they arise. Many situations can be easily corrected while the installer is in your home doing the initial installation, but may be difficult to do later. Other problems may involve ordering new materials so they will have to be completed at a later date. Note that any CHANGES you make at this time will need to be approved by Kitchen & Bath Solutions PRIOR to their implementation, and may change final cost to you. In the event that these changes create a cost increase, payment will be due BEFORE such work is started. QUESTION: I have an electrician and a flooring contractor who will be doing some upgrades to my kitchen. When will they need to do their work? ANSWER: That depends. When doing electrical work there will be some “behind the wall” work which is best done after the old cabinets are down, but before the new cabinets are installed. Your floor man may want to do his work after your old cabinets are out, but before your new cabinets are installed. Check with your subcontractors to see how much time they will need, and let your designer know. Delays created by subcontractors other than those working directly for Kitchen & Bath Solutions can incur additional charges too you, and can cause delays in completion. CABINETS QUESTION: When my new cabinets are delivered, where will they go? ANSWER: Cabinets will need to be set as close to the kitchen as possible, but NOT in the kitchen (they will be in the way). When our designer visits your home they will let you know where the cabinets should go. QUESTION: My cabinets were delivered today, and you’re going to start installing them tomorrow. Can I help by unpacking them? ANSWER: NO! If there is any unseen damage it must be observed by Kitchen & Bath Solutions. If someone other than a Kitchen & Bath Solutions employee or subcontractor unpacks the cabinets, we will not be able to make a damage claim and the party who unpacked the cabinets assumes all liability for damages!!! QUESTION: What sort of warranty do I have? ANSWER: Kitchen & Bath Solutions supplies you with a two-year warranty on what we supply and install. Additionally, many manufacturers of cabinetry and fixtures offer extended warranties. Keep all receipts on file as you will need these for any future claims. COUNTERTOPS QUESTION: How do you insure that my new countertop will be an exact fit? ANSWER: The best way to insure a precise fit of a countertop to the cabinet surface is to make a template. The template is built directly on the base cabinets. It is cut to conform to the contour of the walls, to fit flush with the tall end panels, and provide proper overhang. On the day of template a fabricator will build this on site, and then take it back to his shop to make an exact “puzzle piece” fit. NOTE: the templater will need to have the stove, cooktop, sink, faucet and any other fixtures on site to make sure they fit properly. Solid surface tops have about a one week turn-around time, and stovetops will run close to two weeks. APPLIANCES QUESTION: When should I have my appliances delivered? ANSWER: The sink, faucet, dishwasher, stove, cooktop, wall oven, etc. will need to be on site at time of template. QUESTION: Who will do the final hookup of my appliances? ANSWER: You will need to make arrangements with your appliance supplier. For a fee, they will do the final securing, leveling and hook-ups of your appliances. Some appliances can be set in place by our Kitchen & Bath Solutions installers; check with your designer for applicable costs. QUESTION: I am changing from my old range hood to a new microwave hood. What should I know about this change? ANSWER: 1) A traditional hood is hard-wired into your homes electrical system, but a microwave hood is a plug-in appliance. An electrical outlet will need to be installed. Check with your local building code as most jurisdictions require this to be on a separate circuit. You will need to secure a qualified electrician for this. 2) Your new microwave hood may either be ducted outside or set to recirculate air back into the kitchen. Installing ductwork can be problematic, and cost will need to be quoted on a job-by-job basis QUESTION: What will happen to my old appliances? ANSWER: If you are not reusing your existing appliances, you will need to make arrangement to dispose of them. Often, your new appliance supplier can arrange to dispose of old items.