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[ScrapHappy]

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@VaBelle35 wrote:

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@ScrapHappy wrote:

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@VaBelle35 wrote:

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@ScrapHappy wrote:

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@Equuleus wrote:

After 20 years of waiting, it's finally gonna happen.  Problem is, I am totally at a loss as where to begin.  I go and look at all the products (counter tops, sinks, backsplash, flooring, cabinets) and I am very confused.  Where do I start????  Does anyone know of a program to design a kitchen so I can add colors and different flooring and cabinets, etc so I can get an actual picture of what it would look like?

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We remodeled 3 bathrooms (including the master) recently.  Took it all to the studs.  I looked into those "all inclusive" companies that will design and do all the work.  However, I found them to be way too expensive and, for the most part, they want you to choose your materials with them (cabinets, tile, faucets, countertops, etc.)  The price they work up for you is all materials that are the least expensive and not the most attractive.  Of course you'll want to pick out the nicer more expensive stuff.  It took us months to find a contractor, like 8 months or more.  Maybe it's just my area but so many contractors would come in and first thing they'd say is "well...a master bathroom starts at $30,000 in this area."  One all inclusive company wouldn't even consider working with you if it didn't start at $60,000.  NO LIE!  Crazy, I know.  I started looking on line at pinterest and other sites like that to get ideas.  Then I'd go to a granite/quartz place to look at slabs of countertops.  The counter tops and cabinets are the most important, IMO.  Each time I found a slab that I really, really liked and then everything else was picked out to match.  I did go to Ferguson to look at faucets, sinks, etc., but they were way overpriced.  I ended up going to a local company for sinks, faucets and tubs and they were fabulous!  Still expensive, but not things you'd get off the shelves at Home Depot but still less than Ferguson.  My biggest tip is, besides finding a contractor, have everything picked out first.  Run it by the contractor is you have problems/questions and order it and have it on site BEFORE work starts.  Buy extra tile, always need more and always good to have extra.  Remember that you'll need your sinks and faucets picked out so the fabricator for the countertops know what to cut.  I did not think I could go to these places and know what I'm doing and pick out what I wanted and make it all work but at the same time I felt I know what I like more than a designer would.  Going to a designer or an all inclusive company probably would be easier, but you're going to pay for them to do all that.  Another tip if you go the route of finding materials on your own, have it delivered or pick it up yourself.  Most contractors will charge you for their time to do that.  Good luck.  Try not to stress about it.  It can be a lot of fun.

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@ScrapHappy  This is interesting because I just had a call back today from an inclusive company and he told me that my home has to be brought up to code and a 12 x 6 bathroom starts at $40k.  My house was built in 1993 and he said the building codes changed in 1994.  I've had several other quotes from non-inclusive and they ranged from $2500 for a refresh to $10k for a remodel.

I need to ask my neighbors if they had to bring their homes up to code in order to remodel.

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Hmmmmm...did he say how/why your bathroom is not up to code?  I would ask for specifics.  Definitely get more quotes.  As I said, it took me many months to find someone.  Neighbors and word of mouth are the best referrals.  The $10k from the contractor is probably just for labor and some materials.  Sometimes contractors put in an allowance for a countertop of sink or something like that.  I'm glad I went out and purchased all materials on my own.  It saved a lot of money and much nicer than any all inclusive companies were offering.  Our master bathroom is very large, it has two countertops on each side with a sink.  One counter is 9 feet long and the other is 7 1/2.  Our contractor charged us $14k for labor and some materials.  Other contractors quoted us from $30k to as high as $52 and that was just labor.  The all inclusive I went to gave me a price of $25k but the choices of material like tile, cabinet was not to my liking.  When I upgraded that and just about everything else (because everything was the baseline stuff), it went up to $48k.  We spent about $20K on materials that I picked out and had delivered (tile, grout, paint, shower and sink fixtures, 2 marble countertops, toilet, 2 sinks, cabinets, mirrors, lighting (x2) and chandelier, free standing soaking tub, etc.  We did not change the footprint of our bathroom, kept things where they were.

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@ScrapHappy  He said that the building codes changed in 1994 and my house was built in 1993.  

What I'm reading on Home Advisor and Angie's List and other remodeling blogs is basically nobody from the city is going to look at your house when you sell it and there are no laws that require your home be up to code when you sell.  It's more of a safety issue.  So I have to see what he says when he comes out here what exactly is not up to code.  Electric wiring?  Pipes?  Insulation?  We'll see.

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Did this contractor ask you first what year your house was built?  If you said 1995, would of he said the codes changed in 1994?  It's just my train of thought, I'm not a very trusting person.  Let me know how it turns out, I'd be interested in knowing (if this is the guy you choose), what exactly is out of code.  Good luck.

[VaBelle35]

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@ScrapHappy wrote:

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@VaBelle35 wrote:

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@ScrapHappy wrote:

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@VaBelle35 wrote:

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@ScrapHappy wrote:

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@Equuleus wrote:

After 20 years of waiting, it's finally gonna happen.  Problem is, I am totally at a loss as where to begin.  I go and look at all the products (counter tops, sinks, backsplash, flooring, cabinets) and I am very confused.  Where do I start????  Does anyone know of a program to design a kitchen so I can add colors and different flooring and cabinets, etc so I can get an actual picture of what it would look like?

---

We remodeled 3 bathrooms (including the master) recently.  Took it all to the studs.  I looked into those "all inclusive" companies that will design and do all the work.  However, I found them to be way too expensive and, for the most part, they want you to choose your materials with them (cabinets, tile, faucets, countertops, etc.)  The price they work up for you is all materials that are the least expensive and not the most attractive.  Of course you'll want to pick out the nicer more expensive stuff.  It took us months to find a contractor, like 8 months or more.  Maybe it's just my area but so many contractors would come in and first thing they'd say is "well...a master bathroom starts at $30,000 in this area."  One all inclusive company wouldn't even consider working with you if it didn't start at $60,000.  NO LIE!  Crazy, I know.  I started looking on line at pinterest and other sites like that to get ideas.  Then I'd go to a granite/quartz place to look at slabs of countertops.  The counter tops and cabinets are the most important, IMO.  Each time I found a slab that I really, really liked and then everything else was picked out to match.  I did go to Ferguson to look at faucets, sinks, etc., but they were way overpriced.  I ended up going to a local company for sinks, faucets and tubs and they were fabulous!  Still expensive, but not things you'd get off the shelves at Home Depot but still less than Ferguson.  My biggest tip is, besides finding a contractor, have everything picked out first.  Run it by the contractor is you have problems/questions and order it and have it on site BEFORE work starts.  Buy extra tile, always need more and always good to have extra.  Remember that you'll need your sinks and faucets picked out so the fabricator for the countertops know what to cut.  I did not think I could go to these places and know what I'm doing and pick out what I wanted and make it all work but at the same time I felt I know what I like more than a designer would.  Going to a designer or an all inclusive company probably would be easier, but you're going to pay for them to do all that.  Another tip if you go the route of finding materials on your own, have it delivered or pick it up yourself.  Most contractors will charge you for their time to do that.  Good luck.  Try not to stress about it.  It can be a lot of fun.

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@ScrapHappy  This is interesting because I just had a call back today from an inclusive company and he told me that my home has to be brought up to code and a 12 x 6 bathroom starts at $40k.  My house was built in 1993 and he said the building codes changed in 1994.  I've had several other quotes from non-inclusive and they ranged from $2500 for a refresh to $10k for a remodel.

I need to ask my neighbors if they had to bring their homes up to code in order to remodel.

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Hmmmmm...did he say how/why your bathroom is not up to code?  I would ask for specifics.  Definitely get more quotes.  As I said, it took me many months to find someone.  Neighbors and word of mouth are the best referrals.  The $10k from the contractor is probably just for labor and some materials.  Sometimes contractors put in an allowance for a countertop of sink or something like that.  I'm glad I went out and purchased all materials on my own.  It saved a lot of money and much nicer than any all inclusive companies were offering.  Our master bathroom is very large, it has two countertops on each side with a sink.  One counter is 9 feet long and the other is 7 1/2.  Our contractor charged us $14k for labor and some materials.  Other contractors quoted us from $30k to as high as $52 and that was just labor.  The all inclusive I went to gave me a price of $25k but the choices of material like tile, cabinet was not to my liking.  When I upgraded that and just about everything else (because everything was the baseline stuff), it went up to $48k.  We spent about $20K on materials that I picked out and had delivered (tile, grout, paint, shower and sink fixtures, 2 marble countertops, toilet, 2 sinks, cabinets, mirrors, lighting (x2) and chandelier, free standing soaking tub, etc.  We did not change the footprint of our bathroom, kept things where they were.

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@ScrapHappy  He said that the building codes changed in 1994 and my house was built in 1993.  

What I'm reading on Home Advisor and Angie's List and other remodeling blogs is basically nobody from the city is going to look at your house when you sell it and there are no laws that require your home be up to code when you sell.  It's more of a safety issue.  So I have to see what he says when he comes out here what exactly is not up to code.  Electric wiring?  Pipes?  Insulation?  We'll see.

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Did this contractor ask you first what year your house was built?  If you said 1995, would of he said the codes changed in 1994?  It's just my train of thought, I'm not a very trusting person.  Let me know how it turns out, I'd be interested in knowing (if this is the guy you choose), what exactly is out of code.  Good luck.

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@ScrapHappy  We're on the same wave length ;o)  I said it was 25 years old in my initial communication to the company on their website, so I imagine he had that information in front of him and did the calculation.  I did ask my next door neighbor who is a master plumber and he said building codes change every few years or so and that there probably have been a few changes to the plumbing codes in 25 years.  But yes, using 1994 was a big tell for me, too.

I actually cancelled my appointment with him for next week.  A $40k bathroom renovation is ridiculous.  I am just going to paint and do a new light fixture.

[Regal Bee]

@Equuleus  It is vitally important for you to know what you want upfront. It is okay to look at pictures and input but basically make a list of what you want.

Do drawings to scale.....so important. Take measurements of everything.

Decide if you want walls knocked down or working within your space. The current trend is knocking walls down but you must decide whether this will work for you or not.

Work with a kitchen designer, if possible, but again be sure of what you want.

Decide on a budget upfront......kitchen renovations are very expensive. Be prepared for it to cost more than you expect.

If you are staying in your home for good.....do what you want. If you expect to sell anytime  soon after the renovation.....stay with current trends.

Ask for a schedule for the renovation. ......be prepared for it to take longer than the time quoted.

Good luck.

[novamc1]

@VaBelle35

After selling real estate for years and seeing how important "code compliance" is, I'd suggest you follow the suggestion to get your home improvement work  up to code in every respect.

 Make sure any remodeling contract contains a clause requiring any plumbing, electrical or building contractor to obtain and give you a copy of county permits for all work--they don't like to do this because it takes time and money for them to get those permits and later  have the county building inspector  approve their final work, but trust me, you need those  inspections and those permits in your file for later reference and protection.

I could write more about this, but hope everyone considering signing any home improvement or building contract NOT overlook the importance of demanding and getting those permits. 

I totally ticked off my kitchen remodeling company years ago by noticing that they were proceeding with work through various electrical and plumbing contractors, but I had not seen any permits for the work, nor seen any county building inspector approving of their final work.  Our contract with the kitchen design company specifically called for those permits.

If the current homeowner doesn't care about this issue, any future buyers or  county inspectors or the owner's insurance company will definitely want to see those permits.  Just think what might happen after a fire because unapproved electrical work was done on a house.  

Also think about  the horror of having a county inspector show up and demand that the owner tear out a wall so electrical work done by a contractor who didn't have the proper permit could be inspected.

[Equuleus]

I appreciate all the suggestions about coding and space measurements and knocking down walls.  I am aware of all that and my husband knows the ins and outs of that aspect.  I am the one who will be choosing colors and styles -- it's all in my hands.  This will be the first time doing any remodeling choices so I just needed some help or suggestions as to where to start.  I have been to several places in our area looking at cabinet styles and choices, countertop styles and colors, and flooring.  There is just so much out there and unless one has a specific idea of what they want, it can be very, very overwhelming.  I have books and pamphlets coming out the wazoo.  I have a good idea as to what style and cabinets I want, and the counter is what is going to be very important to me.  We know what flooring we want (and it's going to be heated -- I didn't even know you could do that), but I have to choose the color, again. 

I will just take my time and narrow it down little by little.  Thanks all.

[novamc1]

And to my previous post, I should add that "Harry Homeowner DO-IT-HIMSELF" alterations to electrical  wiring and plumbing work can also cause big problems when someone tries to sell a home to today's cautious and savvy buyers.

Expect to have the buyer stipulate after a home inspection that any work done to correct problems noted in a home inspection be done by a licensed contractor who follows the rules.

[riley1]

@VaBelle35 - When we were selling and the buyer's inspector came, he said my outside back steps were against code and had to be brought up to date. I nicely told him they were in code when the house was built and I had no plans to change them now, lol. 

But I'm guessing if one is doing a major renovation (taking down walls, etc) it might have to be brought up to code. You might want to get some other advice on that.

[novamc1]

@riley1

You're right.  An existing home need not be "brought up to current code" in every respect.  It's different, however, if major work is being done that  alters the existing property and involves certain key aspects subject to current building codes.

After all, nobody can continually update their home to keep up with all the code changes.

[mousiegirl]

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@Equuleus wrote:

After 20 years of waiting, it's finally gonna happen.  Problem is, I am totally at a loss as where to begin.  I go and look at all the products (counter tops, sinks, backsplash, flooring, cabinets) and I am very confused.  Where do I start????  Does anyone know of a program to design a kitchen so I can add colors and different flooring and cabinets, etc so I can get an actual picture of what it would look like?

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@Equuleus  I planned a new kitchen for just as long as you have, and finally three years ago, it happened.  I knew pretty much what I wanted, definitely knew how I wanted the kitchen laid out as it is a working kitchen, and the so called designer I hired, really only supplied the cabinets, another long story, as I told her what I wanted, exasperated her she saying, "you won't let me design," to which I replied, no, I have already designed the kitchen, you are to help me with plans, etc,  she messed those up so had to hire an architect.  She ended up having to pay for several mistakes she made, but I got the kitchen I wanted.

I have one cabinet which houses the Kitchenaid, all the rest are drawers with the bottom drawers being very large, long, and deep for plates, bowls, baking ware.  I have art on the walls.

I have an island with a fan, the best thing ever, as we have no AC.  The designer tried to talk me into a sink and two lamps which would hang over, told her no, I have a sink, I want a large surface on the island, and why would I need hanging lamps when I had LED lights in ceiling cans installed, same over the sink, no hangers, just the cans, tons of light, no need for the pendant lights, I think they are called.

So, once you know what you want, stick to it, and don't let a designer talk you into something you don't want or need

I have granite countertops and island, and backsplash, a large backlash behind the rangetop, gas, love it. and a hardwood floor.  I insisted the sink be deep and long, stainless steel, with a grate standing in it so as not to scratch the bottom.

I didn't want a stove with an oven that I had to bend so low to get things in and out of, so chose wall ovens, only use them for heavy duty baking and holidays, but appliances are chosen by your needs.

Good luck.   There will be bumps along the way, and we chose to paint the kitchen ourselves to save money.

[151949]

When we sold our Pa home the heat pump did not pass inspection because the wiring to it was not up to a code that was only a few months old. We had to pay an electrician to replace all the wiring and the breakers.I believe it was around $500.