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Latest Articles
Important Roofing Regulations to Consider
Having a home you can truly enjoy that is not only liveable, but safe, sturdy, and a delight to inhabit requires more than picking out the right...
on Feb 24, 2021
What to Consider When Choosing a Furnace Service Contractor
HVAC systems are among the costliest systems that you can install in your house. Therefore, you would probably want to do all possible things for...
on Feb 19, 2021
Choosing a Reliable Furnace System for Your Home
Either way, it would be great if you can invest in something you will benefit from for a pretty long time. If that is the case, you would know that...
on Feb 19, 2021
Lawyers vs. Real Estate Agents: Who to Hire When Buying a House
Because buying a house is already so expensive, most buyers would want to spend as little extra money as possible. Consequently, some may balk at...
on Feb 18, 2021
6 Home Repairs to Leave to an Expert
Being able to repair things around your home is a point of pride. When you can take something that isn’t working, or doesn’t look great and restore...
on Feb 17, 2021
Popular Articles
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
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Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
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Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
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Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
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Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
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The Complete Kitchen Remodeling Checklist
by Charlie Brown on May 30, 2014
Even before a budget is worked out, the homeowner needs to figure out just what he or she wants in a kitchen remodel. Some remodels are little more than weekend make-overs while others can take weeks if not months. These remodels require tearing out walls and rearranging electricity and plumbing. Whatever type of remodeling it is, the homeowner will need a checklist. Here's a more complete kitchen remodeling checklist:
Cabinets
Cabinets are framed or unframed. Framed cabinets are the more traditional of the two. The frames allow the cabinets to be wider than frameless cabinets and keep them perfectly square and stable. Frameless cabinets have a door that's hung on a special kind of hinge. They give the cabinet a more modern look. Though frameless cabinets are a bit less stable than framed cabinets when they're not installed, once they are installed they're just as sturdy.
Vertical parts of cabinets are often made out of solid wood while the flat surfaces of cabinets are made of plywood, particleboard or MDF. These materials have less inclination to warp. Solid woods made from deciduous trees are called hardwoods. Woods made from conifers are called softwoods, even though the names have little to do with how hard or soft the wood is.
It's best to have the wood finished at the manufacturer's before it's shipped to the home. That's because wood tends to warp with the changing humidity in a room.
Countertops
Countertops can come in all kinds of materials, including wood. A wood butcherblock countertop, however, should be kept away from the sink or wherever it may be exposed to water. Since it is wood, it can swell and rot if it's exposed to too much water. Other materials for countertops are:
Stone
This can be granite, slate, marble, limestone, soapstone, travertine or other types of stone. These countertops are uniquely beautiful, but porous stone like granite, marble, and limestone need to be sealed to protect against staining.
Laminate
Laminate is much less expensive than stone. It's easy to care for and resists staining. It can also be installed by the homeowner.
Stainless Steel
This alloy of iron and chrome is almost indestructible. It can stand high temperatures and can't be stained. However, over the years it will show scratches. Still, some homeowners who love to cook won't mind this.
Solid Surface
This tough material can be bought in all sorts of patterns and colors, even those that imitate granite and marble. Mild damage can be fixed with sandpaper.
Flooring
Flooring can be as varied as countertops. Floors can be made of laminate, which allows them to be installed over an existing floor. They can be made out of ceramic tile, resilient material, hardwood or stone. Some homeowners even install carpet, but the carpet should be very tough and mildew resistant. Synthetic carpeting might be good for a kitchen.
Sinks
Sinks can be perfectly utilitarian or works of art in themselves with beautiful decoration. The sink can have a single bowl, a double bowl or three bowls. The third bowl is usually attached to the garbage disposal unit. Other sinks can have built-in colanders, dishracks or chopping boards. Sinks can also be made out of many materials, including:
- Porcelain
- Fire clay
- Composite materials
- Solid Surface
- Enameled cast iron
- Enameled steel
- Stainless steel
- Soapstone
- German Silver
- Stone
- Brass
- Copper
Besides different materials, kitchen sinks can be self-rimming, rimmed, under-mounted or integral. Solid surface countertops often come with integral sinks. This makes leaking around the edges of the sink impossible
Lighting
Good lighting is essential in a kitchen. Light not only makes the kitchen look welcoming but is necessary for the safe running of a kitchen. Ideally, a kitchen should have at least one bright window. If the old kitchen didn't have one, it will be worth it to have one installed during the remodel.
As for artificial light, the homeowner will need to know exactly what sort of lighting he or she wants and where it well placed. They can be pendants, track lighting, recessed downlights, and fixtures mounted flush to the ceiling. Lights can be placed over the sink, in the toe kick area and even inside cabinets.
Most Recent Articles
- Dec 16, 2020 Kitchen Remodeling Tips That Will Help You by Michael Rogers
- Oct 20, 2020 What You Need for a Bathroom Renovation by Guest
- Jun 3, 2020 Bored In Lockdown? Refresh Your Kitchen by Mark Klein
- May 16, 2020 The Best 7 Upgrades You Can Make to Your Kitchen by Guest
- Apr 21, 2020 Budget Bathroom Remodeling for an Updated Look by Blewitt
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