You wake up in the morning refreshed, ready to begin a new day with a cup of coffee. But the moment you walk into the kitchen you find it messy, boring, and probably less-spacious than you would like. Ready to wake up your “tired” kitchen, but don’t know where to begin? Look no further than your local Wellborn Authorized Remodeler who can point you in the right direction of cabinet material choices and sound kitchen remodeling advice.
If you think the treasury secretary has a tough job these days, just try to pull off a kitchen remodel without professional help! Do you choose the awe inspiring cabinets you saw in the HGTV Dream Home or take a gamble with the cheap Chinese cabinet imports that are flooding the market? Do you believe Uncle Bob when he says “Sure you can knock that wall out without the house falling down”, or do you choose the Professional Remodeler with a structural engineer on staff?
With today’s consumers having so many decisions to make when planning a kitchen remodel, it is more important than ever to find an experienced remodeling professional to guide you through the process. But with close to 800,000 remodelers in the country, picking the right remodeler can seem almost as confusing as trying to remember if Mocha Frappachino Glaze was the cabinet finish you liked in the showroom you just left or the drink you ordered at Starbucks yesterday morning!
Since the chances of having Ty Pennington show up on your doorstep are slim to none, check out your local NARI chapter, “National Association of the Remodeling Industry” for a list of member contractors. Being a member of a Professional Remodeler Association such as NARI sets the remodeler apart from the pack. Along with a strict code of ethics the remodeler must abide by, there are educational programs and certifications that the remodeler can obtain.
If you live in a larger city such as Atlanta, even the list of NARI Remodeling firms can be overwhelming. If you’re planning a kitchen, bath, or closet remodel you should also check to see if the contractor is a Wellborn Authorized Remodeler.
As kitchens and baths have become more of a focal point in the home, the skills required to remodel them have become more complicated and difficult. A Wellborn Authorized remodeler has recognized the desire that homeowners have to update their homes and has taken the steps necessary to provide beautiful designs and quality installations. Wellborn Cabinets’ Factory Authorized Remodeler Program was created to provide an opportunity for professional remodelers to receive an in-depth understanding of the products, services and quality that make themselves stand above the competition.
The cabinet choices for kitchen remodel these days range from stock cabinets, semi-custom cabinets, and custom cabinets. The stock cabinets are least expensive, and they have limited options in design, material, styles, and storage available. Chinese cabinets are becoming a popular stock cabinet option, but BUYER BEWARE! Just Google “Chinese Drywall” and think back to the children’s toy scare before investing in Chinese cabinets. If there is a toxic finish on a kid’s racecar, I wonder what kind of finish is applied to a kitchen cabinet?
Semi-custom cabinets are factory built and are available with many more standard sizes than stock cabinets. The vast options in design, style, and storage availability with Semi-custom cabinets are making them one of the most popular choices for today’s kitchen remodels.
Custom cabinets are the ones that are built on-site, or in designer-workrooms. They are built according to the exact specifications and are built with endless options regarding design, material, styles, finishing, and storage. They are typically the most expensive among the three types. Many consumers hear the word “Custom Cabinets” and automatically think “High-End”, but most Custom cabinets should actually be labeled “Homemade Cabinets”, since they are made in small shops without the sophisticated finishing equipment that most Semi-custom and High-end custom manufactures have. If you are considering using a Custom Cabinet maker, be sure to ask if the cabinet finish has a “baked-on” factory finish or if they will be finishing them at the jobsite where dust and other environmental factors can affect the quality or the finish.
You could choose from any of the cabinet varieties available and your Professional Remodeler will be able to guide your selection to ensure you get the best value for your investment. Be sure to choose a style that blends well with the design and architecture of your kitchen. You could go for the bold colors and sleek finishes that are popular with contemporary designs, or go with a more traditional stain or painted finish. Be sure that apart from being a visual delight the drawers and the doors operate smoothly and effortlessly.
