FREQUENTLY ASKED REMODELING QUESTIONS:

Q: Why should I hire Signature Kitchen and Bath among the many competitors?

A: We have a unique niche in the kitchen and bath market. Unlike the high-volume low-margin big-box stores, we have innovative, experienced, and detail-oriented design consultants who do more than fill the number of inches available. Unlike the low-volume, high-margin kitchen and bath specialty store, we offer competitive pricing with no fees for design services. Great service and great price—where else can you find that?

Q: How do I find out what it will cost to remodel my kitchen?

A: The choices of product and design both influence the price. Eighty percent of the remodels fall into the $10,000 - $40,000 range. Record a set of kitchen wall measurements—noting all doors and windows—including the ceiling height, and call any Signature Kitchen and Bath showroom for an in-showroom appointment that may last for two hours. Our design consultant will walk you through your choices.

Q: May I hire an independent installer or do the job myself?

A: We are happy to sell you materials alone, or materials with an installation service. We offer many installers with outstanding skills and more than fifteen years of experience. We generally do not build room additions, but can substantially remodel any interior space. Our top-flight remodelers may cost a bit more than two guys in a pickup truck, but you have a certain peace of mind when a thirty-two year old family-owned with four showrooms stands behind your project.

Q: When can you remodel my kitchen/bathroom? How long will it take?

A: The materials you will specify typically have lead times ranging from three to seven weeks. We usually begin installation shortly after the materials arrive at our warehouse. Depending on the scope of your project, out team is usually in your home from three to ten days. If you order a stone countertop, there may be another two to three weeks of “down time” after the cabinets are installed until the countertop is templated and installed.

Q: How may I pay for my remodel?

A: We accept personal checks, MasterCard, VISA, and Discover for home owners who wish to pay immediately. A fifty percent deposit is required with the signing of the contract. We offer financing through G.E. Money—including 90 days “same as cash”--for home owners who wish to stretch out their payments over time. We have a variety of financing options. Credit approval usually takes about ten minutes.

CABINET QUESTIONS

Q: Are kitchen cabinets from all manufacturers made the same way?

A: No. The quality of all cabinets sold by Signature Kitchen and Bath is consistently high. In general, the more you are willing to spend, the more choices become available to you. More wood species, more door styles, more finish colors, more sizes, and the ability to modify the size and features of cabinets require a greater investment.

Q: How should I choose my cabinet manufacturer?

A: Our design consultant will take you on a showroom tour, identifying cabinets from several different manufacturers. You will explore economical options such as Merillat Classic with deluxe full-extension dovetailed maple drawers, available in only eight door styles, four wood species, sixteen finish colors, and no variations from the catalog. You will investigate semi-custom options such as KraftMaid to select from eighty-one door styles, six wood species, and one hundred fifteen finish colors, and a variety of cabinet modification options. You will discover full custom options such as Dura Supreme with nine wood species, a myriad of overlay and inset door styles, any color for which you may submit a sample, and any size and shape cabinet we can sketch. As your design consultant explains the features and styles available, you should be able to lock into the best product for your needs.

Q: How do the prices vary for different cabinet door styles?

A: There are six major parameters that determine the price of a door style. The Merillat Classic upcharges follow. [1] Wood species: oak--base price, hickory +13%, Maple +16%, Cherry +24% [2] Composition of center panel: recessed plywood panel—base price, veneer raised panel +32%, solid hardwood panel +50% [3] door size: one-half inch overlay—base price, full overlay +11% [4] door fame construction: mortise-and-tenon joints—base price, mitered joint +10% [5] stain: single color—base price, glazed color +20% [6] detail—applied moldings such as a rope molding may add up to 40%. Upcharges from other manufacturers are often similar.

COUNTERTOP QUESTIONS

Q: What materials may I choose for my countertop?

A: Countertop materials fall into four basic categories: [1] Natural stone—granite, onyx, travertine, slate, marble, limestone—tops are the most beautiful because each was made unique by God. Granite was formed by volcanic activity and thus has great strength that withstands heat effectively. [2] Engineered stone—quartz—tops are the most stain-resistant because bonding agents make them non-porous and virtually maintenance-free. Quartz is the fourth hardest mineral on earth, yielding the most indestructible top. [3] Solid surface—the Corian class of products—is the only countertop product in which slabs can be chemically fused to produce seamless decks. Detailed edges and integral sinks are available. [4] Laminate—the timeless countertop—has been available for more than fifty years at a great price. New patterns and finishes create the illusion of stone or solid surface tops.

Q: What factors affect the price of my countertop?

A: Four choices that you make affect the countertop price: [1] Material and color. Granite and quartz comprise the top prices. Solid surface ranges from one-half to the same price as stone tops, the variance determined most prominently by color. [2] Edge treatment. An eased block edge is usually the base price. Bullnose, surface round, and bevel edges represent an upcharge. Ogee and chiseled edges are the most expensive. [3] Height of backsplash. The choice of no backsplash, a 4” backsplash, or a full-height 18” backsplash will affect the pricing. [4] Type of sink mounting. Undermount sink installations are about $300 more expensive than self-rimming sink installations.

Q: How should I choose colors?

A: It may be easiest to choose the cabinets first, the countertop second, the flooring third, and the wall coverings fourth, to maintain the greatest selections at the end of the process. Two general principles may be helpful: [1] Choose an appropriate mixture of light and dark colors in the room. Light colors are open, airy, and spacious. Dark colors are warm, friendly, and inviting. Extremes do not work so well though. Everything light produces a sterile, cold, institutional, unfriendly environment. Everything dark produces a claustrophobic, uncomfortable, oppressive environment. [2] Choose appropriate contrast between horizontal and vertical surfaces to create a comfortable sense of balance. Achieve this contrast with light versus dark colors, warm versus cold colors, wood grain versus stone grain. Our design consultant will offer specific suggestions.

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