Getting Started

Ideas

KEY INGREDIENTS FOR A KITCHEN REMODEL

Here are some key ingredients for a kitchen remodel. Clients often become overwhelmed with the many selections that come along with a kitchen remodel. Use this list as a guideline for what you will need to consider for your project, and start a wish list of your own.

Saunders Construction Company

GALLEY OR GATHERING SPACE:
Cabinet layout is the single most important design element in a kitchen ( office, bathroom or laundry room).  Choosing the right layout for your space comes from careful planning within your wall space. To achieve extra room in the kitchen, extend it by either adding an addition or reconfiguring some existing space.  Kim Saunders, your design consultant; as well as your general contractor, is trained in space planning and reconfiguring existing space to provide better functionality for your family's needs.

CABINETS:
Cabinetry is the most important part of your project.  Start by thinking about what is most important to you in fashion, functionality and the storage you need. We build your cabinetry usually with wood like Maple for its durability and cost.  Interiors are all made with Birch (not melamine).  We put in soft close doors and drawers and adjustable shelving.  It is all beautifully painted with special cabinetry paint or we use custom stain colors.  We can also add custom pantries, pull outs, spice racks, etc. in any cabinet. Collect magazine pictures that catch your eye – these can be very helpful when working with Kim Saunders as your cabinetry designer and general contractor.

APPLIANCES:
Start by researching appliance makes and models. Your choices will have a big impact on the design of your kitchen and the overall budget.  Kim Saunders design consulting will point you in the right direction and can give you some recommendations for your kitchen.

COUNTERTOPS:
There are numerous choices when thinking about countertops.  Quartz countertops are more popular today because they do not need to be sealed like granite. Granite needs to be sealed every 3 years or so. However, some granite has become sometimes less expensive than quartz because the slabs can be larger and cover more square area. Quartz is man-made and only comes in specific sizes.   Sometimes we recommend prefabricated countertops which provide the front edges already and are less costly.  However, keep in mind they are done in production and don't always come out quite as nice as a fully fabricated slab.

ISLANDS AND PENINSULAS:
Islands and peninsulas are the workstations of a kitchen. It is often the area where people gather as well. Think about how you would like this area of the kitchen to function for storage, entertaining and well as your work station.

JEWELS OF THE KITCHEN:
"Jewels" of a kitchen are items you add for aesthetics like pendant lighting, glass cabinets, custom tiles on backsplashes, built-ins or any other custom design features. A lot of our clients choose to add their own touches especially in the areas of custom woodwork, lighting, and tile backsplashes.

SINKS:
Sinks are an important fixture of a kitchen. Choose them wisely. Consider depth, faucet styles, utility, and ease of cleaning. Apron type sinks require additional cabinetry support so Kim does need to know ahead if this is the type of sink you desire.

Kitchen remodeling is an investment in your lifestyle and daily routine. Take the time to read product reviews and talk to people who have recently done a remodel to get feedback and ask questions. Kim has been remodeling homes for 40 years, he has a lot of experience to provide.  Be willing to listen to his advise as he listens to your desires as well.  Kim and Leslie are here to help take the mystery out of kitchen design and to assist you in creating the kitchen you've always dreamed of.

FAQ's

We are truly interested in making you happy with your project. We strive to deliver the highest degree of service. We will do your job professionally, and as close to the time frame given. We offer personalized service and quality workmanship at reasonable prices.

Yes, we provide insurance certificates to all of our customers upon request.

Yes you will. We detail everything we are going to do and are honest about our bid to you. There will not be any surprises.

We have years of experience in what we do. We know how to buy the best quality products to fit your specific project. When we do the job, it is correctly done. This eliminates the need to do the work two times. We are not the least expensive, but we are fair and affordable. We shine when it comes to honesty, reliability, and craftsmanship all within an atmosphere of personalized caring service.

Our construction employees are skilled craftsmen. We provide the best skilled craftsmen to do the job. You won't get the handyman doing the job a professional tradesman should be doing.

Yes. Most of our work comes from referrals. We pride ourselves in the number of satisfied clients who recommend family, neighbors, and friends to us. They know whoever they recommend to us will get the same dedicated commitment to excellence that they received.

Let us say this: our company is recognized as a quality construction company. We are going to do it right and within budget. We will do this within a context of personalized service and quality workmanship.

We are often asked this question, especially in this day and age, when the desire to cut corners and save money often trumps the desire to adhere to high standards of integrity.

We created this page to steer you away from making a decision that could cost you thousands of dollars and countless hours. Hiring an unlicensed contractor is illegal. Or an unlicensed handyman can contract projects only up to $600.00. Contractors who do not have the integrity to earn a license or properly insure themselves are often only in business to benefit themselves, even if it means providing faulty construction and costing their clients thousands of dollars in redos and repairs. Worst-case scenarios involve theft and dishonesty.

Please, do not risk your valuable time and money by hiring a contractor who is not willing to properly invest in their trade. A contractor must be licensed in the state they are working in, and they cannot use another company's license. If they claim they cannot afford a license or insurance, they are not the company to use. In the event of a disaster, you will have no legal recourse to rectify the situation, and there will be no one to hold accountable for your hardship.

BE WARY OF THESE WARNING SIGNS

  • 1. Large amounts of money asked for up-front.
  • 2. A contractor who does not list their license numbers on their vehicles, estimates, or advertising.
  • 3. A contractor who rushed you to make a decision in order to take advantage of a 'special deal' or a limited-time offer.
  • 4. One who does not write a detailed proposal and put's a low bottom-line price. If it looks too good, it probably is. You will have change orders galore and end up spending more money than the honest contractor who gave you a correct bid.
  • 5. If you feel good about possibly hiring one contractor, but he is charging more, then go back to him/her after obtaining all your bids and discuss the price again. You may find that the contractor can show you ways you may be able to save even more by redesigning your first bid.

WARNING

WHY SHOULD YOU HIRE A LICENSED AND INSURED CONTRACTOR?

We are often asked this question, especially in this day and age, when the desire to cut corners and save money often trumps the desire to adhere to high standards of integrity.

We created this page to steer you away from making a decision that could cost you thousands of dollars and countless hours. Hiring an unlicensed contractor is illegal. Or an unlicensed handyman can contract projects only up to $600.00. 

Contractors who do not have the integrity to earn a license or properly insure themselves are often only in business to benefit themselves, even if it means providing faulty construction and costing their clients thousands of dollars in redos and repairs. Worst-case scenarios involve theft and dishonesty. Please, do not risk your valuable time and money by hiring a contractor who is not willing to properly invest in their trade. A contractor must be licensed in the state they are working in, and they cannot use another company's license.

If they claim they cannot afford a license or insurance, they are not the company to use. In the event of a disaster, you will have no legal recourse to rectify the situation, and there will be no one to hold accountable for your hardship.

BE WARY OF THESE WARNING SIGNS

  • 1. A contractor who rushed you to make a decision in order to take advantage of a 'special deal' or a limited-time offer.
  • 2. Be wary if half of the cost of the project is asked for upfront. Our company provides a progress payment schedule after the contract/proposal is signed on the majority of our projects.
  • 3. A contractor who does not list their license numbers on their vehicles, estimates, or advertising.
  • 4. If a contractor gives you a bottom line price, or guarantees to be the lowest, then many time they do not offer what the honest contractor is offering you. For instance, the honest contractor gives you details on design, he does not purchase inferior cabinetry that breaks in a few years or installs thin slabs of countertop material that cracks, and lastly, the honest contractor will look at details such as where electrical plugs are placed, etc. He doesn't just throw your project together to get it done quickly to get paid. You can have your project done quickly and less expensively… or you can have it done right. You are investing a lot of money into your home, so make sure it is crafted beautifully.
  • 5. If you feel good about possibly hiring one contractor, but he is charging more, then go back to him/her after obtaining all your bids and discuss the price again. You may find that the contractor can show you ways you may be able to save even more by redesigning your first bid.