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Answers (11)
- archphoto
- Contributions:8
See if you can rent one from Loews, you will get a better sprayer than the cheapies and when you are done you don't have to find a place to store it! Even better, see if a friend has one you can borrow, and if they own it maybe they will come help!!! I have a $99 electric sprayer that works well, but not sure about the cheaper ones. Read reviews online if you can find them.
- tacti
- Contributions:5
thanks a lot for all the information.today, i just got appraisal back, and only thing we need to do before we start any project is just to wait for the closing (it's like two more months....)
we will try painting over the existing cabinet first, so that we can change the kitchen to our taste, however, eventually we would like to replace the cabinet. Â right now, we have "L" and "I" shape counter facing each other,Â
 ______________
|________|
__
| Â |
| Â |
| Â |_______
|________|_______
and we want to change it to to "I"s and an island
 _______________
|________|
__ Â Â __
| Â | Â Â | Â |
| Â | Â Â |__|
| Â |
|_|_____________Â
however, it will be a while before we have enough saving for this remodel,
and I will do as much research on our options as possible.
thanks!
by the way, when we want to use sprayer to paint the kitchen, can we use those electric sprayer at lowes for $30 - $60?
or should i rent compressor one?
just wondering...
we will try painting over the existing cabinet first, so that we can change the kitchen to our taste, however, eventually we would like to replace the cabinet. Â right now, we have "L" and "I" shape counter facing each other,Â
 ______________
|________|
__
| Â |
| Â |
| Â |_______
|________|_______
and we want to change it to to "I"s and an island
 _______________
|________|
__ Â Â __
| Â | Â Â | Â |
| Â | Â Â |__|
| Â |
|_|_____________Â
however, it will be a while before we have enough saving for this remodel,
and I will do as much research on our options as possible.
thanks!
by the way, when we want to use sprayer to paint the kitchen, can we use those electric sprayer at lowes for $30 - $60?
or should i rent compressor one?
just wondering...
- archphoto
- Contributions:8
If you are interested in just painting a solid color you can do it for the cost of primer and paint. Make sure you get the filler-primer as it will prevent the wood grain pattern from showing through. You will get the best results from a sprayer and make sure that you do good prep work on the wood wo be painted as well as masking off the entire area to protect from overspray. If you don't want to deal with a sprayer, you can roll it on but just know that you will typically get a texture in the paint. Don't use a bruch unless you are really confident in your abonity to apply a smooth even coat.
As for the countertops, using granite tile is by far the cheapest and looks almost as good as a solid slab. We are still trying to make the same decision between the two, but will most likely end up going the cheaper route. depending on how much you need and how picky you are on the color you can set some pretty good deals on end of the batch tile, if you are patient and persistant on calling around. In some cases you can even tile right over the existing countertop, though most professionals frown upon that!
Good luck and have fun!
As for the countertops, using granite tile is by far the cheapest and looks almost as good as a solid slab. We are still trying to make the same decision between the two, but will most likely end up going the cheaper route. depending on how much you need and how picky you are on the color you can set some pretty good deals on end of the batch tile, if you are patient and persistant on calling around. In some cases you can even tile right over the existing countertop, though most professionals frown upon that!
Good luck and have fun!
- jenjena
- Contributions:2
Continues from last post: Part 2
<<How to stain&finish bare wood, generally: Sand lightly with the grain with medium sanding sponges. Vacuum or blow off dust. Stain with an oil-based stain. Let dry overnight. Buy Zinsser Bull's Eye "Seal Coat" shellac at Lowe's. Thin down by 25% with alcohol. Wipe shellac on with a super-clean lint-free rag. Let dry. Sand with the sanding sponges until silky smooth. Vacuum or blow off dust again. Wipe all surfaces down with a microfiber cloth to remove all dust. Use a wipe-on polyurethane product and follow the directions on the can. After drying for a week, apply a wax. I like Turtle Wax Express Shine. Yes, for cars. It works well for protecting and quick cleaning. So, it's not that difficult!>>
Number two which no one thinks about: instead of getting full slab granite countertops, one can use a plywood base over the cabinets, then tile board on top, and use 12" X 12" granite tiles with an epoxy grout and gloss grout sealer made to match and blend with the tiles. Lowe's or Home Depot can help with these. Use a contrasting tile or fancy tile border for your backsplash, or just use the matching granite. This is nice because the top would be flat and smooth, and the grout lines would mostly disappear. All you would need is a tile-cutting saw which you could rent. The whole project could be done in a weekend. (Drying times of grout may make it take longer.) Cost would probably be less than 25% of full slab.
Both of these projects could be accomplished with hard work, and a month of spare time, for probably a lot less than $2000.
Do a lot of research on the web, and be confident that you can actually do it yourself and save gobs of money!
I hope this helped you out in some way!
<<How to stain&finish bare wood, generally: Sand lightly with the grain with medium sanding sponges. Vacuum or blow off dust. Stain with an oil-based stain. Let dry overnight. Buy Zinsser Bull's Eye "Seal Coat" shellac at Lowe's. Thin down by 25% with alcohol. Wipe shellac on with a super-clean lint-free rag. Let dry. Sand with the sanding sponges until silky smooth. Vacuum or blow off dust again. Wipe all surfaces down with a microfiber cloth to remove all dust. Use a wipe-on polyurethane product and follow the directions on the can. After drying for a week, apply a wax. I like Turtle Wax Express Shine. Yes, for cars. It works well for protecting and quick cleaning. So, it's not that difficult!>>
Number two which no one thinks about: instead of getting full slab granite countertops, one can use a plywood base over the cabinets, then tile board on top, and use 12" X 12" granite tiles with an epoxy grout and gloss grout sealer made to match and blend with the tiles. Lowe's or Home Depot can help with these. Use a contrasting tile or fancy tile border for your backsplash, or just use the matching granite. This is nice because the top would be flat and smooth, and the grout lines would mostly disappear. All you would need is a tile-cutting saw which you could rent. The whole project could be done in a weekend. (Drying times of grout may make it take longer.) Cost would probably be less than 25% of full slab.
Both of these projects could be accomplished with hard work, and a month of spare time, for probably a lot less than $2000.
Do a lot of research on the web, and be confident that you can actually do it yourself and save gobs of money!
I hope this helped you out in some way!
- jenjena
- Contributions:2
If you are happy with the layout of the cabinets themselves, you can replace just the doors and hardware of the cabinets and either paint everything, or reface just the cabinets with a peel-and-stick veneer to match the new doors, and finish all of it to match. (You could have cherry or maple or hickory cabinets this way! Some could be glass mullion doors with a stained glass or textured glass panes. You could do cathedral-style, or Shaker or a Southwest design. Lots of options here.) Unfinished wood doors can be bought from Lowe's or Home Depot. Ask for a catalog. Rockler.com has a book to instruct how to do it, and a trimming tool which would be helpful.They also sell textured glass. 2' X 8' PSA (pressure-sensitive adhesive) sheets can be bought for less than $50 per sheet. (Do a Google search for "PSA veneer".) Veneer can be cut with scissors and trimmed with a knife. This can be accomplished, start to finish, in maybe two weekends. Probably for around $1,000 or less, depending on the doors bought. Another option is to replace the doors in unfinished oak, strip the face frames&exposed cabinet areas, and refinish all to match. Easier than you might think. Also a good hint is if the interiors of your cabinets are dark and you don't want to use the glass in the doors is to paint the interiors white.
Have to cut this post into 2 : continued...
Have to cut this post into 2 : continued...
- J Steinberg Design
- Contributions:92
If the cabinets function the way you want and you have enough storage, look into refacing. They will still need to restain the other part of the cabinet, but it could be more cost effective. If you go with new cabinets, I highly encourage you to shop your local mom and pop tradesmen. Often times, they are a joy to do business with, they give personal and attentive service and they create and sell superior product versus big box stores. At least look into it before you think its too expensive.
As for the counter- replace it if you can. If you will be in your home for 5 to 10 years- do the things that really bug you now. Chances are, you will break down and do it before you move, anyway. Have it the way you want it asap so you can live with it and enjoy it- instead of updating in order to sell or make it look more appealing to a new owner.
Again, when it comes to the stone, look into and gain bids from a few local stone subs. Don't let the allure of the "easy" and seemingly discounted big box store fool you into thinking smaller guys are more expensive. Sometimes they are, but often times its comparable if not more cost effective.
Im not sure if they can beat Ikea- but remember this: buy cheap, pay twice.
As for the counter- replace it if you can. If you will be in your home for 5 to 10 years- do the things that really bug you now. Chances are, you will break down and do it before you move, anyway. Have it the way you want it asap so you can live with it and enjoy it- instead of updating in order to sell or make it look more appealing to a new owner.
Again, when it comes to the stone, look into and gain bids from a few local stone subs. Don't let the allure of the "easy" and seemingly discounted big box store fool you into thinking smaller guys are more expensive. Sometimes they are, but often times its comparable if not more cost effective.
Im not sure if they can beat Ikea- but remember this: buy cheap, pay twice.
- tacti
- Contributions:5
thanks for advice.
>NTETS
actually i have looked at the refacing, but i could not find a good place to get rough idea on how much it would be..
(I asked at the local store, but they told me it won't worth it, and did not give me idea of how much it would be...)
also, prior to this kitchen renovation, i probably will re-paint the cabinet.
i think i'm pretty handy, and should be able to do with myself spending several weeks of evening and weekends.
I did not think about those decorations, like crowns and fluer de lis.
I'll look around and see if i can find something I may like.
>Brian
I didn't know that local carpenter could build cabinets.
is the carpenter same as the general contractor?
this is our first home and we are not very familiar with where to go for all those things that i would like to do...
we are not ready for the renovation, but want to know as much options and cost, etc before we start it. Â (especially cost, so that we know how much we should save for this project...)
do you think it would be okay to ask for estimate even though it won't happen anytime soon?
Tact
>NTETS
actually i have looked at the refacing, but i could not find a good place to get rough idea on how much it would be..
(I asked at the local store, but they told me it won't worth it, and did not give me idea of how much it would be...)
also, prior to this kitchen renovation, i probably will re-paint the cabinet.
i think i'm pretty handy, and should be able to do with myself spending several weeks of evening and weekends.
I did not think about those decorations, like crowns and fluer de lis.
I'll look around and see if i can find something I may like.
>Brian
I didn't know that local carpenter could build cabinets.
is the carpenter same as the general contractor?
this is our first home and we are not very familiar with where to go for all those things that i would like to do...
we are not ready for the renovation, but want to know as much options and cost, etc before we start it. Â (especially cost, so that we know how much we should save for this project...)
do you think it would be okay to ask for estimate even though it won't happen anytime soon?
Tact
- Brian Gwaltney, "Metro Maintenance"
- Contributions:315
You might look at hiring a local carpenter to custom make your cabinets. Â I bet you could get a great price in these times and really custom cabinets to boot. Â Maybe 2k materials and 4k labor including installation? Â Sounds better than 10k to me. Â This would all depend on how many cabinets but I'm pretty confident you could find a carpenter who could beat the cost and quality ikea has to offer.
- NTETS, "Mr Caveat"
- Contributions:6436
if you are to consider painting the cabinets, might i suggest that a little crown molding and a fluer de lis dead center might be an interesting way to not only hide the knob but give your cabinets a bit of charecter and elegance that you don't see in new homes.
- NTETS, "Mr Caveat"
- Contributions:6436
any changes you make to the house should be looked at no different than if you were putting a GPS system in your car or buying a new computer. it will always have some value, but its value to YOU will not be dollar for dollar what you get back. its value to you is the enjoyment or convinience it adds to your life. first and foremost.
second it is possible to move the knob wherever you want and not have it look terrible. refacing the cabinets is an inexpensive option you never mentioned, also painting the cabinets.
third you should not necessarily be expecting your purchase price back as is, prices are expected to continue falling for 3-6 years. then they may begin appreciating at the rate of inflation. this recession is a big deal for alot of people. people who dont even know it yet.
second it is possible to move the knob wherever you want and not have it look terrible. refacing the cabinets is an inexpensive option you never mentioned, also painting the cabinets.
third you should not necessarily be expecting your purchase price back as is, prices are expected to continue falling for 3-6 years. then they may begin appreciating at the rate of inflation. this recession is a big deal for alot of people. people who dont even know it yet.
- tacti
- Contributions:5
should have proof read before i submit.... sorry for my bad grammar..
custom kitchen cabinet worth it?
there are a few things that we would like to fix or change soon, and one of them is a kitchen cabinets.
currently they have a oak cabinet looks like it's not in bad condition.
however, we do not like the huge knob in the middle of the cabinet door, and it seems like it's hard to cover up.
also the house has a laminate counter top that we absolutely do not like the color.
since we do not want to be poor just because owning a house, we are planning to save some more money for half a year to a year, and then do some complete kitchen remodel.
we did some research and look around different shops and found that most likely we need to spend 15,000 or more to replace cabinets and counter top if we go with those custom cabinet with granite or solid surface counter top.
we also went to near by ikea and looked at their cabinet which would cost us less than 10,000 installed with granite countertop.
i'm wondering if the custom cabinet worth the price if we are planning to live at the house for less than 10 years.
seems like ikea product would be steady enough for the time we will be living in.
may be custom cabinets would last longer, but does it worth when we sell the house in a future?
or simply re-facing the cabinets and put new countertop would be good enough?
any input would be appreciated.
Thank you.
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