You've just watched the hottest renovations show on HGTV -- this one featuring a killer kitchen -- and you've decided (come hell or high water) that you want one of those for yourself.
After all, how hard could it be?
A lot harder -- and more time-consuming -- than it looks, says master kitchen renovator David Reimer of David Reimer Kitchens.
"Generally, you're looking at about six months for a project from conception to completion," he says. "That's because there's no such thing as a straightforward job. First, there's no such thing as a straight, level house. Then, there can be delays in getting materials, and damaged cabinets might need to be re-ordered -- those are just a few of the challenges we face during a kitchen renovation.
"Basically, you're always tweaking as you go. That's why a kitchen renovation takes time more time to complete than you might think."
Another factor that contributes to the painstaking nature of kitchen renos is the fact not all kitchens were designed with functionality in mind.
"While most of today's kitchens are designed to be functional, that hasn't always been the case. In many of the older homes we do (say 15 years and older), the new kitchen may not resemble the old one a whole lot because the old one was an inefficient design. That's why the process takes so much time -- you have to decide where you want things to go. That can involve a lot of fine tuning to make things work. That takes time, and you need to put in the time necessary to get the design just right."
In the case of Reimer's kitchen renovation at an early '90s home in West St. Paul, the new kitchen bears little resemblance to its predecessor. While the dimensions of the space might be the same, the materials, layout and colour scheme aren't.
Whereas the previous kitchen was oak with a black tile backsplash, light-coloured countertops and a pantry where the industrial-style stainless steel fridge now is, the new version features black galaxy granite countertops, espresso maple cabinets, stainless backsplash, a nine-foot island with built-in gas range and tan ceramic file flooring.
However, that's the finished product. Reimer says there are several critical steps to that need to be followed to pave the way for that new, picture-perfect kitchen.
"One of the first things I do is laser line all the walls to ensure that every cabinet is installed at the same height," says Reimer. "I plumb all the walls. If they aren't, I have to shim it out to make sure each cabinet sits in the same square, level way. Ceilings often aren't straight, so everything usually has to be adjusted. It's normal to do crown moldings of different thicknesses because you're not dealing with a level surface."
While looks are important -- the cabinets have to sit square and be trimmed properly to provide the right balance between style and function -- ergonomics can't be ignored. In other words, a kitchen needs to have sufficient aisle space in order to function properly.
"I prefer aisle widths of 36 or 42 inches," he says. "Any more distance between counters, and you have to take too many steps; if the distance is narrower than 36 inches, you'll be jammed in and have no room to move. Templating the countertops (or getting the bases in) can be complicated.
In this case, it took seven hours to complete, which is longer than usual."
Thanks to meticulous advance planning, the (nine-foot) island fit perfectly both on the sides and ends. All that was left to do was to put on the countertops -- or was there?
"It can take 10 to 14 days from templating to the actual installation of the counter tops," adds Reimer. "That's why it's so important to have everything scheduled before you start. It's not like renovating an entire house -- a kitchen renovation is a very intense project. All that planning comes together in one short, intense installation period."
Once the final installations are done -- countertops, followed by the backsplash and then perhaps the flooring -- you have your final product.
"In this case, the flooring was done beforehand; in most cases, it's put in after. And you don't need to worry about the backsplash until the cabinets and counter tops are in," he says. "I always tell clients to bring backsplash samples home to compare. Once you choose the one that works best, we can then install it for you."
Home owner Debbie Gray says in the case of her new kitchen, a good thing was worth waiting for.
"This renovation went smoothly due to all the planning David did. In the end, the kitchen (and family room, with its new espresso cabinets that make a cultured stone fireplace pop) was really transformed," she says. "David brought it up to date from what was an early '90s oak kitchen. The island was the biggest addition -- it really increased functionality. I also love the lit display cabinets. He did a wonderful job."
Reimer says the key to completing a successful kitchen renovation is a simple one.
"Take the time to do it right -- carefully choose each element of the design," he says. "Do that, and you'll only have to do it once. Then, you'll have a kitchen you can enjoy for as long as you own the home -- or will add to your home's resale value when it comes time to sell."
lewys@mts.net
