Avoiding The Nightmare Kitchen

Once in a while a kitchen project turns into a nightmare...

You may have heard about the kitchen project that turned into a nightmare. So many things went wrong with the project that the homeowner wished they did things differently. When this happens a lot of money is needlessly spent to correct problems. This educational publication describes many of the common pitfalls that plague some unfortunate homeowners. Here are some of the issues and how to avoid them:

Design Mistakes

Mistakes can happen on any project and some problems only appear as things move forward. A great team anticipates and tries to avoid issues.

Layout and Design

When designing your kitchen you should always seek the help of a professional designer that shows proof of successful kitchen designs. Just because they work for a company that sells cabinets doesn't mean they know how to design a beautiful working kitchen. Many people go to work for cabinet retailers with little to no experience creating working kitchens and many have no understanding of style or architecture. New people to the industry need years of experience to run into all the issues that we will discuss here. We also want to point out there is a difference between the layout of the kitchen (making cabinets fit a room) and designing an attractively personalized functional space. You would benefit from working with someone that specializes in kitchen design and loves to create.

Things that a great cabinet designer/sales person should know/do:

• Discusses homeowner's goals, ideas, tastes and needs.
• Includes homeowner's wants and desires in plans.
• Tackles each client's space with individual attention to their unique requirements.
• Has great aesthetic vision/skills to create beautiful spaces.
• Can develop and suggest various concepts to fulfill the homeowners's dream.
• Discusses budget before creating a design solution.
• Understands architecture, design concepts, and styling.
• Keeps up to date on industry news, trends, and innovations.
• Understands the real estate market and how kitchens affect home value.
• Has a passion for designing spaces.
• Knows how to measure accurately and how to dimension the plan properly.
• Can produce detailed plans that can be understood by the homeowner, cabinet maker, and installer.
• Understands overall project costs and budgeting.
• Understands the process of events to complete a kitchen.
• Proficient at completing error fee cabinet orders.
• Checks the cabinet shop paperwork for errors they might have made prior to production.
• Knows how lighting affects the work space and can make recommendations.
• Knows minimum clearances between fixed objects.
• Understands cabinet construction and how it affects durability.
• Knows which cabinet options work better than others.
• Knows how to turn corners with cabinets so cabinets operate properly.
• Checks the plan for mistakes before ordering cabinets.
• Double checks all measurements before ordering.
• Understands ventilation code and range hood duct limitations.
• Reviews appliance installation manuals for issues.
• Understands cabinet installation and building structure which helps to avoid problems.
• Creates installation notes on plans.
• Is available if the installer has questions.
• Cooks and understands the various processes.
• Understands cabinet and countertop limitations.
• Is available to help solve any issue that may come up during the project.
• Is willing to consult with all the professionals involved in your new kitchen.
• Has replaced kitchen cabinets and understands why they failed to preform.

If you have trouble finding a great designer, you can hire us for remote design. Almost all of our kitchens have been designed for clients remotely via online presentations. We offer award winning design and deliver custom cabinets to all of the lower 48 states.

You can hire a national ward winning designer by clicking here.

Before Ordering Cabinets

The biggest mistake you can make is to buy the wrong cabinets or choose a poor design.

Cabinet Selection

Cabinets vary widely in quality, price, options, and durability. You can read more about cabinet quality/durability here. In that article we show photos of common cabinet problems. You should choose your cabinets wisely because it is an important part of your home. Every year we replace kitchens that have cabinet failures. Cabinets should be a one and done situation, but quality builds are becoming harder to find as mass manufacturing is very popular. Factories grow larger to meet demand and corporate shareholders push for profits forcing quality control to take a back seat. Some cabinets even come in flat boxes ready to assemble which has taken away the idea that cabinets should be built like quality furniture. After all, furniture makers were the inventors of the kitchen. This new concept of ready to assemble cabinets (RTA) appeals to those who do not understand how much craftsmanship plays in the role of longevity. We believe in heirloom quality cabinets which means each cabinet is built so they can be handed down to the next homeowner. We design, build, and ship heirloom furniture quality cabinets to the lower 48 states. You will not find a better built cabinet at a better price anywhere.

You can explore our cabinet offerings by clicking here.

Price Checking

Price checking is often done and many recommend homeowner's do that. When checking cabinet prices most people go to a few suppliers and come up with multiple plans. None of the plans are the same. Therefore the prices are all different. This is never a fair comparison because variations in design can be thousands of dollars.

Then there is difference in quality of cabinet construction, wood species, and finish. all these factors can add a considerable amount to the cost of a kitchen. The biggest factor in price is the quality of the cabinet build. Even though some market their cabinets as plywood construction, one company may use a much denser and thicker high grade plywood and another company may use very poor imported thinner plywood with voids and poor glues. Some coat the insides with plastic that looks like wood. Some have poorly finished exteriors and interiors. Some use poor joinery or hot melt glue to fasten things together.

The average homeowner does not know the difference in cabinet quality because the faces can look very similar and you can't tell when looking at the face. You have to examine the cabinet structure by looking into the cabinet without a counter top installed. We have photos of big brand cabinets that we replace on our cabinet buying tips page. If you are going to price compare, please read this page.

When comparing cabinet prices, first settle on the perfect design. Then price that exact design to compare pricing. Make sure everyone prices it exactly. You will probably still see a wide price variance and that will be due to a number of factors.

Most of our clients love our design service and selection so much that they do not price shop. Our pricing is extremely competitive and our designs are amazing. They see value in working with us and they understand longevity.

The Plans

Make sure you understand your design plans. Insist that everything you want is listed on the plan or an attached list. If any changes are made from a previous design, those changes have to be noted on the plan or you must have a new plan. If anything is missing from your drawings or not clear, ask for written notes or additional drawings. Always confirm the drawings contain everything you want, because it is your kitchen and a good review prior to ordering is wise. If things are not in writing or on the plan, chances are that you will not be getting those items. Most designers will produce 3D renderings to help you understand the layout. If you do not understand the design, ask for an explanation or additional details before you commit. Once the plan meets your approval, sign the plan as final and make sure that plan is used for the cabinet order.

Obtain a written agreement listing the materials, door style, wood species, finish, delivery date, and total price with delivery and tax included. If installation is included have those details in writing also.

Plan Distribution

When you have a finalized plan you must distribute that plan to other professionals on the team. Remember to include your builder, electrician, plumber, HVAC, tile installer, flooring installer, duct worker, etc. A big mistake would be to distribute multiple plans. Only distribute FINAL plans. Often I see multiple plans floating around a jobsite and no one knows which plan is correct. This causes problems and possibly added expenses to change work that isn't compatible with the design of the space.

Appliances

Always check the appliance specifications before finalizing a design. You should ask your appliance sales person to obtain the installation manuals for you or you can often download them from the manufacturer's website. Do not buy your appliances unless they are reviewed and fit your kitchen plan. Appliance size, clearances, door swings, air spaces, etc. need to be reviewed before a layout can be created. We always require installation manuals on each appliance before designing or building cabinets. Do not rely on basic specifications. All the installation manuals must be read before ordering cabinets. Often the installation manuals will detail something that the specifications leave out. Here is an example: Recently a homeowner purchased a GE Cafe range before planning the kitchen with us. We obtained the installation manual and discovered that the range requires 60" above the burners to a combustible surface. Her ceilings are 84" from the floor and that is not enough room for that range. She would need 96" high ceilings to use that appliance. Luckily she was able to exchange it for a different range that would work with her low ceilings or it would have been an expensive $7,000 mistake. If she had moved ahead with a plan and installed everything, the building inspector would have rejected her use of that range. At that point she most likely couldn't return it since the range would have been uncrated and installed.

Common problems are:

• Range hood duct run issues.
• Not enough hood ventilation (CFM too low) for range.
• Range hood or over the range microwave-hood is mounted too low or to high.
• Range hood requires outside makeup air and you haven't planned for that.
• Range hood collides with cook's forehead while cooking (sometimes can't be avoided).
• Range clearance to combustible material issues.
• Ceiling height too low for professional series range.
• Range too close to a window.
• Refrigerator door swing clearance - hits object or binds on wall/adjacent appliance.
• Not enough space or too much space for refrigerator.
• Dishwasher door hits object when opening.
• Wall oven does not fit cabinet.
• Sink does not fit cabinet.
• Appliance requires custom sized cabinet parts (wood doors, side panels, grill covers, etc.).
• Built-in appliance panels and installation of them were not considered in project pricing.
• Electrical or gas supplies need to be located properly.
• Appliance will not navigate in or out of room after cabinets or counters are installed.

Appliance problems can sneak up on you if you don't pay attention. Some people think appliances are standard, but that is not correct. Never change your appliances after cabinets have been ordered without a very thorough examination of everything and speaking with your designer.

A Series Of Events

It is important to work with experienced professionals so that items can be completed in correct order. Things like duct work, wiring, flooring, lighting, cabinet hardware, etc. should be handled during certain phases of completion. If the normal progression of things is ignored things can get out of hand.

Cabinet Installer

Cabinet installation is not rocket science, but an experienced cabinet installer will know things that a general contractor or framer may not. Not to say that these other professionals cannot install cabinets, but they might not know all the details or have the proper equipment involved in creating a well installed kitchen. Cabinets must be installed plumb, level, and square. Joints must be tight. Proper fasteners in the right place are mandatory. Moldings require attention to detail. Most likely your home's walls will be slightly bowed, out of square, and professionals know how to tackle these challenges so that the kitchen fits like a glove and looks amazing. Durability is also greatly affected by how the cabinets and molding are hung. Hiring a professional that specializes in cabinet installation is highly recommended.

Cabinet Hardware

A simple example of things out of order is when a homeowner mounts hardware pulls to the cabinets before the doors and drawers are adjusted causing the pulls to not line up after doors and drawers are adjusted. The hardware looks crooked and holes have been drilled. This happens often and is usually expensive to solve. Adjust the cabinet doors/drawers first.

Flooring

Should flooring be laid before cabinets? In most cases you should put the flooring down in the entire area before installing cabinets. Why? It is usually easier to install flooring wall to wall than make all the cuts around cabinets. If there is no flooring under the cabinets, the cabinets and appliances must be shimmed up level with the floor. If you don't shim them up level, cabinets and dishwashers will not be able to be removed if need be. If the kitchen ever changes design, flooring will be under the cabinets and subfloor will not be exposed. Often an appliance will change or cabinets moved. Exposing a raw subfloor means the entire floor may have to be redone if the layout changes in the future.

Some types of flooring like the modern "floating floors" do not recommend that you install anything on top. We do not recommend floating floors, but you can choose what ever you want. Always check your flooring supplier for installation instructions before you install cabinets or appliances on top.

Appliance Delivery

Check appliances for damage upon delivery. Report any damage to your supplier before you sign any of the truck driver's paperwork. It is a good idea to have the appliances onsite during cabinet installation. The installer can examine them to make sure they will fit properly while the cabinets are being installed. Occasionally an appliance will have a slight bow in the side or something that may need adjustment during cabinet installation. Built-in appliances must always be available during installation of cabinets.

Protection

We often see new floors go down and look beautiful, then the workers come in and destroy them. Always cover the new floor with protection during construction. Ram Board (like a cardboard sheet) is one type of temporary protection that can be spread to protect your floor. Most home centers off products like Ram Board.

Don't forget to protect your new cabinets and countertops with something. Painters, plumbers, and other workers can injure things by placing tools on flat surfaces like a new quartz counter. We are not trying to blame workers, but it happens often enough. Ram Board can be applied to counters. If there is painting, sanding, or plastering to be done, protect your cabinets with plastic sheeting.

If appliances are onsite, please protect them from dust, paint, and tools. Often plastic sheeting is enough.

Counter Tops

Selecting a countertop is more than finding a color or pattern you like. Some materials need to be sealed, may need seams, may be damaged by heat, etc. The thickness of your countertop must be selected prior to installing cabinets and should be decided when you have a kitchen designed and prior to ordering cabinets. Counter thickness may affect your cabinet design if cabinets are to sit on your countertop.

Natural Stone

If you are getting a natural stone, you should ask the supplier to seal it upon installation. You should also ask how often it will need to be sealed and how to do it. Marble is generally not a great idea for kitchen counters because it is difficult to maintain. Quartzite is popular because it often has veins that are attractive, but it can also be hard to keep from staining due to the many small fractures in the stone. This material usually has to be resealed often.

Quartz

If you use a manmade quartz product, be aware that hot items will discolor the surface. Generally you do not have to seal a quartz counter, but some items may stain or damage it. Most items that will stain or damage the top are not commonly used in a kitchen. One thing that often may leave grey marks on quartz are metal pan edges. They can easily be removed. Ask your supplier how to get these marks out. Different manufacturers recommend their own solutions to remove the marks or stains. Ask your supplier what items will affect your quartz before you buy.

Counter Supplier Services

Countertop suppliers should always make a template over your cabinets before they fabricate your counters. This is sometimes done with a laser and computer or the old fashioned way of cutting sheet goods like plywood in place and bringing them back to the counter shop. With a template made they can get a precise fit. Appliances should be installed before they template. All cabinets should be in place accept ones that would rest on top of the counters. Countertop suppliers should be the ones to template, cut, polish and install your counters.

Before You Give A Deposit

Always look at the actual slab(s) when choosing materials because the color and patterns can vary and sometimes they vary wildly. Always ask for an approval photo of the slabs showing where the cuts are going to be made, seam locations, and how the veins (if any) will align. They should also provide a drawing with measurements. If you do not do this, you may be disappointed in how it looks when they install it. Get a sales agreement listing your material, template details and installation costs with a date of installation. Make sure the slab you selected is marked in their inventory, set aside for you, and is listed in the agreement. Often suppliers will not do this until you commit with a deposit. Slabs can sell after you leave. You may never find the same slabs. On the other hand some manmade materials do not vary. Check with your supplier if the slabs vary.

Sinks, faucets, cooktops, and anything being cut into the countertop should be available to your stone supplier when they start cutting. Always spell out the faucet hole and soap dispenser locations so they can be drilled properly. Sinks are usually undermounted, but make sure you understand how they will mount your sink.

Choose your counter edge shape so that you aren't surprised when it arrives.

Make sure you have proper support for any overhangs over 12".

Review your countertop photo and drawings (provided by your countertop company) with your kitchen designer prior to having them cut the stone. Make sure they don't cut until you approve the drawings and photos.

Miscellaneous Problems

Additional precautions...

Damage On Delivery

When your cabinets are delivered you must have a responsible person at the location to check items in and look for any damage or missing parts. Reporting damage or missing parts at the time of delivery puts all liability on the delivery service and makes sure damaged goods are replaced as quick as possible. Delivery services are insured for damage if you report it before the driver leaves with your signed delivery paperwork. After the driver leaves and you signed his paperwork that everything was received, you will most likely end up buying a replacement.

With us, damage or missing parts are extremely rare. In more than 20 years delivering cabinets all over the country only three minor issues were ever reported at delivery. All were resolved in the homeowner's favor because our deliveries are insured.

When your counter is delivered/installed, someone should check to see if it is the right material, has no damage, and fits properly. If it is the wrong material, stop them from taking off the truck and halt the installation.

Report Problems

When you discover a problem, you should talk to your designer/supplier as soon as you can. Often issues can quickly get resolved before the project moves toward completion.

Example: A damaged cabinet is discovered during installation. An end panel's finish is scraped down to bare wood and a large dent is visible. The installer wants to finish quickly and hangs the cabinet anyway. Many suppliers will not exchange a cabinet that is installed at no charge because they know an installer will not hang a damaged piece. The supplier may presume the cabinet was damaged during or after the installation which happens often enough. They will not pay the cost to remove it and often times charge to fix it. So, in this case the cabinet should not have been installed until the designer/supplier was called and asked for a solution.

Most cabinet issues are taken care of by reputable sources, but there are some restrictions. Do not install damaged products or throw away the box it came in. Notifying the supplier quickly gets things solved faster and usually avoids any liability on the homeowner.

You should consult your designer if run into any problems during your kitchen project. Great designers often have solutions. If you decide to alter something to solve a problem and haven't discussed it with your designer you may discover negative repercussions that could be avoided.

Tape and Sticky Notes

We often see sticky notes and/or tape on cabinets. This is usually not a good idea in most cases. Many people do not know this and it can be an issue. Some tapes and sticky notes can be hard to remove, damage finishes, and also lead to discoloration. Many wood species are affected by light and change with exposure/time. If tape or a sticky is applied, this covers a section of wood that will not be exposed to light. When the object is removed a color change can sometimes be noticeable. This is more prominent on highly photosensitive species like natural cherry. You will end up with a light patch surrounded by natural aged cherry. Sometimes this change can happen in just a few hours of exposure to direct sunlight. If you wish to protect cabinets with temporary plastic sheet, please tape the sheet using painters tape and apply that to the Ram Board that protects your countertop. For wall cabinet protection, tape the plastic sheet to an unfinished ceiling using painters tape and let the plastic drape over the cabinets.

Cleaning Cabinets and Counters

Always check your cabinet supplier for cleaning and maintenance instructions before attempting to clean cabinet surfaces. Some household cleaning items will harm your cabinets. Cabinets do not like water or high humidity/moisture. Always keep cabinets dry. We offer different types of finished products which have different methods of cleaning. When you make a cabinet selection always inquire how to clean them.

Your countertop fabricator should provide you with cleaning methods for your specific counter materials. Cleaning methods often vary depending upon what materials you have chosen.

Clean your appliances and range hood often. See the manufacturers for the instructions. Greasy range hoods can become a fire hazard.

We hope you found this article helpful and wish you a long and happy life enjoying your kitchen. If you are looking for a wonderful design and heirloom quality cabinets, give our design team a call at 774-355-3576 Mon.-Fri. 9AM-5PM EST. We are here to help.

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