to Save on YourKitchen Remodel

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SAVINGS TIP #1: Cabinet refacing is second-to-none

When is it better to reface kitchen cabinets? Almost always!

Cabinet refacing is second-to-none as a money saving option for your kitchen remodeling project and can save you up to fifty percent the cost of all new cabinetry.

By preserving your existing cabinetry, you can save enough to truly create the kitchen of your dreams. All of your exterior cabinet surfaces are covered and your doors are completely new, so eighty percent of what everyone sees in your kitchen is brand new. Go ahead—upgrade to a luxury countertop, add storage accessories, decorative moldings…build in all of those bells and whistles you might otherwise forgo due to budget concerns.

Many homeowners are surprised to learn they are perfect candidates for kitchen cabinet refacing, the superior choice to gutting your kitchen and installing all new cabinets.

The Top 10 Reasons to Reface:

1) Save about half the cost of new custom cabinetry! 2) It’s fast, it’s convenient, and saves you time and mess. A full kitchen remodel can render your kitchen

unusable for as long as six weeks, cabinet refacing can typically be completed in just 3-5 days. 3) Your cabinets will be stronger. It's true! Refacing results in more than a cosmetic change. A natural byproduct

of cabinet refacing is that the structure of your cabinets is reinforced, leaving them stronger and more durable than before. The refacing process, wood substrate and veneer actually help strengthen the existing cabinet framework and improve its structural integrity.

4) It’s green and helps save Mother Earth. Refacing cabinets conserves your most precious resource--your money. But refacing is also a green, eco-friendly alternative. Most of the time, when an entire kitchen's worth of cabinet materials is torn out, it has to be sent to a landfill. So refacing kitchen cabinets saves tons of materials--literally. You’ll feel great every time you walk into your newly refaced kitchen knowing that you made an environmentally responsible decision.

5) Damaged areas can be repaired or replaced. If a section of cabinetry becomes damaged, any damaged cabinetry can be removed and replaced without leaving any sign of the repair.

6) No Permits required- avoid the hassles, cost and inconvenience of electrical or building inspectors because with refacing you are not making any structural changes.

7) Avoid increased property taxes. When you make a cosmetic upgrade to your kitchen (without increasing the footprint or size) not only is there no need for permits, there is also no effect on your property taxes.

8) Keep it simple and keep it affordable. Even if you need more storage space, cabinet refacing can be combined with additional matching cabinetry built specifically for you (pantries, desks, extra cabinet units or a free-standing island), custom made to achieve a complete, fresh new look without complex architectural or contracting work. Thus remodeling time and costs are kept to a minimum.

9) Achieve the illusion of a total re-design. Hate your kitchen layout? Do you fantasize about re-designing your kitchen to make it more functional and beautiful? By keeping some of your old cabinets - which we reface, of course - tearing out and re-designing others, or adding some all-new cabinetry or an island, together we can create the kitchen you love.

10) Peace of Mind. Kitchen Magic’s refacing process is backed by a Lifetime of Home Ownership Warranty; that’s how confident we are in what we do. We are here for you now and will be here if you need us in the future.

1Kitchen Magic, Inc. Free In-Home Consultation & Estimate (855) 573-3223 www.KitchenMagic.com

7 Smart Ways to Save on Your Kitchen Remodel

What is refacing, anyway?

Refacing is an easy 4-step process:

1) Old cabinet doors and drawer fronts are removed and discarded. The structure of your existing cabinets remains intact, which means there is no ripping out or removing the quality structural materials.

2) The exterior surfaces of your cabinets are bonded with high quality ¼” birch substrate, the foundation of our exclusive double lamination system. This clean, porous surface ensures a strong permanent bond as well as reinforces the cabinetry itself.

3) The surfaces of your cabinets are covered with the new color you have chosen to create your kitchen’s new look.

4) New doors and drawer fronts in the color and style of your choice are installed. Of course your doors are installed with new, top quality new hinges and your drawers with new slides. Finally new knobs or pulls of your choice are installed.

Also Available:

o Additional matching new cabinets or a free-standing island. o New custom made drawers and tracks. o New kitchen countertops and backsplashes in Formica and Wilsonart laminates, stunning DuPont Corian, and

luxurious Cambria or Zodiaq quartz surfaces. We also offer natural granite countertop surfaces.

BONUS TIP: Remember—new is always beautiful. A vast majority of the time, a homeowner is unhappy with the way a kitchen LOOKS, not how a kitchen FUNCTIONS. Cabinet refacing is literally transformative. It's amazing how refacing changes the entire look of a kitchen, creating the perfect NEW look a homeowner has been dreaming of.

Still not sure about what you want to do? Let us bring the showroom to you. We will give you a full hour of FREE advice and help you decide which option is best for your kitchen.

SAVINGS TIP #2: Wood is good, but maintenance-free is fantastic!

Generally, there are two types of doors to select from: maintenance-free or all-wood. Maintenance free doors are engineered with high density furniture core, and available in a wide range of colors and styles in natural-looking wood grains and solid colors. Both types of doors are beautiful. However, there are significant benefits to the maintenance free doors. As their name implies, they are incredibly durable and easily cleaned with just soapy water. And, from a cost standpoint, maintenance-free doors are a fraction the cost of all wood doors. BONUS TIP: If you have WHITE in mind (very popular these days) ALWAYS choose the maintenance-free white laminate doors, not a white painted finish on wood doors. In addition to being far more cost effective, white laminate holds up much better over time, maintaining its original color and beauty. Maintenance-free white doors are effortless to clean and remain a true white, while the painted finish is easy to damage in cleaning and often ends up yellowing.

SAVINGS TIP #3: Identify what bothers you most and address that first

Is your countertop chipped damaged and dated? Is the color of your cabinets ugly, outdated or showing wear and tear? Are your appliances poorly functioning and/or obsolete? 2

7 Smart Ways to Save on Your Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen Magic, Inc. Free In-Home Consultation & Estimate (855) 573-3223 www.KitchenMagic.com

Consider turning your remodel into a multi-phase process. Depending on your priorities and what irks you most, you might, for instance, elect to replace your countertops first, reface your cabinets a little later down the road, and then replace your appliances only after they have finally given out on you. If you do go ahead with countertop replacement, a 4” backsplash and a little paint for the rest of the backsplash area buys you time. If you want to tile your backsplash down the road, this is another expense you can defer until later. Appliances – Unless you are undertaking your remodeling process because appliances have started to fail and are a necessity, the best way to save in this area is to use your existing appliances. Most appliances today are a standard size and can be replaced at any juncture. The exception to this is if you are adding a wall oven where there was none previously—in this case, of course the cabinetry will have to be built and designed around the new wall oven. BONUS TIP: If you do need to replace your appliances, consider checking out floor models. Floor models often go on clearance and the savings can be significant—40% to 50% less. SAVINGS TIP #4: Think better, not bigger

Folks always seem to think they have a small kitchen, not realizing that the average kitchen contains about 25 openings. Once they do the count of their own doors and drawer fronts, they often realize theirs is not such a small kitchen after all. Simply count the number of doors and drawer fronts to find out whether your own kitchen is small, average or large. Here’s the thing: the number of openings is a determining factor in your price. If you count at least 25 openings, you probably do not suffer from a lack of cabinetry, but rather a lack of properly organized storage solutions. You may be able to gain space and save money with smart conversions such as converting a dead corner cabinet into a lazy susan. Or think about converting a bank of three drawers into one door behind which you have two large roll out drawers that fully extend and are completely accessible. You will have just gained full accessibility to your cabinet; deep drawers are perfect for lots of pots and pan storage, plus you have ‘saved’ two openings! SAVINGS TIP #5: Just say NO to a can of worms

Just say NO to a ‘can of worms’. We strongly recommend our clients forget about taking down walls or opening up soffits. We run into countless cases of ‘sticker shock’ when homeowners realize the cost to completely change the layout of their kitchen by taking down walls and creating a completely new footprint. The cost of hiring a GC, an architect, moving or replacing wiring, electrical conduits and plumbing adds up so fast it makes heads spin.

Plan to leave things in place as much as possible, including the kitchen sink. If at all possible, do not move your kitchen sink–the additional costs are significant when you get into rerouting and replacing pipes and fixtures.

In short, leave that old worm can tightly sealed, and instead work smart with the space you already have in your kitchen, using your creativity and planning skills to best use the space you already have.

SAVINGS TIP #6: Look for little things that make a big difference

Plan your lighting strategically. Few options make as much difference in the overall look and feel of your kitchen as does lighting. Here are a few low-cost lighting considerations:

• Take out the valance over the kitchen sink and use a simple, low cost pendant light you can easily install yourself. That look that is much more modern than a valance, and you will save the cost of the valance.

• Limit recessed light fixtures. The more recessed lights you put in, the more the cost you spend on labor, holes that must be created and insulated, as well as the cost of running the electrical wiring.

7 Smart Ways to Save on Your Kitchen Remodel

3Kitchen Magic, Inc. Free In-Home Consultation & Estimate (855) 573-3223 www.KitchenMagic.com

• cut to length, produce even light over a workspace and work via a transformer. While it’s not a lovely look from beneath, they work beautifully.

• Use dimmers and 3-ways. Remember that dimmers make it possible to control your lighting levels. Three-way switches allow you to control lights from two locations. In addition, wall– or ceiling–mounted light can also deliver more wattage, meaning you may be able to get away with fewer fixtures.

Aim for clean and simple. Clutter free is a more elegant look, so try to de-clutter your kitchen and counter space. Here are a few ideas:

• Build your microwave into your cabinets or consider a built-in or drawer microwave. New drawer microwaves offer an even more versatility by making it possible to install below counter level without the need to read controls on the face of the microwave.

• Incorporate a pull out spice rack into your storage accessories and keep spice bottles off your countertops. • Install a pull out trash drawer to keep your trash can out of site.

. SAVINGS TIP #7: Throw in a little sweat equity

Painting and prep. Very few people have the skills of an artisan craftsman in installing a kitchen; however most of us are pretty good when it comes to wielding a paint brush. Prepping your walls, priming and painting you kitchen yourself can save you hundreds on a painting contractor.

BONUS TIP: Eye to the future with neutral colors – When designing a kitchen, you may want to consider using designs and colors that stand the test of time. Modern looks and unique color countertops, while fashionable now, might look dated or out of style after several years. You do not want to undertake another remodel job in six or seven years. Furthermore, you want to the kitchen to appeal to as many buyers as possible when you go to sell your home.

Do your own debris removal. Removing the site debris, can also save a few hundred dollars. Look into your town’s ordinances, often municipalities offer large garbage removal at no additional charge at certain times of the month. All you need to do is be willing to schlep your debris, like old doors and packaging materials, out to your curb.

Whether or not you purchase your new kitchen from Kitchen Magic, we will evaluate your needs and provide you with the best solutions for your dream kitchen. In this case the old adage is true—the best advice is free.

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7 Smart Ways to Save on Your Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen Magic, Inc. Free In-Home Consultation & Estimate (855) 573-3223 www.KitchenMagic.com