By Innova Kitchen & Baths

05/14/2010 Over the years in our work as Interior Designers who specialize in Kitchen Renovations and Bathroom Renovations, we at Innova Kitchens and Baths have heard a number of horror stories from people who have dealt with renovation companies that are not reputable.
To help you avoid these pitfalls, here are a number of things that you can do to ensure a successful kitchen renovation.
1. Use an experienced kitchen designer.
An experienced designer will not only ensure that you receive a kitchen design that meets your family’s functional needs, but will also ensure that you can receive an accurate fixed price contract for your project by ensuring that all the details are finalized. Without a detailed design, no contractor can provide you with a fixed price contract.
An experienced kitchen designer will also save you money by avoiding costly errors and delays during construction. Also, don’t use cabinet manufacturers for your kitchen design.
Cabinet manufacturers are only concerned with a design that meets the specifications of their cabinets. An experience cabinet designer will design for your needs and is concerned about all materials and finishes as well as fixtures and colour to ensure an integrated design where all the elements work together.
2. Always have a completed design and contract before starting construction.
A completed design and a detailed contract will ensure that you are receiving what you want. A renovation is a business transaction and deal with it as such by ensuring that the design and renovation company provides a construction contract.
I once had a woman in my showroom and design centre who was in tears because she was in the middle of a renovation with a company that was not reputable. Although she had a contract, the contract only specified that she would be getting new kitchen cabinets. This was so vague that it allowed them to deliver a knock-down low quality product which was not what she wanted.
The contract should specify all details including but not limited to flooring selection, cabinetry material and finish, cabinetry features such as drawer type and special inserts, countertop material and selection, handle specification, sink and faucet specification, backsplash specification, lighting fixture specification, paint colours as well as any other details particular to the kitchen design.
The contact will also detail warranty terms, payment terms, as well as terms for scope changes and unexpected events (i.e. what will happen if a wall is opened up and damage is discovered).
3. Ensure that your contractor has general liability insurance and WCB.
Your contractor should have 2 million dollars of liability insurance and, in Canada, be up to date on their WCB (Workman’s Compensation Insurance). Reputable contractors always carry the necessary insurance.
For example, at Innova Kitchens and Baths, we carry 2 million dollars liability insurance and each of our sub-trades in turn has at least 2 million in liability insurance. Also, our trades and well as ourselves each carry WCB insurance.
4. Ensure that the necessary permits are received.
For example, if a structural wall is being removed and replaced with a beam, an engineer will have to be involved and a permit will have to be obtained from the necessary municipality.
5. Ask for References
A reputable renovation company will be happy to provide you with a couple of references whom you can call.
6. If it seems to good to be true it probably is…
Your home is likely the largest investment you will make in your life time, and your kitchen renovation is one of the most important renovations you will ever make in your home. All too often people attempt to go for the lowest price and end up getting what they paid for – inferior quality work and products that lead to disappointment. There is a reason why the lowest quote is low, it delivers less and is often linked to companies that are not reputable, cut corners, don’t pay insurance, and use unqualified trades.
7. Ask for a referral
Has a friend of yours engaged in a renovation? Ask them what their experience was like and whether they would recommend their designer and renovation company.
8. Set aside some money for contingencies
Even with a detailed design and fixed price contract based on all finishes and materials being known, some unexpected costs can occur. While the detailed design will ensure no surprises in terms of all the design details, materials, and finishes, it cannot account for unexpected surprises that may be revealed when walls are opened up for example.

Taking time to follow this list of suggestions will save you time and money as well as heartache during your kitchen renovation.
Happy renovating.

Innova Kitchens and Baths
www.innovakitchens.com