(780) 940-6767 
Common Questions from the Kitchen Q&A Session
Is the footprint of the kitchen large enough to suit your needs? If not, is there an opportunity to expand onto the building?
Sometimes an addition on the building may not have to be large to accommodate certain features of the kitchen. Such an example of an extension would be an eating area or a pantry. For more information on additions, visit our Additions page.
Does the layout of the existing kitchen necessitate changing some windows?
You may wish to a capture a certain view.
Would it make sense to install a patio door to a deck area?
A lot of homeowners like to barbecue year-round, and access to the deck area from the kitchen makes sense.
Is your existing kitchen small and confined by walls because of an official dining room?
Engineered trusses and beams allow you to open up spaces to make them more efficient and inviting.
If you require more natural light in your kitchen, would you consider a skylight?
Skylights bring in a lot of light during the day even when it’s cloudy and overcast. There are several different kinds of skylights, including small circular reflective ones, or full skylights with tapered shafts.
Does your kitchen need an island?
Island cabinetry can provide much needed countertop space for food preparation or an informal eating area, as well as providing extra storage or space for a sink and dishwasher.
How many people are usually in the kitchen at once?
It is important that the kitchen is designed so that elbow rubbing is kept to a minimum.
What will the cabinets be made of?
Cabinetry has changed so much that choices are almost limitless. Doors and drawer fronts are available in solid wood from several species of wood that can be stained either natural or a variety of colors, or painted versions made from MDF (medium density fiberboard), a stable and smooth product that takes painted finishes extremely well. There are also melamine doors that provide a low cost alternative.
Do the upper cabinets extend all the way to the ceiling? Do you require pantry units with full pull-out hardware? Do you want specific cabinets design for pots and pan drawers? Do you want or need a microwave shelf, or a countertop garage for breads and pastry?
Do you want a standard (laminate) or solid surface?
Solid surfaces include corian, granite, concrete, wood, ceramic tile, or stainless steel.
What type of flooring?
There are many types of flooring available, including sheet vinyl, ceramic, wood strip flooring, cork, concrete, and laminate. Each type of flooring has its own pros and cons.
Sheet vinyl can be a very cost effective way of doing the floor, and it is available in colors and patterns that simulate the look of other types of flooring, as well making available more unusual patterns. It is also warm to the touch. Vinyl sheet flooring typically does not have a long lifespan however, and does not stand up to rough wear.
Wood strip flooring can be very warm and inviting in any room in the home, especially the kitchen. Wood strip flooring can however be damaged very easily by standing water, dropped utensils, or general heavy traffic patterns.
Ceramic flooring is an outstanding product to use in the kitchen area; it stands up to heavy traffic and cleans up very easily. There are limitless design layouts and the opportunity to create some very unique patterns. Ceramic flooring does however require special consideration in the thickness of the substrate (plywood floor) on which it is applied, so that there is no movement to avoid cracking and breakage.
Cork flooring is a natural product that gives slightly under weight, is very comfortable to walk on, and it’s available in a range of colors. Cork flooring has a urethane finish that provides for good protection, but must be kept up to keep the floor looking its best.
Concrete floors can incorporate some very unique coloring and wear very well. The downside of concrete is that it stains very easily, and the surface urethane finish must be kept up. It also requires special consideration in the thickness of the substrate (plywood floor) to prevent flexing and cracking.
Laminate flooring wears very well under heavy traffic and stands up to most dropped utensils and other kitchen items. Some laminate has simulated wood design that looks very close to the real thing.
Generally, all flooring today has a reasonable life expectancy. The largest consideration is price and personal preference.
When we are demolishing the existing kitchen, do we have to make any provisions for changing the plumbing, heating or electrical?
The plumbing rough-in has to be in the right location to suit the location of the sink and dishwasher, if changes are made to the layout that are different from the original design.
Do you require instant hot water?
There are under-counter heating devices that will give you hot water on demand available. These are excellent for making a cup of tea or hot cocoa.
Do you require a water line for the refrigerator?
Several fridges today have automatic water dispensers and ice cube makers.
Do you need a garbage disposal for disposing food scraps?
These can be handy if you do a lot of vegetable and fruit preparation.
Is an under mount sink desirable?
The under mount sink is typically used in the solid surface countertops. This gives you an even, unobstructed counter surface for wiping down as well as a refined look for your countertop.
What options are available for backsplashes?
Backsplashes can be tiled or just painted drywall.
What about painting?
Painting should tie in the elements of cabinetry, flooring, and countertops together with color. Poor workmanship on painting, or poor color choices, could turn a great kitchen design into a mediocre one.
Are there elements that should be considered in every kitchen renovation?
When retrofitting a kitchen for today’s needs, there are two elements that are often overlooked and should be included even if you are only replacing cabinets. If cabinets are mounted on the outside walls and your home is pre-1970, this is the best time to upgrade the insulation in the wall cavity at the least expense. The benefits for upgrading insulation values are tremendous with today’s energy prices, and the rewards far outweigh the cost. The second item often overlooked is Electrical. Many homes are of an era that pre-dated small appliances, and the electrical needs are often insufficient. It’s also an excellent time to consider lighting requirements for the kitchen, especially in food preparation areas. Choose from under-cabinet lighting, above-cabinet indirect lighting, pot lights, or traditional fixtures.