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3D Laminate vs. MDF For Your Cabinetry

A lot of homeowners come in looking for new custom cabinets or a cabinet reface. However, most of the time they are uncertain as to which cabinetry material they should use. Many homeowners initially think that wood is the best and only option for their home. Don’t get me wrong, wood can be a great option for your kitchen, but it’s most definitely not your only or best option. Recently, lots of homeowners who have been looking to change up their kitchen have been contemplating whether to use 3D laminate or MDF for their cabinetry. Here are the pros and cons of using either 3D laminates or MDF for your cabinetry. 

3D Laminate 

Modern science and technology have paved the way for a new type of laminate. These new laminated doors are designed to look just like their wood counterparts. Laminate cabinets are less expensive wooden cabinetry doors that are covered in a plastic-like layer called laminate. 

Pros 

  • high- and low-pressure laminates can withstand extreme pressure
  • easy to clean
  • scratch resistant
  • cost affordable
  • endless color options and can be made to look uniform
  • quick to produce while maintaining a high-quality look and feel 

Cons 

  • although durable prone to damage due to the pressure it was made under
  • the laminate may slowly lift over time.
  • difficult to repair a damage, so it’s easier to replace

 

MDF (medium-density fiberboard) 

MDF cabinetry is made from wood fibers, resin, and wax. MDF doors are a simple option to reduce the large cost of installing new custom cabinets.  It’s durable, stronger, and denser than other forms of pressed board, so it can work in almost any application where a natural wood product would be applied. 

Pros 

  • fewer cracking or warping issues
  • no noticeable grain on your cabinets so it gives your cabinets a smoother finish
  • easy to customize
  • cost effective
  • environmentally friendly product
  • high levels of moisture resistance

Cons 

  • scratches cannot be repaired easily
  • do not handle extreme heat well
  • MDF doors cannot be stained
  • does not equate to the natural aesthetic found in solid wood.

Kitchen Solvers 

There always seems to be an abundance of options when choosing your new cabinetry. This abundance of options means the kitchen of your dreams can become a reality. But it can also mean feeling a little overwhelmed with your choices. When you’re in the process of a remodel, overwhelmed is the last thing we want you to feel like when upgrading your kitchen. At Kitchen Solvers, part of our core belief is providing each homeowner with the most Pleasant Remodeling Experience. From the moment you call, we will meet you where you are at in the buying process. Call your nearest kitchen solvers for your consultation! If you’re looking to gain a greater insight on what a kitchen remodel entails make sure to visit our blog articles like Looking for a Financially Savvy Cabinet Restoration? Cabinet Refacing could be your Solution! And What are the Steps in a Kitchen Remodel? 

The post 3D Laminate vs. MDF For Your Cabinetry appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

Why You Should Consider a Hybrid Kitchen Remodel

Hybrid kitchen is a relatively new term we coined in the remodeling industry. So you might be wondering, what exactly does a hybrid kitchen remodel entail? Hybrid kitchens allow Kitchen Solvers to offer the best of both options to customers by saving them money while allowing them to add new cabinets or replace some cabinets that might not be useful. Here’s why a hybrid remodel might be the perfect fit for your next kitchen remodel. 

Hybrid kitchens construct a new style of kitchen around your already existing design. The beauty of a hybrid kitchen is that it can truly be whatever you want. If you’re looking to mix new cabinets with refaced cabinets, a hybrid kitchen remodel is the way to go. Not to mention hybrid kitchens are a great way to improve the functioning of your kitchen space. 

It’s common for homeowners to have a few doubts going into their remodel. Oftentimes, there’s a few things in their kitchen which they absolutely love and do not want to part with. A hybrid kitchen remodel mixes what you love about your current kitchen with what you want to incorporate into your new kitchen. For example, maybe you love most of your kitchen, but wish you had an extra-large pantry in an empty corner for more storage space. Kitchen Solvers can create a cohesive look by refacing your existing cabinetry and adding a new pantry cabinet and refacing that as well. We’ve also had homeowners have flood damage to their lower cabinets, but their upper cabinets are still in great condition. We can salvage the upper cabinets and add new lower cabinets and reface all the cabinets to make it look like one cohesive kitchen. At Kitchen Solvers, we pride ourselves in making your kitchen dreams become your reality. 


 

Opting to have a hybrid kitchen remodel means that no have the most flexibility to cater your space to your specific liking. Hybrid kitchens mean every look is unique, so you never have to worry about stepping foot in a kitchen that looks identical to yours. Not only will your kitchen look unique, but hybrid remodeling is an excellent route for those who want to remain within their budget. Instead of buying all new materials and paying for longer hours, hybrid kitchens use what you want and replace the outdated designs. 

Kitchen Solvers 

At Kitchen Solvers, we want to ensure that you, the homeowner, protect and preserve your beautiful kitchen. The most important factor in how to make a kitchen remodel easy is getting help from professionals. At Kitchen Solvers, our expert design team can help you create the ultimate kitchen that fits your budget and offers some of the best features and styles available. 

Be sure to check out some of our most popular articles: How can I make my kitchen more luxurious on a budget? and 5 Reasons on Why You Should Say “Yes” to Quartz.

The post Why You Should Consider a Hybrid Kitchen Remodel appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.culturekitchen.net/?p=554

Survey Spotlights New Priorities of Prospective Homebuyers

SANTA CLARA, CA — With life returning to normal as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, prospective homebuyers have developed a distinct set of priorities when it comes to the products and design features they want in their next house.

That is the key conclusion of a newly conducted national survey conducted by Realtor.com. The online poll, whose findings were made public last month, involved more than 1,200 adults over the age of 18 who plan to purchase a home within the next 12 months, according to Realtor.com, which is operated by publicly traded News Corp. under a license from the National Association of Realtors.

“The COVID pandemic ushered in a new way of thinking about what ‘home’ means, and that is influencing much of what today’s home shoppers are looking for,” said George Ratiu, senior economist for Realtor.com, which reported that the desire for additional space was the top reason driving home shoppers’ decisions to purchase a new home in the coming year. Survey responses also indicate buyers are looking for more flexibility in their home space and affordability in exchange for a shorter commute, the new realities of a post-COVID world, Ratiu said.

“Garages, large backyards and space for pets always rank high on buyers’ wish lists, but those features have grown in importance,” he said. “The pandemic has elevated our relationship with family, as well as the need for our home to serve multiple purposes, especially the ability to work remotely. As a result, we’re placing a premium on the need to accommodate extended family, and features like a home office and broadband internet.”

When asked which home features have become a priority as a result of the pandemic, a quiet location (28%), an updated kitchen (25%), and garage and large backyard (24% each) topped the list. Outdoor living area (20%), space for pets (18%), updated bathrooms (19%), home office and broadband internet capabilities (17% each) and open floor plan (16%) rounded out the top 10 pandemic-induced most desired home features.

Sixty-five percent of respondents indicated that they are considering extended family when they shop for a home, with nearly a quarter stating that they are planning to buy near family members, Realtor.com reported. One-fifth of those surveyed said they will have extended family living with them full-time, while 30% said their new home would need to accommodate extended family staying with them part-time or visiting.

The post Survey Spotlights New Priorities of Prospective Homebuyers appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.culturekitchen.net/?p=553

Business Seen Gaining, Although Headwinds Thwart Growth

EVANSTON, IL — Business for kitchen and bath design firms remains robust, and is projected to continue on an upward trajectory, as the impact of COVID-19 recedes and remodeling demand continues at record levels. But despite the bullish forecasts, dealers and designers remain hamstrung by several significant challenges – most prominent among them rising product costs and lingering disruptions in the kitchen/bath product supply chain.

Those are among the key findings of a major new survey conducted on behalf of Kitchen & Bath Design News by its exclusive research partner, the Research Institute for Cooking and Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI). The nationwide survey, conducted in mid-May, involved nearly 250 kitchen and bath dealers and designers, including those at firms that maintain a showroom as well as those who operate independently.

KBDN’s survey findings mirror those of other recent polls, which have found that demand for kitchen and bath remodeling is at an all-time high as COVID-19 vaccinations continue, previously postponed projects resume, and both permanent and hybrid work-from-home lifestyles prompt homeowners to reconfigure their residences. However, even as the pandemic’s impact continues to dissipate, project backlogs are reaching upwards of three to six months due to supply chain delays resulting from a combination of record demand and factory closures in the initial stages of the pandemic.

By far, the two greatest challenges that dealers and designers say they currently face are rising product/material costs (82% of respondents) and longer lead times on product deliveries (81% of respondents). Some 54% of survey respondents report that they cannot easily access installers, subcontractors or other labor needed to handle the projects they sell, while other challenges pale by comparison.

Among the wide range of kitchen and bath product categories, supply chain disruptions are most severe in the cases of appliances and cabinetry, survey recipients say. And most surveyed dealers and designers believe that the supply chain disruptions won’t end anytime soon. Specifically, 50% of surveyed dealers and designers believe the disruptions will continue throughout 2021. Another 20% anticipate the disruptions will last only through this fall. On the other hand, a significant number (17%) believe the delays will persist into 2022, and 6% say they have “no idea” when the disruptions will end.

Other survey findings included the following:

  • Three in four dealers and designers polled by KBDN report that project requests are currently higher than they were a year ago, when the impact of COVID-19-was far more pronounced. More specifically, 26% of those surveyed say requests are much higher, while 48% say they are somewhat higher. In contrast, only 5% say project requests are somewhat lower, and another 5% say they are much lower.
  • Two in three dealers and designers surveyed say they expect to design and sell more kitchens in 2021 than they did in 2020, when the median number of kitchens completed was 14, with designers and dealers associated with a showroom completing significantly more than independents (an average of 31 versus 6). The average price for a complete kitchen remodel in 2020 was $49,700, with independents reporting a higher average price tag ($64,700 versus $44,000) than those associated with a showroom.
  • More than half the survey respondents expect to design and sell more baths in 2021 than they did in 2020 when the median number of baths completed was nine, with designers and dealers associated with a showroom completing significantly more than independents (an average of 18 versus 6). The average price for a complete bathroom remodel in 2020 was $26,400, with independents again having a higher average price ($32,300 versus $23,500) for those associated with a showroom.
  • Half the surveyed dealers and designers anticipate that their 2021 profit margins on the kitchens and baths they design and sell will increase compared to 2020. Half say project pricing is more important now compared to this time last year, while 43% say the importance of project pricing is currently about the same as in the past.

The post Business Seen Gaining, Although Headwinds Thwart Growth appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.culturekitchen.net/?p=552