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FAQ

Do You Have Questions Regarding the Design, Remodeling and Cabinetry Services that FINE Cabinetry Offers?

Our Frequently Asked Questions will reveal many of the questions that our customers have prior to starting their projects. You’ll find our FAQs here, but if you do not see a response here to fit your inquiry, then feel free to contact us at any time and we will quickly respond. Thank you for visiting our FINE Cabinetry of Bucks County, PA website!

Kitchen FAQ

Bathroom FAQ


What makes a kitchen more or less expensive?
Size of the kitchen in terms of running feet of cabinets and countertops will have the biggest effect on cost. Cabinets account for a large percentage of the kitchen cost and that cost can range dramatically based on quality, material, and customization. Cabinets are categorized as Stock, Semi-Custom, and Custom. The second biggest factor is usually countertops. Laminate countertops like Formica are a fraction of the cost of Solid Surfaces such as Granite, Corian, or Quartz. Most kitchens today are gutted and re-sheet rocked, but in some situations you can save money by working with the existing walls, floors, and/or ceilings. This will limit the access to plumbing and electric and will usually not produce the same level of a finished product.


What about contracts and orders?
Before any work begins on your kitchen, get a detailed written contract with project specifications such as work scope to identify exactly what work is being done and if anything is your responsibility. Make sure that the contractor is insured by insisting on a copy of the insurance certificates for both workers compensation and liability insurance. These certificates must be valid for the dates that the work is being done and must come to you directly from the insurance company to ensure that they were not tampered with. Your designer should prepare project drawings including floor plans and renderings that clearly represent your project. If anything changes mid-project, you should be asked to sign a change order that describes the additional work or the items omitted, a price or credit amount, and the payment terms for the change.


What is the kitchen “work triangle” and why is it important?
The “work triangle” is formed by the drawing lines from the refrigerator to the main sink, then to the cooking surface, and back to the refrigerator. It signifies that area that the main cook works within. The importance of the work triangle is mostly its size, in that it should not be too large or too small and its relationship with the traffic flow. A good work triangle does not cross the traffic flow. Drawing out the work triangle makes it easier to identify the main preparation counter as well as the clean up area. A good designer will assess all of these factors along with good understanding of how you will be using the kitchen, whether the main cook is right handed or left handed, the triangle’s relationship with the eating area and more to design the right kitchen not only for the space but also for the people who will be using it.


Where’s the best place to put in a microwave?
Like most things about your new kitchen, it will depend on how you and your family use the appliance. From safety and accessibility standpoint, the microwave should be positioned so that the bottom of the appliance is 24” to 48” above the floor. Consult with your designer for the best place to locate it.


What is GFCI and do I need it?
GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters. GFCI is an outlet that monitors the balance of electrical current moving through the circuit. If an imbalance occurs, GFCI cuts off the electricity. Its purpose is to prevent fatal electrical shocks. As you know, water and electricity are a deadly combination. Since both are necessary in kitchens and bathrooms, all counter outlets should be GCFI protected for your family safety.


How do I choose a cabinet type for my kitchen?
Kitchen cabinets can be expensive. You should be educated on the different products that are available prior to making this decision. The main cabinet features are:

  • American Style vs. European Style of construction (also known as Framed vs. Full Access or Frameless)
  • Overlay of the doors and drawer fronts, such as Standard Overlay, Full, Lipped, or Inset. Each can significantly affect the look of the kitchen and the cost.
  • Material- Laminate vs. Solid Wood. It’s important to understand the attributes of every available wood species as they not only look different in their natural state; they take stains very differently from each other and have different levels of hardness.
  • Level of customization. Cabinets are categorized as Stock, Semi-Custom or Custom. There are many pros and cons to each of those levels that must be considered when choosing one.


What type of countertop should I choose for my kitchen?
There are many types of countertops to choose from. The main differentiators are:

  • Appearance- Personal decision
  • Durability- Resistance to scratching, denting, chipping, or cracking
  • Heat Resistance- Will it burn, scorch, or discolor with extreme heat?
  • Porosity- Resistance to staining and ability for bacteria to survive on the surface
  • Maintenance- Some products require regular sealing of the surface or buffing out
  • Seams- How visible are the seams
  • Cost- Most solid surface materials like Granite, Quartz or Corian are in the same price category, but laminates like Formica or Stainless Steel can be much less costly


What should I look for in a contractor?
The most important attributes of a good, reputable contractor are:

  • Been in business for a while under the same company name
  • Has a good rating with the BBB and Consumer Affairs
  • Has a physical place of business
  • Has the resources to handle the project even if things go wrong
  • Courteous service that doesn’t make you feel like you have to fight for attention
  • Warranty on the work they do and the material they install
  • Is able to help you through the whole process including, layout/design, product selection, project management and permit procurement where required
  • Carries a substantial amount of liability insurance and workers compensation insurance for every person that will be working in your home.


What makes a bathroom more or less expensive?
Size of the room in terms of square feet of floor or walls and size of cabinets and countertops will have the biggest effect on cost. Tile work will account for a large percentage of the cost. Whether you tile just the floor and shower walls, or ½ way up the walls, or all the walls tiled completely from the floor to ceiling. The specific plumbing fixtures can also affect the cost pretty substantially. A basic tub vs. a Whirlpool or Bubble Massage tub, a basic toilet tank and bowl vs. a decorative one piece toilet, and the large selection of cabinetry and counter products and styles. The age of the home can also have an effect on the cost as older homes are more likely to have plaster walls, deafening in the floors, galvanized piping, lead paint, or mold issues. These conditions may substantially add to the cost of removal and replacement and can’t always be determined prior to the rip out. Beware of “Concealed Conditions” and make sure that you know how the contractors will deal with them if they come up.


What about contracts and orders?
Before any work begins on your bathroom, get a detailed written contract with project specifications such as work scope to identify exactly what work is being done and if anything is your responsibility and a list of products including manufacturer, model numbers and color of everything you are getting. Make sure that the contractor is insured by insisting on a copy of the insurance certificates for both workers compensation and liability insurance. These certificates must be valid for the dates that the work is being done, and must come to you directly from the insurance company to ensure that they were not tampered with. Your designer should prepare project drawings including floor plans and renderings that clearly represent your project. If anything changes mid-project, you should be asked to sign a change order that describes the additional work or the items omitted, a price or credit amount, and the payment terms for the change.


What’s the goal of a good bathroom design?
A well designed bathroom looks bright and open with the majority of the floor area as you first walk in. A good designer will use color and texture to make the room feel larger and more comfortable. There are specific NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association) recommendations for sizes and clearances of plumbing fixtures that should be adhered to. These are not the requirements as some bathrooms are limited in space and can’t meet all of the recommendations. A good designer will interview you to figure out which recommendations are more important to you and design with it in mind.


Where’s the best place to put a shower stall?
Like most things about your new bathroom, it will depend on how you and your family use the shower and how large it needs to be. From a design standpoint it is best if the shower stall is far away from the entrance to the bathroom as it is large and will tend to visually close in the room.


What is GFCI and do I need it?
GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters. GFCI is an outlet that monitors the balance of electrical current moving through the circuit. If an imbalance occurs, GFCI cuts off the electricity. Its purpose is to prevent fatal electrical shocks. As you know, water and electricity are a deadly combination. Since both are necessary in kitchens and bathrooms, all countertop outlets should be GCFI protected as well as whirlpool bath circuit for your family’s safety.


What choices are there in sinks?
There are literally thousands of different sinks out there, but the main choice should be the type of sink installations.

  • Pedestal- Free standing sink that mounts onto the wall and is supported by a pedestal leg. It tends to make the room appear larger. The main disadvantages of a pedestal sink are the lack of storage space and lack of counter space.
  • Drop-In- Tend to be the least expensive and the lip over the cutout in the countertop to “drop-in”
  • Under mount- The most popular installation today, the under mount hangs from the bottom of the solid surface countertop. This method avoids the lip over the counter which makes it easier to wipe the counter down and avoids the caulk line that tends to turn color and get dirty around the drop in sinks.
  • Vessel- This type of sink looks like a bowl that sits on top of the counter. Its largest attribute is its appearance especially in more contemporary bathrooms. It is not as convenient to use but it does offer up more counter space since the narrower bottom of the bowl is typically the only part of the sink that makes contact with the countertop.


What should I look for in a contractor?
The most important attributes of a good, reputable contractor are:

  • Been in business for a while under the same company name
  • Has a good rating with the BBB and Consumer Affairs
  • Has a physical place of business
  • Has the resources to handle the project even if things go wrong
  • Courteous service that doesn’t make you feel like you have to fight for attention
  • Warranty on the work they do and the material they install
  • Is able to help you through the whole process including, layout/design, product management and permit procurement where required
  • Carries a substantial amount of liability insurance and workers compensation insurance for every person that will be working in your home


How long does it take to remodel a bathroom?
A complete basic bathroom typically takes approximately 2 weeks. Large custom bathrooms can take several weeks depending on the scope of work.


Do you offer financing?
Yes. We can help you secure financing. We offer a “Same as Cash Program” for 365 days with no payments, no interest through EnerBank, to make it more convenient to our clients.


What is included in the bath remodel price?
Our price includes almost everything required to completely remodel your existing bath. We gut the existing room to the studs and sub-floor. We usually supply all of the necessary materials to install them, we tile the floor and walls, bring the electric to code and install necessary lighting and venting, all of the necessary plumbing including new shut-off valves and traps. The only thing that is usually not included is the painting and wallpaper hanging.