ABF Remodeling

WHY SHOULD I REMODEL MY KITCHEN

here are several reasons for remodeling your kitchen.

In many homes, the kitchen is the center of the house and the center of activity. Kitchen remodeling can be a major undertaking. It is not only the cost but also the inconvenience to the household to take account of such an undertaking. Despite this, homeowners always find good reasons to undertake a kitchen renovation. Reasons for remodeling vary, some homeowners just want to remodel to be able to resell their home for a better return, while others may just want to enjoy their dream kitchen.

Value
Homeowners often remodel their kitchens to increase the value to market their property. A freshly remodeled and attractive kitchen will appeal to potential buyers more than a boring and outdated kitchen. The owner may or may not be able to recuperate the value; it depends on various factors such as the degree of conversion and the current market prices.

Modernity
The kitchen can be immaculate yet outdated. If the kitchen says 1955, but you would like to live here and now, is the time to make your retro kitchen environment into a kitchens of today’s century.

Energy Savings
Energy savings, the main motivation is to renovate a kitchen. Adding skylights bring more sunlight and reduces the need for artificial light. Solar-energy-efficient appliances and water heaters cut the electricity bill, and put less strain on the environment.

Lifestyle
The kitchen layout may have worked great for the previous homeowner, but not for you. Perhaps it lacks a breakfast bar, and your family wants to gather informally in the kitchen to enjoy coffee or grab a quick meal without going to the dining room table. Whatever the reason, one motivation for a kitchen remodel is to arrange the room to best suit the family’s needs.

Special Needs
The layout of the kitchen have worked great for the previous homeowner, but not for you. Maybe it is missing a breakfast bar, and family wants to gather informally in the kitchen for coffee or a quick meal without having to go to the dining table. There are many reasons, the most common motivation for a kitchen remodel is to re-arrange the room to best suit the family’s needs.

Financial Incentives
The main motivation behind a transformation could only be financial incentives, such as energy-saving rebates offered by government entities or other institutions. Financial incentives include sales at home improvement stores, cash rebates for trading in old appliances, remodeling grants and low and no-interest loans.

Deterioration
The kitchen can easily be falling apart. Broken tiles, countertops peeling, broken cabinets or missing doors and obsolete appliances does not inspire the gourmet cooking or family celebrations. The deteriorated kitchen simply becomes obsolete and needs a remodel.

Change
Some home owners just simply want to change. The existing kitchen might be functional, updated and attractive, but no longer appeal to the homeowner. That is when you should think abf remodel

Gourmet Kitchen
For a homeowner who enjoys preparing delicious meals and considers himself to be a gourmet chef, the main reason for the kitchen redesign is the desire to create a dream kitchen. A gourmet kitchen with nicer amenities than most accommodates the cook’s needs.

Home Improvement TV Shows
Watching home improvement shows on cable television inspires many homeowners to remodel their kitchens. They may never have considered such a project until a home improvement program showed them the possibilities for their kitchen.

Remodeling 101

Are you thinking of remodeling or upgrading your home? Before embarking on any remodeling project there are a few things to consider and know before hand.

How to find a quality and professional company to do the job: It is a good idea to ask family and friends that have done any home improvement for a referral. You can also search online for companies that do the kind of work you are looking todo. once you find a company do some due diligence by researching about them . Check the BBB , Angie’s list and other review organizations to determine if they are dependable and capable of doing the work. Check to see how long they’ve been in business. The longer the company have been in business the easier it is to count on them doing business the honorable way. You can be assured that they intend to do as advertised or claim since long time success is their goal.
What to pay for the project: Do not choose a company based on price. Remodeling is a easy way to get scammed. Many unscrupulous companies will come in with a low bid to get the job. Once they win your job and start the project, they will charge ridiculously high for “unforeseen” or changes to make up the initial low bid.
Are you prepared for the temporary disruption and stress: Remodeling or upgrading your home is stressful. Remember that things are not going to be the same during the process. You will have strangers in your home on a daily basis working on completing your project. You will need a lot of patience and planning to minimize the disruption to your daily life. Working with your contractor to minimize the disruption is always a good idea. Plan ahead! It is important that you use a company that will listen and care about your well being. ABF Remodeling is a company that does this very well. When you are ready for your remodeling project give us a call and we will show you why we’ve been in business for over 20 years. We truly want to help!

Buyer’s Guide to Home Flooring: Pros and Cons Of Popular Flooring Types

When it comes to choosing the right flooring option for your home, it can be overwhelming on which material is right for you. Most commonly, homeowners tend to choose one flooring style for the entire home, while others choose different flooring options throughout the house based on use. The decision is not just about what is the right flooring for a room, but should also be based on shape and size of room, foot traffic, the room’s utility, potential water spills, pet traffic, and furnishings.

For example, areas with lots of foot traffic need a more durable flooring option that can handle the wear and tear. Utility rooms, entryways, bathrooms and kitchen need a flooring option that can tolerate occasional water spills or dampness. In addition to the conditions that affect flooring integrity, you also have to consider budget. The higher the quality of flooring, the higher the price.

Choosing the appropriate flooring option can be daunting and sounds complicated. We want to help walk you through this process and possibly introduce you to new products for you to consider. Here are popular options for you to consider. We have outline the benefits and features of each flooring option and include “Pros” and “Cons” for each flooring options.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is one of the most basic and inexpensive types of flooring on the market. Laminate flooring has come a long way, you can find high quality laminate flooring to give you a high-end look on a modest budget. Laminate flooring is made of synthetic material that simulate wood or even a stone finishes, which is then laminated on too the flooring base. Laminate flooring was once thought of as an inexpensive option. However, laminate flooring has come a long way in terms of quality and durability. Laminate flooring is offered in a wide variety of color and finish options. Some clients have found that the options are sometimes too numerous and it is difficult to make a decision. If maintained properly, a laminate floor will last you several decades.

Pro – Easy Installation
Pro – Easy to Replace
Pro – Easy to Clean

Con – Cannot be Sanded
Con – Slippery When Wet
Con – Can Scuff Easily

Ceramic & Porcelain Tile

Ceramic and porcelain tile is very popular due to its low cost and simple installation. Two of it’s top benefits are that it is easy to clean and maintain. Most dirt can be removed with a simple damp mop. Ceramic and porcelain tile have a hard glaze coating that increase durability and create a hygienic surface making it an excellent choice for indoor and outdoor environments. Recent innovations in ceramic and porcelain have been made to create a finish that mimics wood grain. Some wood look tile is so realistic it is difficult to tell the difference between wood-grain finishes and real hardwood flooring. Ceramic or porcelain tile is not the best option for small children or pets since the grout is susceptible to staining easily.

Pro – Strong & Durable
Pro – Wide Variety of Colors
Pro – Easy to Replace

Con – Grout attracts dirt
Con – Hard Surface
Con – Can Break Brittle Items

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring has become one of the most popular flooring options for homeowners. Hardwood flooring is milled from a single piece of lumber. Walnut, oak, hickory are the most common wood used in creating hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring is a traditional and classic flooring option that offers rich colors, an expensive feel, and a sense of style that can last for decades. This classic look does not come without a price, hardwood floors are not cheap, and they come with a fair share of maintenance. Hardwood are resilient and can handle pets and children well. Keeping hardwood floors clean is critical to ensure that your investment lasts you several decades.

Pro – Very Durable
Pro – Water Resistant – BUT not waterproof
Pro – Can be Refinished

Con – High Cost
Con – Requires Professional Installation
Con – Can Shrink or Expand or discolor with long exposure to sunlight

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood differs from hardwood in that it is a veneer of hardwood on top of several layers underneath. In essence they are similar to laminated floors, but they are fully made of natural wood components, and include a natural wooden grain. Engineered wood flooring pricing sits right in the middle and is quite affordable. Installation is not too difficult. Engineered wood products can appeal to almost any budget because it is available in several styles and colors. Since engineered wood is made up of several layers of pressed wood, it is higher on the durability scale. Additionally, since engineered wood flooring is a man-made material it does not have any special maintenance requirements. Daily cleaning is not required.

Pro – Resistant to Moisture
Pro – Easy Installation
Pro – Wide Variety of Colors

Con – Quality Can Vary by Price
Con – Cannot be Refinished
Con – Edges Can Fray

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is an eco-friendly flooring option that is very durable. Bamboo flooring is an ultra-durable natural option that utilizes bamboo reeds installed over subflooring. This new flooring product ranks slightly higher than many hardwood, and installation is on par with regular hardwood flooring. You should also keep in mind that bamboo does not have a wide selection to choose from, your color options are quite limited. The majority of bamboo floor options come in lighter color variations.

Pro – Easy to Install
Pro – Hypoallergenic
Pro – Durable
Con – Color Can Fade
Con – Can Discolor in Sunlight
Con – Susceptible to Water Damage

Cork Flooring

This is a new flooring option that is great for the eco-friendly homeowner. Cork is a flooring derivative that is made from bark of the cork oak. Its natural look and a highly sustainable wood flooring option. Since the installation of cork flooring is very difficult to install, we highly recommend that you leave it up to our professional flooring installers. Cork flooring’s eco-friendly production and responsibly sourced put’s it on the upper end of the pricing scale. Once installed, cork flooring must be finished, if left untreated it easily warps and can absorb water which ruins the flooring material. Properly maintained, cork flooring can last for quite some time.

Pro – Sustainable & Eco-Friendly
Pro – Durable
Pro – Resistant to Mildew
Con – Expensive & Needs Finishing
Con – Not the best option for pet or small children
Con – Difficult to Clean and Maintain

Natural Stone Flooring

Natural stone as a flooring option has been around for centuries. Natural stone has been used not only for flooring, but for building materials and structures. Stone flooring is one of the most durable flooring options, and definitely the heaviest. Due to its weight, you want to make sure that the foundation or surface of installation is well suited to handle the weight. The production process includes carving the stone out of a quarry and then cutting it to a flooring material to be used as natural stone flooring. Natural stone flooring options include limestone, granite, marble and slate. Natural stone flooring is usually reserved for the ground floor of a home, or kitchens and outdoor patios. Natural stone flooring is difficult to install, and mistakes can be very costly to correct. We would definitely recommend having our floor installation team install your natural stone flooring. Since natural stone flooring is a naturally occurring material, so it is very expensive.

Pro – Appearance Improves with Age
Pro – Extremely Durable
Pro – Timeless Appeal
Con – Expensive
Con – Labor Intensive Installation
Con – Extremely Slippery When Wet

Too Many Options? Let Us Help

Did you see a flooring option that you are interested in? We hope that the pros and cons of these most popular flooring types will assist you on your next flooring project. Chances are you still have some questions about color and finish options, what option is best for my project, and of course the cost. We would love to assist you with selecting the best flooring option for your home that best suits your lifestyle and use of the install location. Feel free to reach out and Contact Us for more information about assistance with choosing your flooring option.

3 Innovative Ways to Use Tile in Your Home

Tile can be integral to many rooms in the home, including the bathroom and entryways. However, there are many other ways that you can use tile in your home to help improve its looks and function.

Tile comes in many different materials, sizes, colors, and styles. All of this means that you can use it to create stunning, one of a kind looks in any room of the home, not just those areas where it’s typically used. If you’re looking for ways to dress up your interiors, consider these three ways to use tile to get the job done.

Tile Wallpaper

It’s becoming increasingly common to create an accent wall of some kind in the home, particularly in entryways, living rooms, and kitchens, as a way to draw the eye and focus the room’s design. And while there are many different ways that you can create an accent wall including paint, wallpaper, and wall art, tile makes a particularly eye-catching display.

For entryways or stand-alone accent walls such as the area above a fireplace, or another uncovered wall, consider installing tile mosaic “wallpaper”. Glass or polished stone tile mosaics arranged in a repeating pattern make dynamic designs that sparkle when the light hits them. Because each tile will catch the light individually, the entire effect changes depending on where you stand, the time of day, and the light in the room.

Create classic patterns like stripes or boxes using two or three different colors of tile cut in strips, or commission a mosaic mural to really amp up the style of the space.

Floor Patterns and “Rugs”

There are fewer materials out there that are easier to care for than porcelain tile. It doesn’t require sealing or special cleaners, and is unlikely to chip, crack, or scratch even with heavy use. This makes porcelain the ideal floor material for busy households or households with pets and children.

Porcelain also comes in a wide range of sizes, and styles, which also makes it ideal for creating some unique floor patterns as well. Consider creating a decorative tile “rug” in your entryway, bathroom, kitchen, or dining room to add some interest and dimension to your home.

Set a row or two of porcelain tile around the perimeter of the room, then switch to a more decorative mosaic tile or waterjet tile pattern to create the border of the rug. Now switch back to the original tile, and lay it in a different pattern, like a diagonal, herringbone, or running bond. The effect shows off the dimensions of the space beautifully, and adds just the right amount of detail to the room.

Fireplace Surrounds

Fireplaces automatically become focal points in any room they are installed in. And all this attention demands that the surround and hearth live up to the rest of the room’s style, often setting the tone for the rest of the space.

The versatility of tile makes it the ideal material to create a stylish and eye-catching surround. Look for unusual materials such as onyx, which has a translucent finish that will glow when it catches the light from the flames. Or, consider using a repeating geometric pattern to create a contemporary display.

Handmade tiles or etched limestone tiles also make beautiful additions to a fireplace surround. Because each one is slightly different from the next, it adds a lot of subtle movement to the area, which enhances the focal point in the room.

Update Your Home with Tile

Tile may be integral to the bathroom, but it’s also a fantastic way to add color, detail, and interest to every room of your home. If you need a way to update your home, consider installing a new tile backsplash, floor, accent wall, or surround to capture these looks for yourself.

Hardwood Floor Installation: Keeping Your Hardwood Floors Looking Their Best

Proper floor care for your hardwoods

Although hardwood floor cleaning it is not as involved as cleaning carpets, it is important to take the correct steps when cleaning your hardwood floor correctly so that it your hardwood flooring will last for years and years to come. Here are a couple of tips that can help.

Basic hardwood floor maintenance

Basic hardwood floor cleaning starts with basic preventative maintenance. This can be started by routinely dusting the floor with a mop that has been treated with some sort of dusting agent. A dusting agent will assist with picking up dust, dirt, pet hair and other small particles that could potentially scratch your hardwood floor.

Every one to two weeks, it would be a good idea to use the floor brush attachment on your vacuum on an electric broom to do a more thorough cleaning of your floor. Be careful, however, of using a vacuum with a beater bar attachment. This beater bar could scratch the hardwood floor’s finish, which is something you absolutely do not want to do. If none of those things are available, a dry Swiffer or something like it will do the trick.

Even though doing a weekly or biweekly cleaning will get your ahead of the game, it will not prevent dirt, oil and grime build up that can happen over time. For these things, it will take a little extra elbow greens to keep those hardwood floors sparkling.

Make it look even better!

To give you hardwood floors that extra attention, use a wood cleaning product and follow the directions on how to dilute it. If you don’t dilute the cleaning product correctly, you could cause more harm to your floor than good.

Damp-mop the floor, making sure that the mop that you’re using is not oversaturated and does not leave standing water on your hardwood floor. Once you’ve applied the wood cleaner to the surface, follow up with a once over with the mop in clean water. Wipe up any excess liquid, and in areas that you can, turn on a ceiling fan or the air conditioner to speed up the drying process.

Questions About Cleaning Your Hardwood Floors?

If you ever have any questions about a specific way to clean your hardwood floor, reach out to one of our trained hardwood floor professionals and they can put you on the right track, as well as assessing any current needs you might have to keep your floor sparkling and bright.

Call us today at 281-855-3400 or fill out the information below and one of our hardwood flooring specialists will contact you as soon as possible.

Flooring vs. Cabinets: Which Is Installed First?

What comes first flooring or cabinets?

We often hear this question when planning a kitchen or bathroom remodel project. Logic would say to install your flooring first and work from the ground up and install the cabinets last. But, in most cases, it is best to install your new cabinets first.

To be honest, it can be done either way. We are going to look at the pros and cons of doing each and let you decide. However, when in doubt, we suggest the cabinets to be installed first.

Pros: Installing Flooring Before Your Cabinets

It is easier to install all of your flooring so you don’t have to cut around cabinets or finish the flooring up to the cabinets. This will allow the flooring install to move much faster. In addition, some people prefer that their flooring run directly under the cabinets.

Many times, cabinets are custom made to the specifications of the kitchen project. Installing the flooring is a great use of time while waiting for your cabinets to be constructed. This is an efficient use of time, especially when project are time sensitive.

If you run into any problem with the floor during your install, it is much easier to fix flooring issues without the worry of damaging kitchen cabinets. Wood flooring is locked together, and tile floor is adhered by mortar, it becomes difficult to replace planks without potentially damaging cabinetry if it is already in place.

Pros: Installing Your Cabinets Before Your Flooring

The pros for installing flooring first are cosmetic and truly a personal preference. When we examine the cabinets going in first, the reasons can be more strategic to the success of the remodel.

If you install your cabinets prior to the flooring, you will use slightly less flooring materials. This can reduce the cost of the flooring project. Homeowners who have lived in the same location for quite some time, may want to change their flooring before they change out their cabinets. If the cabinets are installed before the flooring, this allows for easy replacement of flooring without removing cabinetry.

So Which Comes First The Flooring or The Cabinets

The choice is up to you. The right order of things is to put the cabinets in first. That’s how it’s done when a new home is built and for good reasons.

Wood Flooring: Solid & Engineered Hardwood Flooring Differences

Which One Do You Choose: Engineered vs Solid Hardwood Flooring?

You’re getting a brand new, hardwood floor! That’s exciting! But now that you’re researching your flooring options you keep noticing two different terms coming up: solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring. What’s the difference? It’s actually not as difficult to grasp as you may think. Both types of wood are made of 100% real wood. There’s no fake wood here! The difference comes in their construction.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered Hardwood Flooring tends to be less expensive than solid hardwood. It is also simpler to install and more resilient to heat and moisture. Its core is made of hardwood or plywood with a hardwood veneer attached to the top surface.

Solid Hardwood Flooring

Solid Hardwood Flooring is made from solid wood. Each board is made from a single piece of wood and is about three quarters of an inch thick. It’s thickness allows it to be refinished several times.

The installation of both types of wood is best left to the professionals. However, if you insist of doing it yourself, you may be best suited to purchasing engineered hardwood flooring. Talk to one of our wood flooring consultants if you have questions about which type of floor is best suited for you and your home.

How To Keep Your Hardwood Floors Looking Their Best

Proper floor care for your hardwoods

Hardwood floor cleaning to people who are not experienced with hardwood floors can leave a person with the deer in headlights look. Some people think that the extent of hardwood floor cleaning is taking a wet rag and spot cleaning little areas of the floor. Even though it is not as involved as cleaning carpets, it is important to take the proper steps to clean your hardwood floor properly so that it can last for years and years to come. Here are a couple of tips that can help.

Basic Hardwood Floor Maintenance

Make it look even better!

If you ever have any questions about a specific way to clean your hardwood floor, reach out to one of our trained hardwood floor professional and they can put you on the right track, as well as assessing any current needs you might have to keep your floor sparkling and bright.

Flooring 101: Hardwood Vs. Laminate Flooring

Wood flooring is the top choice of many homeowners and designers because of its naturally luxurious appearance, timelessness, and warmth. Homeowners who want the features of a hardwood floor have lots of options to choose from. Aside from solid hardwood or bamboo planks, they can also pick from a wide variety of laminates. Original hardwood can be found in many older traditional homes. If you want your home to get the same look without the high price point, you can opt for laminate. However, there are ways in which real hardwood and laminate differ.

Real Hardwoods

Real hardwood flooring are solid hardwood milled into floor boards while laminate flooring is engineered from less expensive materials and then coated with real or simulated hardwood. They could also be milled exactly like solid hardwood boards. You can find many choices of laminate flooring when consulting with one of our flooring experts.

Floor Characteristics

The species of wood used to make the hardwood flooring determines its durability. Whether it is a real hardwood or laminate, in order for it to resist damage and last for years, it should have a hard surface. However, when they are already worn out, laminate flooring becomes less attractive than real hardwood. They have super thin veneers so you can only refinish them once when they already look unappealing. After that, you need to replace them.

Wood Flooring Installation

Because laminate flooring materials are engineered products, they are less likely to warp and are also easier to nail together. They are also easier to install because they do not need to be sanded and finished. You will be needing less effort, expertise, and tools for laminate floor installation. Meanwhile, hardwood floor installation could be challenging even to the most experienced DIY enthusiasts and depending on the type of hardwood flooring, you will likely need a lot of tools.

Wood Flooring Cost

Solid hardwood floors can be expensive, especially if they are made from exotic species of wood. This is mainly because of the trade regulations put in place to protect the forests in some way. Laminate flooring materials were actually made in response to the growing need for less expensive materials.

Free Estimates for Hardwood or Laminate Flooring

At ABF Remodeling, you are given the most extensive collection of flooring materials available. When you visit us you will find the largest selection of wood flooring, stone tile, and carpeting. Call today for a free estimate 281-855-3400 or fill out our contact form.