Posts made in August 2020

Master Bathroom Remodel in – Top Three Concerns

Top three concerns for your master bathroom.

Waterproofing - avoid another remodel in five years!
Tile quality - avoid another remodel in five years!
The right contractor - avoid another remodel in five years!

So, it's actually plausible that the largest concerns with remodeling your master bathroom is NOT having to do it again in five to ten years.

It should go without saying that your remodel should be quality but it doesn't, unfortunately.

We know how it feels to be considering a big ticket item like your master bathroom remodel.

But don’t worry. In this article, we'll show you where to start!

Read on for the first three things you MUST KNOW before you begin!

Waterproofing Your Master Bathroom

For decades the traditional method of waterproofing a shower pan was the "hot mop" technique.

The process of hot mopping is essentially applying a coat of hot tar over the shower pan area. Once it dries there the tar is waterproof and will supposedly prevent leading for decades.

This method however is:

Outdated, there have been better options available for MANY years.
Tar smells terrible for a few days after application. Who wants to toxify their family's breathing air for the weekend?...
The tile installer cannot begin right away, but must wait a day or two for it to fully cure.
There is no warranty. Eventually it dries out and becomes brittle. Finally, it cracks which leads to the dreaded leak that you can't detect until it is too late.

There are several less toxic methods of waterproofing. They also happen to be more efficient, since tile can be installed same-day. This efficiency ends up saving you labor, which saves you money.

Call today to find out more about our waterproofing, or visit https://www.schluter.com/schluter-us/en_US/ for some ideas and photos. Need a lifetime warranty? No problem.

Tile Quality in Your Master Bathroom

If we're talking tile quality, look for

Good - ceramic. Ceramic tiles are basically baked clay, they chip easily because they are brittle. Not a good durable option. Flippers use ceramic tile often because of the attractive price point.
Better - Porcelain. Porcelain is probably the 80% of the 80/20 rule. Most families can find a wonderful porcelain tile option most of the time.
- Brand/origin advice: The best porcelain in the world comes out of Italy. The second best comes out of Spain. If you buy from either of these places, you've got a pretty good shot at really liking your tile.
Best - stone. Of course, real stone will be the most durable but it also comes with a cost that reflects that durability. The cost of mining, manufacturing, cutting, and sanding to the desired finish is high. Some stone tiles can cost $150 per square foot, and many most more than that.

You may think that durability is the primary concern when looking at tile options, but unfortunately you need to worry about uniformity too.

There are knock-off versions of every product known to man but the devil is in the details. If you hire the BEST tile setter in the state and give him a box of cheap tile, you may have to:

Throw away up to 50% of the tile before use
Spend extra labor to trim tile that is not uniform
End up with asymmetrical tile lay patterns after all that extra headache.

You're buying tile so infrequently anyway...save yourself! Buy once, buy right.

FREE CONSULTATION

Take It From Our Happy Customers

"Kevin had the work done as if it were his own house and the project was completed before the contractual completion date." - Jack B., San Diego, CA

“This is our second remodel with Kevin. Once again, done on TIME! Great job! Just sorry we’re out of bathrooms! 🙂 He’s on speed dial in case we have another project.” - Gary G., Encinitas

“Kevin told me to allow 25 days and it was done in just over two weeks.” - Gina H., San Diego, CA

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

The Right Contractor for Your Master Bathroom

If you are bored, retired early, and have extra money lying around then this section is not for you. Please move on to the next paragraph.

If however, you are in the world of getting the job done right the first time, do not attempt to break up your project and give each portion to the lowest bidder.

If you think about it, this behavior is based on the following:

"I want to save money by finding the least expensive tradesman from each trade. I will give him the work."
"I want to save money by managing the project myself. This way I wont pay a general contractor to run the job."
"I want to know all the hard costs so I don't pay any hidden fees. I will not pay a markup on anything."

These are fine ideas and may stem from intentions to be a good steward of resources.

Unfortunately they are misguided ideas. There is a lot of expertise that comes with full-time remodeling when you do it for a living. That expertise springs into action on your behalf when things go awry. And in remodeling, things always go awry.

You can imagine the difference between a five year/ten year do-it-yourself-er and someone with 10,000, 20,000, or even 40,000 hours of remodeling experience.

The ownership team of Teknik has over 20 years of full time experience, totaling over 40,000 hours.

Why Choose Teknik for Your Master Bathroom?

Let us be your guide as you strive to avoid the blunders that make our industry look bad. When you work with us, we help you avoid:

Late Completion
Going Over Budget
Overuse of Subcontractors

Still apprehensive about calling? You'll be 100% protected with our Spoiled Rotten Customer Guarantee.

Step 1: Dream Design

We’ll collaborate with you to transform your dark and outdated space into bright and inviting space. It all starts with your free consultation so book now!

Step 2: True Quote

You can trust our service agreement! We get to know your home intimately before working on it to ensure we stick to budget with no change orders.

Step 3: Complete On-Time

We'll make your dream come true and do it on-time and on budget! Then it's party time! Perhaps leave out your friends who get jealous easily.

FREE CONSULTATION

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

You Need A New 15×15 Kitchen Remodel? Read On!

The four stages of a 15x15 kitchen remodel

Design
Permitting
Selections
Execution

Man, we know about being overwhelmed and not knowing where to start.

But don’t worry. In this article, we'll show you how to prepare for the four stages of your 15x15 kitchen remodel!

Read on to discover the four stages you MUST UNDERSTAND before you begin!

1. Design

On one hand, you've got ideas and dreams.

On the other hand, you've got a physical home with physical limitations and a budget with limitations as well.

The process of design is the process of getting your design ideas to meet your budget. You've got to get into design elements, architecture, engineering, and selections in order to get to a tight budget price range.

But once your budget has been updated throughout the design process, you'll be able to value-engineer and play with different options to tweak the price until you find a number that works. This will feel like volley ball--it's a lot of back and forth!

2. Permitting

After design is almost complete you're ready to submit to the city. Permitting takes several weeks but after you receive either approval or your comments back, you'll be ready...

Ready for what? You'll be ready to either:

Make adjustments based on the comments from the city.
Solidify the budget and estimate based on the permitted design.

The permitting process can feel like hurry up and wait, especially if you're eager to get started. COVID has slowed down the process of getting a plan set through each department but it's going more smoothly this fall than earlier in the year!

INSTANT QUOTE!

Take It From Our Happy Customers

"Kevin had the work done as if it were his own house and the project was completed before the contractual completion date." - Jack B., San Diego, CA

“Kevin told me to allow 25 days and it was done in just over two weeks.” - Gina H., San Diego, CA

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

3. Selections

With your permitted plan set in-hand, you'll be able to solidify finish materials, obtain lead times, and begin planning your project schedule. By "you" we mean your contractor, but you'll be included in the process.

As your calendar comes into clarity, you'll be ready to begin planning for the fun part!

3. Execution

Demolition can be quick but it will be messy and loud. Even with hepa vacuums and thousands of dollars of equipment, including air scrubbers, etc., the process of demolition is always messy.

Additionally, it is wise to plan for 10% flexion of the project calendar plus additional time for every change order or request for additional work.

The project timeline can get emotional at about 60% completion. Remember that if you're feeling uneasy or antsy, your superintendent can address every question and concern you have as long as you share it with him.

You'll be done in no time at all and ready to party! Fire up the barbecue, invite the neighbors! Time to celebrate your new kitchen and make some jealous neighbors!

Why Choose Teknik for Your 15x15 Kitchen?

Let us be your guide as you strive to avoid the blunders that make our industry look bad. When you work with us, we help you avoid:

Late Completion
Going Over Budget
Overuse of Subcontractors

Still apprehensive about calling? You'll be 100% protected with our Spoiled Rotten Customer Guarantee.

Step 1: Dream Design

We’ll collaborate with you to transform your dark and outdated space into bright and inviting space. It all starts with your free consultation so book now!

Step 2: True Quote

You can trust our service agreement! We get to know your home intimately before working on it to ensure we stick to budget with no change orders.

Step 3: Complete On-Time

We'll make your dream come true and do it on-time and on budget! Then it's party time! Perhaps leave out your friends who get jealous easily.

FREE CONSULTATION

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

Kitchen & Bath Remodels This Fall

Top concerns for a 10x15 San Diego kitchen remodel:

Timing is everything
Material Lead Time
Timeline of Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels

Man, we know about being excited to get started and we'd encourage you not to have a dozen contractors out to give you cheep bids!

In this article, we'll show you where to start!

Read on for the first three things you MUST KNOW before you begin!

Timing Is Everything

The timing of your remodel is important.

If you’re going on a vacation in the next month, you might prefer to wait but we have many of our clients choose to leave us with their keys and be at ease!

Being out of town for the demo and loud work is way more fun than working in the next room!

With some sort of school schedule starting soon, the San Diego summer has come to a close.

Part of getting ready for school is scheduling breaks, trips, and remodels for the rest of the year to plan for holidays. We are hear to take care of your kitchen or bathroom remodel! Call 858-775-7628 today!

Material Lead Time

The most important thing to know about kitchen remodels for the fall of 2020 is that lead-times on raw materials are still longer than usual due to COVID-19.

Windows have been taking 3 to 4 weeks longer to arrive than usual. Since many window manufacturing facilities are closed, fewer facilities now carry the burden of producing windows for the whole country.

There has been a dramatic improvement since the initial delays in March and April but most materials have still been slowed by a week or two.

INSTANT QUOTE!

Take It From Our Happy Customers

"Kevin had the work done as if it were his own house and the project was completed before the contractual completion date." - Jack B., San Diego, CA

“Kevin told me to allow 25 days and it was done in just over two weeks.” - Gina H., San Diego, CA

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

Timeline of Kitchen or Bathroom Remodels

For fall/winter remodels, here are a few things to consider:

Lead time on material is beyond our control, so of course these estimates are really really approximate.

Small to medium size kitchen remodels, 10x10 kitchens, 10x12 kitchens, 12x15 kitchens, etc:. plan on your windows and your cabinets taking the longest. Cabinet lead time is anywhere from 2 to 10 weeks depending on the manufacturer you choose and the quality of finish you are willing to invest in.

It is common to collaborate with your contractor for two to four weeks to make sure everything is ready to order. Once ordered, you'll wait two weeks for the plumbing to come in, and then get started.

From the start to the finish your remodel may take three or four months. The demolition to finishing touches portion of that for months may only be 6 to 10 weeks.

Small and medium size kitchens in San Diego or one of the most common remodels we see. But remember, the square footage of your kitchen does not determine the price and the square footage does not determine the number of decisions that need to be made.

You may have all the decisions for your small kitchen It would also need to be made for a much larger space because each element is still present, just in smaller proportion.

Why Choose Teknik for Your Fall/Winter Job?

Let us be your guide as you strive to avoid the blunders that make our industry look bad. When you work with us, we help you avoid:

Late Completion
Going Over Budget
Overuse of Subcontractors

Still apprehensive about calling? You'll be 100% protected with our Spoiled Rotten Customer Guarantee.

Step 1: Dream Design

We’ll collaborate with you to transform your dark and outdated space into bright and inviting space. It all starts with your free consultation so book now!

Step 2: True Quote

You can trust our service agreement! We get to know your home intimately before working on it to ensure we stick to budget with no change orders.

Step 3: Complete On-Time

We'll make your dream come true and do it on-time and on budget! Then it's party time! Perhaps leave out your friends who get jealous easily.

FREE CONSULTATION

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

Two Tips To Remodel Your Bathroom and Save Time Too

If you're one of the tens of thousands of San Diego home owners pricing out your bathroom remodel because you've been home so much more, you're in the right place!

Most San Diego home owners start in the information-gathering stage. Once they feel they have a lay of the land, they are ready to begin talking with trusted contractors to start getting estimates.

Whether you are kicking tires or ready to start, these two tips to remodel and save money too are for you!

Get started, stay started – (but how?)
Pick timeless options – (but which ones?)

Join us, read on!

1. Attack Your Bathroom, Attack Your Mindset

You’ve got two options when take care of a remodel. These two options are comparable to taking care of the grocery list.

Option 1: “I can go to these 5 stores to get the absolute lowest price on each item.”

When you’re finished, you’ll have bragging rights about getting the lowest possible price. But you’ll be exhausted and the groceries won’t be put away.

Option 2: “I can figure out the best store for overall value, and get everything there because the efficiency is worth it to me.”

When you’re finished, you’ll have bragging rights about having the best possible experience and begin able to get back to the rest of your day, week, and life.

Not one single person LIVES grocery shop but it must be done. When you save time and energy, you move forward and end up happier!

You must choose the mindset in Option 1, or the mindset in Option 2 and remain committed to it.

The fate of your remodel hangs in the balance…(dun dun dun*).

2. Pick Timeless Options

Use Modern Waterproofing Techniques

For decades the traditional method of waterproofing a shower pan was the "hot mop" technique.

The process of hot mopping is essentially applying a coat of hot tar over the shower pan area. Once it dries there the tar is waterproof and will supposedly prevent leading for decades.

This method however is:

Outdated, there have been better options available for MANY years.
Tar smells terrible for a few days after application. Who wants to toxify their family's breathing air for the weekend?...
The tile installer cannot begin right away, but must wait a day or two for it to fully cure.
There is no warranty. Eventually it dries out and becomes brittle. Finally, it cracks which leads to the dreaded leak that you can't detect until it is too late.

There are several less toxic methods of waterproofing. They also happen to be more efficient, since tile can be installed same-day. This efficiency ends up saving you labor, which saves you money.

Call today to find out more about our waterproofing, or visit https://www.schluter.com/schluter-us/en_US/ for some ideas and photos. Need a lifetime warranty? No problem.

INSTANT QUOTE!

Take It From Our Happy Customers

"Kevin had the work done as if it were his own house and the project was completed before the contractual completion date." - Jack B., San Diego, CA

“Kevin told me to allow 25 days and it was done in just over two weeks.” - Gina H., San Diego, CA

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

Select Matching Shower Heads

If you get dual shower heads installed, you'll put yourself in a great position to experience the following:

Increased resale value, you deserve to get the most out of your investment!
A smooth morning routine, all successful people have mastered their mornings!
Your preferred water flow!... one partner prefers rain fall which is always a low-pressure flow. The other partner often prefers a traditional shower head that allows more water pressure.

The feedback that we get from our families is that even if you use it 40% of the time, it will still be worth it. Often they report that they can't believe how much more frequently they use it, compared to what they expected.

Love to do activities together? Dual shower heads are the answer for:

Getting cleaned up to go out to dinner...no need to be late for those reservations!
Returning from the gym together, get cleaned up and get on with your day!
Returning from a trip to the beach together, you do NOT need to track sand all over the house while you wait for the shower

Why Choose Teknik for Your Bathroom?

Let us be your guide as you strive to avoid the blunders that make our industry look bad. When you work with us, we help you avoid:

Late Completion
Going Over Budget
Overuse of Subcontractors

Still apprehensive about calling? You'll be 100% protected with our Spoiled Rotten Customer Guarantee.

Step 1: Dream Design

We’ll collaborate with you to transform your dark and outdated space into bright and inviting space. It all starts with your free consultation so book now!

Step 2: True Quote

You can trust our service agreement! We get to know your home intimately before working on it to ensure we stick to budget with no change orders.

Step 3: Complete On-Time

We'll make your dream come true and do it on-time and on budget! Then it's party time! Perhaps leave out your friends who get jealous easily.

FREE CONSULTATION

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

Three Tips for Your 10×15 Kitchen Remodel

Top concerns for a 10x15 San Diego kitchen remodel:

Please shop for your contractor, not your contract
Please build your Ideabooks on Houzz.com
Please make two lists so you have clarity before you begin

Man, we know about being overwhelmed and not knowing where to start.

But don’t worry. In this article, we'll show you where to start!

Read on for the first three things you MUST KNOW before you begin!

Shop For Your Contractor, Not Your Contract

We know, get a bunch of bids and then decide on the right guy.

Sounds like a good idea but the truth is, you'll end up with an average contractor and larger-than-average problems.

Adding insult to injury, you'll have change orders to fix those problems...but you no doubt chose that contractor to save money so you're actually upside down a little bit.

If you want the truth, ask the car salesman where he buys cars for his kids...

Ask the luxury jewelry saleswoman where she buys her personal diamonds...

Ask the contractor how he shops for contractors to do work on his home and how he value engineers his own projects to achieve both of your goals:

Get the job done right the first time
Do it as efficiently as possible

If you shop for your contractor, not your contract you can have the best of both.

Please Build Your Ideabooks on Houzz.com

When you speak contractors, you'll be asking them your questions...

But in order to get you to where you want to go, they will often answer your questions with more questions...

So, in order to be better prepared than 80% of home owners, build an Ideabook on Houzz.com

This allows for two things:

You'll select what you like and don't like in each photo. You'll be able to add a note or caption so you remember exactly which feature you liked within that photo.
You'll gain clarity on the entire look and functionality, vs. having a bunch of unrelated ideas. As you select photos 17, 18, 19, and 20, you'll start to see themes and you'll be excited to go back and delete some of the first photos you selected because they no longer fit your aesthetic!

Instructions:

Create Your Ideabook

Get Ideas>Kitchen>Use filters if desired>Hover over the photo>Click Save>Add notes on the photo>Drop down menu> + Create New>Save!
Repeat for all photos as desired.

Share with us

Hover over “Your Houzz” (top right)
Your Ideabooks
Click the desired Ideabook
Finally click “Invite” to search for Teknik and invite us to view it!

INSTANT QUOTE!

Take It From Our Happy Customers

"Kevin had the work done as if it were his own house and the project was completed before the contractual completion date." - Jack B., San Diego, CA

“Kevin told me to allow 25 days and it was done in just over two weeks.” - Gina H., San Diego, CA

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

Please Make Two Lists So You Have Clarity Before You Begin

Here are examples of the two lists that you'll want to create for yourself:

Must Have List

Replace appliances
New cabinets
New counter tops
Updated plumbing
Updated electrical
New flooring

Wish List

New doors
New windows
Additional lighting
Blow out a wall
Add indoor/outdoor seating

Whether you are listing several items or just a few, your clarity will allow you to major in the majors when you address how to get the most for your budget.

Why Choose Teknik for Your 10x15 Kitchen?

Let us be your guide as you strive to avoid the blunders that make our industry look bad. When you work with us, we help you avoid:

Late Completion
Going Over Budget
Overuse of Subcontractors

Still apprehensive about calling? You'll be 100% protected with our Spoiled Rotten Customer Guarantee.

Step 1: Dream Design

We’ll collaborate with you to transform your dark and outdated space into bright and inviting space. It all starts with your free consultation so book now!

Step 2: True Quote

You can trust our service agreement! We get to know your home intimately before working on it to ensure we stick to budget with no change orders.

Step 3: Complete On-Time

We'll make your dream come true and do it on-time and on budget! Then it's party time! Perhaps leave out your friends who get jealous easily.

FREE CONSULTATION

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

15×20 Kitchen Remodel

So it's finally time to look at the remodel project that you've been putting off - the kitchen! Thinking of a few questions on your journey is normal!

How do I choose the right company?
How much will my large 15x20 kitchen remodel cost?
How long do 15x20 kitchen remodels take?

Boy, do we know how it feels to shop for the perfect kitchen remodel contractor in San Diego and wonder if you've found the right person.

But don’t worry. You’re in the perfect place!

In this article, we'll answer these three questions so you can get off to a great start as you pursue your kitchen remodel.

How Do I Choose The Right Company?

The best way to find your contractor is to shop for character not for price.

The default is to call a bunch of contractors and have them all come out to your home and provide bids. However, this only works fro single-trade commodity-style jobs.

If your 15x20 kitchen remodel needs a full overhaul, you'll want to ensure you find a person or design-build firm that will communicate, collaborate, and work with your specific needs.

If a company is willing to come out, give you a bid on the spot, and make promises without doing their due diligence, they are probably not the one for you.

How Much Will my 15x20 Kitchen Remodel Cost?

Answering this question is a lot like answering the question, "How much does a new car cost?"

There are dozens, if not hundreds of answers to questions that will inform the answer and make it more specific and accurate. What is your budget? What is the make, model, year, sport package, etc?

Most NEW cars that the general public will purchase are going to cost between $35,000 and $120,000. Now, you can name those exceptions but you'll agree that the range makes sense.

In the same way, with very few exceptions, most of the 15x20 kitchens that San Diego home owners will remodel will cost between $110,000 and $250,000. Here is a pie chart of how your budget may be allocated:

FREE CONSULTATION

Take It From Our Happy Customers

"Kevin had the work done as if it were his own house and the project was completed before the contractual completion date." - Jack B., San Diego, CA

“Kevin told me to allow 25 days and it was done in just over two weeks.” - Gina H., San Diego, CA

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

How Long Do 15x20 Kitchen Remodels Take?

To set the expectation correctly, you should know that the portion of your 15x20 kitchen remodel from demo to completion is often less than 50% of the project length. Here are the top three phases you should consider for your schedule:

Deciding to do the project, vetting contractors, selecting the right contractor: Length unknown.
Design & selections: 4 weeks to 10 weeks or more. Varies by project.
Your 15x20 kitchen remodel: 8 weeks to 14 weeks. Varies by project.

When you're looking to begin a kitchen remodel, be prepared for a several month journey. Choose the right contractor, so your journey is fun!

Why Choose Us for Your 15x20 San Diego Kitchen Remodel?

Let us help you to avoid the three primary pain points across all sectors of residential remodeling in San Diego. These three paint points are:

Late Completion
Going Over Budget
Overuse of Subcontractors

Not ready to call? You'll be 100% protected with our Spoiled Rotten Customer Guarantee!

Step 1: Dream Design

We’ll collaborate with you to transform your dark and outdated space into bright and inviting space. It all starts with your free consultation so book now!

Step 2: True Quote

You can trust our service agreement! We get to know your home intimately before working on it to ensure we stick to budget with no change orders.

Step 3: Complete On-Time

We'll make your dream come true and do it on-time and on budget! Then it's party time! Perhaps leave out your friends who get jealous easily.

FREE CONSULTATION

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!