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Three Things To Never Do To Your Contractor

There is a long list of traits you may want to avoid in a contractor. Valuing your time, you'll avoid contractors who have a reputation of being late or regularly no-showing.

Valuing your peace of mind, you'll avoid remodelers who don't communicate promptly. But this article flips the script; in this article you'll gain insight into what never to do to your contractor and why.

Ever heard someone say these things?

"I need to schedule someone to come out and give me a quote". Never ask them to give you a free bid
"I need you to come out and take care of permitting and most of it but my brother has some plumbing experience so we were hoping to have him do the plumbing." Never ask them to use your cousin the electrician
"We're just getting bids right now to see how we can get the best price." Never tell them you are going to select the lowest bid

Read on for the mindset switch you'll need to communicate well with your contractor.

Never Ask Them To Give You A Free Bid

Firstly, here's the situation with remodeling. Remodeling companies, Teknik included, are like a conductor leading the orchestra. Each musician plays a different role but they are all tuned in to the conductor. The musicians play beautiful music because of accurate, in sync, harmonious coordination of all parties as they follow one leader.

Secondly, this is the essence of remodeling as an art, not just a science. In order to execute a remodel with harmony, there are myriad systems that must already be in place so that all your materials are installed on time and without issue.

In conclusion, estimates produced by any company similar to ours, cannot be free to you as the home owner because they are not free to produce. We write each estimate customized around each detail of your entire project. This is in sharp contrast to the industry "free bids" produced by Joe in a Pickup who took a few measurements during his first site visit.

If you would like to read a few reviews to see how home owners experience our estimates and our process, click here.

Shouldn't all bids be free? Well, let's define some terms:

First, the ballpark price range. Don't confuse a ballpark price range with a legitimate bid or estimate. Many contractors will discuss, but not commit to, a general ballpark price range during the first site visit. This is merely to assess compatibility of each party, and to make sure that it makes sense to move forward together.
Second, the bid. This term is widely used, misunderstood, and confused with other terms. The world of commercial and multi-family construction usually build a set of plans, a.k.a. construction documents and then "put it out to bid" so that multiple builders can provide their prices. But this term has unfortunately crept into custom residential remodeling and it has no home here.
Third, the estimate. More specifically, a detailed line-item estimate. This is the complete description of your project in long sentence format that will include descriptions of labor, materials, product specs, and the price. A true detailed line-item estimate is the product of dozens of hours of collaboration, and multiple revisions. This process is going to be one of two things: it's going to be sold to you as "free" or it's going to be legitimate. It will not be both.

So, never ask a design-build firm to give you a free bid. The intension is legitimate, but the requested document does not exist for free. Check out this video that describes the bathroom remodel process and how costs can change throughout!

Never Ask Them To Use Your Cousin The Electrician

When you hire us, we will be putting our license on the line, so it makes sense for us be protective of it. Unless your cousin is a licensed electrician and willing to sign a subcontractor agreement, it's not likely we will use them.

Additionally, we have established relationships with our own subcontractors, should we need one for your job.

Thirdly, we will be trying to complete your job with the highest level of efficiency and coordinating with new people impairs efficiency. Impaired efficiency leads to more labor costs, which will drive the price up. Trying to save money this way would be a wash at best.

Stick with us and our team of pros and see how it turns out!

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!

Never Tell Them You Are Going To Choose The Lowest Bid

First, of all, if you're attempting a fix n' flip, then we're not a good fit for you.

Second, when love your house and you are looking to stay, it makes sense to prioritize quality and relationship first...you can value engineer with the firm that you know delivers quality with a solid relationship.

Additionally, if you prioritize price above all else, then you'll attract the wrong type of company...much like a poor date, and the consequence will be inability or unwillingness to prioritize your needs.

In conclusion, if you prioritize price above all else, then you'll also scare away quality contractors because they wont want to invest valuable collaboration, knowing that you're going to automatically select the lowest bidder rather than doing your due diligence to find the best fit.

Why Choose Teknik for Your San Diego Remodel?

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!

10×10 Kitchen Remodel with Peninsula to Island Conversion

Your kitchen and living area are the heart of your home but many San Diego home owners are working remotely which means that 80% of their day is spent in the kitchen!

Check out this article to read about how home owners are making their kitchens more work compatible.

Peninsula converted to an island
Total remodel or partial
Open up the layout

Man, we know about how this year has gone and we totally understand that you're needing to maximize your home for the holidays and 2021.

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

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

Peninsula Converted to an Island

The thing is, a peninsula used to be a good idea.

Home owners find that it usually restricts traffic whereas an island allows for better flow and movement...especially if there are two or more people who need to be in the kitchen at once.

If you'd like a cleaner look, more efficient storage, and more total storage (yes, there is a difference), then go ahead and ask your contractor today about ripping out your peninsula and building you and island.

If you'd like depth and complementary colors in your kitchen, going with an island that's a different color! Since your paint, flooring, and counter tops are all uniform, you'll have a simple, classy look that is timeless, bright, and beautiful.

Total Remodel or Partial?

It would be a partial remodel if you wanted to replace paint, flooring, counter tops and appliances. But in this case, you'd keep your plumbing, electrical, lighting, cabinets, etc.

The only problem is that replacing appliances means new appliance sizes. New appliance sizes mean new cabinets, new cabinets means that your island or peninsula will be replaced, which means that your flooring will be replaced. And this all means that you've gone from a partial remodel to a total remodel.

So consider if you'd like to buy new appliances or keep your existing ones. This will make all the difference.

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!

Open Up the Layout

The new thing in 2020 is having enough space. Imagine that.

When you have to work from home, it's easy to allow your work life to taint your experience of your home. You work on the couch, in the kitchen, on the patio, perhaps in your bedroom.

Please don't allow your whole house to be ruined by working from home! You may just need to remodel the space to create a more compatible work area. A few ideas are:

Remove a divider wall
Remove an L-shaped wall
Replace doors and windows for better light or ventilation
Remove all different types of flooring and replace with continuous flooring

With the total square feet available in your home, or on the main floor, you can have a way better experience of your home with an updated layout.

Make sure you hire a design-build firm that has an architect or engineer on their team already so that you have a one-stop-shop experience and don't have to farm out your own job to a disjointed series of subs.

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!

Master Bathroom and Guest Bathroom Modernized

Downtown living in America's Finest City has become even more attractive over the past two years, evidenced by a massive migration that has flowed from other large American cities.

Many professionals are able to work remotely, saying a permanent goodbye to office-life. The weather in SD makes it a great option. While it's still expensive, it is more affordable than New York, Los Angeles, and the Bay area, so many new San Diegan's are feeling the win-win of better weather and lower housing cost.

Downtown is one of the best places to buy a new home if you're in love with the lifestyle of having shopping and nightlife an elevator ride away.

The catch however is that many buildings in downtown neighborhoods are old and in need of updates. To see what we mean, take a drive through the Gaslamp District, Banker's Hill, Balboa Park or Hillcrest and see if you'd perform a bathroom remodel or kitchen renovation in your average for-sale unit.

The primary needs of a condo renovation are:

Bathroom renovation
Kitchen remodel
Soundproofing, soundproofing, soundproofing
Maximizing floor space and storage

So lets get into it and check out the last two downtown remodels we've been working on!

Master Bathroom Remodel - Little Italy

This master bathroom was complete with builder grade materials, yellowing vinyl flooring, and a skull rug.

But we all start somewhere.

The client wanted a new modern bathroom with a slick clean look and masculine lines.

After several bathroom remodel site visits and design consults, we settled on a look and budget, and got to work. We built a detailed, line-item estimate that included over 23 labor and material line items and over 55 lines of custom description.

Since clarity is the key to moving smoothly into demolition and completion of the project. That's why we'll help you select all of the following for your master bathroom before you get started:

Shower tile
Floor tile or flooring
Waterproofing method
Lighting fixtures
Plumbing fixtures
Vanity/vanity top, sink
Mirror and special finishes

Looking for a first class experience when remodeling your bathroom? Make sure you've answered the majority of questions before you get started.

Jason came to us as a bachelor, loving his professional and personal life. Loving the condo life. Loving having his space ina high-rise. He could host company or life alone - the condo offered space and accompaniments for both.

Traits of an A+ Home Owner

His initial idea was to spend $20 or $30 K on a bathroom or two. By the time we got into estimating and contract phase, the project had grown to $90K and by the time his change orders were added and complete the project cost $200K. He added his second bathroom, the kitchen, living room/dining room area, and custom built-in entertainment center cabinetry.

Jason was a breeze to work with and was always saying please, thank you, I'm sure it's fine but I have this concern, I trust you and I wanted your perspective on this...he was the epitome of care and respect.

It is a delight to work with home owners who vetted us to ensure they could trust us and then work work with us in a way that continues to build trust through communication, consistent productivity and transparency. Trust is made of little things and those little things add up every day to create a great owner/contractor relationship.

Key traits: he communicated clearly

very responsive and quick to get back to us

very humble and direct in his curiosity, never presumptuous or accusatory.

Gave benefit of the doubt any time something came up that was potentially frustrating

The large master bathroom remodel was the centerpiece but the kitchen and living area ended up being gorgeous and 100% new too! Why not updated it all while we're already there, right?!

We thought so too.

Guest Bathroom Remodel - Little Italy

This guest bathroom was small, poorly lit, dusty, and rarely used. It had become a collection of clutter and a pseudo storage room.

Do you have a bathroom that has become a catch-all area for items that should be thrown away or donated? Is it not really functioning like a bathroom should? Is it inviting or does the whole family avoid it because it's borderline gross?

After the transformation, you'll be surprised at how much bigger your room feels. You'll be happy with how well lit it is! You'll be wowed by the new shower tile and the clean, inviting look that integrates with the rest of the house.

You deserve to have the bathrooms that will meet your families needs and allow you to live in harmony instead of chaos. You house has that bathroom for a reason, so let's get you back on track. Let's get you a new guest bathroom!

Besides, we all know that you have a hundred friends who would love to visit you in San Diego any time and it would be a shame to let your lack of a great guest bathroom stop you from having them!

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!

Master Bathroom & Guest Bathroom Review - Little Italy

Positive: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Responsiveness

"For anyone like myself who really takes the time to interview/select a vendor for something, you need to call Teknik to include in your process. Kevin is a fantastic partner, and everyone in his company are complete professionals who are masters of their trade.

I had a total remodel in my downtown condo, and could not be happier with the experience and results. This included 2 bathrooms, Kitchen/Dining/Entertainment center (all custom across the board.)

My biggest concern going into this was hiring a contractor who would need to be managed. Kevin & Ruth are extremely detail oriented and were 2 steps ahead of me the entire time. The amount of detailed attention Kevin had for my project was a tremendous relief, and the entire experience was actually enjoyable. Keep in mind, this was even during Covid 19 limitations and I still feel this way!!

I will never hire a different contractor in San Diego, and highly suggest you explore this company to see if you feel the same after. 10/10 win."

- J.J. Little Italy 2020

The Start-to-Finish Experience of a Downtown Bathroom Remodel

The ultimate remodeling experience - Love or bust?

The remodeling schedule - on time or late?

The remodeling value - happy or was something left to be desired?

Why Choose Teknik for Your Master & Guest 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!

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

“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!

10×10 Carmel Valley Master Bathroom Remodel

Not sure how 2021 flew by so darn quick, but 2022 in upon us and we know how much you've got to get done.

If you're anything like many of our families, you've got all of the usual projects. In addition, you need to get a master bathroom remodel done, but you're not sure how COVID, raw material availability, and the container ship situation is impacting construction, remodelers, and the remodel process.

Not to worry! You're scanning the right article!

We will lay out what has been happening so you can have some context for your research and decisions.

In this article we will cover:

What you can't control and what to do about it
What you can control and what to do about it
Parameters and expectations for a master bathroom remodel in 2022

So let's get into it.

Bathroom Remodel Factors You Can't Control

Material ETA's for your bathroom remodel

Since March of 2020 appliances and plumbing fixtures are the two categories that got hit the hardest.

Heavy metals (and other metals) have seen reduced availability but they are used in manufacturing. Steel, resin, microchips, you name it. Many hundreds of raw materials have seen production and transportation slow downs...which trickle into every category of basic commodities and durable goods.

Some appliances are available within 90 days. Many brands are out 8-10 months.

Generally, plumbing fixtures are available within 30-45 days. Most brands are out a few to several months.

Tile materials for your master bathroom remodel are usually available within 3 weeks.

Flooring materials for your Encinitas bathroom remodel are usually available within 2 weeks.

What to do about it

The best thing you can do is get an early start on clarity in your own mind. Here are a few things you can research on your own before choosing a contractor:

Sort by least expensive $ and most expensive $$$$ to get a sense of the cost range you're shooting for, then set a tentative budget target for yourself and see if you can stay within it
Choose your finish, i.e. brushed Nickle, oil rubbed bronze, matte black, brass, etc.
Consider how many items you'd like to see on your plumbing wall. You can have all or a combination of the following:
- Shower head
- Rain shower head
- Handheld shower head in a cradle
- Handheld shower head on a slider bar
- Shower valve & temp control
- Shower diverter separately
- Shower valve & diverter combo

Tools:

It's difficult to know which of the options that Google brings up is truly the best tool for you. Here are out top two when making selections for a master bathroom remodeling project in San Diego.

houzz.com - build an Ideabook of fixtures you find attractive or that fit your taste
buildwithferguson.com - add everything you like to your cart and then compare & eliminate from there.

Additional Costs Due to Economic & Global factors

Fuel: Costs of fuel have risen which causes any item that requires transportation to increase.

Labor: Labor costs have risen which causes any item that requires labor to increase.

S&D: Supply has decreased and demand has increased which causes prices to rise.

Inflation: The more times you slice a pie; 2 pieces, 4 pieces, 8, 16, 32, the smaller each slice will be compared to the whole pie. If you want 6oz of pie, or 15% of the pie, you'll need more slices in proportion to how many times your pie was sliced. Naturally, having a higher number of slices does not increase the amount of pie you have in the pan.

The concrete assets behind our currency have not increased but the mints have been printing more "slices" of pie with make each of them smaller in proportion to our total GDP. It's a question of concrete value vs. just counting dollars to know "how much" something costs or "how much" it's worth.

These aren't the only four reasons costs are up but they are the main four.

What to do about it

Control what you can control by not just hiring any Jack that has a CA-B License or General Contractor's License. Invest time into finding a contractor who's reviews, clients, and staff are eager to share their process with you. If you want outstanding results, you've got to find someone who is meticulous about their process. Check out our Perfect Remodel Process here!

How Do You Recommend I Save Cost?

This is a great question.

Here are three things that many Carmel Valley, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Solana Beach and Cardiff by the Sea home owners do to keep some cash in their wallet:

First, you can use LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) flooring instead of tile. Tile is more expensive material per SF, and the time to install is three to eight times higher. Check out pictures of bathrooms with LVP flooring in our gallery.
Second, make sure you do your research on that bathtub option. Two freestanding bathtubs could be visually identical, but one is porcelain, costing over $5000 and the other is hollow fiberglass, costing $1000. WOW. Save that cash on your bathroom remodel finish materials and direct it to something better!
Thirdly, we will help you to save costs by purchasing your finish materials directly and buy purchasing a stock vanity as opposed to building a custom piece.

INSTANT QUOTE!

How Can I Figure Out The Cost Range?

The best way to find the range is to speak to actual contractors.

Websites that claim to have up-to-date data from home owners "in your area" are:

First, they are less accurate now than ever before due to the global and industry changes since March of 2020.
Next, they're not invested in the accuracy of that information
Then, they are not accountable for the accuracy of that information
Additionally, they are not actually contractors engaged in building anything
Furthermore, they are not thorough in the information gathering process, so many costs are not reported
They are paid to gather your name and email address, so the lower the prices they list, the more likely you are to provide your information. It ain't right.
Finally, Their algorithms include homeowner feedback on "what they spent" from 20 years ago. Therefore, the "average" includes data from the early 2000's that will pull the number down, and create emotional whip lash when you discover how much they actually cost in 2022. Can you imagine trying to budget for a road trip using the "average" gas prices since 1999? Us either.

In conclusion, If you chat with real companies, you'll find that some are high, some are low, and some are in the middle but each can have a unique approach to the remodel process and their PROCESS is what should interest you the most

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!

What Is The Ballpark Cost Range?

On the low end master bathrooms usually fall between $45,000 and $65,000.

On the high end master bathrooms can range from $65,000 to $95,000

Why Choose Us for Your Master Bathroom Renovation?

Let us help you avoid:

Late Completion
Going Over Budget
Overuse of Subcontractors

Still need more comfort? 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!