Tag Archives: kitchen remodeling

Outdoor kitchen installation in South Florida

Outdoor Kitchen Installation Ideas

Florida is called the “Sunshine State” for a reason. If you are not soaking up the sun with a brand new outdoor kitchen installation, then you are simply taking South Florida for granted! Installing outdoor kitchens and residential areas is a core part of CCM’s exterior and outdoor paving services, and we have plenty of tips for you to design yours!

Planning Your Outdoor Kitchen Installation

Each outdoor area is different, so there are no rules set in stone. Nevertheless, here are some ideas for you to serve as a jumping-off point.

Flooring

The first piece of outdoor kitchen installation you want to consider is your floor. Because you will be outdoors (and because it rains often in South Florida), you will want floors that are weatherproof (and relatively slip-proof on a wet surface) yet stylish at the same time. So, don’t go with wood. Instead, you will want one of the following:

  • Tile
  • Concrete
  • Brick
  • Natural stone

Of these four, concrete is likely to be the most affordable. However, given the advantages of pavers vs concrete, we prefer natural Tuscany paving stones.

Setting the Atmosphere

When thinking about your outdoor kitchen installation, try to envision what mood/atmosphere you are trying to set. This comprises things such as lighting and heat, among others. As the outdoors are becoming a more popular place to hold parties and spend time with friends and family, more people are installing outdoor heating systems such as heat lamps or fireplaces and fire pits. If you opt to go the latter route, always make sure they are properly installed and in accordance with the law. From there, enjoy sitting around the fire and roasting your marshmallows!

Food & Drink

Finally, no outdoor kitchen installation would be complete without considering what it will actually do: serve as a kitchen-esque setting to eat and drink in. So, you must ask yourself: what exactly will you be doing out there? In addition to tables and chairs, here are some things to think about installing:

  • Wet bar
  • Kegerator
  • Prep station
  • Pizza oven
  • Microwave drawer
  • Pizza oven
  • Electric grill
  • Lobster boiler
  • Wash station
First step in the South Florida remodeling process

South Florida Remodeling: A 5-Step Process

South Florida remodeling entails many things, from home additions to basement finishing to kitchen and bathroom renovations. Regardless of which service you require of us, the renovation experts at Complete Construction & Management, Inc. will always treat your remodeling project on an individual basis, customizing your plan to meet your needs. Here is exactly how we do that!

The Process of South Florida Remodeling Projects

Each project comprises about 5 steps, and while each step is tailored to your desires as a client, organization and professionalism dictates that your home remodeling project be handled step by step as such:

1. Planning & Design

We begin by listening attentively to the entire description of your project, taking notes on each detail and dividing them into what you’d like to have and what you need. This helps us to maintain a good idea of the overall scope, as well as the individual products we will need to buy in order to make your dream become a reality.

2. Budgeting

Next, we will give you a free estimate of what your South Florida remodeling project will cost. If and when you decide to go through with it, we will discuss and determine your budgetary needs, using the notes we took in Step 1 as a reference. We always make sure to show you how home remodeling gives you the best bang for your buck, causing your home value to appreciate and giving you a bigger return on investment at resale.

3. Removing the Old

In South Florida remodeling as well as many other areas of life, destruction precedes creation. We remove the old before we build the new, and this necessitates getting rid of such components as old rugs, chipped paint, wiring, etc. This step often gets quite messy, and we make sure to remove anything fragile before we begin.

4. Building the New

We proceed with the construction phase of remodeling. Oftentimes, this step is quite intrusive. For instance, a contractor for kitchen remodeling will often work on your kitchen during the day, creating noise and perhaps even shutting off the power for safety reasons. We recommend that, for such projects, you look into staying at a hotel or with a friend or family member. We are always willing to be held accountable for on-site construction in the absence of homeowners, and we would be happy to install cameras for your peace of mind.

5. Cleaning & Completing

Finally, we make sure to remedy any messes we have created in the process (and there are often many). It is CCM’s guarantee that you find no chipped paint, no loose nail or screw after we are done. You will only remember us by the craftsmanship of what our South Florida remodeling services have left behind!

Home remodeling with fiberglass doors offer the best bang for your buck

Home Remodeling in 2015: The Best Bang for Your Buck

We’ve made our predictions about what custom home construction will look like in 2015, but the other side of the coin is home remodeling. Even after homeowners have designed and built their dream house, chances are they will need some kind of post-construction service. Whether it’s for repairs, additions or whole redesigns, these services serve the same function as custom home building: giving homeowners exactly what they want.

The State of Home Remodeling in 2015

More so than in the initial construction process, people are considering resale when they go about the remodeling process. Remodeling is an investment, a means to an end, whereas custom home building is an end in and of itself. This leads to the pertinent question of “which remodeling projects will offer me the best return on my investment?”

The Best Bang for Your Buck

The Chicago Tribune has actually already answered this question. Once home value appreciation, materials, and labor costs are factored in, only 5 home remodeling projects offer the best bang for buck:

  • 20-gauge steel front doors
  • Fiberglass front doors
  • Garage doors
  • Mid-price roof replacements
  • Vinyl siding

The Worst Bang for Your Buck

What about the worst returns on investment (ROI)? In 2015, they are deemed to be:

  • 2-story home additions
  • Bathroom remodeling (57% ROI)
  • Composite decking (72% ROI)
  • Major kitchen remodeling (69% ROI)
  • Master suite remodeling

Why the Difference?

Many will notice something peculiar about this report: the worst returns on investment actually have the highest demand, while the best ones are hardly appealing to the average homeowner. Actually, this is not an anomaly. The cost of these projects — the worst returns, incidentally the most luxury home remodeling projects — has long exceeded their value, and the lack of momentum in the real estate market has only made it worse.

Why don’t housing prices increase with gorgeous, luxury kitchen or bathroom remodeling? People simply aren’t interested in home remodeling without practical value, it seems. Contrast these with garage doors, for instance. Garage doors are a frequently needed home repair, but new ones delay this inevitable cost by a few years. The same can be said for roofing, siding and door replacements.

Doors, roofs and house siding may not be the most luxurious parts of remodeling, but they are the most pragmatic. At the same time, don’t let this discourage you from seeking out the luxury home you desire. You may get only a fraction of your investment back, but you cannot put a price on living in the house of your dreams.

contractor for kitchen remodeling installing new cabinets

Finding a Contractor for Kitchen Remodeling in South Florida

A contractor for kitchen remodeling is one of the most frequently requested roles of custom home builders in South Florida. However, not all remodeling contractors are the same. If you are a savvy homeowner, you want nothing but the best.

Finding a Contractor for Remodeling

Luckily, we at CCM are happy to offer our 20+ years’ expertise and give you some guidelines. Here’s how to find the best contractor for kitchen remodeling in South Florida.

Licensing

Nothing separates the good, the bad and the ugly more than credentials. For kitchen remodeling contractors, credentials means first and foremost their license. What is a license and what information does it convey?

  • Experience – In order to get licensed by the Construction Industry Licensing Board, a South Florida contractor must have experience. Remodeling is a trade. Like other trades, nothing is more crucial than hands-on experience. A contractor for kitchen remodeling can have all the technical knowledge in the world…but unless he has been trained by a professional, all his formal education is irrelevant.
  • Insurance – Licensing also requires that a contractor be insured, which also implies that his is financially responsible. This way, you (the customer) are indemnified against any property damage or bodily injury that occurs on the job.
  • Accountability – Last but not least, a contractor for kitchen remodeling ought to be accountable. The Construction Industry Licensing Board does this by enforcing standards and recommending disciplinary actions against any violations of its code.

Any South Florida contractor worth his salt will have a license — but it may be up to you to ask for it. And just in case you were wondering, CCM’s license no is CG-C059921.

Reviews & Referrals

Licensing is good as far as it goes, but it doesn’t go far enough. An experienced, licensed and insured contractor can still provide bad customer service. For this reason, we recommend using reviews and referrals when seeking a South Florida contractor for kitchen remodeling. Ask your friends and family who they have had experience with. Also, utilize sites like Yelp and Angie’s List for their reviews. There are also sites specifically dedicated to remodeling, renovations and home additions. Houzz and Thumbtack are just two good examples, and you can check us out on both!

Iron Out the Details

After reviewing their references and credentials, you will have found the right contractor for kitchen remodeling. The only thing left to do is iron out all the details and fine print. Here are some matters to attend to:

  • Review the contract and make sure it’s fair. Get a second, professional pair of eyes (e.g. from a lawyer) if you desire. This is your money, so you have every right to make sure everything is up to scratch.
  • Make sure the contract includes:
    • Price and payment schedule
    • An outline/plan of the project, its scope duration, etc.
    • Detailed and organized scheduling
  • Go over and thoroughly scrutinize all legal matters such as dispute resolution, payments, lien and warranties. This is extremely important, so don’t overlook it!

And there you have it — you have successfully found a contractor for kitchen remodeling in South Florida! If you would like to see how CCM measures up to its own standards, don’t hesitate to call us. We perform remodeling, renovations and home additions in all of South Florida. For kitchen remodeling in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, or Boynton Beach, call us at 561-436-3679 today!