Kelowna Kitchen Renovations

Kelowna Kitchen Renovations

repurposed wood backsplash

Kelowna kitchen renovations these days are becoming more and more common place. Homeowners are realizing that they can stay in their home and have that dream kitchen they have always wanted.

If you stay with the same layout for plumbing and electrical a kitchen renovation can be quick and painless. Keeping the same layout also allows you to spend money on nicer cabinets rather than paying for expensive plumbing, venting, or electrical work.


Green kitchen renovations are a real possibility these days with many products readily available. Let’s divide the work roughly in two,

one half being the new cabinets and counter tops, the second half being the disposal of existing cabinets, and any modifications to wiring or plumbing, drywall etc. (Please note that new plumbing and electrical work requires a permit. Not getting one could render you liable should a problem occur. )

Bamboo Cabinets

First the cabinets. There are woods available that are considered to be environmentally friendly -- these would be used for doors and facings. Examples could be pine beetle wood, Wenge, (looks like ebony) or woods from as common as birch, alder, walnut and cherry from sustainable forestry operations. The big “green wood” gaining popularity now is bamboo. There are coatings for the wood that are also green. These coatings may contain no VOCs (volatile organic compounds), or be clear without additives and tints.

Second, inside the cabinets. Some manufactures offer products that are made with bamboo or other renewable resources. Finally, the counter tops. These can also be green. Some options include:

Wenge wood natural beauty

● Recycled glass (looks like ceaser stone)

● Composite compressed paper (sounds strange, but looks amazing)

● Recycled aluminum

● Reclaimed wood



The Renovation

Looking at the work around the cabinets, have your contractor make sure that all wire or copper plumbing pipe, drywall, and wood scraps are separated and recycled. The old cabinets can be reused for storage in garages, workshops etc. Place a free ad in Castanet or a local classified service and watch them walk out the door. Remember a great way to be green is to reuse and avoid the energy required to recycle. Reusing and renewing should be your first choice.

This might all seem a bit daunting, so hire a contractor that cares about our planet. At Greenwave Construction we will guide you through the process of green kitchen renovations in a friendly helpful manner. We are the only smart choice for your project.

How to install a new bathtub

How to install a new bathtub (one piece acrylic tub)

 

   Wow this sounds like a big job! But that big bone colour thing is so outdated. Wouldn't one of the new soaker tubs with nice tile look great! You bet it would!

So here you go step by step. First decide what quality level new tub you want . If you get one at home Depot or Rona you'll save money but it may not be the same quality as that found in a new home. These stores cater to the home improvement market not the new home construction market. Most new homes have there fixtures supplied through the wholesale plumbing industry companies like Woolsey, Andrew Sherrit, and Bartle and Gibson to name a few.

To purchase here you will have to go through a plumber or a contractor.  For this project , lets pick this choice, because its really the right way to go. Cheap tubs can loose there finish, flex, and crack.

   So lets hire a plumber and order a good tub 30" by 60" so it will fit in the old space.

Now your going to need tile . Either you buy tile and do it yourself our you go to a tile store, select tile, and have them install regardless time to go shopping.

 Ok so now shopping's done you’ve selected tile, hired a plumber, and  picked a tub.*

Now order it all! Get delivery dates once all the materials are here .not on there way.

    What did you learn so far? Well you have hired trades and scheduled them, bought  materials and fixtures, ordered them had them delivered and set up a schedule. All this before you start! This is what contractors do. This is the right way.

 

Next : set you schedule See below. Typical one week schedule.

 Now start the Reno.

Monday cut out tub and haul away

  Now lets take out the tub. You'll need a reciprocating  saw with a short medium fine blade .You can rent one if need be.

  Turn of the water to the house.(Just in case).  Then carefully begin cutting out the tub. start high on the wall in the middle cut down across and up towards you basically cutting the tub in half. Now quarter the tub cutting aging these pieces in half . Avoid the drain and tap area for now.  Take a razor knife an cut 1 1/2 inches away from the tub all around it .you have to get at the flange. remove drywall from this area then any mounting screws you may find. You should be able to start removing sections of the tub now. Cut around the drain and the taps leave them on until the plumber comes tomorrow .He will remove these.

 Tuesday plumber comes and installs tub. You may have to remove the toilet and some drywall to get it in but often it will slide in. Check behind where the tub was and make sure the framing is true usually it is but not always . They had a big fibreglass tub in there so there might be corner framing missing . It could be poorly framed . Rectify before drywall. Usually the new tile will cover the drywall replacement but if not delay the sequence until the exposed drywall is properly filled sanded and painted.

wend drywall install and waterproofing

Thursday ( nothing) this is a slack day in schedule in case anything goes wrong leading up to this day you have a day to get things straightened out.

Friday have tile install scheduled to begin allow three days total *2

 Monday tile grout

Tuesday tile seal and caulking

Wednesday plumber is back to install finish

Odds and sods new shower curtain rod.  (curved are nice) curtain or perhaps a custom frameless glass enclosure ?

  Material and tool checklist

Ok so next honey...

 These are the main items

reciprocating saw with fine blade and extension cord
multi driver
razor knife
 two sheets waterproof drywall
drywall screws and screw gun
straight edge
tape measure
pencil
tile cutter either wet saw or snap cutter
tile adhesive ,adhesive applicator
grout
grout sponge
grout trowel
rags
bucket water
tile nippers
tile drill bit for tap locations
grout mixing paddle for drill.

 

*  Plumbing note

Since you are doing all this work replace the old taps and diverter they should be selected at the same time as the time fro the wholesaler.

 *2

 if your doing the tile yourself.  and you need tiling info, go online there's plenty of recourses out there .