Expert’s Advice

We at Price Builders know how difficult remodeling in San Diego can be for the homeowner so we've compiled a set of tips to help make your project run smoothly.  Our first priority is always the customer – even if you choose another company, these guidelines stem from years of professional construction and remodeling experience and are certain to help you.

Kitchen

There are some basic rules that must be adhered to when designing your kitchen. These simple guidelines will help avoid some of the most common kitchen design flaws:

• The Countertop should be at least 16 in. deep.
• There should be at least 24 in. of counter space on one side of the sink and at least 18 in. on the other side. If you plan on installing two sinks, at least 3 in. are required on one side and 18 in. on the other.
• There should be 15 in. to 18 in. between the countertop and the bottom of wall cabinets. You should have at least 36 in. of open countertop space close to a sink for food preparation.
• If your kitchen is open-ended, you should have at least 9 in. of counter space on one side of the range top and 15 in. on the other.
• You will need at least 15 in. of countertop space on the latch side of a refrigerator. Have at least 15 in. of landing space and 48 in. or less across from the refrigerator.
• If the counter will serve as an eating space, you will need at least 12 in. by 24 in. space for each person to eat.
• If two countertops meet at an entry way, allow 32 in. between their front corners.

Countertop Selection
Prior to choosing the type a of countertop for your new kitchen you must ask yourself the following questions:

• What type of cooking do I do? If you do a lot of frying with oils, a stone countertop may not be suitable. On the other hand, if you don't cook that often or frying is limited, stone may be a perfect material.
• What type of abuse will the counter receive? Certain countertops are a poor choice because they got scratched easily and are not suitable for cutting and chopping.  Other surfaces such as laminates burn easily and cannot serve as a hotplate, whereas stone and tile take the heat from a hot pot.
• Is the material you select available in the color you need? Make sure to choose a color that you will be not tire of quickly.
• How easy is the countertop to take care for? Does it require frequent sealing and/or resurfacing?
• How much have you budgeted for the countertop? Remember, the countertop will take most of the wear in a kitchen so it may be a good idea to spend less on the cabinets to allow more funds for the countertop.
• If you have small children, safety is an issue. Some countertops may have sharp edges that can cause eye injuries to small children.
• What type of sink can I use? Some countertop materials will not allow the use of certain types of sinks. For example, with many laminate materials, under mount sinks cannot be used.
• Do you want a polished, smooth, rough, or flat texture? Certain materials are not available in a polished finish which also requires more maintenance.
• Talk to someone who has the the type of countertop (ask us about laminate, solid surface, stone, marble or cultured marble, granite, limestone, slate, terrazzo, tile, wood butcher block and stainless steel) you are considering. Ask a neighbor, relative, friend, or a referral how do they like their countertop material. Ask if they would you select the same countertop again? Why or why not?