Vinci-Quality » process

Refacing Cabinet Doors Saves Time and Money

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:43:00 +0000

Across American everyday there are thousands of kitchen remodeling projects taking place. Many of these projects involve the spending of thousands of dollars on new custom made cabinets that many times are not as good of quality as the cabinets they are replacing. Many cabinets found in older homes were constructed of solid wood materials using joinery methods that are far superior to the materials and methods used today. The decision to replace the existing cabinets is made simply because the finish on the existing cabinets does not meet the design choice of the present homeowner. It makes you wonder how many of these existing cabinets could be used in a new kitchen remodel by simply refacing the cabinet doors.

The process of refacing cabinet doors is really quite simple and in most cases can easily be accomplished by most homeowners taking a fraction of the time of replacing existing cabinets. In addition to the time saving involved, the amount of money that can be saved using this process can be well into the thousands of dollars. The money saved will allow the homeowner to upgrade a few other choices that may otherwise not have been possible if the cabinets had to be torn out, custom built and reinstalled.

As long as you are happy with the style of the cabinet doors and drawer fronts you presently have, a cabinet refacing may be a way for you to get those fresh and new appearing cabinets without spending the tens of thousands of dollars that replacement custom cabinets can cost. Start by inspecting the condition of you present cabinetry. Check each cabinet for loose joints, warped doors, the proper opening and closing of drawers, water damage in the area of the sink, and any other type damage that may be noticeable. If you find the cabinets to be in good condition and still usable with at most a few minor repairs, then you are ready to begin the cabinet refacing process

You will want to take a trip to a kitchen design center or your local home improvement store to see the many choices in cabinet finishes that are available today. Also take a look at some of the new gadgets that are available in cabinets today such as a lazy Susan for corner cabinets, pull out cookie sheet dividers, drawers to store pots and pans, pot lid holders and many more. Decide whether you prefer a stained of painted finish which will determine the exact process you will follow to achieve the desired results.

By taking the time to determine your design choice and inspecting your existing cabinets for the ability to be serviceable for many years to come, you can make a decision that will not only save you thousands of dollars and weeks of time but could also be the difference in whether your kitchen remodel can take place at all. By choosing the process of refacing cabinet doors instead of replacing you existing cabinets, you will have made a financially sound decision that will allow you and your family to enjoy many future gatherings and events in your freshly remodeled kitchen for many years to come.

Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets For a Great Kitchen Makeover

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:40:00 +0000

One of the more costly items in any kitchen remodel is the replacement of the cabinets. Many people face living with their present out dated kitchens simply because spending ten thousand dollars or more on new cabinets is simply not within their budget. However, there is a way that you can get that fresh new looking kitchen without having to replace the cabinets. Refinishing kitchen cabinets is a project that almost any homeowner can accomplish themselves for just a few hundred dollars and also face no lost time when it comes to the use of their kitchen.

If you look at your kitchen cabinets and the only thing you find you dislike about them is the finish, then you can easily remedy the problem. While the process is simple and easy, it does require quite a bit of work do be done properly. The doors will need to be removed from the cabinets, all surfaces cleaned, sanded and primed, along with the application of the new finish. Depending on whether you choose to refinish your cabinets by applying a new stained finish or a painted finish will determine the exact process you will follow.

Once you decide that refinishing your kitchen cabinets will provide you with the results you are looking for, you need to evaluate the condition of your cabinets to determine if they are structurally sound enough to last for several more years. Take a look at the cabinet boxes paying particular attention to the areas where they are joined at the corners. Insure that these joints are tight, or if not, make sure that they can be repaired and made tight once again. Check beneath the sink for any signs of water damage due to leakage from the plumbing supply or drainage systems. Now check that no doors are warped and all drawers operate smoothly and close tightly. If you find all these items to be satisfactory, then you can proceed with refinishing your kitchen cabinets.

To achieve the best results possible in this process, first take a trip to a local kitchen design center or home improvement store and choose a finish that you like. Obtain a sample of the finish color and head for your local paint store. I like to purchase materials for this product from a paint supply store because they will normally have employees that are knowledgeable about the exact products that will produce the best results. You will spend a little more money there, but you want the best quality paint, stain, and application supplies that are available if you want to produce great results. Remember, you are saving tens of thousands of dollars by not replacing your cabinets, so spend a little more to get quality materials.

In addition to purchasing high quality primers, paints or stains, and applicators, be prepared to take your time when you undertake this process. While there is nothing at all fun about refinishing kitchen cabinets, taking your time and completing each step thoroughly, will achieve results that you will leave you completely satisfied, as well as saving you money and allowing you to complete your kitchen remodel in much less time.

Advanced Technology in Dishwashers

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:35:00 +0000

There are hundreds of brands, models and sizes of dishwashers that are offered in the modern markets in response to the unprecedented demands for the gadgets. Dishwashers render considerable relief to the home makers from the monotonous drudgery of hand washing dirty dishes frequently. Like all other machines it also underwent lot of changes from its old form and content. The original crude mechanism was replaced by modern technological marvels. The process of transformation was progressive in the course of 50 years. The changes were inevitable as the requirements of the users also changed. The size, shape and number of household utensils underwent substantial changes and consequently dishwashers needed metamorphosis accordingly. Machines were periodically upgraded in tune with the consumer requirements. Research and development exercises paid rich dividends in transforming the original crude machinery into a completely automatic and programmable modern dishwasher.

There are two types of dishwashers today, namely free standing and built-in categories. Smaller, portable units are also available but they may not have many of the special features as seen in the bigger varieties. Place setting is the term to indicate the capacity of the dishwasher. It is a vague expression used in global markets. One place setting represents the space required to accommodate one dinner plate, one soup bowl, one desert plate, one glass tumbler, one tea cup & saucer and a set of knife, fork and spoon. Different sizes of dishwashers are of 4 to 15 place settings. As mentioned earlier sizes of dishes and plates vary and therefore the capacity as indicated in terms of place settings may not be very accurate. For practical purposes shoppers choose dishwashers on the basis of length, breadth and height of the gadgets. To explain this aspect it can be said that a small family of 2 or 3 members can manage with an 18 inch dishwasher which is almost equivalent to 6 to 8 standard place settings.

The principle of the machine is spraying of hot water on the dirty dishes applying pressure. Jets of hot water will be sprayed from different directions. Detergents are also used in the process. Water and energy consumptions are the two factors that are to be taken into account while considering the economic viability of the dishwasher. Water will have to be changed during successive cycles whenever the quality of water deteriorates. Energy is consumed for heating water and for running the machine. The consumer should take care to choose dishwasher with statutory energy label, to reduce the running costs. Modern machines have been incorporated with new techniques to reduce the level of water consumption. Environmentalists warn that both energy and water will become scarce and expensive resources in the near future.

Convenient stacking arrangements, programming and automatic working are some of the characteristics of the modern dishwashers. They are featured with user friendly control panels, LCD screens, Float switches, detergent dispensers etc. Sensors are provided to monitor the quality of water during the washing and to change it automatically. Timers will indicate the required time to complete the process. Air and water temperature will also be monitored. Noise levels in the modern machines are well within reasonable limits.