New to remodeling?

Here are some things to keep in mind (a little Murphy's law too!) ...

• It always takes longer than you expect (especially if you change your mind during the job!)
• no matter how clean we keep the jobsite, there'll still be a lot of dust
• your family's lives will be inconvenienced while the work is being done
• your animals' lives will be inconvenienced while the work is being done
• your house will not feel the same while it's being worked on
• you will have to eat out more than you want
• you may have to join a gym while your only bathroom is being remodeled
• you may have to do your laundry at Launderland
• you may have to do a sleep-over at someone else's house a couple nights
• you may temporarily lose your sense of humor (but hopefully you'll find it again before the job's done!)
• did we mention there'll be a lot of dust?
• after it's all done you'll look back and say, "Thank you Custom Spaces!" —  "It was worth it, I love my new space!"

Phases of a project

There are several phases common to every project — here they are broken down:

Phase I:	design and specification, building permits, ordering cabinets, appliances and fixtures
Phase II:	demolition
Phase III:	rough in new framing, electrical, mechanical, insulation and sheetrock, city inspections
Phave IV:	trim & casement, prep & paint
Phase V:	new cabinet installation, plywood substrate on cabinets, sink and faucet installation
Phase VI:	new countertop measurement
Phase VII:	new flooring installation
Phase VIII:	appliance installation
Phase IX:	countertop and backsplash installation, electrical/plumbing trim-out, final building inspections
Phase X:	We're done... time to party!

Turn-around times to keep in mind:

• cabinets will take 5-8 weeks for delivery; approximately 2 weeks to install (unless yours is a really large kitchen; then it will be longer)
• countertops will take approximately 3 weeks to fabricate (after measurement)
• appliances can take up to 6 weeks for delivery
• ceramic tile (for backsplash, shower surround or flooring) can take up to 6 weeks for delivery

Surviving your remodel

Here are some tips to help you keep your sanity and remain focused on the end result — your beautiful new space!

• be flexible and willing to make compromises if necessary (especially in older homes — surprises are everywhere)
• cover doorways into adjoining rooms with plastic sheeting (if you must have access, be sure to use sheeting with zippers which will allow you to come and go)
• be sure to roll up rugs and cover all furniture and bookcases in adjoining rooms (we suggest using plastic drop cloths)
• pack up and put away everything you don't need on a daily basis (and label the boxes so you know what's in them). This will help keep most of your things dust-free and keep them from becoming lost or misplaced.
• if you're doing a kitchen remodel, you'll be without a kitchen sink for a while. So, if possible, set up a temporary "kitchen" someplace away from the construction area where you can wash dishes, use a microwave, coffee pot, collect garbage, keep food cold and perhaps even set up a table to prep food and eat quick meals.
• consider using disposable plates and cups (paper recycles) to keep dishwashing to a minimum
• collect restaurant coupons and take-out menus for those nights when you just don't feel like dealing with it!
• try to relax and have confidence in Custom Spaces. There will be a beautiful new space waiting for you once all the dust is gone!