Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. of Brookfield, IL Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award

Not to toot our horn, but we are very proud of our achievements this past year; especially when you consider the state of the economy.  We can only attribute our outstanding customer service as one of the reasons we are in business when so many other companies have lost the battle. One of the many ways we provide service, not just to our clients but to the community as a whole, is by sharing our knowledge of remodeling and renovation through our blog.  We hope that you will continue to read our musings and send us questions and comments about our posts or things that you are encountering when improving your home.

Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the businesses rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service and health providers.

“It’s a good feeling when your peers recognize your work through awards within the remodeling community.  But it means so much more when you are acknowledged by your clients as having superior service.”  Says Larry Rych, president of Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. in Brookfield, IL.  “We didn’t submit anything for this award.  This is karma - what you put out into the universe, you will receive back.  We are very appreciative .”

“Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “The fact that Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2011 Super Service Award logo next to business names in search results on AngiesList.com.

Remodeling’s “Hidden” Charges Exposed – Demolition

As consumers, we are always fearful that we will be taken for a ride. Remodeling is one of those places where, inevitably, the dollar amount charged is not what you expected and then there are the little things that carry a big price tag.

After repeat requests about "how much does a remodel cost," we created this educational series highlighting places where expenditures rise. Sometimes these expenditures can be avoided, sometimes not; however, the more prepared you are when it is time to remodel your home, the more confident you will be in your relationship with your contractor and your design decisions.

Demolition

On average, newer homes are easier and less expensive to demo. The plumbing and electric is generally up to code and the building materials are in good condition. So I will be addressing the cost of doing work in a pre-1978 home.

US EPA RRP Lead Laws

Right from the start, your contractor should be EPA Lead RRP certified. When permits are pulled for your project, your local government will require it. Homes that we're built prior to 1978 have a higher chance of being painted with lead-based paint. If your contractor is disrupting painted surfaces, they will need to partition off the area with plastic and vacuum the area with a HEPA rated vacuum. This should lower the risk of contaminating the rest of the home with lead paint dust.

You can expect a fee of a few hundred dollars for the material and labor for this service. The exact amount will be determined by the size of the area to be shielded in plastic. Once the area has been taped-off, stay out. If you do not like the way the plastic has been hung, talk to your contractor - do not remove the plastic on your own. Not only could this make you responsible for any damage the contractor's adhesive may cause your ceiling, walls or floor - but the contractor will probably charge you a second fee for having to reinstallation the plastic.

Glass Tile

The bathrooms of older homes often have this beautiful glass tile in large format. It can be just in the shower/bath area, or all around the room. The biggest problem with this tile is that it is heavy and it is not tempered. Carefully removing this kind of tile is time-consuming and therefore costly. Many of our clients opt to save money by doing their own demo; however, removal of this kind of tile is not a DIY project.

(As a word of caution, if you currently have this kind of tile in your home and it is loose or falling off the walls, but you are not ready to renovate the just yet; remove the few tiles in question carefully, or have a professional do it for you. If you have another bathroom in the home, use it excusively until you can have the room updated.)

Disruption of a "Seemingly Fine" Room

During demo is when problems with a room rise to the surface. Walls are opened and mold is exposed, floors and soffits hide iron drain pipes where the top halves are rusted away. If the room has never seen a renovation, or it has been several decades since the last remodel, be prepared for surprises. It would be wise to budget for unseen expenditures, as your contractor will not know what these costs will be until they are uncovered. Once you know what you can afford for your remodel, take 90% of it and give that number to your contractor or designer and save the remaining 10% as your cushion to pay for the unseen.

Can you save money on a demolition?  Yes!  But it will probably require you to take responsibility for the labor of removing and disposing of product and building materials.

Written by Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. staff designer Stephanie Bullwinkel, CBD.

Remodeling’s “Hidden” Charges Exposed – Change Orders

As consumers, we are always fearful that we will be taken for a ride. Remodeling is one of those places where, inevitably, the dollar amount charged is not what you expected and then there are the little things that carry a big price tag.

After repeat requests about "how much does a remodel cost," we created this series education blogs highlighting places where expeditures rise.  Sometimes these expenditures can be avoided, sometimes not; however, the more prepared you are when it is time to remodel your home, the more confident you will be in your relationship with your contractor and your design decisions.

Change Orders

Many builders and remodelers charge a fee for change orders. This fee can be a flat price or a percentage. Regardless of whether you are adding to a project or deducting from a project, this fee will probably hold. Be sure to ask your contractor about this fee and scan your paperwork for it prior to signing anything; they need to be upfront about it in order to charge for it.

Once a project is sold, the office will start to process the finalized paperwork. This process includes the obvious of ordering materials and scheduling trades. The not-so-obvious part is the distribution of information. Your salesperson/designer is your contact, but that person disseminates information to a team of people who distributes that information to their team of people.

Here’s an example to illustrate this: The salesperson gives a copy of the contract and all supporting documentation to the comptroller (to enter all information into the company’s system), to the accountant (to figure out payment schedules to the various vendors), to the scheduling department, to the supervisor and to the material handler. The comptroller pulls permits and other licenses, bonds, etc.; the scheduling department organizes all the various trades according to availability of labor and the availability of product; the supervisor looks over the plans and creates a work order for each trade and the material handler calls all the vendors necessary to get the products in-house when needed.

When a change order comes from a client, everyone needs to be alerted to the change. Even something as small as changing the finish on a faucet can cause turmoil. Time, effort and due diligence is required of all staff members and the risk of an error is raised substantially.

These are all factors that are considered when a contractor accepts a client’s change order. Without involving a fee for this disruption in the process, a contractor could easily go broke. And, of course, this is just for the service end of a change order. By removing product from a project, you can also expect a restocking fee (25% is standard) for the unexpected shipping, handling and additional paperwork on the part of the warehouse. Beware, custom and special ordered product is usually non-refundable.

Of course, things happen on job sites. A wall is opened and surprise! These kind of things are par for the course and you should not be charged an additional premium for a change order.

It can be said that change order fees discourage clients from changing their minds. From a contractor’s stand point, that’s not a bad thing. If you desire the smoothest project for the least amount of money, stay committed to the agreed to project.

Written by staff designer Stephanie Bullwinkel, CBD for Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc.

Defining Style

What is the "current design trend?"

This year, article after article (in both retail and to-the-trade magazines) designers are contradicting themselves before they even get to penning the final paragraph. As you read, experts are saying black and white combos are so now. However, neutrals and earth tones are hotter than they've ever been. Bold colors like hot pink and chartuese are timely. But dark green is selling with clients.

Basically, anything goes... and it's a blessing and a curse.

How fun it is to say that you can have almost anything you want and it is current with today's style trends. But what about tomorrow?

It's enough to drive a designer insane, let alone a homeowner trying to update their house to sell (or live in for that matter). With the economy strapped for cash, we want to spend our dollars on design that will last.

While the design industry seems to be saying "Anything goes! Just spend money;" consumers keep asking, "What design direction should I go in that is the best choice for longevity and resale value?"

So, adding our voice to all the other experts writing about home design, here is our take on how to focus yourself on a design for your home.

• Keep the architecture of your home in mind. If you have a home with a predisposed historical design, then follow it (ie. owners of bungalows should look to 1920's designs and materials for inspiration).
• Then be daring, go to the extreme. High contrast or minimal contrast. Stay way from the middle ground or the "safe zone." While, it does not need to shout, a home should make a clear statement.
• Finally, look for balance. Some women need to take off a piece of jewelry before they leave the house while others need to put a piece on - designing a room is no different.

If you're still finding yourself dazed and confused, even with a designer in tow as you visit the Merchandise Mart week after week, take heart. You can never go wrong with buying design that you like... after all, you live there. And if anyone asks you to define your home's style, tell them it's "eclectic" - after all, it's all the rage.

Written by staff designer Stephanie Bullwinkel, CBD for Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc.

 

Show Me Your Work

I love to look at the work of other designers. I have subscriptions to atleast 10 magazines showcasing either design trends for the general public or ideas and knowledge for industry professionals. Those fleeting moments when I’m waiting for applications to load on my computer, I’m surfing the internet studying the competition.

While our company is located in the midwest, I look at sites for designers and remodelers all over the world. The ideas that can accumulate in one’s brain is amazing! And while a popular design trend in Miami will probably never fly with my Chicago client, a solution to a design challenge can sometimes rise to the top.

Designers and remodelers should always be learning from each other. But as I have been surfing often lately, I have been coming across a disturbing trend more and more… Photo galleries that are not necessarily reflective of a company’s portfolio of work.

The most natural thing when shopping for a designer or contractor is to investigate their website. You see a link called “Photos” and wow! Amazing photographs of amazing rooms. The first question you need to ask… is this a “portfolio of work?” Or is it a “photo gallery?” The later being a collection of photos freely downloaded from the internet that has no relationship to the work performed by this company or individual.

Sad as it may seem, while not blatantly saying ‘this is my work’ when it is not – posting photos on a website gives the impression that this is the product of this particular company, especially when the source of the photo is not acknowledged. With unemployment so high, many people are trying their hand at flying solo and an impressive website is a good start to finding clients. The old adage of “fake it until your make it” comes in here.

There is nothing wrong with using a first time designer or remodeler on your project – as long as you know, up front, that you are a guinea pig and your investment reflects the inconveniences that you will inevitably encounter.

If you find a website where the photos are professionally shot and there are no acknowledgements attached to the pictures, ask them in an email or phone call if the photos of are their work. If the answer is that it is not their work but they can replicate that look, ask to see a portfolio of their actual work. Don’t be afraid to even ask for references for those photos. Trust is earned, not given – and in this business you are dealing with one of your biggest investments, your home. Never assume anything.

Written for Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. by staff designer Stephanie Bullwinkel, CBD.

IMPERIAL KITCHENS AND BATHS, INC. FEATURED ON CHICAGO EPISODE OF “HOUSE CRASHERS”

On June 4th and 5th, 2010, Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. of Brookfield, IL participated in the Chicago taping of “House Crashers,” a DIY Network show, to provide their expertise in giving a local homeowner's basement a custom look.

Online PR News – 17-June-2010 – On June 4th and 5th, 2010, Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. of Brookfield, IL participated in the Chicago taping of “House Crashers,” a DIY Network show, to provide their expertise in giving a local homeowner's basement a custom look.

Architectural firm, JStanulis Architects, was asked by the producers of “House Crashers” to design a basement rehab for Chicago residents. On the show, it’s the homeowners and the House Crashers’ host who get involved in the construction as overseen by a local contractor. Brookfield based Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. was approached by Jeremy Stanulis, principle of JStanulis Architects, to provide the custom cabinetry.

“While home remodeling is the main portion of our business, we have our own custom cabinet shop. Getting involved with House Crashers gave us the opportunity to show off the talents of our shop foreman, Chris Cole.” Says Larry Rych, president of Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. “Chris has been with us for almost 20 years. His commitment and pride in his work really show. It was a tight deadline and he not only pulled it together, but he didn’t cut any corners with his quality construction.”

Imperial’s portion of the project included building the custom cabinets for the bar area and the full height doors for the closets that will now house storage and a new Murphy bed.

For the two days that Imperial participated in the show’s taping, half of the company’s 12-person staff got involved both on screen and behind the scenes.

“Building and bringing in our cabinetry was the easiest part of the project. The biggest challenge was working in the same room with many other artisans,” comments Rych, “not to mention the camera and lighting people asking us to stand a certain way while we worked so they could get the shot they were looking for.”

The episode of “House Crashers,” entitled "Martini Bar Basement," featuring Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. will debut on the DIY Network on July 8th, 2010 at 8pm central time (9pm e/p). (Still photos of the project will be available on request after the program airs.)

Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc., established in 1966, is a family owned and operated home renovation business that focuses on kitchens, bathrooms and custom cabinetry. Its showroom is located at 8918 W. Ogden Ave, Brookfield, IL 60513. They can be reached by phone at 708-485-0020.
Email: information@imperialkitchensandbaths.com
Website: http://www.imperialkitchensandbaths.com/
Blog: http://www.imperialkandb.wordpress.com/

JStanulis Architects is a residential and commercial architectural firm. Principle Jeremy Stanulis is AIA and LEEP AP certified. The firm is located at 10 N. Roslyn Rd. in Westmont, IL 60559. They can be reached by phone at 773-203-4544.

Renovate Right

On April 22, 2010 the US EPA’s law on “Renovation, Repair and Painting” (RRP) will go into effect. This new law will affect you, if:

• You live in a home that was built prior to 1978.
• Your children (age 6 or younger) attend a facility that was built prior to 1978.

Why 1978? Lead-based paint was used in more than 38 million homes and buildings until it was banned for residential use in 1978. Once ingested, lead, like other heavy elements, has a way of hanging around in our bodies – this can cause biological disturbances. In large doses, it can lead to toxicity - affecting our brains and nervous systems. Children, in their developing stages, are the most susceptible to lead toxicity.

 

Lead in paint that is adhered to an object does not propose a danger – it does not out-gas or radiate. If you live in a home that contains lead paint, you do not necessarily need to have a costly abatement team remove all paint from your home. Disrupting lead paint is where the EPA’s concern is.

 

Lead gets into our bodies via nose and mouth. Paint chips and dust particles are the biggest culprits to ingesting lead paint. If you are renovating an older building, paint disruption is due to occur.

 

 

The EPA is requiring by federal law that all contractors who work in buildings built before 1978 and disrupt more than 6 square feet of interior paint or 20 square feet of exterior paint to be Certified. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Renovators
• Remodelers
• Plumbers
• Painters
• Electricians
• Window and Door Contractors
• General Contractors
• Landlords and Property Managers
• Some Building Engineers

Your contractor should provide for you, before the renovation begins, a copy of the EPA’s Renovate Right pamphlet. You will also need to sign documentation for your contractor’s files saying that you received the pamphlet. This documentation also outlines options available if you would like to opt out of the RRP procedures.

 

Certified professionals have been through training in how to properly handle spaces where lead paint may be present. Containment of lead paint chips and dust are a primary concern. These procedures are time-consuming and require additional job materials. You can expect your renovator to line item this procedure for your home project (this small cost may vary depending on the space, project and your geographical location). The added time and cost to your contract is worth the sense of mind in knowing that your health and wellbeing is being protected. The federal government is currently experiencing a backlog as US contractors rush to get their certification. If your contractor cannot produce a RRP Certification, ask to see proof of their RRP training.

 

Property owners who opt to DIY are excluded from this new law. However, it highly recommended that homeowners take steps to keep themselves safe with these best practices.

 

• Tape off with plastic the area you are working in.
• Limit leaving the work area to go to other areas of the home.
• Do not eat in the work area.
• Keep children and animal out of the area until it has been throughly cleaned.
• If you have them, use power tools that are connected to a vacuum system.

 

Do not sand lead-based paint. If you must sand an area, wear a face mask. When done, mist the area with a spray bottle of water to bring the dust out of the air.

 

When cleaning up the area, mist down all drop cloths. Fold drop clothes edges in first to keep dust and particles from escaping.

 

Clean the area with a HEPA vacuum. Remove the vacuum bag from the vacuum outside of the building and tape shut.

 

Promptly remove clothing and wash before walking through your home or coming in contact with other family members.

 

If you are not planning a major renovation, but you have paint flaking in your home, a fresh coat of paint will keep more paint from coming off. And of course… teach your children to NEVER EAT PAINT FLAKES OR CHEW ON PAINTED SURFACES (this includes furniture and window sills).

 

If you have further questions about this new law, you can add your comment below or visit www.epa.gov/lead/index.html.

 

Written by Stephanie Bullwinkel, CBD for Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. is proud to have completed their RRP required training. As of March 18, 2010, Imperial is in compliance with the US EPA’s RRP rule and IDPH. Pending official notice from the EPA, the company will be a RRP Lead Certified Renovator in the Chicago area.