Your Guide to Ceiling-Height Kitchen Cabinets in Memorial Houston

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When embarking on a kitchen remodel, amongst the many decisions needing to be made is whether to opt for ceiling-height cabinets or not. Deciding whether to extend your kitchen cabinets to the ceiling or leave a gap is a design choice that depends on several factors.

Ceiling-height kitchen cabinets are cabinets that have no space at the top and run all the way up to the ceiling. Previously, a gap between cabinet tops and the ceiling was standard. However, ceiling-height kitchen cabinets are growing in popularity due to a variety of reasons including extra cabinet space and aesthetically pleasing style configurations.

Here are some considerations to help you make the decision.

If you’re thinking about Ceiling-Height Kitchen Cabinets

You’ll want to first consider the height of your ceiling. If you’re working with 8 Ft ceilings, you’ll want to use a 39” or 42” upper cabinet to reach the ceiling. Crown molding may also be used at the top of the cabinet. If you have 9 Ft ceilings, a stacked cabinet is best suited for the space. Instead of a single door, the cabinet will have two doors stacked upon one another – often, but not always, with glass door panels for the top (smaller) cabinet. Keep in mind, stacked cabinets do cost more.

However, if your ceilings are over 9 Ft high, ceiling-height kitchen cabinets may look overwhelming and be a bit impractical.

Three reasons why ceiling-height cabinets may be for you

1.    Storage Space

Extending cabinets to the ceiling will undoubtedly provide extra storage space, something that can be especially valuable in a smaller kitchen. Upper cabinets can be utilized for items you don’t access or regularly need such as vases, china or serveware. As you can see in the photo above from a kitchen remodel in Spring Branch, the homeowner opted to raise the cabinets to the ceiling and stack a smaller cabinet above with glass door panels to display their high-end glassware.

2.    Eliminate dead space

Ceiling-height cabinets will immediately eliminate the dead space between the cabinet top and ceiling that collects dust and requires cleaning. This reason alone is why we see many clients opt for ceiling-height cabinetry.

3.    Create a more open feel

With cabinets that run to the ceiling, the eye can be tricked into thinking the space is larger than it is. A general rule of thumb is lighter cabinets blend into the space and make it feel more open, whereas painting cabinets a darker shade can make the space feel smaller – even if the cabinets run all the way up to the ceiling.

Why You May Not Want to opt for Ceiling-Height Kitchen Cabinets

In a smaller kitchen, ceiling-height cabinets can work against the design aesthetic; instead making it feel smaller. We often recommend in smaller kitchens, to bring the cabinet height close to the ceiling, and putting lights above them to create a similar feeling of making the space look larger than it is.

Often, we also see homes that have unusual ceiling heights, crown molding detailing along the ceiling or a beam that perhaps runs across the ceiling. In circumstances like this, it’s important to work closely with a designer or know what exactly you’re looking for when it comes to kitchen functionality and cabinet usage.

If your kitchen ceiling slopes on one side but not the other, perhaps you opt to run one set of cabinets up to the ceiling but keep a gap between the ceiling and cabinet top on the other side. There is no one size fits all solution when it comes to installing ceiling-height kitchen cabinets, as the decision heavily relies on dimensions of the space, storage needs and design preferences.

Keep in mind too, extending kitchen cabinets to the ceiling comes at a premium. ALE Renovations works closely with our carpenter to create custom cabinetry for our clients. Extending cabinets to the ceiling will not only add to the cost of construction materials and labor, but it will also add to the overall cost of your kitchen renovation with the addition of more knobs and/or pulls, glass inserts and/or more shelving or lighting.

Still not sure on the decision of ceiling-height cabinets or not? ALE Renovations can help.

Ultimately, the decision depends on your personal preferences, your style aesthetic, and the practical considerations that matter most to you. After all, it is your kitchen that YOU will be using daily.

If you’re having trouble finding the perfect solution for your kitchen remodel, we at ALE Renovations here in Houston are here to help and offer advice on your specific space and needs. Contact us today to learn more.

Hiring a Contractor: Questions to ask a contractor before starting your remodeling project in Houston

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Making the choice to renovate and update your home can not only increase its value, but also add to your day-to-day enjoyment. After all, your home is an extremely precious asset. So deciding on the best contractor for your remodeling needs takes time, and can often be the difference between a positive and negative renovation project.

What are some of the most important questions to ask a potential general contractor before hiring? We want to help you navigate this process, so here are some of the top questions we suggest asking Houston-based contractors during the hiring process.

“Are you insured?”

We believe this is one of the most important questions you need to ask when hiring a contractor. Yes, it’s a basic question, but you’d be surprised how often it gets overlooked. Don’t make the mistake of assuming a Houston-based general contractor is insured. We highly suggest asking upfront and if at all in doubt, request to see proof.

“Can you provide references?”

Just like in a job interview, don’t be afraid to ask your potential contractor for references from clients or vendors. Word of mouth is extremely powerful, and a great general contractor will be able to produce a list of clients or vendors they’ve worked with who can vouch for their professionalism and skill set. A good contractor shouldn’t give you the run around on references, they should want to provide you with contacts that can speak to their work.

On the topic of references, be sure to also check Google Reviews (see a snapshot of ALE Renovations Google Reviews above), Thumbtack or Houzz for customer reviews on the remodeling business and their work.

“How long have you been in business?”

We suggest this be one of the first questions you ask a potential general contractor. An experienced home remodeling company is more likely to have an established reputation, a strong network of suppliers and trade partners, along with skills and experience that several years of being in the business provides.

Above all else, a general contractor who has been in business for a number of years, is more likely to have a stake in upholding their established reputation, meaning they’ll be more likely to do whatever it takes to ensure you’ll also be counted as a satisfied client.

Houston-based ALE Renovations is a family-owned and operated business since 1980. We have been doing bathroom remodels, kitchen renovations and other home projects in many Houston neighborhoods including inside the loop, around the Memorial-area, Bellaire, the Houston Heights and more.

“How do you approach job site management?”

Make sure to get clarification on whom will be managing your project. Is there a project manager or a construction foreman who will be overseeing the project on a daily basis and keeping everyone on track?

A follow-up question to ask would also be what sort of things are done for site clean-up daily and at the completion of the project? Does the general contractor provide a full and thorough cleaning of the workspace at the completion of the job? What about on a daily basis? Will the project area be cleaned up and tools put away at the end of each work day? Establishing expectations ahead of starting your home project can go a long way towards keeping all parties happy.

“How do you communicate with clients?”

A home remodeling project can be extremely stressful, and questions may come up that need answering. A client should be able to get answers to their questions in a timely manner. A general contractor who can respond to your inquiries and questions within 24 hours or less, even if their initial response requires a follow-up, is a contractor worth considering.

“Is the quote provided an estimate or a fixed price?”

We highly suggest clarifying upfront whether the remodeling company you choose to work with treats their quote as an estimate or as a fixed price. An estimate can simply be an educated guess or a jumping off point. Meaning, the final tally on your project cost could be much higher than the initial estimated number.

ALE Renovations provides project quotes with a fixed price. This does require additional legwork to naildown project specifics, but it prevents any surprises when it comes to monetary expenditures. Any “unforeseen circumstances” such as a hidden plumbing pipe in the wall to be demo’ed, will be listed in the quote and a change order will be submitted to the client for approval.

A good remodeling company will be more than happy to provide specifics when it comes to a project quote. ALE Renovations also lists out itemized specifics such as:

  • Demolition and trash removal

  • Carpentry

  • Electrical

  • Drywall and painting

  • HVAC

  • Plumbing

  • Tiling and floor coverings

If a general contractor pushes back or is evasive in their response to itemizing costs or providing a specific itemized quote, it could be a strong sign that the pricing could fluctuate later or they’re not as trustworthy as hoped.

Work with ALE Renovations

At ALE Renovations, we realize how difficult it can be to find a trustworthy contractor, who can get the job done right and stick to a budget. We’ve evolved a work process based around a strong foundation of trust and transparency that allows for our clients to trust us to complete the work.

We strive to be clear on expectations on the outset and also provide itemized AND transparent pricing, in which every penny is accounted for.

Lastly, we’re on-site every single day with the trade partners we’ve established strong working relationships with, so as to best ensure that your project is done properly, from start to finish.

Enjoy a stress-free remodeling experience. Contact ALE Renovations, in Houston, Texas, today to get started on your kitchen remodel, bathroom update or other home remodeling project.

5 Tips for Selecting a Remodeling Contractor in Houston

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5 tips for selecting a kitchen remodeling contractor in Houston | ALE Renovations

Embarking on a journey to remodel your Houston-area home? A formidable relationship with an upstanding remodeling contractor is a vital piece to the success of the project.

Making sure you’re on the same page as your contractor, along with understanding the ins-and-outs of home renovations is important. But make sure you’ve done your homework and understand these things before beginning a renovation.

Let’s outline some key tips for selecting a remodeling contractor in Houston.

1. Understand that your budget is probably not your budget

Yes, it’s a great idea to have some sort of budget in mind when beginning the process of vetting or selecting a remodeling contractor. All of our clients have budgets, but the key difference is they understand that once the remodeling project begins, there may often be certain costs that were not planned for initially. Such examples include a waste pipe that runs directly through the wall you wanted to remove or an electrical panel that needs updating.

We advise our clients to make sure they have flexibility in their overall renovation budgets, in order to handle unexpected costs. A general rule of thumb is to have an additional 10-15% set aside, in addition to the planned remodeling budget.

A specific example could be if you planned for a kitchen remodel to cost around $75,000, then you should budget an additional $7500 - $11,000+ as a contingency.

5 tips for selecting a bathroom remodeling contractor in Houston | ALE Renovations

2. It might not be best to pursue multiple quotes, unless you do this…

Everyone tells you to get multiple quotes when researching and ultimately selecting a remodeling contractor. However, did you know that not every contractor is equal? Just like other industries where not every lawyer or doctor is equal - chances are if the bid for your kitchen comes in low from one contractor and high from another, there’s a clear reason why.

Contractors tend to specialize in specific projects. A new build is extremely different from a renovation or remodel, which is also extremely different from the type of work a handyman can take on. Attempting to compare a remodeling quote from a Houston-based renovation firm with in-house design assistance, compared to a one-man contractor who can handle all of the renovation (demo, electrical, plumbing, tile install, etc.), will be quite difficult. There will absolutely be price differences in the renovation firm’s quote compared to a one-man contractor with little to no overhead.

We strongly suggest that if you get multiple quotes when selecting a remodeling contractor here in Houston, that these quotes are from contractors who provide a similar level of service and specialize in the type of renovation project you’d like to complete. Just like you wouldn’t want a heart surgeon to take on a knee replacement, you don’t want a contractor who specializes in painting the exterior of homes to take on your kitchen remodel.

Definitely ask around and compare options, plus read Google Reviews - you can find ALE Renovations’ reviews here. But only compare options if you’re looking at those who provide similar services.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for references

Don’t be afraid to ask the remodeling contractor you’re potentially selecting for a Houston-area remodel for references. Just like a job interview, it’s commonplace to ask for references and a reputable Houston remodeling contractor should not under any circumstances take issue with providing past references for you to speak with.

A quick email or phone call to these prior clients can help you get an idea of the worksmanship, the day-to-day environment during the remodel and even a better idea of the trust-factor of the company.

4. Are they insured?

Protect yourself and your home by hiring a remodeling contractor who is insured. ALE Renovations personally carries a $1 million general liability insurance policy.

Again, in reference back to tip number two, a remodeling firm will always have insurance protecting both parties if any unfortunate circumstances were to arise. Conversely, a one-man contractor who can do the entire remodel himself, may not be insured.

 
how to hire a reputable kitchen remodeling contractor in Houston | ALE Renovations

5. Are they willing to discuss advanced planning?

Not every schedule will perfectly align. It’s important to be upfront with your Houston home remodeling contractor and discuss timeframes for your project. Often it can be longer than you might have in mind.

Unfortunately, shows on HGTV have created unrealistic expectations on how quickly home remodels can be completed. Sometimes there will be a need to make modifications or adjustments to the original remodeling timeframe. And a reputable remodeling contractor will communicate those timeframe or schedule changes to the clients.

There are bound to be some potential delays or mishaps when it comes to a renovation, after all, remodeling is complicated. Whether big (mold or asbestos) or small (weather delays or a holiday), being patient and understanding both as a client and a contractor will help in keeping your project on schedule.

 

We know that selecting and ultimately hiring a remodeling contractor here in Houston can be difficult. After all, it is our business!

So if you have any questions about your upcoming kitchen or bath remodeling project, please click the link to get in touch with us, we’d love to help!