Frequently Asked Questions
Remodeling a kitchen or bathroom is a detail oriented process. There are many things to consider, from cabinet style and color palette to prices and time frames. To help you get moving closer to your dream kitchen or bathroom, choose from the following answers to commonly asked questions.
Understanding the design process
How to pick the right designer
Understanding how pricing works
Understanding the design process
Where to begin?
What information do I need to communicate with the designer?
What if I don’t know what I want?
What questions should I ask?
How long will it take to remodel my kitchen or bath?
What is a typical return on investment for a kitchen remodel?
Is cabinet resurfacing a good solution for a tight budget?
Where to begin?
Begin by writing down what you want your new kitchen or bath to do differently and what are the issues with your current set up. Try to find photos in magazines that capture what you are looking for. Then contact the award-winning design professionals at Cox Kitchens and Baths to start making your wishes come true.
What information do I need to communicate with the designer?
It may help us with your project if you already have an idea of what you would like to change, what type of cabinets you like, what countertop materials you prefer, what flooring you picture, and what color scheme you envision. But if you have no idea about any of those things we can actually save you time and energy by being a one-stop idea shop. Our showroom showcases many types and styles of cabinetry, flooring, countertops, fixtures, hardware options and design ideas. Come in and get the creative juices flowing!
What if I don’t know what I want?
Since 1950 Cox Kitchens and Baths has been helping homeowners make important decisions about how to improve their homes. So it is safe to say we can help you. Since we have heard so many traffic flow and space issues in the past 68 years, we can easily apply all of that experience to your remodel needs by making suggestions and recommendations that you may not have considered. As our ads declare, “We are an advocate for our customers.”
What questions should I ask?
The most important thing to ask is, “Do I think that this designer can create my dream kitchen, bathroom, or living area?” And the way to figure that out is by asking questions like these: Do you like the displays they are showing you? Do they have the experience you require? Are they certified designers? Can they provide examples of their work? Can they refer you to more than a couple satisfied customers?
How long will it take to remodel my kitchen or bath?
Project duration from initial meeting to finished remodel can vary drastically depending on the scale of the job. Cox Kitchens and Baths’ designers will take great care to create the perfect design solution for you before any cabinetry can be created. Once your drawings are approved the orders will be placed and the craftsmen will build your cabinets, which is a very exacting process and can take up to 12 weeks. During that time all other materials will be procured and mechanic’s schedules will be set in place to assure you get your job started and more importantly, completed when you desire.
A typical small scale bathroom project can take three months from initial meeting to completion. Whereas a large kitchen remodel that involves moving walls and additions can up to a year. For a better idea of what your project will entail, contact Cox Kitchens and Baths and ask one of our experienced designers for a better idea.
What is a typical return on investment for a kitchen remodel?
A typical return on investment for a kitchen remodel according to a Realtor Magazine 2005 report is between 84.8 percent and 98.5 percent depending on scale and budget. Good news is that for a major metropolitan area such as Baltimore, the return was much higher – in the 119.5 percent to 135 percent range, which greatly increases your chance of profiting from a thorough remodel.
Is cabinet resurfacing a good solution for a tight budget?
On the surface, a re-surfacing is much cheaper than replacing cabinets. But like most things in life, you need to dig a little deeper to find the real story. To replace the doors and drawer fronts, you also need to replace the front of the cabinet frames to match. If you have laminate cabinets, you will probably run into laminate shifts and delamination which cause unsightly seems. Which is also the most typical complaint among re-facing customers.
Another issue is cost. The vast majority of the cabinet’s cost is in the door – up to 70 percent of the total cabinet cost. So to replace the doors and drawers and re-face the cabinet fronts you really only need to invest a little more to get the beauty, quality and sustained value of new custom cabinetry.
How to pick the right designer
Ask for credentials
Visit showrooms
Experience matters
Ask friends and neighbors
Ask for credentials
Like most complicated and study-intensive fields, kitchen and baths designers can keep their skills sharp, techniques on the cutting edge and keep abreast of safety and material advancements by participating in accreditation schools. All of Cox Kitchens and Baths designers are registered CKDs. Even our Production Supervisor, Martin Gibbs, is a AKBD. What that means for you is that your new dream kitchen or bath will not only look wonderful, it will be safe and enjoy all of the most recent advancements in design technology.
Visit showrooms
Nothing will give a better indication of what kind of work you can expect from a design firm that visiting their showroom. Not only will you see what they offer, you will get a sense of the style that they work with.
Meeting the people who would be working with you is another great reason to visit showrooms. That will insure you will be comfortable placing your dreams in their hands.
Please visit Cox Kitchens and Baths’ showroom at 6322 Falls Road (directions) to see what all other Baltimore kitchens and bath remodelers are trying to emulate.
Experience matters
Bob Gibbs, the president and lead designer of Cox Kitchens and Baths has over 35 years of professional design experience. There is something to be said for the person in charge being an award winning, published, and industry-leading expert on the subject of kitchens and bath remodeling. That is a tangible benefit that all of Cox Kitchens and Baths’ customers will enjoy. And with that as a guiding hand, you can rest assured that any work coming from Cox Kitchens and Baths will carry the standard of exacting quality that Bob has insisted on for so many decades.
When investigating experience, there is another aspect of not to take lightly when considering picking a designer. And that is the experience of vendors that produce custom products for your kitchen and bath. And the duration of the relationship between the vendor and your designer. There is a reason why Cox Kitchens and Baths has been working with people like Quality Custom Cabinetry for decades. The relationship is built on a long-standing tradition of quality and trust.
Ask friends and neighbors
If you know someone who has had remodeling work done in their home then they are a good source of information. Ask around for opinions to learn about not only who does a good job, but also things to ask for and look out for.
For a list of testimonials please call Cox Kitchens and Baths at (410)-296-4700.
Understanding how pricing works
How much will this cost?
When do I have to pay?
How much will this cost?
The single most asked question in our business. And one of the most important determining factors in your decision. And also a question that all of us at Cox Kitchens and Baths appreciate.
The bad news? That is an incredibly complicated answer to come up with. It takes some time commitment from both the designer and the customer to achieve and answer.
The great news? Since our designers will need to pick your brain and discuss material decisions, your price will be accurate. And, you will get to know your designer better as well as understand the proper flow of your design layout. You will also become more at ease since you know you are spending your hard-earned money in the most appropriate places. Our designers will indicate how to buy your kitchen and all its elements and materials with a trained eye on value, quality, and function.
When do I have to pay?
Cox Kitchens and Baths’ payment structure was established to make the work flow smoothly and to ensure the client feels safe and satisfied during the entire process.
We ask for a third of the cost up front as a deposit on all the custom elements such as cabinets and countertops. Once all equipment and fixtures are delivered we will ask for another third to begin the installation. And only when you are satisfied with the completed project will we ask for the balance.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR US?
We would love to hear from you with any questions you may have. To contact Cox Kitchens and Baths with any questions or to set up an appointment to speak with one of our designers call 410-296-4700 or click here. Thanks.