Advantage Services Blog

Finishing a basement is a great way to add livable square footage to your home without having to build a new addition. And while finishing a basement often seems like a DIY job, there are aspects of it that require expertise from professionals. To help you started, we’ve rounded up some essential tips for finishing a basement.

When planning a kitchen remodel timeline, most homeowners want to know the best time to start in order to be completed by a specific date. Therefore, at Advantage, we often get asked the question, “How long does it take to remodel a kitchen?” There are 3 basic phases of a kitchen remodel: design, planning and production. Your timeline will depend on the size and type of kitchen remodel, but it generally takes between four to six weeks to remodel, if you do not include the planning and design phases. PLANNING AND DESIGN TIMELINE OF A KITCHEN REMODEL If you are considering a kitchen remodel, it is extremely important to take as much time as you need to plan. Each and every detail will need to be thought through and planned for, and you want the end result to be exactly as you’ve envisioned it. If you have the ability to print out or email pictures of elements that you would like to be incorporated into the design of your kitchen, please do this. Pictures can save on design time and ensure accuracy in communicating your vision. Advantage Services ll can provide accurate drawings to help you visualize your remodeled living space. It is very important to work with a design/build company that can show you design and product options, and their associated costs. It is also important to clearly communicate your budget to your design build company so they can help you keep watch on your budget throughout the process. At Advantage Services llc we provide our clients with 3D renderings of their kitchen design so that they know what their future kitchen will look like. We believe this service is in the best interest of the client-provider relationship. After all, it is much easier to make a change to a drawing than it is to make a change after the project is underway. Clear communication is paramount through the remodel process, and Advantage is committed to making every reasonable effort to ensure the process is free of unexpected issues and unmet expectations. During the design phase, you will be able to pick out your selections for your new kitchen. Countertops, backsplashes, appliances, lighting, drawer pulls, cabinet color and style – all of these details are decided before demolition begins. After all of these details are collected, the project moves to the planning phase. The planning phase is where the project is broken down into parts. Each part of the renovation process is given tasks with dates, provider, and a materials list. This becomes the master schedule for your project. You will be provided with the schedule, so you know what to expect, who to expect, and when to expect them by. This is also important because every project has milestones, and once a milestone is completed, you should expect to be billed for the services provided related to that milestone. Your project representative will show you this schedule with milestones up front to make sure that both the schedule and the billing milestones are suitable for you. SPECIALTY MATERIALS WITH WAIT TIMES When you are planning for a kitchen remodel, remember that specialty appliances and other specialty items may have a wait time. It is important to factor in this wait time into the master schedule. Certain tile and stone products and custom-fabricated furniture may also have a wait time associated with them. Advantage offers custom and semi-custom cabinets, and these can take between four to eight weeks to receive. Stock, or ready-made cabinets can have a shorter wait time, but still need to have at least 2 weeks set aside. If you want granite countertops, your Advantage representative will go with you to select the actual slab you like. This guarantees you are getting exactly what you want. This is a part of the Advantage Services llc design process. If there is a unique tile backsplash you love or want to have custom-designed, or if you are using custom tile or other specialty material for flooring, this will need to be ordered before the demolition process begins as specialty tile and flooring can also have a wait time. PHASES OF THE KITCHEN REMODEL PROCESS After you’ve approved (and hopefully fallen in love with!) the design of your new kitchen, you’ve selected all your materials, and you’re happy with the suggested schedule, your remodel project can get started. Your remodel schedule should reflect approximately 4-6 weeks of work. We’ve divided the work into 6 steps: Step One: Removal of Existing Kitchen & Evaluation Removal of the old kitchen, including removing old appliances, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, etc. happens on the first day. After everything has been removed, we evaluate the floors and ceilings and address any modifications that need to be made with you. Modifications that need to be made are considered change orders, therefore, we will not move forward on the project until we’ve discussed and agreed on how to proceed. Step Two: Rough-in All Electrical, Set up / Install Mechanicals The mechanical installation is the second stage of the remodel process and can take about five days to complete. It is during this step of the kitchen remodel timeline that new plumbing, HVAC and electric is installed. Most kitchen remodels require new light fixtures at the very least. Some projects require all new electric completely. Each location for outlets, lighting, switches, and appliance power feeds are clearly marked. This process removes any guesswork for the electrician and enables him to wire and install the new system in a timely manner. If requested, speaker wire, cable wire, and other home automation product wiring will be added at this time. Most projects require an inspection prior to adding insulation and covering with drywall. Inspection will be scheduled and completed when all plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and home automation installation is complete. Step Three: Insulation, Drywall Installation, Finishing & Priming, Flooring Upon completion of the mechanical phase and its inspection, we will begin insulating your kitchen, hanging the drywall, finishing the drywall and priming for paint. Flooring installation follows (if you are replacing the existing floor). Step Four: Cabinet Installation, Countertop Templating, Fabrication, and Installation For many clients, the day cabinetry is installed is a very exciting day! The kitchen cabinets are installed with precision, and crown molding is added to finish the look. Next on the list is templating the countertops. The countertop area is measured with precision to ensure your new countertops fit like a glove. On average, two weeks will pass between the time the countertop is templated to the time the countertop is installed. Step Five: Final Interior Finish Stage and Painting The interior finishing phase typically includes installation of the plumbing fixtures, decorative backsplashes, trim, and baseboard. Painting is completed during this phase as well. Step Six: Installation of Electrical Fixtures & Appliances and Final Cleanup This time is used for small touch-ups and fine-tuning to ensure that all your expectations were met. A kitchen remodel is an undertaking that requires thoughtful planning and accurate coordination to prevent delays and costly mistakes. If you are considering a kitchen remodel and would like to talk through design, timeframe, and cost, please give us a call. We’d be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.

Whether your old toilet is damaged, or you're remodeling or simply want to upgrade, installing a new toilet is an easy DIY project. And if you're willing to give it a try, you might save big. Here's your quick guide to how we do our toilet installations.

Renovating a kitchen is a home improvement thrill ride. Each twist and turn brings new excitement as design elements are chosen and materials are selected. When you reach the part of the ride where you’ve found a contractor you can trust and a design that fits your budget and style, it’s time to throw your hands up and scream with glee. However, there is one part of the ride that can be extremely scary and often intimidates many people from renovating their kitchen. Staying on budget can prove to be particularly challenging for a lot of homeowners. Without the proper precautions, you may find yourself barreling off the tracks and in a heap of trouble. According to a recent study by Houzz, only 4% of home remodeling projects come in under budget. So how can you limit your chances of blowing the budget on your kitchen renovation? At Advantage Services llc, we understand that sticking to a budget takes a cooperative effort between the designer, contractor, and the homeowner. After a design is finalized, a design contract is detailed to not only provide a 3-D rendering of the project but to also provide a list of materials and known expenses. Although there is a chance of small unexpected twists and turns, meticulous planning can capture a lot of the factors that impact the overall cost of your renovation. Material upgrades can be one of the big influences that can cause the bottom to drop out from your budget planning process. One of the most invigorating parts of the process comes when a client begins to pick out specific countertops, hardware, lighting, and various components. This is where a project could go completely off-track. During the design and proposal stage, your kitchen remodeler and the designer will give generalized pricing guidelines for material costs. Even if mid-grade products are anticipated, choosing several premium products could increase your project costs by 15-20% or more. Most kitchen renovation projects we partake of include, at least, one type of upgrade, despite a thorough design discovery phase. Clients often later fall in love with a style of lighting, trim element, or countertop material that wasn’t originally planned for by either party. Since kitchen remodeling choices remain in homes for decades, homeowners often gravitate to selecting upgrades mid-project in fear of future regrets of denying themselves improvements. In order to keep your kitchen renovation project from coming to a screeching halt, we have the following suggestions: • Do lots of preliminary research to learn specific design elements that are make-or-break choices to match your style. • Only work with a kitchen renovation company that provides you with a comprehensive plan that includes product specifications, 3-D drawings, and a detailed proposal. • Spend plenty of time with your contractor during the initial planning phase. Discuss material options and ask to see physical samples of products. • Make sure your kitchen designer or contractor informs you of the overall cost increases of upgrades. Materials measured in smaller units like square or linear feet can add up quickly. Ask for the total upgrade cost. • Plan for a 15% or more contingency in your budget. That way you won’t be thrown for a loop with extra costs. Whether part of upgrading aesthetics or preparing a home for resale, kitchen renovations are one of the most likely and popular of home improvement projects. Don’t be intimidated, you’ll find the experience is bound to amaze. If you’re ready to jump in and buckle up, we’d be excited to enjoy the ride alongside you. At Advantage Services llc we are very good at staying on budget and let our customers know where they stand every step of the way. Call us today for Kitchen Remodel and Free 3D Design Advantage Services llc 303-467-3373

Advantage Services explains, from a design standpoint, what is the proper height to install a tiled shower border? Denver's choice for remodeling!

A large amount of us are visual people and have a hard time imagining what a room would look like if remodeled. Advantage Services LLC understands this and is pleased to provide design-build services. Advantage Services llc can provide accurate drawings to help you visualize your remodeled living space. Removing walls, re-purposing closets, and other spaces, laying out a new kitchen or bathroom– these are all projects that Cedars Woodworking can bring to life by CAD and other drawings. This means that if you are remodeling a part of your home, we can provide detailed drawings to show you what your space will look like when it is finished. Design-Build also means that upon design approval, Cedars Woodworking can coordinate your project from construction to completion. The benefits of utilizing Advantage Services llc’s design-build services include: 1) Involvement – we know how important it is to give you what you want. We’ll keep you in the loop! 2) Open Communication – ensures expectations are met and clearly defined 3) Collaboration – utilizing synergies to the client’s advantage to ensure project excellence, quality service, and the ability to meet budget requirements 4) Reduced Stress – ensuring seamless Communication between subcontractors (when needed) and vendors 5) Expertise – you can be assured we know each aspect of the project and that every detail is completed correctly 6) Efficiency – our design-build services team is involved from start to finish, which means that it is less likely for details to fall through the cracks 7) Accountability – Cedars is accountable for timeline, budget, and result of every design-build project 8) Teamwork – everyone involved in a design-build services project is on the same team, which means we all have the same goal of a successful project and full client satisfaction Consider using Advantage Services LLC to design and build your new living space! Visit our gallery for ideas to transform your home!

Advantage Services can patch and repair drywall holes or replace entire sheets of drywall if needed. This DIY guide will help you get started or you can hire a professional.

Advantage Services explains how they use BuildClean technology in order to control dust. A wonderful solution for Denver home remodeling projects!