re: I am remodeling my kitchen, and not sure where to start.

You should design the kitchen before you call a contractor. Or at least know what materials you will want so the contractors can give you a better cost estimate. I recommend getting on Angie's List or asking around for good contractors.

I've done two total gut job kitchen remodels in last 12 months. Shoot me an email and I'll go in depth

You should get that 5-7 days out of your head now. $10k won't happen either.

You don't need a general contractor and you probably wouldn't find one that's looking to do projects that small on that budget.

Obviously kitchens are the most expensive rooms in the house. Your cabinets, countertops, appliances, and paint or stain will cost several thousands, each. Then you'll probably want new flooring, maybe new light fixtures, and a new sink and faucet while you're at it.

Do you have an existing vent-a-hood that you're replacing or you're installing one where there wasn't one?

Then you get into electrical and plumbing.

5-7 days is wishful thinking. They will tell u anything to get the job. They have building my outdoor 3months now and it was supposed to be 6 weeks. It's been a nightmare. He is trying to nickel and dime the shite out of me. I don't trust any of them. When he did show up he fell asleep. [/URL][/img]

My addition has been going on for 14 months and isn't close to being finished. Weeks go by with no one doing anything. My contractor can't seem to hire decent subs and when he does, they quit. He rarely shows up. Leaves it to his buffoon foreman.

Shower tiles were redone 3 times. Bathroom floor tiles were installed and aren't flush. There are corners sticking up. Those will have to be redone. It's a patchwork cement tile floor with a pattern I spent days and days putting together. Some tiles have no extras. He'll have to buy an entire new kit.

Put the cement stain down and subs did a horrible job. Dark lines all over the place. I don't know how that can be remedied. He ordered cabinets months ago before doing the stain. Cabinets are outside on the patio probably warping. It's like some sort of dream. I'll make sure no one I know uses him when this is over. He's a friend of the family. Not my immediate family, but I run into him at functions on occasion. He needs to stay away.

All of this occurred in the last month. There were a lot more snafus before these.

I got a strong hood. Love it. My stovetop has a gas grill in the middle. Grilled steaks last night. Perfect. Best things I bought.

Gris, you are living my fear. Sorry you're going through that!

May I ask what brand of stovetop you have? I have seen griddles, but not grills.

Sn at gmail

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One thing I have learned from building a house is to get the best tile sub possible. I had someone I knew thats been in the business for years but still did a terrible job. I had to fire him and hire someone else to attempt to fix his screw ups. It makes you want to put your head through a wall.

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No kidding. When the first tile screwups occurred in the shower, I asked where in the world they found these guys. I was told they were firemen. They do tile on the side. Nada! No more of them. Right now, I'm thinking I may need to be put in a home for crazy people because this has driven me right into that area. One nimnut after the other doing work.