Like many of you, I subscribe to Architectural Digest. Every once in a while, I find something that’s tremendously useful to my business and to the flooring trade.
The article I want to discuss today is 13 Kitchen Remodel Mistakes to Avoid, According to Professional Designers. There are four points I want to take a look at, in particular.
Mistake #1: Installing Floors Before Cabinets
There’s currently a typo in the article here. We want to clarify that the mistake is putting in floors BEFORE you’ve installed your cabinets. There are two reasons that this is a big mistake. Wood floors, when installed before cabinets, will lose the ability to expand and contract which makes issues like cupping and peaking more likely. Second, if you ever need to remove or replace a floor, it’s very difficult to do so without damaging your new cabinets.
Mistake #2: Choosing the Wrong Flooring
We’re going to go into a little more detail than the article here. First, we want to point out that wood floors are not our first choice for a kitchen. Wood and water don’t mix well together. Instead, we’d recommend a tile floor or a luxury vinyl/laminate option.
We do understand, however, that open-concept spaces are a popular design choice. In that case, we agree with the article’s points that it’s better to go with a distressed or textured look. That will provide more traction and do a better job of hiding any damage.
Another important point the article makes is to use rugs in high-traffic areas and areas where there is more likely to be water. That includes the area in front of the sink, dishwasher, fridge and pantry. Obviously, that will protect your floor. It also reduces the chance that someone will slip and fall.
Mistake #3: Trying to Find Online Deals for Critical Items
This one is easy to explain. When you try to find the absolute “best” deal possible for core items, you open yourself up to a long list of potential headaches. When it’s too good to be true, the item could arrive late. It could arrive damaged.
When your tradespeople are waiting around—that’s a big problem.
Mistake #4: Failing to Plan for Deliveries
This point is extremely important for hardwood. Any wood floor needs to be delivered to the installation site at least 24-72 hours before installation. That way it can acclimate to the temperature and humidity in the home.
There’s another important issue here. Can you accept palletized deliveries at your home? If not, you’ll need a showroom that will be able to accept the pallets for you. Another benefit? If there’s any damage to the product, your retailer is responsible for getting a replacement or a substitute.
We encourage all designers to take a careful look at all 13 points in the article. It’s worth an in-depth read! As always, if you have any flooring-related questions, give us a call at (401) 324-9215 or come see it in our Middletown showroom. We serve designers who have clients anywhere in southeastern New England.
