On January 2, 2012 we resumed the remodel job in Laurel Springs.  The holidays were over and the kids were back in school.  Phase two entails a complete remodel of the kitchen, creating a larger opening between the family room and the kitchen, exchanging the swinging door into the utility room with a space saving pocket door, adding hardwood floor to the dining and living room, and removing wallpaper in the dining, living room and entry.

As in any remodel, Kaufman Homes schedules the job for maximum time efficiency and always considers the Customers disrupted lifestyle.  Our highly skilled workers have the ability to do almost any job in a remodel except electrical plumbing and heating and they are very good at being polite and considerate of the Customer.  It is always our priority to finish the remodel as quick as possible to get the family’s life back to normal.  Kaufman Homes knows that if we take to long to do a remodel we quickly wear out our welcome.

The biggest challenge for the second phase was how to provide a way for the family to still carry on their day to day living while the remodel takes the main living area and kitchen out of service for a period of time.

Moving the Kitchen

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We discussed with the homeowner, where they could set up temporary cooking and eating facilities and discovered a large mechanical room in the basement with a water heater that could be easily tapped for hot and cold water lines to a sink and dishwasher.  The main sewer pipe from the upstairs area comes down next to the mechanical room and close to where the sink and dishwasher could be located making easy access for drainage.   A gas range could be located next to the gas furnace allowing easy access for hookup.

As the old kitchen was being dismantled, the temporary kitchen setup became top priority so first the sink and dishwasher cabinets and countertops were moved to the basement.  Pantry cabinets were transferred down along with as many counters and lower cabinets as the space would allow.  A free standing Gas range was brought in and the plumber and electrician hooked up the sink, dishwasher and range.  Luckily the mechanical room already had a full upright freezer and a refrigerator that was being used for extra drinks. The homeowners then moved in dishes, pots and pans and pantry goods to the temporary kitchen.  The Homeowners then moved in table and chairs and were now in business to cook and wash dishes.  This process was complete in less than two days and daily living continued on in an acceptable fashion.

The downstairs family room next to the temporary kitchen was already setup as a game, TV and lounging area to take care of their casual living needs.

Back to Work

Now that Kaufman Homes had provided a temporary Kitchen for the family, our workers resumed demolition of the remaining kitchen cabinets.  They removed sheetrock on walls to be opened up to make a much larger opening between the kitchen and the family room and removed a swinging door into the utility room to prepare for installation of a space saving pocket door. After the walls were opened, plumbing, electrical and heating lines were exposed and had to be moved to walls that were left intact.

Stay Tuned as we describe how we take away the main support beam in the kitchen as well as starting to put the kitchen back together!