Background - This master-bath in Redondo Beach was suffering from a dated 90's look, so our team got to work designing a modern bathroom with a spa-feel. The Castillo family first hired us to remodel their kitchen a couple years ago, and knew they should call us to remodel their bathroom. We first began by giving selecting new tiles for the walk-in shower and backsplash that makes a bright impact. We selected a dark stone countertop to give it a nice contrast to make it pop even more. The size of the walk in shower was increased to make room for two his & hers shower heads, so that the couple can shower at their leisure without interrupting the other. The family liked their oak vanity so we kept them in place and gave them a new coat of paint. This bathroom also included a whirlpool tub for a relaxing end of the day experience. 

How Much Does it Cost to Remodel a Kitchen?

There are different kitchens for different budgets. The first question everyone always wants to know is “how much will it cost to remodel my kitchen?” Explaining this has got to be one of the most difficult things ever.

It’s easy to envision your dream kitchen, but when money is tight and you start the remodeling process, your dream kitchen can easily assemble into something else. A good contractor will not let your kitchen develop into something you did not want. He/she should be competent enough to help you pick out the nicest and best materials while remaining within your budget. There are many factors that will affect the costs of a kitchen remodel. Basic construction issues will always arise. Such as repairs, client selections for cabinets, appliances, tile/stone, adding space, as well as whether or not things need to be moved around. All of this becomes a factor in determining the price.

We have created a design process to help you get an accurate cost estimate of what it is going to cost to remodel your kitchen. Based on your budget, we help you select the materials that would bring your desired kitchen to life. Once everything has been collected, we sit down and draft a price accurate quote customized to your kitchen. 

You have to design your project first to get an accurate quote!

This page is designed to help you learn about the various components of a kitchen remodel. We understand that remodeling your kitchen is a stressful process. After designing and building out hundreds of kitchens, we can help carve out the right path to your dream kitchen! Below, we'll discuss a few of the items you need to consider as you begin your kitchen remodel:

What's the difference between prefabricated cabinets and customized cabinets?

Custom kitchen cabinets or prefabricated kitchen cabinets, that is the question? This is a tough question for those remodeling their kitchen. Custom cabinets offer quality and craftsmanship and customization, while prefabricated cabinets are a less expensive option. In this article we will give you the pros and cons of both cabinetry styles. We hope that this information makes kitchen cabinetry decision easier.

1. Price

• Pro: Prefabricated cabinets are generally the less expensive option if you’re not doing too much with your kitchen.

• Con: Prefabricated kitchen cabinets vary in price range, from affordable to expensive. Like anything else, you get what you pay for; prefabricated is no exception to that rule. If you’re looking for quality, you’re going to have to pay for it. In this price range, you have the option of both custom kitchen cabinets or prefabricated cabinets.

2. Time

• Pro: Prefabricated cabinets delivery orders are pretty speedy.

• Con: Custom kitchen cabinets can sometimes take a while, but then again, time is beauty.  

3. Customization

• Pro: Custom cabinetry will allow you bring out your style in the cabinets. You can customize everything from storage, color, layout, and finishes.

• Con: You don’t have as many options of customization in terms of storage or finishes with prefabricated cabinets.

4. Finishes

• Pro: Custom cabinets you’ll have a wider variety of different finishes. Whether it be a farm style crackle, glossy, or a rustic look, the cabinet maker will strive to give you what you want.

• Con: Prefabricated cabinets are usually offered in clean white, glossy brown, natural wood, or homey burgundy.

5. Layout

• Pro: If you have a unique kitchen with unusual sizes and angles, you may find that custom cabinetry will be a lot easier. The cabinetry maker will able to come in and get precise measurements for a perfect fit.

• Con: Prefabricated works well with a generic shaped kitchen that doesn’t need a lot of modification.

9 Things to Know Before Hiring a General Contractor

Many times, people begin their construction process by requesting quotes from a bunch of different contractors. Truth be told, the process should as you’re looking for the contractors. There is a criteria that one should follow to protect themselves and their home.

Below, are 9 things to keep in mind when you’re researching a General Contractor:

1. License: Make sure the contractor is licensed! In California you can check the contractor’s license by going to www.cslb.ca.gov
2. Insurance: The contractor should have an additional liability insurance policy. This is just in case any workers get hurt at your home while on the job.
3. Beware of Mechanics Lien Laws: If you don’t pay the contractor, he/she
   can file a lien against your home. And if the contractor can’t pay the sub-contractors, then the sub-contractors can also file a lien against your property.
4. References: Ask for references! It’s a good sign when the contractor invites you to see their completed projects.
   
5. Getting an Estimate: Have your contractor describe in detail the scope of work on the project. From visiting the job site, the contractor should have a solid idea of what it’s going to take to achieve what you’re looking for.
   
6. Ethics: Don’t under value the importance of a contractors’ ethics. A professional will put his clients’ interests as a top priority. Hiring an honest contractor is always less expensive than hiring a dishonest one. Be wary of an initially low price. An unethical contractor will hit you with subliminal costs that were not reflected in their original estimate.
   
7. Communication: During your initial meeting with the contractor, an important personality trait to consider is how he/she communicates with you. Ask yourself...
   • Is this someone I can work with?
   • Do I understand what the plan is?
   • Does he understand what my needs and wants are?
     • Many times it pays to hire a contractor that comes in at a higher price if he/she does a better job at communicating with you. Better communication = a better end result.
       
8. Evaluating the bid: Avoid lump sum bids! These bids tend to not reflect the true cost of the project. An itemized bid with the labor and material breakdown is always best. The itemized bid should clearly spell out the scope of work that the home owner has requested and the costs required by the contractor to deliver.
   
9. Payment Schedule: Request that the contractor set up a payment schedule that fairly coincides with phases in completion schedule. You want to release funds as the progression of work occurs. A fair payment protocol should be negotiated with the contractor ahead of time.
   

Bay Cities Construction is a California State Licensed General Contractor (CSLB#842614) specializing in Kitchen & Bath Remodels, Home Remodels, Home Additions, ADUs, and even seismic retrofits. 

What’s the difference? Estimate, Quote, Bid, Proposal

The planning stages can be just as stressful as the remodeling process. Sitting down with a contractor to discuss price, materials needed, and length of project can be very intimidating for some. Here is a brief explanation of some of the things people find confusing.

In construction, an estimate, bid, quote, and proposal can take on different meanings depending on who is using the terms. Some construction professionals use the words “estimate” and “quote” interchangeably, while a bid or proposal may turn into a contract if the customer signs it.

To further simplify it, it’s a lot like the difference between Coke, cola, soda, and pop- it all depends on where you are and who you are talking to, but we can all agree that you won’t get a glass of milk when you order one.

Now, putting all of the confusion aside, below are what we consider the most widely accepted definitions:

Quote

• A quote is a figure that a contractor gets from a supplier for the price of material they need for a job. Quotes are often only good for a certain amount of time-generally about a month; the builder has only that amount of time to buy the materials at specified price. Outside of this given time frame, the price of materials will change. Quotes expire because the materials involved in a construction project are commodities, and their prices fluctuate based on supply and demand.

Estimate

• Contractors use estimates to calculate their expected costs to complete a project. They look at the specifications for a project and determine the raw materials and labor they need. The contractor then goes to their suppliers to get quotes for the raw materials, which they use to calculate the estimates.
• May include accounting of taxes, overhead, subcontracts, and equipment costs.
• Some contractors do estimates for free, but there are others who charge for this. You can bet that the contractor that is charging you to do an estimate will do a better job at calculating job costs because they're looking to be more thorough, for your sake and theirs.

Bid

• The word “bid” in construction may refer to a document that offers to perform a specific job at a specific price within a certain amount of time, or it may refer to the specific price offered in that document.
• A subcontractor might also submit a bid to a general contractor to perform a certain part of a project. 

Proposal

• A proposal is a detailed document submitted as part of a competitive process to win business. It includes quotes received from suppliers for raw materials, proposals from subcontractors for their portion of work on the project, and estimates of labor costs, taxes, and other overhead.
  • Some proposals also include a place for the customer to sign as indicating their acceptance of the proposal. Contractors may also refer to this type of proposal as a “contract”. 

While the difference between a construction estimate, quote, bid, and proposals /contract may be obvious, it's important to know in which context your contractor is using these words. It is crucial to the seamlessness ultimate success of your remodeling project.

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