66 / 108
PAGE 66
COMFORTERS CLEANED AND SANITIZED L INDERS FrenchCleaners 130 Morristown Rd., Bernardsville (908) 766-6404 www.linderscleaners.com I often get asked by customers if it’s worth replacing their counters to update the look of their kitchen. Usu- ally the inquiry is about installing new granite or engineered stone counters on their existing cabinets. People gen- erally follow up this question, letting me know that they are considering putting their home on the market and think that by redoing the counters they will maximize their return by making the kitchen look newer. My response to them is usually phrased in the context of a few questions, which I think anyone considering such an upgrade should ask of themselves. What condition are the cabinets in? Are doors falling off their hinges? Are the drawers, specifically the glides functioning properly? Is there a back- splash tile installed? Do your base cab- inets have pull outs? And what, you ask, does any of that have to do with why I should or should not replace my counters? Let’s look specifically at the home sale scenario and the decision to update the aged kitchen. First off, consumers are very savvy when it comes to look- ing at cabinetry. If you have pine cabi- nets that are yellowed from the aging polyurethane on them people are going to know that is an old kitchen. They know the difference between a three quarter extension glide and a full extension glide. They also know the difference between a drawer that requires a hip check to close and one that has self-closing mechanisms. If you have backsplash tile just realize that your tile is sitting on top of the existing counter top. It you have a lam- inate or Corian type of material chances are the material is ½” thick. Today’s granites are typically 2 and 3mm – the thickest being 1¼”. Sure you can shim the new counter up to the existing backsplash tile but then you are left with a quarter inch gap around the top of the base cabinets. If the doors are loose and out of align- ment you won’t be fooling anyone that the kitchen is new because you’ve added new counters. Storage options on new cabinets include pull out trays in base cabinets – if yours only have half shelves in the bases cabinets it’s a tell-tale sign to an older cabinet. Stone counters currently run anywhere from $39 to $100 or more a square foot for granites priced in levels or grades from one to five, five being the most expensive. Even at a level one granite – which is aesthetically limiting because it is the bottom of the barrel granite, you are going to be spending a significant amount of money. But is it well spent and will it make such a dif- ference that you’ll create a show stop- per kitchen…probably not. I suggest that you look and consider all the aspects of the kitchen before you spend the money. It may not be worth the expense…or it may just require a full renovation. Give us a call, let us help you shape your vision…HOMEFRONT DESIGN STUDIO. IS IT WORTH REPLACING COUNTERS ON OLD CABINETS… By: Ed Gronske, Homefront Design Studio www.NationalPoolsandSpas.com Inground Pools • Vinyl • Fiberglass • Concrete Renovations • Liners • Coping • Tiles • Plaster Sundance Spas Call About Our Pool Specials Everything you need for your pool or spa under one roof! Hillsborough 908-874-6666 Robbinsville 609-448-3366 Ext. 161 www.theconnectionsnj.com