Welcome to kitchen trends. In this section, you’ll find the latest news, information and
advice about creating and maintaining your dream kitchen. You’ll discover articles about
the latest styles, accessories, cabinet features, countertop materials and much more. At
Kitchen Expo, we’re committed to providing you with what you need to know before you
invest in your new kitchen. If you have any questions about the information provided in
this section please contact us at 732-650-9700. We will be glad to answer any of your
questions.
Caesar Stone
CaesarStone USA channels the diversity of nature with its latest collection, Supremo. Featuring a flow of color and pattern, the company uses a proprietary new technology to fabricate the material, which ensures that no two surfaces are created alike. Offered in eight colors with names inspired by aristocracy and fantasy worlds, including Swan Lake, Queen of Sheba, Fair Lady and Ocean Palace, the material can be used for countertops, vanities, wall paneling and custom-made furniture. Available in March 2012.
As Remodeling Rebounds, Caveats for the Homeowner
ONE part of the housing market is experiencing a rebound that will probably continue even if the rest of the market remains sluggish: remodeling.
A recent report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University predicted that remodeling would rebound strongly this year after a three-year downturn. The center estimated growth of 9.1 percent for the first quarter and 12.1 percent for the second quarter. The predicted rate drops for the end of the year, but annual growth in remodeling is expected to be around 8 percent. In fact, the study found, the remodeling market held up far better than housing construction during the recession, with annual spending still close to $300 billion.
Kermit Baker, director of the remodeling futures program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies, said that remodeling nationwide was likely to remain strong as homeowners who put off maintenance and improvement projects began to spend more freely again. The study also found that the industry was beginning to benefit from the rehabilitation of foreclosed properties.
But as the market for renovations picks up, it may be a good time to consider the problems that could arise — beyond the obvious ones of cost overruns and bathroom vanities that do not fit.
A group of leading insurers said renovations are a constant source of large claims on homeowners' policies. And among claims, fire is the most common cause.
Don Soss, vice president for underwriting at the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, said one of the larger recent claims was for $2.55 million on a house in New York. Either the electrician or the plumber started a fire in a second-floor bathroom that spread throughout the house. He recalled another claim for $1.51 million in California that involved a subcontractor using a torch during demolition that set the roof on fire.
While these claims were paid, the homeowners' losses went beyond the financial. Not only were they out of their house for an additional six months or more, but they also lost personal items. So with the spring renovation season beginning in the Northeast — identified in the housing study as one of the areas of the country where remodeling spending is highest — what should prospective renovators keep in mind?
WHY THE REBOUND? It may seem counterintuitive that even as the housing market continues to suffer and the economic recovery feels tentative, the renovation market is picking up. But Mr. Baker pointed out that while home sales and construction were linked to mortgage rates, renovations were determined more by income levels and job security.
"Remodeling is not heavily financed," he said. Instead, people are willing to spend cash, Mr. Baker said, because they have "a comfort level that the value of my home isn't depreciating."
He said during the peak years of 2006 and 2007, only 30 to 35 percent of renovations were financed through home equity loans or second mortgages. Last year, that number dropped to 15 to 20 percent.
He said there was more growth in smaller projects — energy-efficient windows and heating and air-conditioning systems — than in full-scale additions. Yet he said he expected continued growth across all types of renovations.
Historically, the Northeast and the Midwest have driven renovations because of older homes and higher personal income rates. That is happening this time around as well. But one difference is that the South and the West, where the house-building boom was centered, now have more homes that will need improvements. Foreclosures in these areas are also a factor in this.
"Houses are staying in the foreclosure process now for up to 500 days," Mr. Baker said. "Owners are not putting money into maintaining the home because they're ultimately going to be out on the street. A buyer who buys that home for 30 to 50 cents on the dollar or an investor who wants to flip it in nine months is going to have to put money in."
PRECAUTIONS AND RISKS Whether the homeowner wants to add a new kitchen or repair years of neglect, the cause of renovation problems is the same. Homeowners are concentrating on the outcome, not on managing the process.
"They're so focused on what their house is ultimately going to look like, particularly in larger projects, that they don't pause to think about some of this stuff," said Gary Raphael, senior vice president of claims and risk consulting at ACE private risk services. The solutions are "pragmatic, and grounded in our claim experience."
So what should you consider before starting? Any homeowner planning a sizable renovation should hire a contractor, for efficiency and safety, insurers say. "We've seen construction projects that have outlasted marriages," said Scott Spencer, worldwide appraisal and loss prevention manager for Chubb Personal Insurance.
Beyond promoting marital harmony, a contractor could help move the project along. He should bring his own liability coverage and enough insurance to rebuild your house in case of fire.
"Homeowners acting as their own general contractor — that's the biggest mistake they can make," said Rich Standring, regional manager for risk services at Fireman's Fund. "You need someone who is fully versed in bringing on subs, who can read plans, who understands the licensing process."
The other conversation to have with a contractor is about how he will dispose of flammable liquids and manage the use of tools like blow torches.
Insurers also feel more comfortable when the owner is living in the home during the renovation. "Renovations where people are doing tear-outs and can't live there are long, hard exposures, not just from fire and damage but vandalism and theft," Mr. Soss said.
THE RAG THREAT The one constant bit of advice from insurers is to tell them about your renovation before you begin it so they can tell you what to look out for and, of course, increase your coverage.
Fireman's Fund has a provision in some of its policies that says it will not cover any renovation above $25,000 if the homeowner does not notify them about it. And Mr. Spencer of Chubb uses a joke to remind homeowners of the need to insure what is about to be installed.
"We suggest you increase the coverage on your home the minute the granite countertops arrive," he said.
But the best policy is still vigilance. The top thing to monitor is oily rags, which strike fear into the hearts of risk assessors. These rags catch fire easily if they are not disposed of properly.
"It's the accumulation of the fumes from stain, varnish, even some of the paints," Mr. Standring said. "Anything could set them off — a spark, a pilot light. We see a lot of spontaneous combustion."
The solution is to make sure the rags are put in a locked, fireproof box at the end of each day.
Second on the risk list is the debris from the welding and soldering equipment used on roofs or for installing plumbing and electrical wiring. A common disaster, Mr. Raphael said, happens when a pipe is welded but no one checks to see if any solder has fallen onto the debris below. It can smolder for hours and catch fire later that night.
Thinking about the disasters that can befall your home for the sake of a nicer, updated bathroom may put a damper on some people's enthusiasm. "It can be scary, but if certain things are done, it can be fun and successful," Mr. Raphael said. He speaks from experience: he has survived two renovations.
Countertop Materials Articles: Hard Rock
Granite is the headliner in most kitchen remodels. Should quartz get more than second billing?
Whether homeowners work on it before a meal or gather around it afterward, the countertop is arguably the most visible item in a kitchen. And according to a 2010 REMODELING Reader Panel survey, homeowners are choosing granite countertops by a margin of about 3 to 1 over the next most popular materials (see chart).
But why does granite get all the attention? Manufacturers and installers of granite and quartz weigh in on the benefits of each type of stone.
Beauty & Movement
"The customers we see that are looking at granite really are looking for that beauty and movement in the stone," says Troy Roering, sales and marketing manager for Stone Holding Co., in Waite Park, Minn. "With granite, it's like choosing a piece of art, whereas customers who want a more consistent look will choose quartz."
Remodeler Ben Thompson agrees. "Both granite and quartz are premium products, but it comes down to aesthetics," says the co-owner of Thompson Remodeling, in Grand Rapids, Mich., noting granite's impact during the sales process. "We can take our clients shopping, pull out a big slab and show them that it's the most dramatic and substantial item they're getting for their new kitchen."
At the same time, Cambria PR director Stacia Smith says quartz is one of the fastest growing surfacing categories in the industry. "Granite is a mix of quartz, filament, and mica, and it's the quartz component that gives the stone its strength," she says. "While some granites can have as little as 20% or 30% quartz, a quartz countertop can have as much as 93% quartz and only 7% coloring and binding."
Porous granite also requires sealing against moisture, adds Hanwha Surfaces product designer Lisa Herreth, and the consistency of quartz means the material can be seamed more easily than granite where fabricators may need to work with or around veining and inclusions in the stone. To that end, Thompson says he often finds that quartz installations require more seaming, while granite installations result in more waste.
Price It
For customers concerned about cost, Roering says that quartz does tend to cost more than base-level granite. However, "granite price has nothing to do with quality and everything to do with availability of that stone in the world," he says. "If they're quarrying 10 blocks and nine of them are usable, we would put that granite at a level-one or -two price point. But if only one of the 10 is usable, it would likely come in at a premium pricing category."
Herreth adds that most quartz is cost-competitive with granite, particularly since the price of some stones has dropped dramatically in recent years, and can include green elements such as recycled content (usually glass), which might interest some homeowners. "Stone materials are going to last a lifetime," she says, "so homeowners should consider choosing colors and patterns that will stay in style for the duration."
