FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is your process for starting a project?

Before signing any contracts, make sure to have a clear idea of what you want to change or update so we can share and deliver on your vision. After meeting with Joe Belasquez, President of PC Power Builders, a set of plans will be drawn up and engineered according to your desires and needs. Once the plans are agreed upon, they are submitted to the city, permit fees are paid, the permits are acquired, and then construction begins.
What should I expect during my remodel?

Every remodel is different, but there are some things that you can plan for. The basic installation process includes these steps:

Step 1: Your old kitchen is torn out.
Step 2: New electrical, if required, is installed.
Step 3: New plumbing, if required, is installed.
Step 4: The walls are repaired and prepped for paint.
Step 5: The cabinets are installed.
Step 6: The countertop is measured and a template is made.
Step 7: The trim for the cabinets is installed.
Step 8: After the countertop is fabricated or cut to size, the top is installed.
Step 9: The final plumbing is connected and your kitchen is functioning once again.
Step 10: The new floor is installed, where applicable.
What makes a kitchen more or less expensive?

Cabinets account for about half the total cost of the project and will have the greatest impact on your budget. They range in price considerably based on quality, the type of material they are made of, and whether they are stock (ready made in specific sizes) or custom (produced specifically for your kitchen in whatever sizes are needed).

The material you choose for surfaces including counters, backsplashes, and floors can also account for variations in price.

Other key elements that factor into the equation are talent and workmanship. In the remodeling business, you tend to get what you pay for. An accomplished designer, skilled sub-tradesmen, and expert installation crew may cost more, but you'll appreciate their expertise, value, and your choice to bring them into the project every time you use your kitchen.
What is the kitchen "work triangle" and why is it important?

The "work triangle" is the kitchen area from the refrigerator to the main cooking area to the main sink. Connect the three and it should form a triangle (unless you have a "one-wall" kitchen). This is important because within the triangle's points all the key kitchen activities—food preparation, cooking, and clean-up—take place. The work triangle helps to ensure that your kitchen will be functional. It keeps cooking activities centered in one area, with all the necessities close at hand.
What should I keep in mind before entering into a contract?

Before any work begins, get detailed, written estimates, project specifications, and signed contracts from the professionals you hire. Make sure they're bonded, licensed, and insured. Check references carefully. Your designer should prepare project drawings including floor plans and renderings that clearly represent your project. If anything changes mid-project, you should be asked to sign a change order.