A COMPLETE KITCHEN RENOVATION JOURNEY
We wanted to do a complete tear-out and redesign of our kitchen. We had never undertaken such a large renovation project before, and we were very uncertain about which company to hire. We learned that each company supplied a different range of services. For example, some companies fabricate the cabinets themselves (a plus) but did not offer design services (a minus). Others would supply design services and cabinet construction, but did not offer contracting services (a minus). And so on and so on. This made price comparison just about impossible. Evaluating all these factors was disconcerting and not a pleasant process.
During our initial research, covid was still with us and this meant that availability of contractor services was huge uncertainty.
Design service was also a critical concern. Our kitchen room dimensions are a bit unusual and could not be altered. The existing cabinet layout within the room was awkward, and needed a complete re-thinking in order to optimize the space.
We approached five different kitchen renovation companies in our area. We chose Chestco mostly because of their (almost) one-stop shopping. That is, they supply a complete design service and they take all responsibility for all contracting services, including coordination of every step along the way.
They do not manufacture cabinets but instead procure them from a company called Luxor based in St. Jerome Quebec. They also do not involve themselves with flooring or painting or provision of baseboards / window trim. But still the scope of work offered by Chestco is considerably more than that offered by the other companies that we approached.
After deciding to go with Chestco, the design work started. Several possible design iterations were evaluated and after about two months, we settled on a final design. Then contract was signed and we waited about 5 months for cabinets fabricating and also for contractors availability.
It took almost 8 weeks from tearing out the old kitchen, to substantial completion of the project. During that process, Barb in the Chestco office perfectly coordinated all of the trades involved including demolition, electrical, drywall, plumbing, and installation. The entire process was perfectly orchestrated. And I would add that all of the tradespeople were very skilled, professional, friendly, and paid a lot of attention to detail.
All of the cabinets are top notch quality. Couldnt be happier. During final installation of the new kitchen, there were a few small surprises but Chestco handled everything with a smile and in the end, we are very happy customers.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $70,000.00