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Kitchen remodeling projects are often complex undertakings. Changes to your kitchen can involve anything from basic painting to flooring, plumbing, HVAC, or electric wiring.

Some people hope to save money by choosing to DIY their kitchen remodel. But is this a good idea?

Let’s explore some of the pros and cons of DIY kitchen remodeling projects. We’ll also explain a few projects that will be easiest to take on yourself – and when to call in the professionals.

Pros of DIY Kitchen Remodeling

DIY kitchen remodels can offer a few benefits. 

• Save Money: On simple projects like painting, you might save some money by trying them on your own. 
• Maintain Privacy and Flexibility: Choosing a DIY project can give you the flexibility to schedule your updates around your own life.
• Feel Accomplished: For projects within your experience and scope, choosing the DIY route can be a real self-esteem boost.

Cons of DIY Remodeling

Seems pretty great, right? Before you head out to the hardware store, though, let’s go through some of the drawbacks of taking on a kitchen renovation project on your own. 

• Going Over Budget: Yes, you can save money with a DIY project, but you may also find that the expenses start piling up as you invest in equipment and supplies. You may also need to hire a professional to fix any mistakes. With professional service from the start, you’ll have all the costs quoted to you.
• Fewer Options: Because kitchen remodels can be so complex, DIY means you are limited to projects that you can handle on your own. Hiring a professional will allow you to choose from nearly any type of project, material, or style. 
• Risk of Violating Building Codes: Professionals are well-versed in local building codes and violations, and know what to look for and how to ensure your project is completely legal. If you decide to DIY, you will need to research any codes in your area and make sure you keep within the law. 
• Damaging Your Home or Decreasing Its Value: Most remodeling projects increase the value of your home. However, if you do it yourself, any mistakes or amateur results can decrease your home’s value or cause serious damage. This is a serious risk for most homeowners and could be devastating in the long run.
• Inconsistent Results: In the end, there’s almost no way to be completely sure you’re going to get it right with DIY. Particularly with complex projects, you’re likely to have some spotty results.

Best Projects to DIY

Some projects are more plausible to do on your own. These include simple things like:

• Repainting your walls or adding a simple stick-on backsplash. 
• Installing or replacing simple hardware or small appliances like faucets, knobs, or a microwave.
• Easy flooring like laminate.

When to Call a Professional

Beyond those few projects, we highly recommend looking into professional help. Unless you have extensive construction, plumbing, or electrical experience, any changes to your kitchen’s basic footprint need a professional eye to avoid serious mistakes or damage. 

You should call a professional for these types of jobs:

• Installing New Cabinetry: Cabinetry is very difficult to DIY and requires expert skill to safely install. 
• Installing Large Appliances: Large appliances like refrigerators or ovens require expert knowledge of electrical work, plumbing, and gas lines. Call a professional to help. 
• Installing Countertops: Even cheaper countertops require a level of experience to install successfully. For more expensive materials, a professional is essential to ensure your countertops don’t break and are installed correctly without any blemishes.
• Changing Your Kitchen Layout: Any change to the layout of your kitchen will require extensive remodeling expertise. A new layout will usually require projects like safely demolishing walls, rewiring HVAC or gas lines, and handling expensive materials. Any mistakes can be incredibly costly. 
• Installing Flooring: You should call in a professional if you want to install heavy or expensive flooring like granite, tile, or hardwood. 
• Plumbing, HVAC, or Electric Wiring: Unless you have professional experience in any of these, trying to DIY can put you and your family at significant risk. Any mistakes can also cost a lot to repair. 

If you are ready to take on kitchen remodeling projects, Washington Marble Works creates beautiful custom renovations and installations. We have over thirty years of experience and can work with you to make your dreams for your home a reality. Contact us to request a quote.

When thinking about changing up your kitchen counter, planning to do it yourself is a huge undertaking. Many things can go wrong if you try to install a kitchen counter without experience. If this is a project you are determined to accept, you must make certain preparations in advance.

Numerous complications can arise during countertop installation. Measurements, safe practices, and working around other kitchen features such as the sink can all prove difficult to manage. In light of all these things to consider, hiring a professional is a far better and easier choice for most people.

Lacking Proper Skills

There are several steps involved in swapping out your kitchen countertops yourself. A detailed plan can help you initiate your dream and highlight areas that you might find troublesome. Installing kitchen countertops if you’re not particularly handy can lead to messy installations, uneven countertops, and many other mistakes. Alternatively, hiring a professional will guarantee skilled work completed in less time.

Tools and Supplies

Having the proper tools is essential for this kind of home improvement project. However, it’s important to know beforehand what tools you would need and how to use them. This includes saws and caulking guns, which some households might not have. Hiring someone to replace your counters who already has all of the necessary tools can be an easier choice than teaching yourself.

Removing Your Sink and Old Counter

Before you can begin placing a new countertop, you must first remove the old counter and kitchen sink. Removing a sink requires several steps in itself. Shutting off the water and disconnecting the pipes can be a big job. If you have a garbage disposal, turning this off is essential and should never be overlooked.

If you have ordered new countertops, you need somewhere to keep them while you remove the old ones. If the new ones aren’t in a safe location, they could break and cause setbacks in your project.

You cannot install broken or damaged counters, so if you have any issue with your new counters before installing, you might have to order new ones. This will cost more money and extend the length of your project.

Ensuring Your Cabinets are Level

If your cabinets are not level once you remove the old counters, you will have to rectify that problem. Incorrect installments of previous counters can be difficult to see if the old installers cut corners or added certain elements to make them level.

Uneven cabinets might mean other additions need to be used to keep your new counters from developing a slope or tilt. Your project could change from installing kitchen countertops to straightening your cabinets, adding an unforeseen and unwelcome twist to your project.

Correct Measurements are Essential

Proper measuring is one of the biggest hangups of any home improvement project. If, at any time, you misread a measurement or make a measuring error, it could affect the entire counter space and result in more time and money spent trying to correct the error. Understanding how to measure is essential to any project.

Installation Time

Usually, it takes three to five hours for a professional to replace a regular-sized countertop. It’s better to assume that the entire project will take a day to get right. A large countertop job will take up to three days to complete.

If you try to install a counter yourself, you might have to extend this timeline multiple times to ensure that you’ve completed the installation correctly. A short replacement could last weeks or even months if you are unprepared for the amount of work required.

Installing kitchen countertops by yourself can be hard work, especially if you’ve chosen granite counters. It’s much safer and easier to complete the job with someone to help you. However, if there’s no one you can rely on, it’s better for your kitchen and peace of mind if you hire professional installers.

Conclusion

Hiring a professional makes the job quicker and less of a hassle. A professional can guarantee the correct measurements, ensuring that your new space has level counters and no gaps.

Putting in your kitchen countertops has the potential to save you money, but there’s no guarantee that it’s the best decision. Mistakes and errors could waste time and money that hiring a professional from the outset would avoid.

Remodeling your kitchen is a great way to update your home with a new theme or trend. Choosing your design involves selecting colors, patterns, and textures like wood or marble and whether to follow a specific interior decorator or customize your ideas.

Before you take the plunge in replacing your backsplash to match your quartz countertop, there are some fantastic fashion ideas and trends to consider for your home.

Let’s take a look at the best backsplashes for quartz countertops.

Vintage Designs

A look of nostalgia is a beautiful way to add a unique appearance to your kitchen. Vintage styles range from mosaic tiles and Gatsby-style designs from the early 20th century to oxidized copper, floral patterns, and marbleized surfaces. There are infinite options for tile sizes, colors, and patterns to match your quartz countertop.

The Classic Look

Choosing a simple, neutral theme is a safe option when you already have a theme in your kitchen that you want to maintain. Classic designs are ideal for a budget-friendly option, and they are available in various styles, from solid, neutral colors to simple designs. Classic and contemporary designs give your kitchen a refreshed upgrade without a drastic change.

Contrasting or Matching?

If you’re looking for a bold statement, you can opt to contrast the backsplash with your countertop. This option may follow a specific trend or provide an opportunity to create your design. If you decide to match your quartz countertop, it’s best to obtain a few samples of tiles or backsplash designs to ensure the color or pattern works with your scheme.

An All-white Backsplash

Choosing an all-white set of tiles for your backsplash can make other colors and patterns in your kitchen “pop” while providing a neutral background. If your kitchen is all white, this option offers a uniform design.

A Modern Look

A dark-gray or black backsplash offers a nice, modern touch in your kitchen. If you have a quartz countertop of the same or similar color, the pairing provides a sleek, stylish appearance for your space.

Tips and Suggestions for Choosing Your Backsplash

Whether you choose a glass finish, tiles, or other materials for your backsplash, it’s ideal for preparing ahead before going shopping to begin your project:

• Consider your budget and determine how much you can spend on all the materials. Once you have a price range in mind, you’ll know which brands and options are available to you.
• Ensure that the tiles or material you choose for your backsplash are easy to maintain, so you can avoid stains and wear. A smooth or shiny surface can significantly enhance your kitchen’s appearance, with a surface that’s easy to wipe down.
• Measure the size of your space, as this will impact your budget and design options. If you have a relatively small kitchen, you may have more flexibility to invest in a more expensive backsplash than you think.
•  Do you want your backsplash to stand out or blend in? Detailed, intricate designs and bold colors are ideal for making your space unique and artistic.
• Blending your backsplash into your existing design is another way to match your countertop with neutral, muted tones and patterns.

If you spend a lot of time in your kitchen, you’ll want to consider making a significant investment in your backsplash so that you can enjoy your space for cooking and food preparation. Opting for a simple, hassle-free design is ideal if you prefer the minimalist look and limit the time you spend in your kitchen.

Choosing Your Backsplash With a Consultant

If you’re planning on a complete renovation of your kitchen or home, you’ll want to include the backsplash as part of your design. Our consultants at Washington Marble Works may offer various coordinating styles and themes to incorporate your backsplash for quartz countertops and other areas of your kitchen. When you decide on a style at this stage, you’ll want to review all the latest trends and schemes for your home.

Conclusion

Your backsplashes for quartz countertops can be a fantastic way to make an artistic statement or build on the current theme to coordinate your cabinets, sink, and faucet. Ultimately, you’ll want to select high-quality materials, such as the ones we provide at Washington Marble Works. Locating an installer with high credentials and good reviews is imperative to ensure your project is a success. If you’re in the market for a new look in your kitchen, contact us today for a quote.

Quartz countertop styles allow for a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures. You may not know how versatile and stylish these countertops can be and the personality they can add to your kitchen.

To learn more, check out these six countertop styles that showcase the range and diversity of quartz counters.

1. Bianco Levanto

This glossy white countertop style adds class to a kitchen if you want a more elegant look. The veining is sparse and simple, but the intermittent thick veins add interesting detail to the overall design. The countertop’s majority has a simple white stone appearance.

The subtle texture of the white portions frames the distinctive veining. This creates a high-contrast effect that forms definite sections in the piece without appearing inorganic or convoluted.

2. Crest

This style has a solid background in a gray-brown color. The texture comes from the subtle and small flecks that populate the entire surface. The varying shades of grays and browns found among the flecks create a sense of depth.

Even though the texture is on the busier side, the utilization of subtle color variations keeps the design low-key and a wonderful style for an earthy, modern kitchen.

3. Montenegro

A quartz countertop style like this one is sleek and dramatic. The texture lends itself to being reminiscent of marble, though the veining takes on a more angular path than what marble usually provides. Black is a less common countertop style, as it can feel blank and empty.

However, this style’s subtle inclusion of charcoal veining breaks up the dark swaths and gives the surface dimension. A style like this works wonderfully in a bold and modern kitchen.

4. Seashell-N

A countertop style that incorporates different colors opens up the possibilities for your kitchen’s palette. This pattern accomplishes an incredible amount of depth by using creams, tans, light grays, and charcoal tones in quick succession.

The created texture is similar to short brush strokes with oil paint. How these colors play together results in a texture that echoes the ocean’s movement and atmosphere.

5. Tawny

Quartz can look marbly with pronounced veining, or it can showcase textures with varied flecks to create subtle depth. It can also be matte, with almost no polish, and keep its texture profile to a minimum.

This texture exists in various whites, grays, or, in this case, browns. The coffee-colored nature of this style adds warmth and can inspire some unique color palettes in your kitchen.

6. Pegasus-N

The veining’s texture in this countertop style is incredibly subtle yet effective. Instead of the typical marble or flecked texture, this countertop’s veining imitates water and bubbles.

Each light cream bead varies in size and shape but keeps an organic, natural feel throughout the pattern. The cream areas are also traced with an off-white natural border that creates an understated depth in this pattern.

Want to incorporate some unique quartz countertop styles into your kitchen? Contact us for more information.

If these stunning quartz countertop styles inspire you, contact us for a consultation or more information. We provide a wide array of quartz countertops, and you can reach out to us to discuss your design needs.

We are a leading company in Washington, and we strive to finish each project so that it satisfies you and fulfills your desires. Contact us at (253) 891-1823 to discuss what you need to get the kitchen you want.

Marble countertops are among the most coveted around the world. People have been marveling at their beauty for thousands of years. Marble was the go-to material for the ancient Greeks and Romans, both for construction and carvings.

Over the years, marble has become a mainstay in people’s kitchens. Since people spend so much time in the kitchen already, why not make your countertops as unique and beautiful as they can be? Here are the four primary marble countertop advantages.

1. Easy to Shape

Marble is a soft stone that’s straightforward to work when it’s first quarried. When the miners first extract the marble, it’s much softer than it is after polishing and shaping.

Sculptors have picked marble as their stone of choice for thousands of years because of this reason. Sculptors like Michelangelo and the Greeks understood how important it was to use a material that they could shape with ease.

Since it’s initially so painless to shape, marble is great for countertops. Marble is the type of material that doesn’t chip or break in the initial carving. Once people shape and polish the marble, though, the stone becomes much more brittle and prone to chips.

2. Semi-translucent

Other than its shaping, the other reason why marble was such a popular material for carvings is because of its semi-translucent nature. To the naked eye, marble seems like it’s an opaque stone, but not everything is as it seems!

Marble allows rays of light to enter the stone, which then bounces off the interior of the marble until the ray of light enters our eyes. We call this process diffraction. Diffraction gives carved marble a glow or aura.

This phenomenon is best seen in sculptures, but you’ll also experience it from countertops. You’ll notice that on bright days, the top of your counter has a faint glow, a unique quality in marble.

3. Variety

One of the advantages of marble is its wide variety. You can find marble slabs with intense veins that you can almost feel, while others are nearly plain white with no veins.

Some people enjoy the look of marble veining more than others, so it’s up to you to choose how pronounced you want the veins to be. Some people don’t like veins because it can be difficult to find veins that go together, especially if you choose marble cut from different slabs.

Marble also isn’t always white. There are dark grays, blacks, and lighter colors, like beige or very pale pink. A wide variety of patterns and colors means you get to choose the countertop that will fit your kitchen’s theme seamlessly.

4. Heat Resistant

Marble countertops are extremely heat resistant. Although marble counters may not be strong when it comes to chips, scratches, and breaks, they can withstand a significant amount of heat. Marble counters can withstand heat because of their porous nature, which allows heat to disperse itself throughout the stone.

Many stones yellow when people apply heat to them. You won’t have to worry about immediate yellowing or stains from hot pots and pans with marble counters. You should never put a piping hot pot on your counters for more than a second, though, since extended exposure can cause stains.

5. Consider Marble

With all of those marble countertop advantages, why not consider them for your home? Contact our team at Washington Marble Works, and talk to them about your options for installing marble countertops.