Question:
We live in an old ‘rambler’ suburban house. Most of the cabinet’s are OK, old fashioned solid wood, maple or oak. The counter is beat up and getting ugly, its formica with aluminum trim. Mom also wants to replace the sink. We do need to replace the dishwasher and was thinking of just putting in another cab to store large pots etc and extending the counter top. We looked at some of those artificial stone counters, about a 150 bucks a foot. 8 feet or so. While that’s installed, I don’t know if that included cutting the hole for the sink and all. Its just that when we had our storm door installed, it was $125 to the store, we had to pick it up ourselves and get rid of the old one. And while here, the guy said that he needed to shim the frame and since he ‘had to get his circle saw out, that’s another $35′ which he used to cut a stick of molding that could have been cut with a pocket knife, or heck since it was being hidden under the frame, broken with the hands. A replacement formica top would be under $100. I’m wondering if I can do it myself, even though I’m ‘not handy.’ I’m sure I can remember to shut the water valves off under the sink before I remove it…. Anybody have any warnings, tips etc.
Response:
> A replacement formica top would be under $100. I’m wondering if I can do > it myself, even though I’m ‘not handy.’ I’m sure I can remember to shut > the water valves off under the sink before I remove it…. Anybody have any > warnings, tips etc.
Put in a stone countertop only because nothing else will do. Laminate (brands like Formica) has a long history of service, and there are things that can be done to reduce or eliminate the problems with seams that some people object to (though how much of that can be done DIY I can’t say). The price difference is significant. You likely will not see that "investment" back at sale time (unless every other house in your neighborhood has a stone countertop, in which case it’s just a checklist item that’s not worth anything), and, frankly, I think stone countertops are becoming a kitchen cliche — in a few years they will look as dated as avocado green appliances or white Shaker cabinets, but it won’t have the virtue of a limited lifespan to justify its replacement with something more modern-looking. I would make sure I studied a lot about installing laminate countertops, made sure I had the right tools, etc. Could turn out more expensive than you think. sd
Response:
[ part about guy who charged $35.00 to cut one piece of molding snipped ] > A replacement formica top would be under $100. I’m wondering if I can do >it myself, even though I’m ‘not handy.’ I’m sure I can remember to shut >the water valves off under the sink before I remove it…. Anybody have any >warnings, tips etc.
Work really hard, read books, perhaps buy and/or rent some tools and do it yourself. Or work really hard and find some honest competent person/company to do it for you. I can’t prove it, but I think that honest competent tradesmen who’ll charge a fair (probably not low ball) price, can be found in your area, wherever that may be. Good luck. -Mike
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > [ part about guy who charged $35.00 to cut one piece of molding snipped ] > A replacement formica top would be under $100. I’m wondering if I can do >it myself, even though I’m ‘not handy.’ I’m sure I can remember to shut >the water valves off under the sink before I remove it…. Anybody have any >warnings, tips etc. > Work really hard, read books, perhaps buy and/or rent some tools and > do it yourself. Or work really hard and find some honest competent > person/company to do it for you. I can’t prove it, but I think > that honest competent tradesmen who’ll charge a fair (probably not > low ball) price, can be found in your area, wherever that may be. > Good luck.
If you’re handy and have the right tools, installing the top, and doing a quality job on it, should be relatively easy. However, OP stated he’s "not handy" so probably doesn’t have the right tools, nor experience and knowledge, to do a good job of it. I most certainly wouldn’t want to discourage OP from learning, but if he’s not generally going to be interested in doing this kind of work, he’ll likely find hiring someone to be both less expensive, and have a better job done faster. thanks, –randy
Response:
>… And while >here, the guy said that he needed to shim the frame and since he ‘had to get >his circle saw out, that’s another $35′ which he used to cut a stick of >molding that could have been cut with a pocket knife, or heck since it was >being hidden under the frame, broken with the hands.
If you think the price is too much, you could have installed it yourself. Personally, I’d generally rather someone neatly cut their material rather than broke it with their hands. If you are satisfied with shoddier work, then you SHOULD do it yourself. -v.
Response:
>… And while >here, the guy said that he needed to shim the frame and since he ‘had to get >his circle saw out, that’s another $35′ which he used to cut a stick of >molding that could have been cut with a pocket knife, or heck since it was >being hidden under the frame, broken with the hands. > If you think the price is too much, you could have installed it > yourself. Personally, I’d generally rather someone neatly cut their > material rather than broke it with their hands. If you are satisfied > with shoddier work, then you SHOULD do it yourself.
The thing is, I thought I already paid for the install. My house is a standard suburban tract house, nothing exotic, antiquarian, victorian,etc. A cheap simple house, with a basic frame. I don’t believe that extra bit of molding the said he needed to mount the door was unexpected nor unpredictable in the business. This was not a situation of an unusual design or construction turning the job into a custom install. The guy who installed our washer and dryer didn’t charge us $35 to level the machine when he installed it. And the exhaust pipe was part of the package. The guys who delivered the couch has to take the door off the hinges to get it in, no problem even though that was unexpected and no extra charge.
Response:
When we had our dishwasher replaced, we paid $70 to have it installed. There was no vent installed in the sink for the old machine and the installer said not having the drain would void our warranty and that he could drill the hole for us….for another $60 or so. This of course did not make me happy and I told him I would drill the hole (through the back lip of the sink!) myself. A few minutes later I came to my senses and had him do it (he said most people do the same thing). I think it was actually a good deal for me as the installer said the bit he used to drill through the sink cost $100 alone, and it looked like he might have been telling the truth, it wasn’t your average looking drill bit. Of course he wasn’t drilling through your average 2×4 either. But $35 to pull out a saw? Sounds like a shakedown to me. Was this guy an independent working for the store? If so, I’ll bet they don’t make a whole lot to install a door. This is probably their way of recouping some (or all) of their loss. kickaha
Response:
> When we had our dishwasher replaced, we paid $70 to have it installed.
Yikes! Was this an new installation, or a replacement? These things are trivial to replace. A new installation depends on the cabinetry, obviously. > There was no vent installed in the sink for the old machine and the > installer said not having the drain would void our warranty and that he > could drill the hole for us….for another $60 or so.
Did you *look* at the warranty? The units I’ve seen don’t need vents and simply require a loop above the trap (right there in the installation directions). My mother had a vent in her’s, and it was nothing but a PITA. I’ve never had one and haven’t had any problems. > This of course did not make me happy and I told him I would drill the > hole (through the back lip of the sink!) myself.
Back lip of the *sink*? What is the sink made out of (steel, cast, fiberglass?). I’ve always seen vents through the counter top. I haven’t seen one for a *long* time though. > A few minutes later I > came to my senses and had him do it (he said most people do the same thing).
Sure. When a thief holds a gun to your head, you tend to chuck over the wallet. Yes, I’m guilty of the same in similar circumstances. > I think it was actually a good deal for me as the installer said the bit > he used to drill through the sink cost $100 alone, and it looked like he > might have been telling the truth, it wasn’t your average looking drill > bit. Of course he wasn’t drilling through your average 2×4 either.
It was likely a forstner bit, if it was trough the counter top. They can be expensive, but certainly not $100. If it was through the *sink*, I have no clue. It would depend on the sink. > But $35 to pull out a saw? Sounds like a shakedown to me. Was this guy > an independent working for the store? If so, I’ll bet they don’t make a > whole lot to install a door. This is probably their way of recouping > some (or all) of their loss.
I understand $35 for pulling out the saw, though this particular instance sounds suspect. I don’t understand how these contractors make money otherwise though. A friend had a garage door installed cheaper than she could buy the door and cart the old one away (even though I’d be doing the carting). —- Keith
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