Remodel Success Guide

Set yourself up for remodeling success: Six tips from the experts

Tackling a remodeling project can be daunting, but one simple way to set yourself up for success is to surround yourself with the best experts. We sat down with Tom Knotts, owner of Adalay Interiors, who prides himself and his team on keeping pace with the design curve. He is also President for the Central Florida Chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association, promoting continuing education for trades. Tom brings close to three decades of expertise to the table.

1: What increases a home's value the most?
Bathroom and kitchen remodels are some of the highest-value upgrades that can raise a home's worth, as they appeal to homebuyers. 

2: When is it time to remodel?
The average lifecycle of a kitchen or bathroom is 20 years when wear and tear has taken its toll and style is outmoded. New products and technology are outpacing themselves faster than most people can keep up.

3: Speaking of 20 years, what has changed?
Of course, new style products like sheet porcelain slabs can be used on entire walls. But it is also the foundational changes in the industry that are exciting. For example, the newer low-flow toilets flush every time and never get clogged. And exceptional waterproofing products offer lifetime guarantees. If they fail, everything in your shower is replaced free of charge.

4: What is the average cost to remodel, say, a bathroom?
You have seen those TV ads for one-day shower installs. They run somewhere in the neighborhood of $14,000. That's plastic walls, no-name faucets and fixtures, done in a day or two. Depending on product choices, we can do an entire bathroom for $16,000 to $20,000. That includes the vanity, countertops, floors—the whole room. Though it takes longer, sometimes it pays to redo your entire bathroom, not just one feature. Regardless, we aim to work within your budget to get you the most value.

5: There are a lot of big-box retailers out there. What should we know?
When using big-box retailers like Home Depot and Floor & Décor, you're traveling to various warehouses and retailers, left to hunt and peck and determine quality and style on your own. Quality is a big issue, and the customer is often unaware of substandard products and brands that seem appealing due to low price points. With thousands of products and so many pieces to the puzzle, it can be quite overwhelming.

6: What are the advantages of engaging a design showroom?
Showrooms like Adalay's have designers on staff to walk customers through the entire process and help specify every detail, from faucets to grout, cabinets to countertops. We guide the homeowner to coordinate and create a beautiful outcome within their budget and run the project so it goes smoothly, working with GCs and tradesmen to ensure proper installation. At the end of the day, the goal is to have a build that will last 20-plus years—before the next remodel comes around.

For more information on remodeling go to www.adalay.com/services