Concrete
Good Morning Community; Today, I would like to talk about Concrete as a flooring choice for your kitchen remodel or renovation. Yes, that is what I said, Concrete. Concrete flooring is an unconventional but a very solid option.
This mixture of cement, water, and sand or gravel isn’t just for the basement floor anymore. Color can be added to the mix, and it absorbs heat, making it ideal for a radiant heat system.
Recommended support, Cementitious backer board.

Pros
• As durable as tile and stone.
• The best choice if you want radiant heat.
• You’ll be surprised at the number of colors and finishes.
Cons
• Requires a sealer to prevent staining.
• Heavy and requires strong support.
• Can be a dangerously hard fall for the elderly and children.

Price will be approximately $15-$20 per square foot. I hope you may want to contact us and see for yourself how Highland Contractors may offer you a solution for your home improvement projects. That is what makes us Rochester’s Best Contractor. Let us help you.

Carpet
Good Morning Community; Today, I would like to talk about Carpeting as a flooring choice for your kitchen remodel or renovation. Carpet flooring in the kitchen can work well in areas of the country with little humidity.
If you’d like to place carpeting in your kitchen work area, choose something durable, such as a tight Berber made out of a stain-resistant material like olefin.

Recommended flooring support, Plywood or concrete.

Pros
• Quiet and comfortable.
Cons
• It doesn’t provide the durability and stain-resistance you expect from a kitchen floor.
• It will be a chore to clean up everyday spills, much less major accidents.
• Can mildew easily, especially in areas of the country with humid climates.

Price will be approximately $3-$9 per square foot for Berber. The price is what will make this a very attractive option. I hope you may want to contact us and see for yourself how Highland Contractors may offer you a solution for your home improvement projects. That is what makes us Rochester’s Best Contractor. Let us help you.

Vinyl
Good Morning Community; Today, I would like to talk about Vinyl as a flooring choice for your kitchen or bathroom remodel or renovation. Vinyl can provide the look of tile without the hardness of stone or ceramic.
You’ve stepped on plenty of vinyl in your lifetime. One of the most common kitchen flooring materials, it’s known as “resilient” because of its ability to bounce back into shape. That’s what gives it a cushiony feel. Vinyl comes in sheet or tile form (which can be easier to install but also more susceptible to water damage because of its seams) and in all kinds of colors and patterns.

When you choose vinyl, you’ll need to decide on a type: standard or inlaid. The key difference between the two is:
• Standard vinyl uses a rotogravure process in which the color and pattern are printed on one sheet layered between a thick, clear upper surface (the wear layer) and a foamy vinyl core.
• In inlaid vinyl, the color and pattern go all the way through the core material. Inlaid vinyl is considered the more dense and durable of the two.

Both types of vinyl have a protective no-wax coating or a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) surface (the same water-resistant resin used on raincoats). Jump around on the floor samples before you decide, as the cushiness will vary depending on the thickness of the core material in inlaid vinyl and of the wear layer in standard vinyl.

Recommended flooring support, Plywood.

Pros
• Endless options for colors and patterns.
• No worries about water discoloring the floor.
• No maintenance beyond sweeping and mopping.
• Resists scuffs and stains from kids and pets.
Cons
• Requires that you clean up spills quickly to avoid stains. It’s stain-resistant but not stain-proof.
• If the installation isn’t done properly and as free of seams as possible, the flooring may peel up.
• You shouldn’t wear pointed heels while you stir the spaghetti, as they could dent the vinyl.

Price will be approximately $1-$10 per square foot.
I hope you may want to contact us and see for yourself how Highland Contractors may offer you a solution for your home improvement projects. That is what makes us Rochester’s Best Contractor. Let us help you.

Stone

Good Morning Community; Today, I would like to talk about Stone as a flooring choice for your kitchen or bathroom remodel or renovation. The most common stones for the kitchen floor are granite, marble, and slate.

Recommended flooring support, Cementitious backer board.
Pros
• Tough and durable.
• You can use over a radiant heat system.

Cons
• Stone might not offer the comfort you’re looking for. It can feel like you’re standing on cold rock (because you are). Consider using mats or throw rugs in work areas.
• You’ll need to apply sealants periodically to prevent stains.
• Marble can be slippery and dangerous to fall on. The elderly and families with young children may want to consider another type of flooring.
• A light-colored grout in between stone tiles will show stains and dirt.
• The stones may chip, so you should keep extras on hand.
• The color of the stone that arrives at your home may differ from what you choose in the showroom if taken from a different lot. If you have the option, approve the slabs that will become your flooring while they are still at the distributor or manufacturer.

Price will be approximately $10-$100 per square foot.
I hope you may want to contact us and see for yourself how Highland Contractors may offer you a solution for your home improvement projects. That is what makes us Rochester’s Best Contractor. Let us help you.

Hardwood
Good Morning Community; Today, I would like to talk about Hardwood as a flooring choice for your kitchen remodel or renovation.
Oak and maple are common choices for kitchen flooring; pine is often used to give a worn effect. The wood is typically installed prior to the cabinets and laid in planks, narrow strips, or patterned parquet squares.
A floor finished on-site with penetrating oil and wax gives you the classic look of hardwood floors and an even surface. However, it will need to be waxed annually. This type of treatment is more appropriate for the drawing room than a high-traffic, high-spill zone like the kitchen.
A floor treated on-site or at the factory with a penetrating sealer like polyurethane won’t need to be waxed regularly. It can be kept fresh with a vacuum or broom and with a re-coating every five or six years.
Don’t get stuck with a bad finish job. Look for bubbles, paper, and dust that may have been trapped in the finish; a wavy look or feel along the strips; deep swirls or sander marks; and splotchy areas. While you may see some imperfections in isolated areas, they shouldn’t appear throughout the flooring.
I would recommended for the flooring support to use Plywood.
Pros
• You can keep a polyurethane-coated wood floor clean with a vacuum or broom.
• Wood provides a variety of looks.
• Long-lasting and durable.
Cons
• If water seeps between the boards, it may cause warping and buckling.
• Floors with wax finishes require maintenance and may not be practical for the kitchen. They can be slippery too.
• You may need to refinish the entire floor to get rid of scratches.
• You have to guard against fading and be careful where you place throw rugs and mats—the sun could fade the floor around them, leaving a darker area underneath.
Price will be approximately $7-$100 per square foot.
I hope you may want to contact us and see for yourself how Highland Contractors may offer you a solution for your home improvement projects. That is what makes us Rochester’s Best Contractor. Let us help you.

Ceramic Tile
Good Morning Community; Today, I would like to talk about Ceramic tile as a flooring choice for your kitchen remodel or renovation.
This porcelain ceramic tile mimics the look of natural stone.
There are several types of tile.
• Ceramic tiles are made from pressed clays covered with a glaze of metallic oxides and ceramic stains or finished with a matte surface.
• Porcelain mosaic tiles are baked at a higher temperature, which makes them thicker. Their color also goes through the tile, rather than only covering the surface.
• Quarry tile is an unglazed mix of shale and clays that also has color throughout.

The spaces between the tiles are filled in by grout. An epoxy grout is recommended to help resist stains. It’s usually best to choose a grout that closely matches the color of the tiles.

Recommended flooring support Cementitious backer board.

Pros
• There are many sizes, patterns, and colors to choose from.
• Tile is durable.
• Glazed tile resists staining and doesn’t require special cleaning or other maintenance.
• Tile is suitable for radiant heat.

Cons
• Glazed tile with no texture may be slippery and pose a safety hazard for the elderly and young children.
• Unglazed tile needs to be treated occasionally with sealants.
• Tile, like stone, can be a little hard on the feet if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
• Individual tiles may crack over time so try to get some extra ones with your original batch so that the replacements will match the other pieces.

Price will be approximately $8-$100 per square foot.
I hope you may want to contact us and see for yourself how Highland Contractors may offer you a solution for your home improvement projects. That is what makes us Rochester’s Best Contractor. Let us help you.

Laminate flooring can look identical to many hardwood species.

Good Morning Community; Today, I would like to begin a series of blogs on your flooring choices for your kitchen remodel or renovation.
Laminate flooring resembles hardwood or stone while offering the easy maintenance of vinyl. Some people turn their noses up at the idea of obtaining the look of natural materials from plastic laminate adhered to fiberboard or particleboard. But you may want to consider the product, which has been popular in Europe for decades, if you want the look but not the price tag of real wood.
Recommended support
Plywood.
Pros
• Liquids don’t cause the damage they would to a real wood floor.
• No worries about staining or fading for at least a decade.
• It’s extremely durable and can handle lots of traffic.
• Cleanup requires just a broom or mop.
• Requires less maintenance than real wood.
• Costs less than real wood.
Cons
• If water seeps into its cracks, the laminated layers could break up.
• When it wears out, the whole floor has to be replaced rather than just refinished.
• More prone to chipping than real wood.
• Surface won’t be as even or as smooth and seamless as real wood.
Price will be approximately $4-$11 per square foot.
I hope you may want to contact us and see for yourself how Highland Contractors may offer you a solution for your home improvement projects. That is what makes us Rochester’s Best Contractor. Let us help you.

How To Prepare… Understanding the Challenges of a Kitchen Remodel
Good Morning Community; Today, let’s talk about how you can prepare for a kitchen remodel or renovation. When it comes to remodeling, Murphy’s Law often applies: Whatever can go wrong, will.
Brace yourself for typical problems such as:
• Products delivered late, dented or with missing parts
• The wrong products delivered
• Miscommunication
• More dust than you expected
• Termites or carpenter ants in the walls, floor, or windows
• Mold or moisture in the walls from leaky plumbing or poor flashing
• Structural problems that need to be repaired
• Asbestos or lead paint removal
Knowing is half the battle. By preparing for the dust, foot traffic, and absentee kitchen sink, you’ll find yourself ahead of the game.
Before Construction Begins
• Ask your designer or contractor for a timeline. Knowing what will be happening when—and which strangers to expect in your home— will give you peace of mind.
• Clarify whether your contractor will wait until the new products have arrived before starting demolition. Although you may be impatient to start construction, in the long run you’ll appreciate having your kitchen torn up for less time.
• Clarify whose job it is—the designer’s, the contractor’s or yours—to pull the necessary permits for doing any electrical, mechanical, building or remodeling work. This must be done before construction starts.
• Products need to be stored someplace until they’re installed. Find out if your contractor or designer has a warehouse or staging area to which products can be delivered.
• Get clean, sturdy boxes well ahead of time to ensure that you can pack up items that won’t be used during the renovation period to protect them from dust and damage.
• Move any pictures, mirrors, furniture, and other items in neighboring rooms away from walls adjacent to the kitchen. You don’t want vibrations from the construction to break them.
• A week before renovation begins, start packing up the contents of your cabinets, beginning with the least-used items. By the day before tear out begins, you should be down to basics that will be kept in the most accessible boxes. Unpack in reverse order for a streamlined process.
• If you live in a high-rise, be sure to reserve the freight elevator for delivery days.
• Interested in sending your old cabinets and fixtures somewhere other than the junk heap? If you don’t have the finances for laundry or garage cabinets, consider installing your old cabinetry there. You can also investigate donating products to salvage centers or to non-profit companies for use in rehab projects.
Managing Dust
• Protect what you can’t remove; floors should be covered, dust curtains hung and a pathway defined for workmen to enter and exit the workspace. Use plastic sheeting and tape to seal off doorways into other rooms and cover bookshelves, furniture, and electronic equipment. Some contractors will do this for you.
• Turn off the central air or heat when the workers are sanding. Keep extra air filters on hand.
• Ask that the construction area be broom cleaned at the end of every day to minimize the mess.
• If necessary, prepare a storage area in the garage or in another room near the kitchen for holding appliances, cabinets, and other items until it’s time to install them. Or rent a storage space for a month or two during the construction phase.
Cooking and Eating
• Keep essential items handy: microwave meals and non-perishables like soup; condiments; cereal; microwave-safe dishes and utensils; dishcloths; dishwasher soap; paper plates and cups; coffee; coffee pot and sugar/creamer; paper towels; napkins; and garbage bags.
• You’ll be without water in the kitchen for a time, so plan to do the dishes in another sink or the bathtub. Or stock up on disposable plates and cups, paper towels and a disinfectant cleanser.
• Plan a temporary kitchen by moving your old refrigerator or a small mini-frig to a convenient space close to a water source. Add a table with a microwave above and a trash can below.
• Invest in a hot plate if you fear you’ll quickly tire of microwave-prepared meals.
• Stockpile restaurant coupons to use on nights when you need to get away from it all.
• Meals cooked in advance and frozen can be easily reheated for a family dinner that’s a little more normal than the state of your home.
Communication
• Inform the workers about children and pets so they know to be extra careful with doors and gates and to watch underfoot.
• Designate an entrance for kitchen material deliveries and traffic.
• If the workers are not bringing a portable toilet, decide which bathrooms are off-limits and let them know.
• Keep your cell phone charged.
• Post a list of contractors’ cell phone and beeper numbers on the wall .
• Pick an area to serve as a message center. Leave a notebook and paper there so you can leave messages for
the contractor (and vice versa) when you are not in the house.
• I hope you may want to contact us and see for yourself how Highland Contractors may offer you a solution for your home improvement projects. That is what makes us Rochester’s Best Contractor. Let us help you.
I hope you may want to contact us and see for yourself how Highland Contractors may offer you a solution for your home improvement projects. That is what makes us Rochester’s Best Contractor. Let us help you.

What To Expect… A Kitchen Remodel Time Frame.
Good Morning Community; Today, let’s talk about what you can expect in doing a kitchen remodel or renovation. In my experience this is a very accurate timeline you can look for in doing this project.
One of your motivations for a remodeled kitchen surely must be the chance to bring the family closer together. Doing dishes in the bathtub and warming up soup on the hot plate—fun! It’ll be just like a campout at Yellowstone!

On the way to your bright and shining new stainless steel appliances, your house will indeed be turned upside down. You’ll be wiping dust off the kids for weeks. There will be delays and other frustrations. Your family ties will be tested. Advises one remodeler: “Don’t work with your spouse. No matter how wonderful your relationship, you will fight like never before.”

But before you decide to really pitch a tent at Yellowstone, take some defensive measures: know what to expect and how to prepare.

You may have spent months, if not years, contemplating and mapping out your new kitchen. Gratification, however, will be far from instant once you finally do order your new products and materials.

Some products and materials may require lead times of up to nine months. Custom cabinets typically arrive in 12 to 16 weeks; semi-custom in eight to 10 weeks; and stock in four weeks or less.

Once the products do arrive, expect their installation to take anywhere from two to 12 weeks, depending on how ambitious your project is and on how many setbacks you encounter.

Here’s a typical installation schedule:
Work To Be Done Time To Complete
Structural changes (i.e. knocking out a wall or adding a barrel ceiling) Depends on extent of changes and building type
Cabinets and appliances delivered and placed in a garage, dining room, manufacturers’ warehouse, storage facility, or other temporary holding space 1 day
Old kitchen’s cabinets, appliances, and other features removed 1 day minimum
Mechanical changes (i.e. electrical wiring and plumbing) 2-3 days minimum
Painting or other wall decorating 2 days minimum
Flooring Depends on material
Cabinets 2-10 days
Appliances 1-2 days
Countertop fabricator measures space and orders material to fit new specifications 1 day; expect delivery about a month after order placed by fabricator
Lighting 2 days
Countertops Depends on material: laminate, 1-3 weeks; solid surface, 2-4 weeks; stone 2-5 weeks
Wall faucet(s) 1 day
Backsplash 1-2 days
Sink(s) 1 day
Cooktop 1 day

I hope you may want to contact us and see for yourself how Highland Contractors may offer you a solution for your home improvement projects. That is what makes us Rochester’s Best Contractor. Let us help you.

Home-owners Climbing up on Roof.

Good Morning Community;
I would like to talk about something I feel is very serious and potentially very dangerous. I watched a news broadcast last night in which as I understand it, a homeowner went up on a roof with someone to look at her roof. She fell on the roof. She did not go to the ground but the news broadcast gave information that No homeowner should need to go up on their roof. We here at HIGHLAND CONTRACTORS concur with this very specific advisory. There are many reasons I can offer as to why this is a good idea. First, there are vents, and exhaust stacks on your roof that if you do not know where you are walking these can be damaged. Second, There is the issue of the mere steepness of the roof makes it a dangerous task to do. Third, Most Homeowners will not know what they are looking for anyways.
Most roof inspections that we suggest you do on your home can be done from the ground. If there is a specific concern about something on your roof, Please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to come out to do an inspection for you. We can offer our own view and explain what we find to you, We can offer you a video inspection so you can see what we found, We can offer you a Photo inspection where you can have the photos we take of your roof.
What I would like to say is “Homeowners, stay off of your roof”, BUT What I will say is “Homeowners, Please do not go up on your roof.”
Your satisfaction is always guaranteed. I hope you may want to contact us and see for yourself how Highland Contractors may offer you a solution for your home improvement projects. That is what makes us Rochester’s Best Contractor. Let us help you.