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Mavriq Construction Thunder Bay Kitchen Renovations

Kitchen Renovations

The modern kitchen means more than just a space to cook and eat. Many families spend a significant amount of time meeting with friends, playing games, doing homework etc. Technical information is important to a design, but so is how the space will be used. We capture this information during our design process and ensure it is used to develop the final plan.
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Our Approach to Kitchen Renovations

Renovations are a big decision, and the results will impact your life both during and after the work. Your project deserves the time and attention that our team will provide. Our proven customer-oriented process ensures that details are not missed, and the renovation is as seamless as possible.
Our core team has decades of combined experience in the Thunder Bay market. We strive for quality in everything we do and continually improve our skills, knowledge and processes. We back up our work with a 2-year Labor Warranty on top of the material warranties of the manufacturer.
Kitchen Renovation with Fresh Vegetables on Countertop

More Than Just Cooking

The modern kitchen means more than just a space to cook and eat. A significant amount of time is spent meeting with friends, playing games, doing homework and other activities in many families. We capture this information during our design process and ensure it is used to develop the final plan.

Other Considerations

A great kitchen design accounts for the client's aesthetics needs. The colour scheme, style and material selection are critical in creating a space the customer will love for years to come. To determine storage needs, the designer should find out details such as how much fresh produce you keep on hand, how often you buy in bulk, and similar information. We capture that and more.

Material Selection

We can help you pick the appliances, lighting, flooring and cabinetry that will meet your needs for years to come. We work with many suppliers to offer a wide selection and save you money. 

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Kitchen Cabinet Selection

Cabinets come in a wide variety of styles and colours, from modern to the ever popular "country kitchen" look. There is glass vs solid door, painted vs unpainted, as well as many other options. The first thing you should decide is the style you want. All the other design choices need to be made afterwards.

Quality

One of the larger portions of a kitchen renovation budget is the cabinets. A critical decision is picking what quality of cabinet will be purchased. The quality and price are mostly governed by their construction. Thermofoil and melamine with a particleboard core are on the low end, with solid wood and plywood cabinets on the other. It is ok to purchase inexpensive cabinets, but keep in mind that you will likely have to replace them in 5-10 years. They tend to be susceptible to water and heat damage, yellow with age, and delaminate reasonably quickly. Our supplier of choice is Direct Cabinets uses only top quality materials.

Frameless or Euro-style

There are two types of cabinets: Eurostyle and Face Frame. Face-frame cabinets have a front that resembles a picture frame where the door is attached. Frameless or "euro-style" have no front frame, and special door hinges are used to allow the door to be attached to the sides. The hinges will enable the door to cover the sides completely (full overlay), or they can cover a portion only (half overlay, etc).

Hardware

Cabinet hardware includes handles and drawer pulls, as well as the hinges and sliders that hold the drawers. Quality is essential if you want them to last a long time. You should also decide if you want soft close hardware or want to depend on the older felt pads to stop doors and drawers from banging. In our experience, we advise avoiding inexpensive soft close add ons as they don't last very long.

Accessories

Modern cabinets have many new accessories that will help you maximize space. You should budget for them during the design process as they make financial sense. Items such as pull out base cabinet drawerscorner carouselsblind corner pull out shelvespantry organizersspice rack pull-outswastebasket pull-out traysdrawer organizerswine racks, and under-sink cleaning storage are just a few of the great choices.

Countertops and Sinks

Countertops come in a wide variety of materials and colours. They each have trade-offs in characteristics, and you will have to pick the one that suits your project. It would be wise to match the cabinets' quality as they may be damaged during a replacement.

Modern sinks are often tied to countertop choice, so you should decide what type you want before ordering either. Common types are Farmhouse, Undermount, Flushmount, and Top Mount. There are specialty types such as Bar and Corner Sinks. Common materials are Stainless Steel, Composite Sinks, and Fireclay. Another consideration is the number of bowls and features such as drying areas.

Finally, you need to pick what type of faucet you want. These are tied to sink selection as they come in 1,2,3, or 4 hole versions, and your sink needs to match.  There are Pull Out, Single Handle, and Two Handle. There are also specialty features such as Touchless, Soap Dispensers, Pot Fillers, etc. Finally, there is the style and finish of the faucet.

Laminate

Heat Resistance: Fair
Stain Resistance: Very Good
Scratch Resistance: Fair
Price: $
Laminate is an economical, low-maintenance choice. However, it is easily damaged and often not worth repairing as it usually costs more than replacing a section entirely.

Granite

Heat Resistance: Excellent
Stain Resistance: Very Good
Scratch Resistance: Excellent
Price: $$$
Like most natural materials, granite is an imperfect material. It can crack or chip, especially if there is a micro-fracture. It also should be sealed each year as it can absorb stains otherwise.

Corian

Heat Resistance: Good
Stain Resistance: Very Good
Scratch Resistance: Fair
Price: $$
Corian is a fantastic material. While it is not susceptible to scratching, it is relatively easy to repair. It also can be shaped and moulded into an amazing array of shapes. It is often used for many surfaces in addition to the countertops.

Quartz

Heat Resistance: Very Good
Stain Resistance: Very Good
Scratch Resistance: Excellent
Price: $$$
Countertops made of Quartz are a hybrid product. They are made from smaller particles of quarts held together with resins producing a very durable surface. It enjoys many of the same characteristics as granite but doesn't have imperfections.

Wood

Heat Resistance: Good
Stain Resistance: Good
Scratch Resistance: Fair
Price: $$$
Wood has been used for centuries as a countertop material that is quite durable and can be repaired. It does require sealing or oiling regularly.

Concrete

Heat Resistance: Poor
Stain Resistance: Poor
Scratch Resistance: Poor
Price: $$
Concrete is a relative newcomer to the countertop market but has become quite popular. An installer can colour it to resemble other natural materials or unique patterns and colours otherwise unavailable. It can scratch and needs annual sealing.

Marble

Heat Resistance: Very Good
Stain Resistance: Very Good
Scratch Resistance: Good
Price: $$$$
Marble is much the same as granite but much more expensive in this part of the world.

Dekton

Heat Resistance: Excellent
Stain Resistance: Excellent
Scratch Resistance: Excellent
Price: $$$$
Dekton is an artificial material that offers excellent durability and a wide array of colours. However, it is also the most expensive but will last virtually forever.

Lighting

Your lighting choices are important as they may impact the work done in your kitchen. Lighting needs to be chosen before construction starts as the electrical work must be completed nearly immediately. There are three main types of lighting ambient, task and accent. You should consider brightness and colour temperature when choosing.

  • Ambient lighting is soft lighting that illuminates the entire room. Recessed and on ceiling lighting are good choices.
  • Task lighting is brighter than ambient and should cover all important work areas. It is often a good idea to include in-cabinet lighting when designing if it is in a shaded area or an area where you may have to find items such as a pantry. Under-counter, puck, pendant and strip lighting make good task lights.
  • Accent lighting may vary in brightness and is for showing-off architectural elements such as items in glass door cupboards, a tray ceiling, or a wine rack.

We work with some of the top lighting specialty businesses in Thunder Bay and will help you with the kitchen renovation design, so lighting needs are covered. 

Flooring and Tile

Your flooring and tile choices are important in kitchen renovations. These products take a lot more abuse than in other areas of your home, and you should pick a product that will stand up to it. We recommend products from our supplier of choice Inter-City Ceramic Tile.

Sheet Vinyl

Water Resistance: Very Good
Scrubbable: Good
Durability: Good
Price: $
Sheet vinyl is a durable and inexpensive flooring product. Heavy objects can leave depressions.

Vinyl Plank

Water Resistance: Excellent
Scrubbable: Good
Durability: Good
Price: $$
Plank vinyl has become one of the most popular flooring solutions. It is durable and relatively inexpensive. When purchasing vinyl planking, avoid the most affordable versions as these can be very difficult to install and may cost you more if you factor in labour.

Stone Tile - Travertine, Marble, Slate

Water Resistance: Very Good
Scrubbable: Excellent
Durability: Very Good
Price: $$$$
Natural stone tile has been around for thousands of years and is very durable but can be expensive. Most are porous and should be sealed regularly to avoid staining.

Ceramic Tile

Water Resistance: Very Good
Scrubbable: Excellent
Durability: Very Good
Price: $$
Ceramic tile can be used for a variety of purposes in a kitchen, from backsplashes to flooring. It is reasonably expensive and relatively durable.

Porcelain Tile

Water Resistance: Excellent
Scrubbable: Excellent
Durability: Excellent
Price: $$$
Porcelain tile is the big brother to ceramics; it is more durable as well as a bit more expensive. They come in relatively the same range of colours and sizes as ceramics.

Laminate

Water Resistance: Poor
Scrubbable: Fair
Durability: Poor
Price: $
Laminate is a cheap and inexpensive flooring choice. We do not recommend its use in a kitchen, no matter what a retailer or manufacturer says. It is susceptible to water, and if a small area is damaged, it may be difficult to repair as it is interlocking.

Hardwood

Water Resistance: Very Good
Scrubbable: Good
Durability: Excellent
Price: $$$$
Hardwood is a good choice as long as it is properly maintained. Without sealing, it may get stained or scratched.

Storage

There never seems to be enough storage in a kitchen. To get the most of your kitchen renovation, look at your current storage and see where you have wasted space. Base cabinets often have a few items and a lot of space above them. When planning your kitchen, take advantage of the cabinet accessories mentioned above or adjustable shelves. Check if poor lighting is causing you to avoid placing items in an otherwise suitable storage location so you can avoid the problem with the new design.

If space allows, you might want to consider adding an entire pantry to the design if you need the storage. Large pantry cabinets are another great choice. It also may be a great time to invest in a good set of stackable pots and plastic ware as the odd-sized items waste a lot of space. Another space saver is a pot hanger above an island. 

Appliances

Appliances are one of the most important items in a kitchen renovation, and you should include them in the plan even if you are not currently replacing them. You may want to replace them down the road, and it is a good idea to have utilities and space ready.

There are many options available you may not have seen before. Our designers will go over options such as built-in, panel ready, and a host of other choices available to you. 

It is also critical that you decide what kind of ventilation you will be using before construction as ductwork and electrical needs to be in place. There is down-draft, over-the-range microwave, under-cabinet and chimney hood types.

 

Utilities

If you are replacing the cabinets, you should consider utility upgrades even if you only planned to do the cabinets. With them removed, it is often easy for tradespeople to rewire and/or plum the kitchen. Often older utilities are not up to modern kitchens' requirements and, in some cases, are downright dangerous. At the very least, get a quote on the work as you might be surprised at how little some things cost.

Our Proven Process

We work with clients from the very first meeting to define the client's expectations, budget and vision. The process ensures we capture all the relevant information, develop a strong plan and ensure the client receives the established work product.

Complimentary Consultation

Our free consultation helps us align with customers and ensure both parties are working towards a common goal.

A build specific questionnaire helps collect information such as a rough budget, “scrapbook photos”, the client's needs and wants, style preferences and rough timelines. We also provide resources to customers to help further refine their vision.

Gather Project Information

After the first meeting clients will be given time to consider the options, ideas and resources presented. Our staff will then work to establish the final Color Schemes, Finishes, as well as Material Selection.

Other important design choices such as Lighting, Storage and Unique Features will be finalized.

Formal Design and Planning

The information will be compiled into detailed construction documents and/or 3D renderings as required by the project.

The final pricing, detailed plans, terms and scheduling, will be compiled into a contract.

Once approved and agreed permits will be obtained and project will be set in motion.

Implementation and Final Walk Through

Your project will be overseen by a core employee who will take responsibility for the project, keep the site safe and clean and give you regular status updates.

Upon completion a final walk through and a punch list will be created for issues that need addressing.

This isn’t the end though! With our 2 year labor warranty we’ll be there for you if you need us.
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Detailed Project Contracts

Don't settle for a quote scribbled on a piece of paper without any details. Our clients receive a detailed brake down of all the project phases, scheduling, terms and conditions and other important information. Our customers know what is covered and what is not, so they are not surprised by "extras" they thought were covered.
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Construction Documents

Our designers can create any technical documentation necessary for your project. We have can also prepare any permits needed. Our drawings surpass what most architectural and engineering firms provide. 
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