Tom Reilly

Welcome to “At Home With Tom and Sandy.” Sit back, relax and enjoy. Here we are, Tom, with the year just whooshing and whizzing as fast as can be.

Tom: I think I would add zooming to the industry life we are in. 

Sandy: Agreed. But fun it is!

Tom: Sandy, what is your topic for our readers this month?

Sandy: Well, I have been talking to vendors around the area and even vendors in Phoenix to see what they do if they cannot readily supply a needed item to a home project. It seems that if the vendor cannot supply an item to the contractor in order to complete their job at hand, or the material is back-ordered, contractors are going online to purchase items for new homes and remodels. What would you do if you were faced with this dilemma?

Tom: We have, from time to time, purchased items online when we cannot find what we need locally or something is on backorder that can potentially delay the job.

Sandy: I know that you, Tom, and so many of our other contractors and local business men and women and our citizens’ first stop is supporting our local vendors first. That is not only smart but good business practice as well. Supporting local should always be first!

Tom: Absolutely. We look at the locally owned stores first and the larger companies that have served us for decades.

Sandy: Tom, for our readers, when you buy local, more money stays in the community. When you spend money at locally owned businesses, it is pretty easy to understand that those dollars directly impact the local economy, as they keep local businesses in business. The multiplier effect is the amount of local economic activity that is triggered by the purchase of any one item. Community economics tells us that the more a dollar circulates in a defined region, and the faster it circulates, the more income, wealth and jobs it creates.

Keeping dollars local is an act of reinvestment in your community. Buying local products and services and banking locally keeps money circulating closer to where you spend it. This creates a ripple effect as those businesses and their employees in turn spend your money locally. Corporate chains send most of our money out of town. Okay, I am off my soapbox!

Tom: Very true. We believe in local; however, there are times when we are unable to purchase what we need locally, so we must purchase item online.

Sandy: I say shop local, except, I admit, I am an online shoe shopper. There are perils to online shoe shopping as well as benefits; shoes too small, too big, too flat, heels too high, so in the case of online purchasing perils, what steps can you recommend to our readers that Renovations takes to ensure security and quality and good fit?

Tom: Great question. And I will start with a one-word answer from which we can expand upon, RESEARCH. We do a lot of research.

Sandy: Do you research companies or products or both? I would imagine both.

Tom: Yes, Sandy, you are correct. Some of the products we have purchased in the past because no local stock or back-order have been high-ticket items. Initially, we look to well-established manufactures as a source for what we need. They, of course, do not require the vetting that less well-known manufactures need. Smaller specialty products are out there in abundance and often with a little background checking, they turn out to be reputable companies.

Sandy: Interesting. What are some of the methods you use to determine the reputation a company has?

Tom: We start by looking in the web address of a company to see if it is noted as a secure site. There is a padlock icon that appears, letting you know there is a secure system within which to do business.

Sandy: I always read the product reviews. They tell a real story about a company. And if the website doesn’t have reviews, I move on.

Tom: Exactly. Dee, in our office, is our online research guru. She looks at the reviews for everything we purchase and determines if the site is secure enough to do business with.

Sandy: So, the two steps are determining if you move forward are company/product reviews and to verify their website offers a secure means to do business with.

Tom: We also look at it in context of the time it would take to travel to another area, like the Valley, vs. ordering online.

Sandy: Good time management.  I like that.  What are some of the pitfalls you have found?

Tom: Whenever you get on the internet, or the information highway, you are putting some information about yourself out there. When you purchase using credit cards, that info can be out there, too, so our firm is extremely cautious.  In fact, many times if we need to order a product online, we even call and talk with a principal of the firm as well. 

Sandy: What about returns or items that aren’t what they appear to be? 

Tom: Yes. Most reputable companies will have a return label in the shipping box.

Sandy: Yes, my shoes always have a return label! Try them on; too large, too small, color off, back into the box they go. What are some of the sites you work with, Tom, when purchasing items for remodels and or new builds?

Tom: We work with several construction specialty sites that are geared and set up to assist with prompt shipping. Build.com is a source we use as well.

Sandy: Tom, product selection and availability is probably a major reason why you and other contractors would turn to relatively specialized online retailers for items.

Tom: Indeed, it is. A purchase from an e-commerce business primarily happens because that business offered a unique product not available from larger competitors or offers the product that will keep us on schedule should our regular supplier not be able to support us.

Sandy: It is refreshing to know that these smaller retailers and/or specialized online companies can offer particular products, those hard to find products and in-stock products to keep you builders on schedule.

Tom: There are specialty retailers that many contractors use because they have many times the number of products in a particular category vs. the relatively larger mass-market retailer with more product categories and less product items.

For example, we recently had a new build with specialized hardware. There is a mid-market, e-commerce retail chain that carries more than 90,000 product SKUs. Among these many thousands of products, this retailer carries roughly 20 different hardware designs.

In contrast, there are several small online hardware specialty stores that carry a few hundred different hardware designs. This incredible product depth and breadth within the hardware category attracts builders when we need a specialty hardware item.

Sandy: Tom, is it the number of products within a category that matters as much as which products are offered?

Tom: Unique choices are important. 

Buying direct from big box stores is popular; however, it all depends on what you are looking for. Our experience with purchasing items for our projects has been all over the board, with our first choice of course buying local.

Sandy: However, supporting local businesses and organizations means your money stays local, through taxes, investments and more. That means that your hard-earned money, once spent, continues to work for you. Local first, then check out those specialty construction online sites.

Thanks, readers, for stopping in and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. We will see you next month. QCBN

Tom Reilly, Architect, Contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506 renovationsaz.com

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association.  928-778-0040.

Welcome to “At Home With Tom & Sandy.” As we always are, Tom and I are happy and enthusiastic and maybe a little wound-up to give you the inside scoop, what’s up, what’s down and what’s hot on cabinets this month.

Cabinet [kab-uh-nit]

Noun – a piece of furniture with shelves, drawers, etc., for holding or displaying items: a curio cabinet; a file cabinet, a wall cupboard used for storage, as with kitchen utensils or toilet articles: a kitchen cabinet; a medicine cabinet, a piece of furniture containing a radio or television set.

Adjective – pertaining to a political cabinet

Sandy: What should we discuss today, Tom, Noun Cabinet or Adjective Cabinet?

Tom: Since we both love the construction industry, I say let’s stick with the Noun Cabinet.

Tom: Hey, Sandy, ask me anything about cabinets!

Sandy: Really – anything?

Tom: Yeah, ask me, come on, ask me!

Sandy: Okay, Mr. Reilly, give me all you have on cabinets.

Tom: We all have cabinets in our homes, offices, apartments, garages and every place of business has some sort of cabinet. Some are good, some are great and some are just over the top.

Sandy: The difference in those categories of good, great and over the top must have something to do with the construction materials. I have seen a lot of different cabinets. Tom, what is the real measure of a cabinet, surely, it just isn’t the doors, is it?

Tom: Correct. The basic cabinet is a box. Base, or lower, cabinets are typically two feet deep and upper cabinets typically one foot deep. There are four materials used commonly in the construction of the cabinet boxes.

Sandy: I am sure they are all wood products. I am aware of particleboard and plywood, with some solid wood thrown in. What is the fourth?

Tom: There are two types of particle board. Each are made with wood chips and glues. Regular particle board is one the other is MDF board, Medium Density Fiberboard. This is made under pressure and is a dense and more structurally sound product.

Sandy: So, the boxes are always made from one of these four products. How would you grade them from good to “over the top,” as you put it?

Tom: I would start with Particle board, then MDF, moving to plywood and over the top would be a solid wood cabinet.

Sandy: I have seen solid wood on cabinets, but the whole box? That would be over the top. Those products sound more like furniture.

Tom: Well, yes and no. Often upper cabinets might be fitted with clear glass in the door frames. Since you can see inside, those cabinets are the ones you might see solid wood boxes.

Sandy: Tom, can cabinets also be a veneer of wood on any of the other products as well?

Tom: True. We can talk about that when we get to finishes. Going back to the box construction, they can be either face frame, or frameless. This has to do with how the cabinet fronts are made. The face frame is typically solid wood, and door hinges are mounted to this frame. With frameless cabinets, the hinges and doors are mounted to the sides of the box.

Sandy: That would be more of the Euro style where the doors and drawer fronts cover the entire box, as opposed to the face frame cabinet where the styles and rails are partially exposed.

Tom: The doors and drawer fronts can be flush with the frame as well. This inset style has a very slick look to it, and gives more texture to a cabinet system.

Sandy: I have seen that style and it is a fantastic look. Ultra-modern! I have seen kitchens where wood grain is all lined up, boy oh boy, is that neat.

Tom: Yes they are. That style tends to be a higher end cabinet. There are other styles that look great as well. The face front or partial overlay are fairly standard and comprise most of what we see these days.

Sandy: The door and drawer front choices are what make the look. And there are so many to choose from, hundreds I would guess.

Tom: Oh yeah. When we understand our client’s aesthetic goals, we can help narrow down the choices to a less formidable array of choices.

Sandy: Can I go back to finishes now?

Solid wood isn’t the only frame I have seen. Particleboard, MDF and plywood is often clad with a veneer of either wood, plastic laminate or in some areas I have seen a photographed finish applied to one of the manufactured wood products.

Tom: Yes, I have seen that as well. That is often referred to as a Melamine finish. The thin, plastic-like film is adhered to one of the manufactured wood products to protect that product as well as lining the cabinet box making it easier to clean and maintain.

Melamine is also a great finish for cabinets that are used for storage in garages and sheds. With those applications, I highly recommend using plywood for the cabinet frames. Why? Because plywood tends to be stronger and more durable than the other manufactured wood products.

Sandy: We talk about wood cabinets that can be finished with a stain, making them lighter or darker depending on the chosen color scheme. Would you recommend painting cabinets or stain if wood is being used?

Tom: That depends on the client’s aesthetic goals. Paint can add a colorful solution to staining wood. It certainly opens up different possibilities. Personally, I like wood and would probably opt for a stain if the wood grain is really cool, like a rosewood or fine maple type of grain.

Sandy: Tom, these days, with all of the Get Stylish cabinets that homeowners desire, I would think that even high-quality cabinets can be ordered if there is a tight timeline because of the dramatically improved cabinet materials, form and function and then if folks have the time they can order – of course – the wonderful custom cabinets.

Tom: Homeowners these days have what seems like thousands of cabinet styles, configurations from wall to base cabinets, door styles, finishes, even solid wood shelves, hinges and drawer slides are extremely popular now days.

Sandy: Tom, based on that statement, I would say there are unlimited possibilities for mixing and matching kitchen cabinets or vanity cabinets so the homeowner can get the configuration they desire.

Sandy: We have several fabulous cabinet contractors in town and whether homeowners are working on high-end homes or a small condo or anything in between, our cabinet Van Goghs as I call them have a solution that will fit any budget, lifestyle and give the homeowner great value for their money.

Tom: To end our cabinet column, I want to let our readers know there are many things to take into consideration when planning your cabinets. First, consider placement of the cabinets. Open floor plans have become a common trend, and the placement of your cabinets will be important.

Sandy: I would say next order of importance would be the consideration of the materials for the cabinet design.

Tom: Yes, Sandy, you are right and then the next order of importance would be to consider cabinet doors. Door style is an important component of kitchen cabinet design, as it commonly defines the style of a kitchen. Modern cabinets have a more streamlined design, featuring straight, clean lines without extra ornamentation and then there are the traditional cabinets, often with raised panel doors.

Sandy: And then I love cabinet hardware. Hardware is such an opportunity for a homeowner to express their personal design style. It is an inexpensive and easy way to change the look of your cabinets. I would love to change my cabinet hardware like I change shoes! How cool would that be?

Tom: Whatever details a homeowner decides to go with when choosing their kitchen cabinet design, it will make a big impact in your home. My recommendation is to take some time to check out all the different combinations.

Sandy:  Tom, I hope our column has informed homeowners that the range of kitchen cabinet design ideas is endless, but the truth is that kitchen cabinet styles generally falls into one category and that is the one which suit the design tastes of the homeowner.

As always, thanks to our readers for stopping by and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing our column with you. Always love hearing from the community. Enjoy October! QCBN

Tom Reilly, architect, contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506  renovationsaz.com

Sandy Griffis, executive director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. 928-778-0040. ycca@cableone.net