[LAAFTERHOURS]

My kitchen facelift costs (in 2010):

My home had white ceramic tile on the countertops and backsplash and white banged up appliances. We had the tile demo’d and picked out slabs of granite in a stone yard and had them cut and installed onsite. Counter space was about 68 sq ft. We also bought a new dishwasher, french door fridge, double eletric oven and microwave (all stainless energy efficient stuff). The gas range stayed but we may eventually replace that.

One comment above about granite being dated. Prior to choosing granite to replace our white ceramic tile, we looked at some of the neighbors kitchens and decided that for our area this was the right way to go. Lots of of the neighbors had ceramic or granite tiles, prefab slabs so a custom higher end granite was an upgrade..

I installed the dishwasher, microwave and oven (had a buddy who is an electrician wire the oven for 50 bucks per code). The sink was installed by the countertop installers but I installed a new faucet and garbage disposal. My wife and I found subway tile sized honey onyx at a discount and installed it ourselves.

Total cost was about 7K plus some sweat and elbow grease.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

My kitchen facelift costs (in 2010):

My home had white ceramic tile on the countertops and backsplash and white banged up appliances. We had the tile demo’d and picked out slabs of granite in a stone yard and had them cut and installed onsite. Counter space was about 68 sq ft. We also bought a new dishwasher, french door fridge, double eletric oven and microwave (all stainless energy efficient stuff). The gas range stayed but we may eventually replace that.

One comment above about granite being dated. Prior to choosing granite to replace our white ceramic tile, we looked at some of the neighbors kitchens and decided that for our area this was the right way to go. Lots of of the neighbors had ceramic or granite tiles, prefab slabs so a custom higher end granite was an upgrade..

I installed the dishwasher, microwave and oven (had a buddy who is an electrician wire the oven for 50 bucks per code). The sink was installed by the countertop installers but I installed a new faucet and garbage disposal. My wife and I found subway tile sized honey onyx at a discount and installed it ourselves.

Total cost was about 7K plus some sweat and elbow grease.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

My kitchen facelift costs (in 2010):

My home had white ceramic tile on the countertops and backsplash and white banged up appliances. We had the tile demo’d and picked out slabs of granite in a stone yard and had them cut and installed onsite. Counter space was about 68 sq ft. We also bought a new dishwasher, french door fridge, double eletric oven and microwave (all stainless energy efficient stuff). The gas range stayed but we may eventually replace that.

One comment above about granite being dated. Prior to choosing granite to replace our white ceramic tile, we looked at some of the neighbors kitchens and decided that for our area this was the right way to go. Lots of of the neighbors had ceramic or granite tiles, prefab slabs so a custom higher end granite was an upgrade..

I installed the dishwasher, microwave and oven (had a buddy who is an electrician wire the oven for 50 bucks per code). The sink was installed by the countertop installers but I installed a new faucet and garbage disposal. My wife and I found subway tile sized honey onyx at a discount and installed it ourselves.

Total cost was about 7K plus some sweat and elbow grease.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

My kitchen facelift costs (in 2010):

My home had white ceramic tile on the countertops and backsplash and white banged up appliances. We had the tile demo’d and picked out slabs of granite in a stone yard and had them cut and installed onsite. Counter space was about 68 sq ft. We also bought a new dishwasher, french door fridge, double eletric oven and microwave (all stainless energy efficient stuff). The gas range stayed but we may eventually replace that.

One comment above about granite being dated. Prior to choosing granite to replace our white ceramic tile, we looked at some of the neighbors kitchens and decided that for our area this was the right way to go. Lots of of the neighbors had ceramic or granite tiles, prefab slabs so a custom higher end granite was an upgrade..

I installed the dishwasher, microwave and oven (had a buddy who is an electrician wire the oven for 50 bucks per code). The sink was installed by the countertop installers but I installed a new faucet and garbage disposal. My wife and I found subway tile sized honey onyx at a discount and installed it ourselves.

Total cost was about 7K plus some sweat and elbow grease.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

My kitchen facelift costs (in 2010):

My home had white ceramic tile on the countertops and backsplash and white banged up appliances. We had the tile demo’d and picked out slabs of granite in a stone yard and had them cut and installed onsite. Counter space was about 68 sq ft. We also bought a new dishwasher, french door fridge, double eletric oven and microwave (all stainless energy efficient stuff). The gas range stayed but we may eventually replace that.

One comment above about granite being dated. Prior to choosing granite to replace our white ceramic tile, we looked at some of the neighbors kitchens and decided that for our area this was the right way to go. Lots of of the neighbors had ceramic or granite tiles, prefab slabs so a custom higher end granite was an upgrade..

I installed the dishwasher, microwave and oven (had a buddy who is an electrician wire the oven for 50 bucks per code). The sink was installed by the countertop installers but I installed a new faucet and garbage disposal. My wife and I found subway tile sized honey onyx at a discount and installed it ourselves.

Total cost was about 7K plus some sweat and elbow grease.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

[quote=sdduuuude]I didn’t have anything to say yesterday. I was wondering why you cared if the back and front of the house match. I think having different design themes in back/front is kind of cool.

I like your brick. It’s nice. I also don’t think that having concrete in the back precludes having some brick in the back as well.

Anyway, I was just thinking about your project last night and thought you could just do a brick border around your existing concrete and/or cut some patterns into the existing concrete and drop brick in there. Would save alot of money because you wouldn’t have to pour a new slab or do all that in brick.

So, put in a concrete sidewalk around the side, line it with brick, and extend the brick/concrete theme to the back by adding some brick trim to the back slab.

Maybe add some brick-colored trim or redwood trim to the house as well.

Just another option.

P.S. I’d go for hiring out the gutters, too. Those machines that form a seamless gutter from sheet metal are so cool.[/quote]

Actually this is where I think im going. Saw some photos of square concrete molds that I think we are going to do on the sides with brick surrounding them, matching the border that is in the courtyard. We will carry this to the back patio and border the back patio. We may also stain the concrete to make it look a bit more attractive and make it gel with the brick.

I wonder if I can make the concrete molds myself and mix/ pour it myself (possibly with the help of another person) or if its not much cost savings to just have someone set the concrete squares.

Good stuff though – We were on the same page 😉

[LAAFTERHOURS]

[quote=sdduuuude]I didn’t have anything to say yesterday. I was wondering why you cared if the back and front of the house match. I think having different design themes in back/front is kind of cool.

I like your brick. It’s nice. I also don’t think that having concrete in the back precludes having some brick in the back as well.

Anyway, I was just thinking about your project last night and thought you could just do a brick border around your existing concrete and/or cut some patterns into the existing concrete and drop brick in there. Would save alot of money because you wouldn’t have to pour a new slab or do all that in brick.

So, put in a concrete sidewalk around the side, line it with brick, and extend the brick/concrete theme to the back by adding some brick trim to the back slab.

Maybe add some brick-colored trim or redwood trim to the house as well.

Just another option.

P.S. I’d go for hiring out the gutters, too. Those machines that form a seamless gutter from sheet metal are so cool.[/quote]

Actually this is where I think im going. Saw some photos of square concrete molds that I think we are going to do on the sides with brick surrounding them, matching the border that is in the courtyard. We will carry this to the back patio and border the back patio. We may also stain the concrete to make it look a bit more attractive and make it gel with the brick.

I wonder if I can make the concrete molds myself and mix/ pour it myself (possibly with the help of another person) or if its not much cost savings to just have someone set the concrete squares.

Good stuff though – We were on the same page 😉

[LAAFTERHOURS]

[quote=sdduuuude]I didn’t have anything to say yesterday. I was wondering why you cared if the back and front of the house match. I think having different design themes in back/front is kind of cool.

I like your brick. It’s nice. I also don’t think that having concrete in the back precludes having some brick in the back as well.

Anyway, I was just thinking about your project last night and thought you could just do a brick border around your existing concrete and/or cut some patterns into the existing concrete and drop brick in there. Would save alot of money because you wouldn’t have to pour a new slab or do all that in brick.

So, put in a concrete sidewalk around the side, line it with brick, and extend the brick/concrete theme to the back by adding some brick trim to the back slab.

Maybe add some brick-colored trim or redwood trim to the house as well.

Just another option.

P.S. I’d go for hiring out the gutters, too. Those machines that form a seamless gutter from sheet metal are so cool.[/quote]

Actually this is where I think im going. Saw some photos of square concrete molds that I think we are going to do on the sides with brick surrounding them, matching the border that is in the courtyard. We will carry this to the back patio and border the back patio. We may also stain the concrete to make it look a bit more attractive and make it gel with the brick.

I wonder if I can make the concrete molds myself and mix/ pour it myself (possibly with the help of another person) or if its not much cost savings to just have someone set the concrete squares.

Good stuff though – We were on the same page 😉

[LAAFTERHOURS]

[quote=sdduuuude]I didn’t have anything to say yesterday. I was wondering why you cared if the back and front of the house match. I think having different design themes in back/front is kind of cool.

I like your brick. It’s nice. I also don’t think that having concrete in the back precludes having some brick in the back as well.

Anyway, I was just thinking about your project last night and thought you could just do a brick border around your existing concrete and/or cut some patterns into the existing concrete and drop brick in there. Would save alot of money because you wouldn’t have to pour a new slab or do all that in brick.

So, put in a concrete sidewalk around the side, line it with brick, and extend the brick/concrete theme to the back by adding some brick trim to the back slab.

Maybe add some brick-colored trim or redwood trim to the house as well.

Just another option.

P.S. I’d go for hiring out the gutters, too. Those machines that form a seamless gutter from sheet metal are so cool.[/quote]

Actually this is where I think im going. Saw some photos of square concrete molds that I think we are going to do on the sides with brick surrounding them, matching the border that is in the courtyard. We will carry this to the back patio and border the back patio. We may also stain the concrete to make it look a bit more attractive and make it gel with the brick.

I wonder if I can make the concrete molds myself and mix/ pour it myself (possibly with the help of another person) or if its not much cost savings to just have someone set the concrete squares.

Good stuff though – We were on the same page 😉

[LAAFTERHOURS]

[quote=sdduuuude]I didn’t have anything to say yesterday. I was wondering why you cared if the back and front of the house match. I think having different design themes in back/front is kind of cool.

I like your brick. It’s nice. I also don’t think that having concrete in the back precludes having some brick in the back as well.

Anyway, I was just thinking about your project last night and thought you could just do a brick border around your existing concrete and/or cut some patterns into the existing concrete and drop brick in there. Would save alot of money because you wouldn’t have to pour a new slab or do all that in brick.

So, put in a concrete sidewalk around the side, line it with brick, and extend the brick/concrete theme to the back by adding some brick trim to the back slab.

Maybe add some brick-colored trim or redwood trim to the house as well.

Just another option.

P.S. I’d go for hiring out the gutters, too. Those machines that form a seamless gutter from sheet metal are so cool.[/quote]

Actually this is where I think im going. Saw some photos of square concrete molds that I think we are going to do on the sides with brick surrounding them, matching the border that is in the courtyard. We will carry this to the back patio and border the back patio. We may also stain the concrete to make it look a bit more attractive and make it gel with the brick.

I wonder if I can make the concrete molds myself and mix/ pour it myself (possibly with the help of another person) or if its not much cost savings to just have someone set the concrete squares.

Good stuff though – We were on the same page 😉

[LAAFTERHOURS]

Thanks Rustico.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

Thanks Rustico.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

Thanks Rustico.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

Thanks Rustico.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

Thanks Rustico.

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