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APEX builds memories into Vadnais Heights kitchen remodel

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APEX projects are not just about making everything fresh and new. We recently completed a Vadnais Heights kitchen remodel where preserving family heritage was every bit as important as the granite counters, custom birch cabinets and new appliances.

Bright, easy clean surfaces

Barbara’s dad had designed a wall of cabinets when she and her husband Pete bought their home. They wanted to keep the upper cabinet, which still was in decent shape after 17 years.  APEX’s custom cabinetmaker matched the design for all of the new cabinets. He even incorporated the original flour and sugar bins in a lower cabinet drawer.

Barbara also wanted to be able to display her grandmother’s fine English china, which had languished in boxes in the basement for years. Because space was limited, APEX Designer Lisa Stoll incorporated a built-in china cabinet with glass doors facing the dining area. Now Barbara can appreciate the pieces every day and access them on special occasions.

Meanwhile, Pete wanted the new kitchen to showcase the old bird clock that played different birdsongs on the hour and had guided family schedules since the children were young. “The morning dove means it is 7 o’clock. That was time to get the kids out the door for school. It’s been the way this family works for a long time. We know what all the bird sounds mean. It’s how we keep track of time,” Pete explained.

Lisa chose a dark stain for the panel over the new range to create an eye-catching accent surface for the clock that’s visible from the dining area.

Accent panel emphasizes bird clock over new range

Finally, the couple hated to lose the 17-year record of their children’s heights when we replaced the coat closet door in the dining area.  This time, APEX Project Manager Matt Grudzielanek had the solution. He salvaged a foot-wide strip of the marked plywood from the old door and laminated it to the back of the new door, complete with the tiny childhood photos.

At APEX, we look for opportunities to preserve a bit of the past when we remodel because memories are what make a house a home. Our goal with every project is to enhance our clients’ quality of life at home.  By taking time to get to know our clients, we can incorporate design element and features that make each project unique and special.

Functional features

Still, APEX understands that it takes more than nostalgia to pull off a successful remodel.  We also must conduct ourselves with integrity, stay on schedule and create an environment that’s attractive and works. This Vadnais Heights project features natural birch cabinets with soft-close drawers and doors, a deep undermount sink with spray-in spout faucet, two ovens, undercabinet and recessed ceiling lighting, easy-clean luxury vinyl flooring, and an upgraded electrical panel and new water heater.

Excellent Value, Five Ruff Rating

“I would definitely recommend APEX. The workmanship was high quality. What a pleasure it was to have people who are experts in their field do the work after living with the results of not-very-good DIY work,” Barbara said.  “With APEX, you get an excellent value for your money. They’re not the cheapest, but I would not want to go with the cheapest anyway. “We had another contractor give us a quote that was so low and at the bottom it said, for an extra $500 he would file permits. I don’t want to work with somebody who is going to try to do it under the table. That’s not what I believe in. I’m not trying to cut corners because you pay a lot more in the long run.”

Barbara gives the entire APEX team high marks. “All the people who worked on the project did a great job. They also were very friendly and they were nice to our dog, Sparky, who can be difficult. It was a good experience,” she said.

Note to self: Restock trucks with treats.

 

A Better Basement

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Galen and Marilyn had lived in their Roseville home for 36 years with a modestly finished but uninsulated basement. An addition had enlarged the space in 1993 but did little to improve comfort or features. The original space was partitioned and partially carpeted. A previous owner had painted the foundation and decorated it with waist high paneling and upper trim. The little bathroom with the tiny shower had no ceiling because the mechanicals hung so low.

Discovered APEX on Angie’s List

With no plans to move for the foreseeable future, the couple researched remodelers on Angie’s List and chose APEX to make the space more pleasant and comfortable. APEX installed proper framing, spray foam insulation and drywall along bare the block walls and a drywall ceiling above.

APEX bumped out the bathroom into an adjacent storage room to gain space for a large, full height tile shower with proper ventilation.  The accessible shower features an attractive shelf that doubles as a grab bar. With the entire basement now insulated and finished, the couple will move their office by the egress window in the addition. That will make room for a Foosball table in the large family room.

Basement is More Comfortable

Although the project was just completed last month, Galen and Marilyn say they already appreciate how much better the space feels and looks. “It’s quieter and feels drier.  The family room will be a relaxing space now that it is not packed with too many functions. It will be nice to have an separate office area that’s not the first thing you see when you come down the stairs,” Marilyn said.

Positive APEX Experience

The couple gave APEX high marks for both design and project management. “Lisa was very helpful and easy to work with. Matt was easy and fun to work with. He stopped by frequently when we were home. We could ask him questions when he was here or he promptly answered any emails that we sent,” Marilyn said.

“We liked that we received a calendar that showed what was planned for each day. The project followed the original calendar very closely.  It only went over by a couple of days because it took longer than usual for the drywall mud to dry with the high humidity,” Galen said.

Banquette Kitchen

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When this Chris bought his childhood Circle Pines home from his parents he knew the kitchen would need to be remodeled. Wife Renee wanted two tables, no formal dining room, extreme storage and a particular refrigerator. He wanted a premium Wolf range with griddle, better traffic flow and lighting, and more functional surface areas. And they both insisted it reflect their traditional, wood-centric style and be completed before the fall school year.

The couple gave APEX a 100% score in its Guild Quality survey and began to refer us to colleagues and friends even before the project was completed on July 8. “If you want a remodeling done and have no worries, hire APEX,” Renee remarked. “Lisa (APEX’s designer) got me.”  Best of all, the young boys love the new space — especially the cool banquette — as much as their parents do. Menu please!

High-functioning kitchen

Making it work

The  design challenge was to reconfigure three disjointed rooms and create one cohesive open space to connect this family of 5 during the most important parts of the day: mealtimes.  Daily life now revolves around the island banquette in the open floor plan.

The combination center island/banquette provides seating for 6 while keeping dinner table free. It’s perfect for breakfast, lunch and homework during dinner prep. Both tables are used daily, vs. the seldom used former dining room.

Other practical improvements include:

  • The large L-shaped island is ideal for buffet-style meals and entertaining.
  • Storage and work surfaces increased with ceiling height cabinets and the larger island, and accessibility improved with deep drawers and pullout shelves on full-extension slides.
  • Eliminating the clipped corner pantry closet and the entrance from the formal dining room created a better dining room turned piano room, improved traffic flow in the kitchen and increased wall space for cabinetry. No more choke points!
  • The new kitchen enjoys an efficient work triangle separate from traffic. The accessible coffee center with Wolf toaster is conveniently positioned by the banquette.
  • Dual Wolf steam and conventional wall ovens are perfect for canning, baking and reheating leftovers.
  • Enhanced, dimmable overhead and undercabinet LED lighting and open plan created brighter, safer, more pleasant heart of the home.

Modifying walls changed everything

Removing the former living room wall and converting the space to a dining area improves sight lines from the entry hall and the kitchen and spreads natural light from the patio door and rear windows.

The design incorporates two tables in one open space without making them look like they compete. Bright banquette cushions complement the wall paint and accent the natural wood and stone surfaces. Rich knotty alder perimeter cabinetry and weathered oak island cabinetry replace blah honey oak cabinets. Dated popcorn ceiling was removed.

The honey oak floors were refinished and stained a medium tone for an updated look that complements the dark cabinets. The mixed mosaic stone tile backplash and cool walls and cushions update the décor.

Custom cabinets were expertly built, finished and fit. New oak flooring was laced into old where walls, island and closet were removed. Ceilng patches from wall removal disappear behind skimcoat despite soundproof assembly.

APEX scheduled trades back to back to complete construction in just eight weeks so the family could move in and get settled before the school year. 

Avoid Remodeling Sticker Shock

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I’m lucky. I hate to shop, but my spouse loves it. So she buys groceries and I merely carry the bags into the house from her car. The downside is that I’m largely clueless about what food costs.  For most people, the same is true with remodeling. They are unaware of what projects cost because they don’t have much recent experience buying them.  That also may explain why remodeling sticker shock is so common.

Softening initial sticker shock

Remodeling sticker shock often comes in two stages. The first occurs when contractors provide ballpark estimates of what a project might cost based on similar projects they have built and a rudimentary understanding of the owners’ goals. The second occurs when the homeowners are presented the actual construction agreement quote that’s based on detailed plans and specifications.

You can soften the first jolt by asking friends what they spent on their projects and by consulting the 2019 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report. Its prices are based on popular construction industry estimating software. I would steer clear of cost guides from Home Advisor and Angie’s List because they bear little relation to what established contractors charge.

Avoiding aftershocks

Clients play a big role in whether formal quotes exceed expectations (in a bad way). “It’s fairly common for a couple to start with a narrow project, get excited and expand the scope when they meet a qualified remodeler and designer who can make it all a reality,” explained APEX President John Biancini.

Biancini said couples should try to reach a consensus and prioritize elements up front so they can back out the least important things if the expanded lists exceed their budget.

APEX Designer Lisa Stoll advises clients to choose materials and fixtures from the options she presents because they reflect the allowances used in the initial estimate. It also simplifies the selection process. “Walking into a showroom can be overwhelming because of all the options. A good designer will narrow the field so the client can’t go wrong,” she said.

“Most people say, ‘We don’t need the most expensive.’ But if they end up choosing marble instead of granite or imported tile, it’s going the increase the cost,” she said.

Stoll also reminds clients to be sure to earmark money for appliances separately.  “Buying your own appliances will save you money. Just be sure to set aside funds above and beyond the APEX contract to cover those costs,” she said.

Do your part

Biancini and Stoll agree on one thing: Clients who want the best pricing should take their own pre-construction tasks seriously and complete them as scheduled.

“Major remodeling is not a spectator sport, it’s a collaborative effort. Designs that drag on because clients delay decisions are the ones that tend to cost the most,” Stoll observed.

Closing the budget gap

Prospective clients also should understand that established remodelers set prices based on what they need to operate successful businesses. It’s not a negotiation like buying a car. If the price is too much, something will have to go. You can’t just take 5 percent off the gross amount. You will have to eliminate something from the scope of work or substitute less expensive materials.

One caveat:  Cabinetry typically is the single biggest line item in kitchen remodeling budgets but standard-sized box cabinets are not necessarily cost effective because installation is extra and it can take longer to make them fit.

Biancini typically insists that clients use APEX’s preferred trade partners even if they think they know someone cheaper. “When you hear the horror stories about crews leaving a job for a week, that’s not APEX,” Biancini said. “Matt (project manager) sets back to back and, when possible, overlapping trade partner schedules to complete projects in the shortest possible time. We can count on our preferred trade partners to show up and do good work because of our long working relationships. When you are without a kitchen for a couple of months, that’s priceless.”

If you have remodeling questions, please contact APEX Construction Management.  We’re committed to delivering great client experiences one project at a time.

APEX Manages North Star Lofts Condo Restoration

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Most APEX insurance claim projects are about restoring damaged surfaces or structures after a flood, fire or hail storm.  This job was more like recreating a work of art during an epic Minnesota weather event.  Thanks to our tough and talented trade partner, Valley Lake Flooring, the result is modern masterpiece.

Artistic concrete floor photo

Restoring Artistic Concrete Floor

The challenge was to repair and replicate a decorative concrete floor in a two-level condominium in the historic North Star Lofts at 117 Portland Ave. in Minneapolis.  Before its premium residential conversion, the property had been home to the North Star Woolen Blanket Company since 1864. During the 1999 makeover, a continuous decorative concrete floor was installed that spanned two ground-level units. But when contractors jackhammered the slab in the adjacent condo to install wood flooring there last year, the vibration caused extensive cracking in the APEX client’s floor.

APEX oversaw the project and supported the insurance claim. Meanwhile, Valley Lake was responsible for repairing the cracks and restoring the surface. Adding to drama, the team was required to completed the bulk of the work in February at height of the Polar Vortex that gripped Minneapolis in record cold and snowfall.

Extraordinary Project

“It wasn’t an ordinary project and so I appreciate that APEX had the flexibility and the professionalism to handle a lot of strange and peculiar circumstances to get this done,” said homeowner Ben Whitney. 

APEX client video

He praised APEX President John “JB” Biancini for his refined systems.  “JB has put together a series of processes to make sure that things are on schedule and everything is disclosed. And so I would recommend APEX to my friends and anybody else who needs a good general contractor,” he said.

Before work could begin movers relocated all of the furnishings.  APEX removed carpeting, baseboard moldings, closet systems and doors.  And plastic curtain walls were erected to contain the dust.

Next, Valley Lake Flooring embarked on a 15-step restoration and finishing process that involved grinding, filling, moisture-proofing, leveling, topping, scoring, staining, sealing and waxing the floor.

Valley Lake’s Mark Sutherland observed, “It takes a lot of man hours, a lot of steps and a lot of patience to restore a floor like this.”

Biancini said he enjoys taking on difficult and unusual projects for clients with high expectations. “Nothing about this project was easy. This is a historic structure. Building access was limited. The weather was awful. Fortunately, we worked with an excellent trade partner in Mark and the clients could not have been more appreciative of everyone’s extra efforts,” he said.

APEX sign at 117 Portland Ave.

“Construction management not only is part of the APEX name, it is entwined in our DNA.” Biancini added.  “When you manage the process, you control the outcome.”

APEX Earns Angie’s List Super Service Award for Sixth Consecutive Year

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Angie’s List has awarded APEX Construction Management its Super Service Award for the sixth consecutive year. The 2018 award once again honors contractors who have maintained exceptional service ratings and reviews on Angie’s List throughout the year.

Super Service Award Logo

“Service pros who receive our Angie’s List Super Service Award represent the best in our network,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “They consistently make great customer service their mission. These pros have provided exceptional service to our members and absolutely deserve recognition for the exemplary service they exhibited in the past year.”

To be considered for the award, APEX was required to maintain an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade and review period grade. Winners also must be in good standing with Angie’s List and pass additional screening.

APEX President John “JB” Biancini said the Super Service Award recognition is part of a pattern based on his team’s core values. 

“When we start each APEX remodeling project, we tell the clients that we will give them a scorecard to grade our performance at the end of the job. Then every team member does his or her part to earn an A+ grade. We also use Guild Quality to independently survey our clients after each job to gather feedback and maintain quality control.  Receiving the Angie’s List Super Service again illustrates that APEX takes its core values seriously,” Biancini said.

Angie's List Certified logo

Service company ratings are updated continually on Angie’s List as new, verified consumer reviews are submitted. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in multiple fields ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Customers have been rating APEX Construction Management on Angie’s List since 2005. APEX has 42 reviews on Angie’s List. It is “A” rated and Angie’s Certified.  To be certified, a company must be an Angie’s member in good standing, pass a biennial criminal background report, receive an A or B reviews grade, have current reviews, attest that its license is up to date and have a verified profile.

Biancini thanked APEX clients post taking the time to post online reviews and participate in customer surveys to share their remodeling experience with other homeowners and help APEX maintain high standards.

“APEX clients post reviews on Google, Angie’s List, Houzz, the Better Business Bureau and on our own website. Their positive comments help us grow and succeed. We are very grateful for their support,” Biancini said.

2019 Remodeling Cost Benchmarks

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“What will my remodeling cost?” is one of the first questions many homeowners ask APEX when considering a project. That’s fair. It’s not like they can go on Amazon and compare prices and features for a new kitchen or room addition. And how could they possibly know remodeling labor, materials and project management expenses. 

Remodeling 1919 Cost vs. Value logo

Fortunately, Hanley Wood LLC, the nation’s biggest construction industry publisher, issues a report each year that estimates costs and resale payback (value) for dozens of common remodeling and replacement projects. The Remodeling 2019 Cost Vs Value Report draws on a leading construction estimating tool to price the jobs. Then it asks experienced Realtors from different regions to score how each project would impact the home’s resale value so it can calculate payback.

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Costs

Here are a couple of examples. The report prices a mid-level quality major kitchen remodeling for our West North Central region at about $64,400  (62.1 percent payback) and an upscale kitchen at about $128,700 (59.7 percent payback).  It pegs a mid-level bathroom remodel at about $19,600 (67.2 percent payback) and an upscale bath at $62,500 (60.2 percent payback).

I think this independent cost/value benchmarking provides APEX Construction Management clients with a valuable frame of reference. We share the link to the annual study because well-informed homeowners are our best clients. 

Basis for Remodeling Costs

Like the study’s publishers, APEX doesn’t pull a big number out of the air based on what a similar project cost last year. Rather, we tally all of the tasks and materials that must be completed and add overhead and a reasonable profit. We build each estimate from the ground up, just like our award-winning additions.

As expected, the latest report shows that both project costs and values increased last year. Steel tariffs, skilled labor shortages and strong demand will do that.  For instance, the authors noted that the cost of replacing a steel door increased 24 percent from the previous year. That’s also why our design estimates come with expiration dates.

You Come First

The value or payback part of the annual remodeling study reflects its source: Realtors. Once again, exterior facelift projects such as garage doors and stone veneer accents retain the most value because their costs are relatively low and they help to make a good first impression among prospective homebuyers. Realtors say this enhanced curb appeal raises price expectations.

Payback should be considered if you are improving your home to sell. In that case a minor kitchen remodel at $21,900 may be worthwhile. Realtors in our region say it should retain 80.5 percent of its value. But, in reality, most APEX clients tell us they plan to stay in their homes and are remodeling for themselves to improve their quality of life. As the study suggests, the composite deck will cost more than wood, but what is it worth to avoid sanding and re-staining every couple of years?

Download Complete Report

To learn more, download the complete Remodeling 2019 Cost Vs Value Report free here. Be sure to review the scope for each project so you understand how it compares to what you plan. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Practical Meets Pretty in Woodbury Bath Remodel

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APEX handshower photoLinda didn’t need a bigger master bath remodel, but she wanted it to look special, function better and be easier to clean.  Like many APEX clients she opted for a large, accessible tile shower in place of the old tub shower. She chose a wall mounted, horizontal woodgrain vanity for a modern twist and was inspired by a bathroom she saw in California to add undermount LED lighting for safer after dark navigation.

Linda admitted she is not a fan of cleaning grout, so she requested extra large tile for the shower. She also opted for rain glass rather than clear glass for the shower door to avoid meticulous daily squeegeeing to prevent water marks.

She credited Designer Lisa Stoll for her deft design advice and Matt Grudzielanek for his professional project management performance.

Arden Hills Kitchen Collaboration

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cherry kitchen photoAfter 32 years in an Arden Hills home that the previous owner had built to learn construction, Chris and Mark were ready for a new kitchen and bath and squeak-free floors. First they joined more than 400 fellow dreamers to tour the award-winning kitchen and bath project that APEX Construction Management displayed in the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase last spring. Then they hired APEX for their own project.

Chris says the APEX team members of John “JB” Biancini, Lisa Stoll and Matt Grudzielanek were consummate collaborators. They  absorbed ideas she and Mark had been noodling for years and melded solutions and product suggestions of their own. Ultimately, they agreed on cherry cabinets and display shelves, deep drawers and pullouts on full extension slides, soft close door hinges, granite tops, undermount stainless steel sink, spray-in-spout faucet, luxury vinyl plank flooring, muted subway tile backsplash and LED lighting.

“They nailed it,” Chris remarked, adding that she would not change a single thing.

Quality of Life Upgrade

“JB stated from the first meeting that his intent was to improve our quality of life at home. It was evident throughout the project that it truly was his goal, and he did it!” Chris said. “APEX is a very different company from others we contacted. Some didn’t even call us back.  JB and Matt were always easy to reach with questions and concerns. They provided reassurance and guidance throughout the project.”

While many of the elements are familiar, some are unusual by design. For instance, the couple specified dark laminate base cabinet because they are impervious to their pawing cat, Jack. The feline also got his own protected pet dish nook.

Other benefits are less obvious, starting with the luxury vinyl plank floor used in the kitchen, hall, dining area and family room. “Matt was instrumental in screwing down the subfloor so we don’t have squeaks anymore,” Chris explained. She also noted that visitors routinely mistake the flooring for real wood. “It fools everyone.” And she credits Lisa for the idea to paint the end wall cabinet to match the wall so it makes the space feel larger. “It blends into the wall,” she said.

As I emerged from the home after touring the new kitchen and bath, I was greeted by a flock of large wild turkeys parading through Chris’s yard. Clearly no one warned them about her new double oven and range hood.

APEX Past Clients Value Small Projects Services

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Many reputable contractors, APEX included, are too busy managing big remodeling projects to take on smaller ones.  The exception might be for past clients who had used APEX for larger projects.

Gary from Plymouth is a great example. The Honeywell accountant hired APEX to remodel a main level bathroom on his Gleason Lake home several years ago and was impressed by John Biancini’s emphasis on meeting schedule while maintaining high construction quality standards. This year, he needed French doors installed in a seldom-used lower level bedroom before guests arrived.  APEX got it done in time, despite discovering hidden plumbing in the wall during demolition.

“Sharon had a big push. We had a couple of guests coming in. She said I want this done and I want it done by this date. I immediately called John and he was able to get the job done,” Gary said. “When I contacted John I didn’t know. I said up front it might be too small a job. He said he would be in the area and would stop by and give me an estimate and got us on his schedule.”

Gary and Sharon initially contemplated pocket doors, but they opted for French doors to avoid the cost of removing the entire wall.  They also stuck with the more traditional look vs. trendy barn doors. “The cost probably would have been the same, but we were concerned that barn doors might be a fad,” he explained.

Gary said adding the French doors has made the interior room much more pleasant with its new view of the Plymouth lake. “Before, it was like a big cubbyhole in there. There was no light. No atmosphere,’ he said.  “We had two guests who stayed there for three nights each after the remodeling and they were very pleased.  The French doors have opened up both rooms,” he said.

APEX Enhances Quality of Life at Home

Gary says having a good relationship with a trusted contractor is a real benefit as one approaches retirement. We suspect Sharon and their guests would agree.

“I wouldn’t have had time to get it done myself. It would have taken me five times as long,” Gary added. “I could have gotten it done eventually, but Sharon said, ‘ Save yourself the trouble. You can’t take it with you.’ She’s right.” When I spoke with him he had just returned from playing tennis.