Noelle asks:
We are considering buying a large house. Currently it has two kitches but we see on the consent list the addition is consented for a bar kitchen. Can you tell me what a bar kitchen is
Hi Noelle You need to check with the council on the criteria for a kitchen versus bar kitchen. Regards The James Hardie Team
Susan Wood asks: I have had to buy a new home due to the CHCH earthquake. Rather than completely renovate the kitchen, where on earth to I go to buy reasonably priced free standing kitchen work benches.
Hi Susan Please contact Stewart Scott from Kitchen Cabinetry and he will be an appropriate person to talk to. www.stewart-scott.co.nz charles@stewart-scott.co.nz Regards The James Hardie Team
Belinda asks: I have a large kitchen and living area which is about 9.2m by 5.5m. The ceiling has an expansion joint which is very visable. Is this expansion joint necessary? What is the current building standard/regulation regarding this? Thanks
Hi Belinda As per NZS 3604 with a Ceiling diaphragm the length must not exceed twice the width The joint in the ceiling may be due to the rules of the building material used for your ceiling. Ie with Villaboard Lining our current installation manual indicates control joints at 7.2m x 4.8m and with Gib Board their current site guide indicates Control joints at 9metres. You may need to research what the ceiling is made of and contact the manufacturer for more detailed information to your query. The James Hardie Team
Alison Wilton asks: We have flakey paint in a paych on the back of our caravan microwave oven. Is there an enamel spray paint that we can safetly use to repair the patch.
Do you mean inside the microwave oven? You will need to contact the manufacturers as any product on the inside of an oven/microwave etc is specially formulated for the unique conditions.
Mike Knowles asks: I want to 'spruce up' our 1980's kitchen in Wellington without spending too much. The cabinetry is fine, I just want to get a fresh look - maybe resurface the doors and drawers; put a 'granite transformations' type surface over the existing bench top; etc. Do you know who can supply what I need?
Thanks.
Mike
Take a look at our Drawing Board partner www.stewart-scott.co.nz There are many exciting options available for a kitchen facelift/new benchtop etc and they are the experts at designing to suit your existing kitchen.
Gaylene Powell asks: We have a 1900 villa with a fireplace with brick surround.in the kitchen. The fireplace backs on to the lounge where there is another fire place - the fireplace it takes up approx 2 mtrs of the kitchen area - we dont have a dinning room so it is the kitchen dinning room area so should we remove the fireplace in the kitchen?
I have another question - i dont like pantrys we are currently looking at a kitchen design which has one in the draft plan. can you make another suggestion?
Thanks for your help - look forward to hearing from you.
If more space in the kithcen is important and you don't use the fireplace then covering it over will give you more wall space and useable area. This will need to be done corectly (there will be a shared chimney etc) so talk to a builder. Pull out pot drawers are a popular option for storage in kitchens, give easy accessability to items which can be seperated out rather than all being stored in one big pantry (and no high reaching to items at the back of the top shelf!) They give a tidy streamlined look to the kitchen and can be made in different depths to suit specific items. You could consider a lazy Susan type storage unit as these are great in hard to access corner units under the bench etc and there are also pull out type pantries where wire racking just slides out, you can easily see and reach items then it all just slides back into the cupboard space. Talk to a kitchen design company as they are the experts, and there are new ideas coming up all the time. Our Drawing Board partner www.stewart-scott.co.nz may be able to assist. (Not sure where you are in NZ)
Sarah asks: We're looking at re-doing our kitchen and making it fully open plan but have just realised that the bit we want to get rid of (and leave maybe only a supporting post) is fully load bearing and there is no beam across part of it which means it's not as simple as we first thought. The builder started talking architects and engineers and consents... We've not done anything like this before and I don't know who to talk to next to get an idea of process/costs. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks :-)
The builder is correct, your best beat is to speak to a structural engineer first as they will be able to tell you what you can and can't do. In turn you will then need to employ an architect to draw up plans to send to council. Once you have the engineers info you will be better equipped to get costs from the architect, council and builder.
June asks: I want to make our kitchen/dining./lounge into open plan but don't know where to start
The rooms with only a partion between the lounge and dining and cupboards between the kitchen and dining
There are a lot of windows along one wall from kitchen to lounge makes it difficult to figure out the set up for the new kitchen thinking an island, sort of know what I want but do you think I need someone to draw up something and is it expensive
June
Yes it does cost, but the amount of knowledge that a kitchen design holds is enormous. They will be able to tell you what works and what doesn't. They are worth their weight in gold to get the best out of your kitchen for the money you want to spend. A good design can really make a kitchen.
Claire asks: I am about to resurface my kitchen. The walls are a off white and polished floors. Not much light comes in. The rest of the house is netural colours.
Thinking of black/black with white fleck for bench top and tan cabinets. 1. does solid black or white bench show finger marks etc? 2. cabinets should be light eg. Dulux Hutt river or go darker to create more space and light?
There is a trade off with white and black benches, black benches are beautiful when kept clean, but to answer your question yes they show finger prints, water and smear marks. They are very difficult to keep looking as beautiful as the day they were installed. White benches don't have this problem, they hide a large portion of finger prints and smears etc. However they are more prone to retaining colour from a spill, particularly red wine or a bright coloured curry if they are not wiped away as soon as the spill occurs, even then it may be too late. With cabinets a suggestion would be that if you are going for a dark bench you will need to keep the cabinets fairly light to ensure that the room doesn't become gloomy and dark since you said not much light comes in. You could possibly work it the other way however if you went for a light bench, spice it up with a dark cupboard. What ever you do there are always trade offs, but just remember the lighter the colours the lighter the area looks and feels, when going darker it gives the illusion of being smaller.
Janet asks: Hi,
We've just bought a 2 bedroom apartment 81sqm for our daughter studying in Wellington city (the former MLC building, clock tower, Quest apartments) and are in the process of getting quotations to renovate the compact kitchen. As it'll only be for her & occasionally for me/& or my husband(for meetings) to go down we don't intend spending too much to do the smallish kitchen (at the moment it's like a hotel kitchenette(I cook a lot & freeze food for her when I'm down, she loves to cook too!) We don't intend spending too much as after her studies (3rd yr out of 5), we intend renting out the apartment.The quotations that have come in are excess of $12,000( basic formica tops and incl.of removal old kitchen, installation, average brand appliances but excluding the fridge, plumbing etc). Would you advise us to go and get quotations from manufacturers of kitchen cabinets instead who'll give us quotes direct who will also do the whole works? I find that kitchen specialists tend to inflate their prices! Thank you very much if you could assist me and/or give me some pointers as to wholesale kitchen contacts etc..Cheers.
The cheapest way to put together a kitchen is with companies that only supply modular kitchens such as Kitchen House, however from the sounds of your kitchen it would be more advisable to use a custom kitchen company, purely due to size. Custom kitchen companies can untilise the area better by providing cabinets that fit your needs. There are a number of things that increase the price dramatically which are not necessarily thought of at the time of quotation. Firstly the thickness of your cabinet material, check what the thickness is with the company. You can go down to a 16mm thick board to save on money. Also different brands of hardware such as door hinges and handles can change the cost significantly. Items like pull out pantries, pot drawers and oddly shaped appliances also increase costs but make your kitchen more usable. It really depends on what you are after. Of course the more basic the kitchen the cheaper the quote, but it is a trade off for functionality. As we don't have a plan or a specification of the work to be undertaken it is very hard to comment on the $12,000. But from what you have said it seems like there is a bit of work and supply of materials involved.
Ellen Nerney asks: Want to convert a large wardrobe into a kitchenette. Any ideas
Firstly in order to do this you will need to check with your local council as to the consent you will need to get to undergo work. Some councils are very strict on kitchenettes being installed at all. Secondly it is best if you get a kitchen designer in to have a look at the space, it is best if you get someone in who specialises in small kitchens, so as to optimise the function in your small space, a good design layout in a small space is worth its weight in gold. They will also be able to tell you what requirements you will need in regards to electrics and plumbing.
Elizabeth asks: renovating the whole house - have the kitchen completed except for the splashback in kitchen - what else is available and where do i start to look - don't want painted glass if can help - would love mosaic tiles. coming to chch for weekend for ideas
The 3 most common types of splashbacks are Tiles, Glass or a Pre-finished lining. You have already ruled out glass so that really leaves you with 2, mosiac tiles do look great and there are many to choose from in the market, all you have to do is choose some and get a tiler to put them up, you must be aware however that due to food splatter it does become difficult to keep the grout looking good. The second option is a pre-finished lining. James Hardie produces a couple of different linings, there is HardieGlaze Lining which comes in several finishes including 3 tile patterns, or there is Horizon Lining which comes in several different colours. Both of these linings can be purchased from any major hardware merchant and are relatively easy to put up.
Lyn Rameka asks: Hi there,
We would like to renovate our kitchen, we want to leave the hot water cylinder in the same place. We have looked at ready made cabinets, however there does not seem to be anything to replace the hotwater cylinder cupboard. Do you have any suggestions.
Thanks
Lyn
I would recommend you contact a couple of kitchen design companies to see what they can come up with. Some companies will custom make cabinets for you, and others will have premade. It all depends really on what look you want and how much you want to spend.
Jeff asks: Can you help me select a suitable adhesive for James Hardie's Ezi-Grid Tile Underlay please. Substrate being existing T&G timber floor boards.
EziGrid Tile Underlay is no longer manufactured by James Hardie. They do supply another flooring product, Tile and Slate Underlay in two sizes. 1800 x 1200 and 1800 x 600. A solvent based adhesive like Max Bond, No More Nails, Sika 11 FC etc can be used. When fixing over solid timber like T&G using adhesive in conjunction with annular grooved nails is optional.
Phil Watson asks: What is the best way to lift ceramic tiles from concrete floor. thanks
Unfortunately there is no easy way. First of all take the grout out. Then it’s the chisel or a spade and a lot of hard work. Most of the tiles will break so don’t expect to be able to save them. If you’re putting tiles back down, you’ll need to grind back the concrete so you have a good surface for the next lot of tiles to adhere to.
michelle asks: Hi, I have a very ugly 70's kitchen and would love to update it , but have a tiny budget of $1000. An idea I thought of that might work , would be using shelves and maybe a chopping block / island or even a sold kitchen table, in place of my ugly cupboards. Can you help me with this idea or something better ? many thanks michelle
To give your cupboards a face lift you could try painting the cupboard faces (a cheap fix from Dulux) and putting on new handles which you can pick up at your local building merchant at a really reasonalbe price. Clear the clutter is something that costs nothing. Clear off the bench tops and accessorise with some funky canisters or a coffee machine. Functional and fabulous! Trawl the internet and magazines for some ideas. Homestyle magazine focuses on affordable style and might be able to offer you some other tips and tricks.
vincent asks: We would like to modify our existing open plan kitchen. It's an 80's style kitchen with formica bench top. Could you provide a good starting point so that we could have alook at some designs,possibly a way to calculate cost of renovation and also kitchen installers .
You could try getting in touch with Stewart Scott. They offer a design service called Face Lifters and also do installation. For more information visit www.stewart-scott.co.nz/face-lifters-6.html
Shirley asks: Please can you advise me who to phone to get my kitchen cupboards sprayed a different colour?
The best place to start is by visiting the Master Painters website www.masterpainters.co.nz, there is a list of their painters on the website and one of these painters should be able to point you in the right direction.
Lynda Halliday asks: We have a dark kitchen, it does not have any dedicated windows, although we are opening up some other areas to let in more light. What colours should we be looking at for a dark kitchen, fairly small also.?
Ideally to make your kitchen seem lighter and brighter, you should be using light colours such as whites, off whites and light neutrals. Alternatively, you can look for a colour that is close or matches your kitchen cabinetry then select a colour that is a half or quarter strength of this colour for walls, and then contrast with a white or off white like Dulux Sandfly Point or Mt Aspiring for your ceiling and trim. You can visit www.dulux.co.nz to see colour options or look at Dulux Colours of New Zealand palette cards in store at Mitre 10, Bunnings and Guthrie Bowron.
Judy Gardiner asks: In my kitchen I have rimu cupboards (which we don't want to change), cream walls, terracotta floor tiles and terracotta carpet throughout the house. We would like to change the colour of our benchtop, which is at the moment is charcoal with pink tonings. Can you please suggest a colour that would suit?
We recommend that you contact the team from Italian Surfaces on 09 636 6995 or Stewart Scott on 09 2620608. Italian surface specialise in stone benchtops and Stewart Scott can help you out with full kitchen design and installation.
Brigitte McIntosh asks: We are a couple approaching 50, and recently brought our first home. The home was well maintained by previous owners but the interior colors and kitchen are rather dated. We have large open plan living/kitchen area separated by the usual island bar (this we dont mind - it defines the two areas nicely). However the kitchen section of wall is divided by 'picture rail', wall paper above and wallboard below, the wall board is the type that was often used in bathrooms and on counter tops! We want to live in the house for a couple of years first before renovating the kitchen. But we want to freshen what we have with paint. Can this type of board be painted? Is there some sort of preparation/product that can be used that will allow us to paint it? . We would also like to paint the kitchen cupboards and drawers, they are a thin board with a faux wood grain, similar to formica. Many thanks for any suggestions you might have.
Clean the area with Selleys Sugar Soap to remove all surface dirt, then undercoat with Dulux Primerlock (this is a primer made to stick to hard to stick surfaces similar to formica) then top coat with Dulux Wash & Wear, and cupboards and drawers with Dulux Aquanamel.
kim silvey asks: I have recently (last week!) purchased a 1950's dwelling. I am now discovering its flaws, the first two big ones being the kitchen and bathroom.... I don't think I can handle either and am keen to start renovations. Should I get a local builder in to assess them and deliver the bad news or can I begin assessing the situation myself before I decide what needs addressing? (im no builder but i have some experience of renovating...) Any info/advice would be appreciated.
It is always a god idea to discuss the project with someone who works on these types of renovation projects on regular basis e.g. a builder, designers etc. Make a list of what you "need" and what you "want" and then discuss this list with a builder or designer. Once you have figured out your requirements and know what to do first, you can then get your renovation underway. The end finish will of course depend on your skill levels.
Marlene asks: We have a leaking cold water tap over our bath and want to change the washer. We have a header tank. My question is, do we have to climb into the ceiling to turn off header tank as well as at the mains? Dumb question , I guess but don't fancy climbing into the ceiling, really!
If the bath tap is connected to the header tank, than yes you will have to turn it off at the tank, it could be that the cold water to the cylinder is gravity fed so that will mean the hot water to all the outlets is possibly from the header tank, the cold water how ever could be mains supplied and this will have to be turned off at the street. The way to check if your hot water cylinder is gravity fed is to check under the hot water cylinder and if there are reducing valves under there then it is low pressure if there is not then it is gravity. Check the pressure at a hose tap on the outside and compare it to the bath tap it could be mains or equal low pressure.
Nadine Wilkins asks: Our kitchen cabinets could do with a spruce up. We're happy with the layout and they're in pretty good condition, however their yellowy cream colour doesn't suit the fresh white paintwork used on the walls to brighten the room. It looks like a kitset style kitchen, so the cupboards have that standard vinyl surface. Can they be repainted? Or can be the door and drawer panels be replaced with new ones? Do they have to be the same brand or will any kitset brand do? Thanks
We suggest you get in touch with Stewart Scott who specialise in kitchen cabinetry.
Barbara Baker asks: The gap required around a fridge bothers me. What is the neatest way to fit units around a fridge allowing for required clearances, door swings etc
We recommend a space of 50mm around product to allow for air circulation. Fisher and Pykel sell ‘surround kits’ for refrigeration products which can be purchased at any Fisher & Paykel retailer or from their spare parts desk at East Tamaki. These are detailed along with installation dimensions in the back of their Creative Living kitchen brochure. The kit allows you to build your refrigerator into your kitchen to give a truly integrated look. Available to fit 790mm, 900mm, 2 x 635mm, 2 x 680mm, 2 x 790mm available in Stainless Steel or Iridium. There is also a joiner kit available to provide a seamless join between refrigerators. If you need any additional information phone their customer care centre on 0800 37 2273 (0800 FP CARE).
Katie asks: Is it possible to paint formica benchtops? If so, what sort of primer, paint and protective surface layers should be used?
Sometimes the manufacturer will put their sticker underneath the benchtop. We recommend contacting them to see what they recommend. Otherwise, you could contact Dulux for their recommendation on painting and priming.
Dayle Cottis asks: We have just purchased a 1960's home which we plan to live in after renovation. The kitchen is new about 2-3 years old and in excellent condition except for the bench top which looks as if its been used as a chopping board. The scratches are not deep and haven't gone through the laminate, but what can I do to freshen it up, and or hide the scratches? and also protect it.
Sometimes the manufacturer will put their sticker underneath the benchtop. We recommend contacting them to see what they recommend. Otherwise, you could contact Dulux for their recommendation on painting and priming.
Carol asks: Are there any restrictions or rules regarding the removal of old building materials that may contain asbestos, other than wrapping the material in building plastic before disposing, and dampening the material before removal. I am also assuming that masks, and gloves are worn. Do I need to get a special contractor to do this work or can any builder do this as part of my renovation project?
It is always best to consult the Occupational Health and Safety Website for this information and check with local council where product can be taken too.
