Frequently Asked Remodeling Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Provide Free Estimates?
We don’t.
instead we do a design and budget consult which includes 3D concept and detailed good better best estimate for each project.
We review the estimate with you in our showroom so you can ask questions, make changes and plan your project with confidence.
A lot of value for a small fee
It takes time to put together your 3D concept and good better best budget so we charge a fee to compensate for that time. But you get a lot of value out of the consult.
Consult fees can range from $225 to $575 or more depending on the project size.
Read more about our design and budget consult here.
How Long Does It Take To Get An Estimate?
We can usually schedule a your initial consult within a week of your call.
Our consult process consists of a home visit to get measurements followed by a showroom visit where we review your Good Better Best budget and 3D concept.
We can usually schedule the initial home visit within a week of you call and the showroom visit about a week after that. So you will have a realistic budget and 3D concept for your project within 2 weeks of your initial call to us.
Read more about our design and budget consult here.
What Does A Good Better Best Budget Include?
It’s about exploring all your options.
When starting to plan a project you have some idea what you want but you might not sure of all the options. You need someone to explain what possible and what the costs are for different choices. That is what our good better best estimate process is all about.
GBB Material Choices
Material selections are pretty easy to show as good better best options as different quality materials have different costs. We’ll show you examples of each in our showroom and explain the difference so you can make the best choice for your needs.
GBB Labor Options
We build everything to a high standard so good better best options for labor is more about adding or removing things from the scope of work. For example in your ‘good’ option you might not replace your floor tile but in the ‘better’ or ‘best’ option you would.
Pro’s and Con’s of Good Better Best
The upside of good better best budgets is you get a lot of options and will really understand all the possibilties for your project.
The downside is they are time consuming to create and quite complex. That’s why most contractors avoid them and why we charge a fee for our consult priocess.
We’ll go over your remodeling estiamate in detail together in our showroom to make sure you understand ti completly and so we can review actual material options.
When Can The Project Start?
The Design process can usually start with a few weeks of your initial consult. The design process typically takes 4-6 weeks.
The we need to order all your materials, lead time for cabinets right now are between 8 and 12 weeks but those times are coming down.
With those factors in mind we usually start new projects about 4 months after your initial consult.
How Long Does A Remodel Take?
You can break a remodeling project down in to 3 phases: Design, Ordering and Construction.
To complete all 3 phases takes 6 to 10 months. A lot of time is spent in design and planning. This is essential for a well run project and something that is often overlooked.
Kitchen Remodeling Timeline
- Expect to spend 5 weeks in design (2- 3 design meetings plus time to collect bids)
- 8-14 weeks to receive materials (lead times are slowly coming down though)
- 6 – 9 weeks in on site construction
Bathroom Remodeling Timeline
- Expect to spend 5 weeks in design (2- 3 design meetings plus time to collect bids)
- 8-14 weeks to receive materials (lead times are slowly coming down though)
- 6 – 9 weeks in on site construction
Whole Home Remodeling Timeline
- Expect to spend 8 weeks in design (3- 5 design meetings plus time to collect bids)
- 8-14 weeks to receive materials (lead times are slowly coming down though)
- 9 – 15 weeks in on site construction
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- The lower end of the range would be for a pull and replace update with nothing moving.
- The upper range would be if you were moving walls, adding or moving plumbing and electric etc…
Bathroom Remodeling
- Hall bathroom remodeling costs range between $25K – $40K+
- 5 x 9 bath with small vanity and tub/shower:
- Other small bathroom remodeling Costs range from $30K – $55K+
- 5 x 12, two sink vanity, small shower, no tub, no separate toilet room
- Larger bathroom remodeling costs range from $55K – $85+
- 10 x 15, Large shower, separate toilet room, tub separate from shower, 2 sink vanity
Kitchen Remodeling
- Small kitchen remodeling costs range from $55K – $85K+
- up to 200 sq ft, 30 sq ft of counter, 10-15 cabinets, no island.
- Mid sized kitchen remodeling costs range from $65K – 95K+
- 250-300 sq ft, 45 sq ft of counter, 15-18 cabinets, small island
- Large kitchen remodeling costs range from $85K – $150K+
- 300 sq ft +, 18-25 cabinets, large island, separate buffet, multiple sinks
Whole Home Remodeling
- Smaller home Remodeling costs range from $220K – $275K +
- 1800 – 2200 sq ft
- Kitchen Remodel,
- Remodel 2 bathrooms
- Whole house flooring
- Whole house painting
- Mid Sized home remodelng costs range from $275K – $350K+
- 2500 – 4000 sq ft
- Kitchen Remodel
- Remodel 2 bathrooms and powder room
- Whole house flooring
- Whole house painting
- Large home remodeling costs range from $350K – $500K+
In 2015 he opened the McManus Kitchen and Bath Showroom and started specializing in kitchen and bathroom remodeling.
Read more about us here.
How Much Does A Typical Remodel Cost?
These are rough cost ranges for a complete remodel: All new cabinets, counters, backsplash tile, new flooring and lighting.
- The lower end of the range would be for a pull and replace update with nothing moving.
- The upper range would be if you were moving walls, adding or moving plumbing and electric etc…
Bathroom Remodeling
- Hall bathroom remodeling costs range between $25K – $40K+
- 5 x 9 bath with small vanity and tub/shower:
- Other small bathroom remodeling Costs range from $30K – $55K+
- 5 x 12, two sink vanity, small shower, no tub, no separate toilet room
- Larger bathroom remodeling costs range from $55K – $85+
- 10 x 15, Large shower, separate toilet room, tub separate from shower, 2 sink vanity
Kitchen Remodeling
- Small kitchen remodeling costs range from $55K – $85K+
- up to 200 sq ft, 30 sq ft of counter, 10-15 cabinets, no island.
- Mid sized kitchen remodeling costs range from $65K – 95K+
- 250-300 sq ft, 45 sq ft of counter, 15-18 cabinets, small island
- Large kitchen remodeling costs range from $85K – $150K+
- 300 sq ft +, 18-25 cabinets, large island, separate buffet, multiple sinks
Whole Home Remodeling
- Smaller home Remodeling costs range from $220K – $275K +
- 1800 – 2200 sq ft
- Kitchen Remodel,
- Remodel 2 bathrooms
- Whole house flooring
- Whole house painting
- Mid Sized home remodelng costs range from $275K – $350K+
- 2500 – 4000 sq ft
- Kitchen Remodel
- Remodel 2 bathrooms and powder room
- Whole house flooring
- Whole house painting
- Large home remodeling costs range from $350K – $500K+
In 2015 he opened the McManus Kitchen and Bath Showroom and started specializing in kitchen and bathroom remodeling.
Read more about us here.
Are You Expensive?
I would say you don’t hire us for the lowest price, you hire us for the best experience.
Our Good Better Best proposal will outline all the costs associated with your project, including our project management and design fees, so you can make an informed decision.
It’s a very detailed and realistic budget that historically and proven to be accurate to within 7% of actual project costs.
Do I have To Buy Everything From You?
Most people find everything they need from our showroom but we do use local suppliers as well.
During design if you can’t find what you want with us we can visit other showrooms with you or you can visit them on your own and share the selection with us.
We will purchase the materials for you and store them if needed (if the other showroom will not).
What Kind of Training Do Your Designer Have?
Some of our designers have graduated from interior design school, others have training and certifications specific to kitchen and bath design from the NKBA and years of experience.
All of our designers undergo in house training specific to kitchen and bath remodeling and design.
You won’t find many designers in Tallahassee who understand the details of construction and design the way ours do.
How Does The Design Process Work?
Once you approve your budget we will start the design process. We usually have 2 – 4 design meetings depending on the size of the project and a final meeting to review all the details and present your fixed price proposal.
We try to schedule one design meeting a week to keep things moving but that depends on your availabiltiy and sometimes it takes longer.
The first step in design is what we call a ‘re-measure’. The designers will visit your home to double check the measurements we took during the initial home visit as well as see you home and discuss your style/design ideas.
After the remeasure you will have your first design meeting. We will have a complete design and some materials options ready for you to review.
The goal of the first meeting is to nail down the details of the layout and scope of work so we can create and send bids to our trade partners.
The next two or three meetings are more focused on materials,fixtures and color/pattern.
Once design is complete and you approve your fixed price proposal we will collect a deposit and order all your materails. We’ll store them in our warehouse as they arrive and bring them to site as needed during construction.
Do I Need To Move Out During the Remodel?
Probably not. Most of our clients remain in the home during the remodel. We build a detailed project schedule during the design process and discuss ways to minimize the disruption of your daily routine.
Of course if you do choose to move out or go on a trip for all of part of the project you’ll be able to keep up with the project and see progress pictures in our daily logs, which we post 2-3 times day during construction.
Do I Need To Be Home All Day?
Not unless you want to be. Your project manager will handle all the day to day running of the project and supervise everything.
He will do daily progress reports and send them to you thru your online project portal so you know what’s happening whether you are home or not.
How Do You Keep My Home Clean?
We use HEPA fitlers, air movers, drop cloths, plastic covers and dust barriers around the work area to separate and keep the jobsite clean. Our goal is to make staying in your home during the remodel easy and enjoyable.
Do We Have To Buy And Store The Materials?
Nope! During the design process we will help you make all your materails selections.
We will order everthing for you and store it in our warehouse until they are needed on site.
Do We Need To Make Space For Storing Materials?
No you don’t. We will order and store all you materials in our warehouse then bring them to your home as needed during the project.
We will keep a 6×12 trailer on site during the project so we can store materials and equipment in there.
Sometimes there are very long materials like trim, or very large things like appliances that we may ask to store in your garage for a day or two if possible.
How Are Day To Day Communication and Project Updates Handled
We use a project management program called BuilderTrend to manage our projects. This provides you an online portal to access all your project information including schedules, payments, daily logs and messages.
Your dedicated project manager is on site every day make sure things run to plan. Each day he will do 3 daily logs, which you will receive as emails, to keep you updated on progress and who to expect in your home each day.
Any time you have questions or feedback you can comment on a daily log or send a message and our whole team will see it and be able to respond quickly. Of course if you are home during the project you will be able to speak with your project manager directly
How Are Change Orders Handled?
We spend a lot of time and effort in design making sure things are planned in detail so we do not have to rely on change orders during the project.
If a change order is needed we will put together a proposal that inludes the costs of the change and the affect it will have on the project timeline. That is released to you for approval before any additional work is done.
Do You Guarantee Your Work?
Yes we do. We have a 5 year warranty and follow up process for all our work.
About 6 months after your project is complete we contact you to see if there are any small adjustments or touch ups needed. After that we check in with your annually for the duration of the warranty period.
How Long Have You Been In Business?
The owner, Paul McManus, has been working on homes in Tallahassee for more than 25 years. He started out as a painting contractor and then a handyman. In 2006 he got his contractor license and began doing more extensive remodeling and construction.
In 2015 he opened the McManus Kitchen and Bath Showroom and started specializing in kitchen and bathroom remodeling.
Read more about us here.
Who Owns McManus Kitchen And Bath?
Paul McManus is the Certified Contractor (lic CRC1331326) and sole owner of McManus Kitchen and Bath.
About Paul:
Paul fell in love with remodeling in college. He was studying architecture at the University of Florida and took a job as a house painter on the weekends to help pay for school. He loved the hands-on work as much as he enjoyed the design and that put him on a path to become a remodeling contractor.
He wound up running his own painting company while in school and after school that evolved into a handyman service and would eventually become a remodeling contractor. He attended various trade schools all over the country to gain experience and in 2006 earned his residential contractors license.
In 2015 he opened our kitchen and bath showroom and started specializing in kitchens and bathrooms with our current design+build approach.
The showroom and adjacent warehouse has been a game-changer for us. It allows us to display unique products that were previously unavailable in Tallahassee and it has increased our ability to serve our customers significantly.
On a personal note, I love to travel and have visited more than 38 countries, many of them during my time in the US Peace Corps in Zambia and also during a 4-year stint as an international bike tour guide.
An All In One Remodeling Solution
McManus Kitchen and Bath is the only remodeling contractor in Tallahassee with an in house design team and showroom. Our design build approach simplifies the remodeling process so you can save time, avoid feeling overwhelmed and focus on what’s important.
Get Started with a Design and Budget Consult
Our design and budget consult will help you clarify your design ideas and understand the remodeling process. You’ll get a 3D concept and a realistic ‘Good Better Best’ Budget with your consult.