FAQ's

Is re-facing a good solution when your budget is tight?
Of course, re-facing is less expensive than replacing cabinets - but it is usually not recommended. If you are planning to replace doors and drawer fronts you’ll also need to replace the front face of the cabinet frame to make sure the doors and visible parts of the cabinet match. Re-facing the frame is where problems usually occur. If the laminate shifts or peels away, an unattractive seam shows. This is most typical complaint among re-facing clients.

Another reason not to re-face is cost. The most expensive part - about 70% of a cabinet’s cost - is the door. Consider this, if you are already paying for most of the cabinet, why not add a little more and upgrade to completely new cabinets?

There are many options available in cabinets for every budget. If you are already committed to spending time, money and effort on remodeling, consider the value and enjoyment you’ll gain by opting for brand new cabinets. At Tigerwork, we provide re-facing service because - on occasion - re-facing can be a logical choice. Cabinet re-facing is extremely profitable since very little labor is involved. It’s good business for the re-facing company but not often the best solution for the homeowner.

What’s the better cabinet choice - particleboard or plywood?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions when researching cabinets. There is a general perception that plywood is better than particleboard - maybe because plywood has the word “wood “in it. Most people figure plywood is real wood while particleboard is a cheap imitation. Surprisingly, in many cases particleboard is a much better option than plywood.

In order to make the best decision; let’s define these two materials. Plywood is composed of thin sheets of wood glued together. Particleboard is made of tiny wood particles held together with adhesive. Both are strong, durable and make a good cabinet. Also, there are different types and grades of plywood and particleboard. High-density particleboard is stronger and will last longer than plywood. All wood expands and contracts because of changes in humidity. Generally, particleboard is more resistant to expansion and contraction. So in areas with significant changes in humidity – like New York - particleboard is the better

Is it a good idea to purchase kitchen cabinets at Ikea?
We love Ikea. The Scandinavian design is beautiful and the prices are too good to be true. It’s a great place to research European design ideas. Here’s how Ikea works: Ikea is a high volume retailer offering low priced European-style kitchens. All Ikea products are manufactured in Sweden and shipped to the U.S. To keep shipping costs low, all items are shipped and sold disassembled and the buyer must assemble the cabinets. This works well with tables or bookcases, but is very problematic with kitchens.

Imagine purchasing a kitchen consisting of 10 cabinets. If you receive 10 assembled cabinets, all you have to do is install them. However, Ikea kitchens come in hundreds – even thousands - of pieces and there is a chance at least one piece will be missing. In addition, the assembly process takes time – which will be more costly if you are paying for labor. Another issue is the strength of the cabinet. A cabinet assembled on the job site will never be as strong and precise as a cabinet manufactured in a factory. In addition, Ikea uses very low-density particleboard. If you need to re-drill or nail the cabinet in the future, there is a good chance the low- density material will crumble.

Is Home Depot a good source for purchasing kitchen cabinetry?
Home depot is a great source. The huge stores are very convenient with everything found under one roof. Also, Home Depot’s prices are known to be the best in the market. This is not true, however, with kitchen cabinets. Actually, Home Depot’s kitchen cabinet prices are very similar to those of smaller kitchen cabinet dealers. Home Depot has shown tremendous success as a high volume, low priced retailer but if you are looking for personalized, high quality service, that’s not where Home Depot shines.

The most common complaint of Home Depot customers is that “you are on your own.” No one devotes time to your project - helping you understand, plan, design, price and make the best choices. To keep costs low and prices very competitive, Home Depot’s service must remain basic. Stores are generally understaffed and most employees are not trained designers or contractors.

Is it a good idea to install wood flooring in the kitchen?
Wood flooring is not usually recommended for kitchens. That said, it’s still a very popular choice. If it works visually, go ahead and use it - especially if you are opening the kitchen into an adjacent space with wood flooring. Generally, designers choose other materials over wood because of both the “wear and tear factor” and possible exposure to water damage. Because the kitchen is a high traffic area, the finish will wear off a wood floor more quickly than in other low traffic parts of your home and will need to be refinished periodically. Also, because there is plumbing in a kitchen, wood floors are at risk for water damage. A tile floor is more resistant to leaks and humidity.

I have a “popcorn” ceiling. Is it possible to make it smooth? Is it a good idea?
Popcorn ceilings are usually made of stucco or sand paint. This technique was used on construction during the ‘70’s and ’80’s for the purpose of hiding imperfections in concrete slab ceilings that were never 100% level. In some cases, chunks of these ceiling are beginning to crumble. When repairing a popcorn ceiling, it’s nearly impossible to make the repair invisible.

There are two ways to make these ceiling smooth. One is to scrape and skim coat. This requires more work but will not affect the ceiling height. The second way is to frame and Sheetrock the ceiling. This technique is faster, but will drop the ceiling height by at least a couple of inches. In some cases, it may be an advantage because new framing will allow you to run wiring for ceiling light fixtures or speakers. Wiring through concrete slab ceilings can be very challenging. In addition, some buildings do not permit running wiring in concrete slab ceilings. Changing a “popcorn” ceiling to a smooth surface ceiling is a popular trend. Not only does it allow for better wiring, it also makes the space look cleaner, larger and less dated.

Bathroom

Is re-glazing a bathtub a good solution to replacing the tub?
Re-glazing is a great way to save money. It requires less labor and eliminates the cost of installing a new tub. Many older tubs are cast iron - a very sturdy and expensive material. In addition, some older tub models may be deeper than new tubs. Yes, there are several good reasons to re-glaze but there is one big disadvantage – it doesn’t last. The glaze usually begins to wear off within a few years. Depending on usage, the tub may need to be re-glaze in three years. Nothing really replaces the visual appeal of a brand new tub. If you want to do it right and are not limited by budget, replacing the tub is the best way to go.

The walls in my bathroom are not level, what can I do?
When we completely remodel a bathroom, we will always remove the old walls to bare studs. We will inspect to see which studs needs to be replace and re-align all studs to water level. Therefore, when we install the wall tiles, it will be even and straight.

The toilet in my apartment does not have a water tank, can I convert it?
Absolutely. The toilet you have is call a flush-o-meter system and if your apartment board approve of it, we can convert it to a water tank system.

I have a bathtub now, can I convert it to a shower?
Yes, we can convert a bathtub to a shower and vise versa.

Flooring

Do I have to remove my old wood floor before installing new one?
New solid wood floor can be install over existing one. It will add about a 3/4" to your new sub floor, however it will be a money saver.

My wood floor is squeaky, what can I do?
We recommend to have the existing wood floor remove. We will then secure or replace the existing subfloor. After the subfloor are prep, new solid wood floor are installed. The key to have a good floor installation is to use more nails, the more the better.

Painting

The wall in my house is more than 50 years old and have been painted over and over, the condition of the walls appear to be thick and uneven, will painting it make it look new again?
Painting the walls is a cosmetic method to cover existing wall and ceiling surfaces, the result are base on the condition of the original surfaces. To make the uneven surfaces on the wall/ceiling to new, we must either skim coat or re-sheetrock it.

Choosing Contractor

Is TigerWork the right remodeling solution for you?
There is one very good reason to choose TigerWork - we are the best. We are a full-service, owner operated construction firm with an outstanding team of remodeling professionals and our own crews of skilled trade professionals. We promise quality and service - and we keep our promises.

There are two reasons to choose TigerWork. The first is price. If your priority is to hire a reliable contractor whom does good work for an unbeatable price TigerWork is for you.

Moreover, if your priority is risk-free completion and professionally managed, completed on time and on budget - TigerWork is your best choice. Our team of Remodeling Consultants, Project Managers and trades professionals handle your project from the initial planning through production, construction, installation and completion.

The second reason for choosing TigerWork is that you simply know enough about us. If this is the case, you already know why we are the #1 choice contractor in the Big Apple.

A home improvement project can be very stressful. Make it less stressful by choosing your contractor carefully. The key to success is to check out everything you can about the contractor before you part with your money.

Call contractors that pass the BBB test and get bids. Be sure to give the job details the same way with each contractor so you won't be comparing "apples and oranges". Get a list of references, that is recently completed jobs the contractor has done that are similar to yours.
Select the best bid. The best bid is not always the lowest, as the quality of materials may differ. Examine the proposals carefully.
Call the references given by the contractor you picked. See how satisfied the customers were with the job. If there were complaints about the job, or the contractor was unable to give any references, consider the "second best" bid instead.
Read the contract carefully. Make sure that the contractor has liability insurance and that his employees are covered by workman's compensation. Ask questions about anything you don't understand.
Once you are satisfied with the contract, sign it and give the contractor his deposit by check. If you decide to give a cash deposit, be sure to get a receipt.

Do not rely on verbal promises. Get everything in writing. That way, there will be no misunderstandings and your position will be much stronger if, heaven forbid, you have to go to court to resolve a problem.
Do not pay for the full job in advance. Most contractors on small projects will require a small deposit upon signing, half upon actually beginning the job and the remainder on completion. On larger jobs, such as a room addition, the payment will be broken into thirds at certain "benchmarks", such as one third upon beginning, a third upon completion of framing, rough plumbing and rough electrical, and the final third upon completion.
Be aware that if the contractor does not have workman's compensation insurance and a worker gets hurt on your job, you could be held responsible! Likewise, if he damages your neighbor's property and he doesn't have liability insurance. For extra peace of mind, ask the contractor the name of his insurance company and call that insurance company to verify that he does have liability and workman's compensation coverage currently in force.

Kitchen:

Bathroom

Flooring

Painting

Choosing Contractor