35 Catering to the Community K & A Appliance continues to expand its offerings with its new Exton showroom 36 Grander Garages Garage makeovers continue to grow in popularity as homeowners prioritize both functionality and appearance
PUBLISHER
Edward P. McCartney
EDITOR
Peter Proko
ASSISTANT EDITORS
Matt Cosentino, Madeleine Maccar, Carly Murray
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Chelsea Vacourt
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Hank Alspach
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Brian Mikulski
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Alex Bianco, Jay Urbaniak, Lisa Zollinger
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Darlene Versak
SALES DIRECTOR
Lindsay Gonzalez
SALES MANAGER
Jim Romano
NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPER
Chuck McKane
MARKETING CONSULTANTS
Nicole Corabi, Kristine Di Nardo, Rochelle Dodge, Darren Slaughter, Lori Vorgang, Amy B. Weiss
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Max Haggerty
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
Karmal Pritchett
DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Leigh Stuart
PUBLISHER EMERITUS
Bob Doran
EXECUTIVE PARTNERS
Gerry Haggerty, Edward P. McCartney
HOUSE & HOME
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BASEMENT FINISHING/ WATERPROOFING/ FOUNDATION REPAIR
‘58 foundations 610-822-9849 58foundations.com
Basement Waterproofing Specialists
Basement Waterproofing Specialists is a fourth-generation American contractor. Serving the entire region, they are headquartered in a refurbished 150-year-old stone farmhouse. They provide an extensive array of services to virtually any issue related to waterproofing, foundation structural repairs and/or replacement, drainage systems, mold inspection and remediation and much more. 800-700-9171 basementwaterproofing specialists.com
Quality First Basement Systems 732-697-0557 quality1stbasementsystems.com
Water Dog Construction 215-317-4261 waterdogconstruction.com
BUILDING SUPPLY
Brandywine Building Supply 610-273-3817 brandywinebuildingsupply.com
CABINETRY/STORAGE
Shelf Genie 609-595-4342 www.shelfgenie.com
CABINETS/WOOD MOLDING/ MILLWORK
Dilworth’s Custom Design
Family-owned and operated, we offer full service custom home improvements from start to finish. We offer a wide range of custom cabinetry for kitchens, bathrooms and any other area of the home or office that requires a custom touch. 610-917-9119
When you’re ready to transform your backyard, turn to the team that offers both design and installation services. Archadeck is a deck installation company in Wilmington, Del., and surrounding areas that works one-on-one with homeowners to bring their outdoor visions to life.
Whether it’s replacing an old deck, installing a new screened-in porch or transforming your backyard into a tranquil space with a new patio and hardscape, they’ve got you covered. 302-455-2426 delaware.archadeck.com
Archadeck of Northwest Philadelphia 484-275-2032 archadeck.com/northwestphiladelphia
ELA Outdoor Living 215-794-2400 elaoutdoorliving.com
First State Building & Design is a premier home renovation company that specializes in crafting magnificent exterior and interior spaces. Custom decks, porches, patios, kitchens, bathrooms — we do it all! 302-306-3372
firststatebuildinganddesign.com
Get Decked
40-plus years of experience in just decks! All work done by owner; no subcontractors/salespeople. Familyowned and operated. Awardwinning/all-inclusive/worry-free custom decks. 50-year material warranty and lifetime workmanship warranty. Fully licensed/bonded/insured. Proud 15-plus year member with A+ rating with BBB! Think Get Decked! Call for your free in-home estimate today! 302-897-0302
Sequoia Out Back 215-918-DECK (3325) 866-650-DECK (3325) 215-368-RAIL (7245) decksupplies.com
Smucker’s Hardscape & Outdoor Living 717-940-2376 shoutdoorliving.net
The Paver Doctor 856-210-6843
HELOC/MORTGAGES
TruMark Financial Credit Union 877-TRUMARK trumarkonline.org
HOME THEATERS/HOME AUTOMATION/SECURITY
Shore Sound & Cinema 609-645-1300 s2cinema.com
HVAC
Family Heating & Air Conditioning 215-910-4685 Familyhvac.com
INTERIOR DESIGN
Kiyoko Custom Interiors 484-883-1014
Oskar Huber 215-355-4800 oskarhuber.com
INTERIOR DOORS
One Day Doors & Closets of Philly 267-508-7906 onedayphilly.com/promo12
KITCHEN/BATH DESIGN
AAA Hellenic Marble 610-344-7700 aaamarble.com
A.W. Viohl Contracting
Locally-owned and family-operated, A. W. Viohl Contracting, LLC provides turn-key renovation and contracting services to Delaware and Pennsylvania. Since 2008, we have had the privilege of servicing he needs of hundreds of satisfied homeowners. Our mission has been to build a business based on honesty and integrity, providing quality workmanship at a competitive price. We are not satisfied until you are. Contact for all your needs. 302-375-6166 viohlcontracting.com
Ordini’s Best Fiberglass Pools 215-602-3485 oridiniswim1day.com
Pool Designs
Their dynamic team has been selling and installing pools, both fiberglass and vinyl liners, for a total of sixty-four years. They specialize in fiberglass in-ground swimming pools and spas. They are here to assist you in the installation of your inground swimming pool and or spa design and will also offer you their experience in creating the ambience and finishing touches that fit in your budget. They carry a long term guarantee and are at your service should you have any questions or concerns regarding your pool. 609-257-2279 poolinaday.com
Family owned and operated, specializing in full exterior remodeling projects which include additions, siding, roofing, windows, doors, decks, stone work and more. Committed to providing excellent craftsmanship with integrity and an attitude of service. 717-442-4814 eecontractingllc.com
Global Home Improvement 866-735-1121 globalhomeinc.com
Greenawalt Roofing
Residential - CommercialStorm Damage0% Financing Options. Family-owned award winning company. Proudly partners with CertainTeed
SPONSORED BY
to deliver the highest quality materials for every project. 215-371-4434 greenawaltroofing.com
Hynes Construction 610-896-6388 hynesconstruction.com
John E. Steele Jr. Inc.
At John E. Steele, Jr. Inc., their team of licensed and insured roofers understands that a high-quality roof for your home and business is important for both appearance and function. They strive to satisfy their roofing customers with a high quality, finished product that will last for years! Family owned and operated for over 50 years. 302-276-7200 johnsteeleroofer.com
While spring is certainly a time for homeowners to get excited about digging into their gardens and spending more time relaxing in their backyards, it is also a season that brings a lot of rain to our area.
Rain threatens not only your outdoor picnics and barbecuing habits, but also your
lawn and home if not properly drained. House & Home spoke with Scott Nickett, owner of Nickett Landscaping, about the damages of poor drainage in lawns and how best to fix them.
What problems can poor drainage cause for the average homeowner?
Water from poor drainage can cause all kinds problems, from property damage/loss due a flooded basement or living space, a yard you cannot cut for weeks, muddy dog paws and children’s footprints all over the house, and standing and sitting water that can kill your shrubs and trees. After 43 years of
creating drainage resolutions for customers, we have seen and heard almost everything related to water issues at home and in the yard. There are a lot of homeowners concerned with standing water as it can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
How can homeowners best address poor drainage issues and standing water in their lawns??
Every house needs a full assessment to see if water can be diverted away from the area of concern or if a drainage collection system is needed. Hydrostatic pressure can build up along the foundation and cause water to drip or pour into the home. These issues usually need a drainage collection system to alleviate that pressure and take the water away from the affected area. Sometimes the addition of stone and soil can solve issues in the driveway and lawn.
How can Nickett Landscaping help?
We use our 43 years of drainage experience to take away the mental stress of staying up all night worrying about the heavy rain that has been forecasted. We will come out to meet with you and see how your water issues are affecting your family and home. Afterwards, we will create a solution unique to your specific needs. Our crews will protect the lawn, driveway and other areas with plywood and tarps to keep your property as close to the way it was before we showed up. Most often you will not even notice that we were out to perform the work. Our crews take pride in leaving the property and lawn intact so you can go right back to using your new, drier lawn.
How extensive is installing a lawn drainage system? About how long does it take?
Each property will have a full evaluation to determine the extent of the needed solution. Most of the time we focus on finding the vast majority of concerns and then we can add into the system in the future if needed. Most of our projects are completed in one day and we can build the right size crew in order to limit the disruption to the home and family life.
What other services does Nickett Landscaping offer?
We offer all outdoor services to be a “one-stop shop” for all of your exterior needs. We provide spring clean-ups, bush trimming, lawn mowing, lawn applications, fall clean-ups, hardscaping on patios, walkways, steppers and walls, landscape lighting, planting and design, landscape renovation, lawn renovation, monthly hand weeding and gutter clean-outs and more.
Scott Nickett, Owner
Closet Factory is in the business of building a better quality of life for its clients. “It’s a fun purchase with us,” Charles Palko says. “People do dream about what kind of closet they’re going to get.”
The Palko family are the owners of the Closet Factory franchise serving the Delaware Valley— covering Ocean County down to Cape May County in New Jersey, Philadelphia and its surrounding four counties, and the state of Delaware. The company prides itself on catering to its clients, whether they’re working on a $2,000 job or a $120,000 job.
“We go from simple to spectacular, and our spectacular is really spectacular,” Palko affirms.
In addition to custom closets, Closet Factory also designs and installs wall beds, entertainment centers and organizational units for other areas of the home and Palko assures that no matter the project, it will be done to the client’s specifications, and it will be done well.
“Because of our 45 years of experience in architectural woodwork, we are well above what is considered industry standard when it comes to how we manufacture our products,” he says. “The quality, hands down, is better at Closet Factory.”
ORGANIZATION, AESTHETICS AND BUDGET
There are three buckets a customer requires, according to Palko. First is ensuring the project meets all of the client’s organizational needs. Second is building a closet that is aesthetically pleasing. And third is succeeding in doing both of these things within the customer’s budget.
“We make sure from an organizational point of view that there’s enough room for all of their handbags, all of their shoes, their long hang, their short hang. We make sure we cover all the bases,” Palko explains.
As far as aesthetics, Closet Factory designers can put together everything from simple, streamlined plans to extravagant designs with all the bells and whistles.
“Aesthetics has a lot to do with the end price, and we work with the client on what their budget is. We work around that number, so we maximize organization and aesthetics to that budget,” Palko says. “We don’t want to overdesign it and we don’t want to under design it.”
TRAINING AND TECHNOLOGY
Closet Factory designers go through “constant training,” according to Palko. The initial training is three intense weeks, and there is follow-up education as they work their way up to more intricate and expensive designs.
Closet Factory also utilizes a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) program to build its designs, which enables clients to see their project not only in 2D, but in a full 3D rendering in their home. The accuracy is so advanced that it transfers the project to the company’s computerized machinery
Quality for a Lifetime
to be able to individually cut each part of the project.
“Everything starts from flat wood and it’s cut exactly as it’s designed on the CAD program,” Palko says. “Our shop is the most sophisticated in Closet Factory’s franchise network, so our customers are getting the benefit of having the best equipment and the most experienced people working on their project.”
Closet Factory manufactures everything on site except for hardware. Doors, drawers, even glass—it’s all cut and manufactured in-house, and computer-generated to exact specifications resulting in one of the best yields in the industry.
“We’re in control of what happens with the client experience,” Palko says.
While industry standard is to finish a job about 85% of the time—meaning, for instance,
a two-day job won’t be finished in two days 15% of the time—at Closet Factory, they’re at 97%.
“And we’re not accepting the 3%,” Palko adds. “We’re finding out who and how we didn’t get those projects done on time.”
ORGANIZATION FOR A LIFETIME
Many companies offer lifetime warranties, but what’s different with Closet Factory’s lifetime warranty is that it’s transferable to a new homeowner.
“Our products are built for life,” Palko says, “and we back them for life.”
This, paired with the company’s one year, no-interest financing, makes investing in home organization to meet every day needs an easy choice—and a choice that has grown in popularity over the years.
Twenty-five years ago, clients were focused on beautiful kitchens and master bathrooms when buying or building a home. Today, they still are, but they also want home organization that fits their needs.
“That’s what the customer wants today. Customers want a great kitchen, a great master bath and a great walk-in closet,” Palko says.
And according to him, there’s no better way to ensure a customer is getting the organization and closets that fit their need than by giving them a say in the process. The Closet Factory team sits down with a new client from the very inception of a project, involving them every step of the way.
“From a clean slate all the way up to completion, the customer has input. We’re coming up with this beautiful design that the customer actually has ownership of,” Palko says. “We’re not designing our dream closet, we’re designing the customer’s dream closet.”
Closet Factory boasts top-of-the-line technology, talented designers and the ability to turn clients’ dreams into reality by Kristen Dowd
Whether hosting an event, creating memories with family or enjoying a personal retreat, an outdoor living space focused on entertainment is a go-to crowd-pleaser. by Carly Murray
AS THE SUMMER HEAT COOLS, AN ENTERTAINING OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE CAN BE THE ULTIMATE PLACE TO GATHER WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, OR TO EXPERIENCE A SOLO GETAWAY IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD.
The key to peak enjoyment is to personalize features to the household and the intended purpose. For kids, a playground can be the centerpiece for hosting their friends or throwing birthday parties. Alternatively, a pool, a bar, a fire pit and television screens may better match the residents’ lifestyle and ideal setting. It’s all about the vision, and there are several options in home renovation to make that vision come to life.
A unique concept can often surprise homeowners in its feasibility until they find the right professionals and products. As the industry grows more every year, there are myriad possibilities to make an outdoor living space both amusing and aesthetically appealing.
Despite the summer nearing its end, there are plenty of features that can be set up and enjoyed in one day. Kristi Reading, managing partner at The Buxton Complex, explains that finishing touches like outdoor furniture sets, firepits and innovative outdoor kitchen features are available for instore purchase—and many can be ordered in custom colors. Additionally, there
are different options to customize the features to a household’s lifestyle.
“Our poly outdoor furniture features smooth surfaces and [are] maintenance-free products, which protect from splinters in wood outdoor furniture, making it the best choice for children. The Sunbrella fabric used on the outdoor sofas is high quality to resist tearing and staining, which is great for the pets that love to lounge around,” Reading says. “The Big Green Egg [grill’s] advanced ceramic was partially developed using technology from NASA, and each unit is crafted in North America under the strictest quality standards. … The Egg’s superior insulation not only ensures precise temperature control and the ability to withstand extreme heat, but also keeps the exterior cooler to the touch— adding an extra layer of safety by reducing the risk of burns if accidentally touched.”
Reading also recommends the Gozney Tread, which is a pizza oven designed for heightened portability. Grilling is still essential, but there are currently so many other appliances to cook, fry, bake, roast and smoke as well.
Food is at the heart of entertaining, and the cook can continue to mingle with guests instead of remaining stuck indoors until the food is ready. While certain features can heighten the safety of children nearby, it is
always best to provide them with a distraction.
“Swing sets and playhouses are also up [in popularity] in the last several years. People are discovering that it’s necessary to get out. If you give children a good swing set to play on and a little bit of encouragement, they love going out; plan on that. So, those options are almost unlimited,” says Dan Stoltzfus, owner of Country Tyme Sheds. “You can get a smaller set, but a smaller set will get used a lot less. Now, something that’s a little bigger, a little more complex and maybe a vinyl set that’ll last for years and years [will get used more].”
“There’s a model for everybody. They go from something very basic, [like] a little port, a couple swings and a slide, to what [Rainbow Play Systems] calls their Metropolis, which is a $100,000 swing set that looks like a small city with tons of different slides and bridges, all sorts of different levels and platforms, and clubhouses and play ports,” adds Braun Kiess, owner of Pleasant Run Structures.
Playgrounds encourage activity and imagination, and when paired with a pool—the possibilities are endless. Although playing outside is supposed to limit screen time, bringing the screen outside adds an extra incentive for both children and adults. Often, a television is the center of an event, such as watching a pool-
THE BUXTON COMPLEX
A Place in the Sun
side Eagles game or hosting an award-show screening party.
Placing an outdoor television requires some extra steps and planning to ensure its longevity and protect it from the elements. Motorized TV Cabinets offers innovative, portable cabinets to hold televisions of any size. Owner Carlos Betancourth explains that the cabinets can be customized by color, and many customers opt to add on a built-in electric fireplace.
“The fireplace is very popular right now. That’s something new that we just started last month, and it’s been taking up some traction,” he says. “The only other add-ons that we offer at the moment would be stabilizing bars that you could have bolted onto the front and back. That is especially useful for people who live somewhere where it might be a little windy, or people who are on rooftops. We deliver a lot to rooftops or to people who are on the Shore.”
Stabilizing bars and side handles are ideal for children who may pull on the cabinet, and they are built to be both functional and decorative. There are also custommade waterproof covers to protect from sunlight, wind and precipitation. As for
placement, there are numerous choices.
“The beautiful part of this cabinet— and the reason why people are usually driven to find us is—it is on wheels, you could place it wherever you want. So, I have it in front of my sofas, and then, if I want to go in a hot tub 30 feet away, I could wheel it over to the hot tub, and watch a movie or a game, and when I’m done, I wheel it back. Or, I could wheel
it by the pool,” says Betancourth. “With a cabinet, you could completely change your whole setup on your patio whenever you want, because all you’re doing is wheeling it from one end to the other.”
When placing a TV, consider optimizing visibility despite the sun, and implement separate speakers to best hear audio. Another option is to combine structures to maximize space. With everything
MOTORIZED TV CABINETS
A Place in the Sun
that goes into both creating and utilizing an outdoor living space, it’s always practical to consider a space for storage. Stoltzfus notes that storage structures, pool houses and sheds can conveniently function as walls for other features.
“We have a really popular [structure] that has … a really pretty shed, and then on the other end of it, there’s this pavilion. And it’s probably your most cost-efficient outdoor roof space [option],” he says. “It’s very efficient and it’s very good. And, you have that backdrop on the side of the shed to hang your TV on, and a wall to put things on. Sometimes you can get them with or without a bar, sometimes they’ll do a partial bar and sometimes they’ll do a full wraparound bar.”
Structures traditionally intended for storage can be used for other purposes, and with some creativity, there is truly no limit. Think of it as an additional, outdoor room; for crafting, as a workshop, a changing area to accompany a pool and more.
“Pool houses are great spaces, because you can have a bar area, and you’ll have a counter for people to sit and relax,” says Kiess. ”Our pavilions [are also popular for entertaining]. Pavilions are a roof structure with no sides and provide a nice designated area. A lot of times, people put ceiling fans in them. We’ve had folks that’ll actually have outdoor fireplaces built adjacent to them. Underneath the roof, they’ll set up a living area. So, it creates a really nice outdoor living
space that could be fairly big.”
These spaces will extend hosting and gathering opportunities into autumn, especially those that incorporate cooking or the warmth of an outdoor fire to roast marshmallows. Even if it becomes too cold to go in the pool, an outdoor living space inspired by entertainment will be filled with alternatives.
“Whether you are entertaining friends, family or a backyard birthday party for your kids, we have the best solutions for you,” affirms Reading. “From fire dining tables that give the best ambience … [or] lounging around on an outdoor sofa with your kids watching the stars in the night sky, cooking the best meal on The Big Green Egg, [or] kids running around pretending they are navigating a pirate ship on a swing set; there is a great option for every family, big or small.”
The Buxton Complex Ewing, N.J. (609) 771-0274
TheBuxtonComplex.com
Country Tyme Sheds Colmar, Pa. (267) 834-0211
CountryTymeSheds.com
Motorized TV Cabinets Watchung, N.J. (201) 852-5059
MotorizedTVCabinets.com
Pleasant Run Structures Flemington & Parsippany, N.J. (908) 237-1325
PleasantRunStructures.com
ask the expert
by Chelsea Valcourt
TDilworth’s Custom Design
HE HOME IMPROVEMENT MARKET IS SATURATED WITH COMPANIES EAGER TO ASSIST IN A REMODEL, BUT NOT ALL COMPANIES ARE MADE EQUAL. VARIABILITY IN BUDGET, CUSTOMER SERVICE, PORTFOLIOS, AND EXPERIENCE CAN TRULY SET A COMPANY APART—AND DILWORTH’S CUSTOM DESIGNS MEETS THE MARK IN EVERY CATEGORY.
House & Home spoke to Dilworth’s owner and CEO Dan Dilworth about the benefits of working with a full-service, experienced company and the current trends in the home improvement space.
WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE A FULL-SERVICE COMPANY?
The advantage of this type of company is that everything is local—giving us complete control of scheduling. We work through the design process, give clients a schedule of events, guide the selection process, get the information out to the shop so they can start building…and then start the project with minimal-to-no subcontractors. We have everything ready to go.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR SHOWROOM.
Many showrooms have small vignettes showing a little bit of a lot of things. We took a different focus; we wanted an actualsize showroom, so that you can see what a full-size shower or kitchen really looks like. Computer visualization is good, but only goes so far—and it’s helpful for our clients to know what they’re getting when they select it. Our showroom has hundreds of selections to pick from, so they’re not being sent to multiple locations to figure out what they want. They can pick everything out in our showroom. We’re not an appliance store, but we will help them with appliance selections, and have recommendations on where they can go.
WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS ARE HOT RIGHT NOW?
For bathrooms, most clients want to get rid of big bathtubs of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and that small shower. Many choose to have a
stand alone soaking tub and most definitely a larger shower making the bathroom more like a relaxing oasis.
With kitchens, we want the cooking experience to be pleasurable, so we try to make the kitchen functional and enjoyable. If you don't enjoy being in it, you're not going to want to cook, which means you're not going to enjoy your meals. When people entertain, everybody crowds in the kitchen, so we’ll try to expand the kitchen to make that entertainment experience all that it can be.
HOW
DOES
DILWORTH’S ENSURE EACH CUSTOMER WALKS AWAY SATISFIED?
Customer experience is No. 1; it’s paramount to everything else. There’s a lot of people that can do kitchens and baths, but if they can’t provide great customer service and the experience clients deserve, they’re just another contractor. We take the time from the beginning and guide them through making selections. We’re not afraid to say no to a customer, but we’ll tell them why so they’re putting their money where it needs to be.
Once we start a project, the same guys will be working on the project, allowing our clients to get to know them and have meaningful conversations about the progress. The installation experience is what impacts people the most in their home, so we want to make sure, not only that the guys do a great job, but that they’re just nice guys. People say ‘We enjoyed having them in our home, and the kids—even the dog—miss them.’
We’ve noticed that once a client chooses us to do their first project, we end up getting a call years later for the next one, and [subsequent projects] because they found that they love our process and the results.
DILWORTH’S CUSTOM DESIGN IS TURNING 35. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO WORK WITH AN EXPERIENCED COMPANY?
It’s a big deal. We’ve been around for a long time. We started small doing cabinets, and
grew into a full turnkey operation. If I added the number of years of combined experience among the guys, we’re well over-100 years of quality experience. We all collaborate to share advice and knowledge. It’s not often, but when something stumps us, we don’t walk away from it. We dig our heels in, research and figure out a solution.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO HOMEOWNERS STARTING A HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT?
A lot of the time people want to go out and get other quotes to compare, and we encourage that. When getting other quotes, make sure you ask these three questions:
• Who are your referrals? I want to know who you work for, and I want to be able to talk to them. We supply a huge referral list and clients can call any one of them and ask any questions.
• Did they finish on budget? Ask referrals if the project finished on budget. We try to keep people aware of where their budget is during selections, so the budget doesn’t run away on them.
• Was the project completed on time? That’s a big deal, because a lot of contractors will start multiple projects at the same time. That means they’re not going to be there every day, and that’s where we are different. Once we start, we’re not going to leave.
Catering to the Community
WARRANTIES, FINANCING AND DELIVERY
K & A stocks appliances—refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ranges, ovens, washers, dryers and microwaves—from well-known, reputable brands, including Frigidaire, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Amana and many more. Most appliances sold at K & A come with manufacturer warranties, which mirror their regular warranty coverage except for cosmetic. If a manufacturer warranty is not available, K & A provides its own coverage.
by Kristen Dowd
Appliance first opened its doors in 1976, and over the past nearly 50 years it has grown to establish itself as a premier family-owned business in the Lancaster County region.
That growth and success is in large part due to the efforts of current owner Amauris Sanchez, who took over the business in 2001. At the time, the company strictly sold used appliances—but Sanchez quickly discovered the profit margin wasn’t viable for that type of business.
“From there we moved to scratch and dent appliances,” he says.
A scratch and dent appliance is brand new, but may have a cosmetic imperfection preventing it from being sold through a typical dealership. Those appliances end up back at distribution centers, and from there, they go to K & A.
“We can clear those centers at reduced pricing,” General Manager Pete Todd explains, “and then K & A can provide those savings to our local community.”
A GROWING BUSINESS
The change to selling scratch and dent appliances proved lucrative for K & A, and the company began to grow. In 2001, there were two employees, and today there are 38. The Lancaster showroom also grew in size, and a second showroom opened in Exton this past April.
“We wanted to replicate the success of the retail side of our business,” Todd says of the Exton expansion. “We’re a pillar of the community in Lancaster County, and we wanted to bring that to neighboring counties so we could expand that successful customer base and be able to help homeowners in need of more affordable options.”
The company focuses on not only retail sales, but also wholesale distribution and service.
“We have retail for the local community, and we do wholesale across the nation,” Todd says. “Our growth and longevity are due to having great relations with manufacturers and also with our long-term customers, many of whom refer to K & A as their go-to source for all appliance needs. We have a lot of property managers, property management companies and landlords who just see the value in not only our service, but also our pricing.”
Offering this warranty pairs well with the service side of the company. “I think people prefer when a company has its own service team,” Sanchez says.
K & A Appliance and its certified technicians are ranked No. 1 in professional repair Lancaster County. Service is offered for appliance or parts purchased at the business over the past two years.
“And it’s not only service—we also do our own retail and wholesale delivery,” Sanchez adds.
For retail customers, many choose to take their appliance the day of purchase. For those who don’t have transportation, local delivery is free. Many items include free installation, and there is free appliance removal included as well, with responsible and environmentally safe disposal.
For those in sudden need of replacing an essential appliance in their home, K & A has financing options available if needed.
Additionally, K & A “appreciates local heroes,” Todd says, and are happy to provide first responders, veterans, current military, teachers and nurses with additional savings whenever possible.
CUSTOMER APPRECIATION
Going that extra mile for the customer and building up community relations is a nobrainer for the K & A team and it’s key to the company’s success.
“The community has been good to us,” Todd says. “We value the integrity of the company in treating customers respectfully and well while providing quality service and products at a savings.”
Amauris Sanchez and his daughters, Kelsey & Arelis (K&A)
Grander Garages
Garage makeovers continue to be popular as homeowners prioritize both functionality and appearance
by PETER PROKO
PROFLIFT GARAGE DOORS
There was a time when a home’s garage was an afterthought, a lesser-used extension of the house that was mainly utilized for either parking a vehicle, housing tools and lawn equipment, or storing decorations and other overflow items you didn’t want taking up space in the home’s interior. But the evolution of the residential garage has come a long way and now the space is being tailored to suit any number of a homeowner’s needs and desires.
At the top of many wish lists is the goal to become more organized and have better storage solutions, whether it’s shelving and cabinets to help get things off the ground or perhaps a customized workbench area to keep one’s tools tidy and easier to locate in times of need. Others are looking to turn the garage into another living space, perfect for entertaining family and friends, watching the big game or creating a welcomed escape for the kids.
Additionally, the garage has increasingly become the main entryway into the home, and so to avoid tracking in dirt and other debris, garage floors are being finished with resinous coatings that are extremely easy to clean and enhance durability and the overall appearance. What’s more, the right garage door can add the perfect finishing touch, help boost curb appeal and add to your home’s value.
Unsurprisingly, garage makeovers are only increasing in popularity as homeowners are prioritizing the ability to transform the space from dirty and dingy to a well-designed area that is both highly functional and aesthetically pleasing.
To get a better sense of what homeowners are looking for with these in-demand makeovers, House & Home
spoke to some experts in the field who shared their insights and discussed the ways to help breathe new life into your garage.
What’s the process like when a homeowner is looking to revamp their garage? How do you determine which custom cabinet and storage solutions are right for them? The biggest factor is what they are going be storing. If they’re just doing lightweight stuff like Christmas decorations and that sort of thing, that’s one issue. If they’re doing a lot of paint cans, remodeling tools … that sort of thing … it’s another situation. When we put our projects in, we build them from simple to spectacular. So a customer can get just basic storage in the closet, or they can get something that’s spectacular if they want to show off their 1957 Corvette.
—Charles Palko, general manager, Closet Factory Philadelphia
What are some of the more common requests clients have asked for recently?
They want a workbench in there and they want cabinets. [Homeowners] like having cabinets by the door that they can use as a drop-off zone for groceries, packages, etc.
And since many are using the garage as their front door now, they like to have a bench near the [interior] door where they can sit down and take their shoes off. And then they want a cabinet right next to the bench so they can slide their shoes into it instead of bringing them in the house [and tracking in dirt from the garage].
No matter what their request, they want it to be very functional.
—Aaron Lewis, owner, Closets for Less of Bucks County
Grander Garages
Typically when a homeowner contacts me, I will ask questions to find out what their needs are and what their goals are concerning storage, organization and what type of budget they may have in mind. Then I will set up a consultation to meet at their home.
[In addition to finding storage solutions], we have converted garages into workout spaces as well as home offices. We have also turned the space into a man cave or kids play area—[the homeowner] really has unlimited options.
—Clyde Pettit, owner, Distinctive Garage
People tend to focus on updating the inside of the garage, but should they also be looking at updating the garage door at the same time?
A garage door can actually make a difference in your home’s value. A recent study showed that garage doors have
at least 100% return on investment when you go to sell your home. And when you think about it, especially with doors that face the street, they add to the curb appeal. So instead of thinking about it as just something that goes up and down, think about it as also an extension of your front door. People put a lot of value in what their front door looks like and they should also consider putting the same amount of value into what their garage door looks like.
—Fadi Baaklini, owner, ProLift Garage Doors
With so many options, how can you help a homeowner choose the right door for their style of home?
So one thing we can do, especially if somebody is between doors, is we can take a picture of their house and then send them pictures of what the new garage doors would look like based on whatever design
or style of home they have. It gives them a pretty good idea of what it would look like if they chose a woodgrain door, or if they wanted to go from an existing woodgrain to a red or green colored door. It really helps bring what they are envisioning to life versus just seeing it on paper and trying to imagine it in their head.
—Fadi Baaklini
Aside from making the garage cleaner and more organized, is it important to homeowners to make the garage look and feel more polished like the rest of the house?
It’s very important. When I was younger, my garage was a garage; we stored stuff in there and we used the front door to access the house. Now people are using the garage as their main entrance, they want to be able to pull their cars in and they want speckled floors in there to help make it look prettier.
—Aaron Lewis
With the garage now being the preferred entryway into the home and folks being cognizant of not wanting to drag in dirt from the garage into the house, what are some of the preferred options when it comes to floor coatings?
We carry two types of flooring, the most common is Citadel Polyurea Floor coatings, which are an epoxy type floor with an endless selection of colors. We also offer SwissTrax interlocking garage floor tiles in 19 different colors and can do many decorative designs in the floor. This is a perfect option if the garage concrete floor is in disrepair and epoxy isn’t the best choice.
—Clyde Pettit
The flooring option we use is called polyaspartic. It’s very durable against salt, water and UV rays from the sun. So it will not fade and is excellent for its ease of cleaning. … Most jobs are a one-day job where we’d typically schedule
the floor on a Friday and then start putting cabinets in on a Monday. That gives time for the polyaspartic resin to cure over the weekend. You could walk on it, but you shouldn’t drive on it for 24-48 hours.
—Charles Palko
RESOURCES
Closet Factory Serving Pa. and N.J. (215) 268-7660
ClosetFactory.com
Closets by Design (866) 278-8881 (Pa. and Del.) (888) 500-9215 (N.J.)
ClosetsByDesign.com
Closets for Less of Bucks County Warminster, Pa. (215) 504-5898
Closets4LessBucks.com
Distinctive Garage Cape May Court House, N.J. (609) 602-2270
