Kitchen Remodeling in Stone Mountain, GA

New cabinets are made square and level. The rooms they go into rarely are. Floors dip, walls lean, ceilings sag a little between joists, and old soffits hide things nobody remembers. Kitchen remodeling in Stone Mountain goes better when those interfaces, the places where new work meets the existing house, are measured carefully before anything is ordered.

Floors that are not level

We check the floor along every cabinet run with a long level or a laser. Base cabinets are set to the highest point and shimmed up elsewhere, so the countertop ends up flat even when the floor is not. A large difference across the room may show at the toe kick, which can be scribed to the floor or covered with a separate toe kick board.

Uneven floors affect appliances too. A dishwasher needs enough height under the counter once the new flooring is down, and a range should sit level so oil does not pool to one side of the pan.

Walls and corners out of plumb or square

A wall that leans or bows leaves a gap behind the countertop or along the side of a tall cabinet. Scribe strips and fillers are trimmed to follow the wall, and countertops are templated to the actual wall line. Corners that are not square change how cabinets meet in an L, so we measure the corner angle before the layout is final.

Soffits, ceilings and the top of the cabinets

Many older kitchens have a soffit, a boxed-in section above the wall cabinets. Some are empty framing, but many hide ductwork, plumbing vents or wiring. Opening one during demolition is the only sure way to know, so the estimate should state what happens if something turns up inside: whether it can be rerouted, or whether the soffit stays and the cabinets are sized to fit below it.

Without a soffit, cabinets can run to the ceiling or stop short with crown molding. A ceiling that is out of level shows against a straight cabinet top, so the crown or a scribe piece absorbs the difference.

Windows, doors and existing trim

Window and door casings limit where cabinets and counters can go. A window sill lower than the planned backsplash height, or a door casing closer to a corner than the cabinet depth, has to be resolved in the layout. Sometimes the trim is replaced and sometimes the cabinet is adjusted, and each choice affects both cost and appearance.

Utilities and fixtures in the existing walls

Electrical and plumbing locations are measured from fixed points so they can be compared with the cabinet drawings. A drain stub at the wrong height for a new sink base, a gas valve where a drawer will go or an outlet hidden behind a new tall cabinet gets caught on paper. Appliance clearances are checked at the same time against each manufacturer’s guide, and light locations are marked with joist positions in mind, since recessed fixtures have to fit between the framing.

Hardware and fixture choices follow. A faucet with a side sprayer needs an extra hole, and pulls near a wall must clear it when doors open. Backsplash tile and its trim pieces are discussed on our Stone Mountain tile installation page.

Stone Mountain permits

The city’s building department asks residents to get in touch with City Hall before beginning any construction, including work they believe needs no permit, and cautions that missing a required trade permit can bring delays and penalties.

The city’s plumbing permit form must be accompanied by the contractor’s state license card, business license and driver’s license, or by a homeowner’s affidavit when the owner applies. The form also says the permit is posted at the job address and that inspections requested by 4 p.m. are scheduled for the following day.

Questions about older kitchens in Stone Mountain

What is inside the soffit above my kitchen cabinets?

It varies. Some soffits are empty framing built to fill the space above shorter cabinets, while others hide ductwork, plumbing vents, drain lines or wiring. The only sure way to know is to open it, usually during demolition. A clear estimate explains what happens if something is found, such as rerouting it or keeping the soffit and sizing the cabinets to fit.

What does Stone Mountain need with a plumbing permit application?

The city’s plumbing permit form asks for the contractor’s state license card, business license and driver’s license, or a homeowner’s affidavit when the owner is the applicant. Once issued, the permit is posted at the job address, and inspections requested by 4 p.m. are set for the next day. The city also asks residents to contact City Hall before starting any construction.

How are cabinets leveled on an uneven floor?

The installer finds the highest point of the floor along each run, sets the first base cabinet to that height and shims the others up to match, checking level front to back and side to side. The shims are hidden behind the toe kick, which can be scribed to the floor. A level row of base cabinets is what lets the countertop sit flat.

Have your kitchen measured

Call 404-409-4448 to arrange a visit. We can check the floors, walls, ceiling and utilities in your kitchen and include what we find in a written estimate.