Although the design/build format is well-known in commercial construction, it's still relatively new (within the last decade or so) for the residential field.
It's pretty straightforward: we design what we build. Clients come to us for one-stop shopping, and streamlined direction from start to finish.
At Main Street Kitchens, Scott Westby is both the contractor and the owner with a showroom, in-house designers and an in-house construction crew.
The fancier explanation is below, along with other frequently asked questions we're asked, well, frequently:
What is design/build? (The formal version):
Design/build is a construction project delivery system where, in contrast to traditional “design-bid-build" , the design and construction aspects are contracted for with a single entity. The design-builder is usually the general contractor, but in many cases it is also the design professional. This system is used to minimize the project risk for an owner and to reduce the delivery schedule by overlapping the design phase and construction phase of a project. (from Wikipedia )
How long have you been in business?
Main Street Kitchens opened its doors in March of 2001.
Do you have proof of general liability and workers' compensation?
Yes, and yes. As a licensed professional construction company, we wouldn't have it any other way. We also conduct bi-weekly crew safety meetings for our own additional "insurance."
You'll find us on the California Contractors State Licensing Board by searching with our contractor license number: # 798955. The name is listed under the owner: Scott Westby; we do business as Main Street Kitchens.
Our general liability insurance is with Colony Insurance. The policy number is GL3206970 good from 8-26-09 to 8-26-10 and renewed annually at the appropriate date.
Do you offer design services?
Not separately; however, our design expertise is an integral part of our design-build projects and we also supply cabinetry design help for our retail cabinetry division.
Some of our clients are do-it-yourself-ers or already have a contractor. They need help with their cabinetry design and layout and we work with them to maximize space and discuss functionality. We also have a number of contractors who send their clients in to us for their cabinetry needs.
What type of work do you do?
Full-service design and remodeling for kitchens, bathrooms, whole home remodeling and additions. Part of the full-service design may include partial remodels of other rooms, such as refacing fireplaces, adding new tile in the foyers, changing out the windows in the bedroom, or adding a skylight and wood flooring in the hallways.
Separate retail services include cabinetry for:
- our clients who already have a contractor
- do-it-yourself-ers
- contractors who don't carry their own cabinetry lines.
Are your staff and crew employees or sub-contractors?
We prefer to have a mixture of both. Our in-house design and office staff are employees, as our project manager, framing, and finishing carpenters. Our sub-contractors tend to be in the specialized fields like electrical, counters, tile-setting, texturing, and painting. Most of our sub-contractors have been with us since the beginning -- they're craftsmen at what they do and we like to keep them!
What suppliers do you carry?
How much time do you have?
We display:
- 3 lines of cabinetry: KraftMaid, Hertco, and Crystal.
- 3 lines of quartz counters: Caesarstone, Cambria, and Zodiaq.
- 3 lines of flooring: BR-111, Mullican, Tarkett (in addition to custom laid-in-place)
- LaFor wood countertops.
- We're an Anderson window and door dealer.
- We also supplement our projects with outside vendors: Marvin, Velux, SolaTube, Milgard, any well-crafted and/or durable tile you can think of, granite, and Nuheat.
How much does it cost?
Good question! You might be surprised to discover we're one of the few companies posting our ranges for our projects. We started this back in 2004 and had such overwhelmingly positive response that we're continuing it here with our new website.
If this is what you've been waiting for, click on the link to our Projects here or look for the tab near the top of the page. We hope you'll enjoy looking at the "before & after" photos while you're there.
Why so casual?
We prefer the term "at-ease." We're a close-knit team at Main Street Kitchens. Some of us are second-generation; others have had decades of experience (but to play it safe we won't say who or how long - you're on your own in the "Who we are" pages.)
Simply put, we're at the stage where we believe remodeling should be an enjoyable, rewarding, and stress-free experience for all. Or as stress-free as one can get when living through a remodel...
