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We are buying a 2788 square foot new construction home in Cary, NC. The base price was $296k and we added some structural upgrades. We have now set a budget of about $20k for design center upgrades and are trying to decide where the money is best spent.
The home comes standard with level 1 Bruce Turlington 3 inch engineered oak hardwoods in the foyer, dining, kitchen, and breakfast area. Total area of about 563 square feet. You get 4 colors to choose from - natural, butterscotch, gunstock, and woodstock. We were planning to stick with the engineered hardwoods until we saw the samples. The colors just aren't what we had in mind, especially since we already have our hearts set on dark brown cabinets for the kitchen. And honestly, the samples just looked cheap!!
So now we are considering upgrading to a level 2 Bruce Kennedale 3 1/2 inch solid maple hardwood in a nice brown color that complements our cabinets. Problem is they would charge us about $4500 for this upgrade. We don't mind paying the money if it's reasonable and not a ripoff by going through the builder. Would you pay that much to upgrade 563 square feet from engineered oak with a 15 year warranty in an OK color to solid maple with a 25 year warranty in a color your really liked?
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mink&Monk
We are buying a 2788 square foot new construction home in Cary, NC. The base price was $296k and we added some structural upgrades. We have now set a budget of about $20k for design center upgrades and are trying to decide where the money is best spent.
The home comes standard with level 1 Bruce Turlington 3 inch engineered oak hardwoods in the foyer, dining, kitchen, and breakfast area. Total area of about 563 square feet. You get 4 colors to choose from - natural, butterscotch, gunstock, and woodstock. We were planning to stick with the engineered hardwoods until we saw the samples. The colors just aren't what we had in mind, especially since we already have our hearts set on dark brown cabinets for the kitchen. And honestly, the samples just looked cheap!!
So now we are considering upgrading to a level 2 Bruce Kennedale 3 1/2 inch solid maple hardwood in a nice brown color that complements our cabinets. Problem is they would charge us about $4500 for this upgrade. We don't mind paying the money if it's reasonable and not a ripoff by going through the builder. Would you pay that much to upgrade 563 square feet from engineered oak with a 15 year warranty in an OK color to solid maple with a 25 year warranty in a color your really liked?
The walk-out materials price for you (as a non-contractor) for pre-finished maple flooring would probably be somewhere between $2000 and $3000. You could probably find labor for under $1000 and possibly considerably less. To go with unfinished maple your materials would be somewhere between $600-$2000 with some additional labor.
$8/SqFt is on the high side, but not necessarily unreasonable. If you have resources and are willing to deal with headaches you could certainly get the same floors for a lot less money and I imagine that $6 out of every $8 per square foot are going straight into the builder's pocket. It just depends on whether you want to roll that $4500 into a mortgage or pay a smaller dollar amount with a bigger headache out of pocket.
I work for a flooring co. in Zebulon, N.C., about 35 miles from you. so I know your market area pretty well. I live in Cary as well.
So here's some data with which you can work:
Turlington Plank sells for around $5.25 - $5.50 /sf in our area. It is a 3/8" engineered floor, and is considered a commodity-type product. It is a good floor, but nothing to get excited about. We install that floor for around $2.25 - $2.50 /sf. Note that these are retail-ish prices.
The Kennedale is a 3/4" thick solid maple floor that we sell for around $8.50 - $8.95 /sf. The installation of that floor is around $2.50 - $2.75 / sf. Kennedale is considered an "Exotic" by Bruce, and maple is a bit pricey these days. But it is a substantial upgrade from the Turlington.
There are some incidental costs incurred for thresholds, reducers, etc., but the hard costs are the ones I've included for your use.
Doing some easy math, it looks like the upgrade cost for the Kennedale is fairly expensive.
Send me a DM if you have any questions, or if you want any further info.
Regards,
Streamer1212
We already have our hearts set on dark brown cabinets for the kitchen. So now we are considering upgrading to a level 2 Bruce Kennedale 3 1/2 inch solid maple hardwood in a nice brown color that complements our cabinets.
Dark brown cabinets AND [dark?] brown floors?? Uggh. Gloomy. I can't see your cabinets, but I would think a nice light natural maple floor would complement the cabinets much more nicely than a medium or dark floor. All a matter of personal taste, I guess.
It just depends on whether you want to roll that $4500 into a mortgage or pay a smaller dollar amount with a bigger headache out of pocket.
Bingo. Most "design-center" options are overpriced, and can be done cheaper elsewhere, however you will be going out-of-pocket with those costs and not have them built-into your mortgage. Do you have the extra cash on hand? If so, then it might be worth it. You could be saving 1,000 on this upgrade, but you will be shelling out 3K in cash you might need elsewhere right now. It all depends.
Thank you all for your comments. I am a bit taken aback by the cost of the upgrade, and you get NO credit for the engineered wood that comes standard. Well, they say you do, but it's already reflected in the $4500. I guess that is one of the pitfalls of new construction, and I must just suck it up and deal with it!
Thank you all for your comments. I am a bit taken aback by the cost of the upgrade, and you get NO credit for the engineered wood that comes standard. Well, they say you do, but it's already reflected in the $4500. I guess that is one of the pitfalls of new construction, and I must just suck it up and deal with it!
I've been told (and based on my experience I think its correct), that the builders mark up on the design center options is basically their cost for the option. That's why buying those options through the builder is so expensive. In the end you end up paying for the convenience, which is what I did.
Good luck whatever you decide and congratulations on your new house!
By the way, we have Bruce's hardwood floor in butterscotch in our kitchen with maple spice cabinets. I can dig up a picture to post if you want to see it.
I've been told (and based on my experience I think its correct), that the builders mark up on the design center options is basically their cost for the option. That's why buying those options through the builder is so expensive. In the end you end up paying for the convenience, which is what I did.
Good luck whatever you decide and congratulations on your new house!
By the way, we have Bruce's hardwood floor in butterscotch in our kitchen with maple spice cabinets. I can dig up a picture to post if you want to see it.
Yes, please, I would love to see your kitchen! I am checking out all ideas at this point!
Yes, please, I would love to see your kitchen! I am checking out all ideas at this point!
Here ya go!
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Design Center Options = $$$
