FAQ

KBR is here to answer all of your questions surrounding renovations and processes. Below are a few frequently asked questions. You can also call or ask any KBR team member!

Q.
Where is KBR located?
A.

KBR currently has one showroom location in Midtown Manhattan at 838 6th Ave, Fifth Floor, New York NY 10001, near the NQRWBDFM trains and a block from the 1 Train and Penn Station.
The showroom is open at these times:
Monday - Friday: 9:30am - 6:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: By Appointment

Q.
How much do estimates cost?
A.

Our design consultations are free of charge whether at your home, place of business or our showroom. Usually our labor proposals are free too. There are exceptions to this last rule, however, which would be discussed with you during your free consultation.

Q.
Do you have architects and interior designers on staff at KBR?
A.

Yes and no. We do not have architects on staff, but we have relationships with top architects and architectural firms. We do have interior designers, kitchen designers, project managers, and various trade professionals on staff. Architects are needed when moving walls, relocating gas lines, altering the exterior of a building, or introducing structural elements. There are other situations will can call for an architect, and specific elements to specific projects can be discussed.

Q.
Once I sign a contract, when will work begin?
A.

The design and building approval processes begin in the immediate days after contract signing. Every client develops their own "flow" with their interior designer; more decisive clients will finish design more quickly, while those who take more time with decisions may find that their process takes a little longer. Many times, the approval from the building will be informed by the design process and vice versa. Once both the design is completed, all permits are procured, and the building grants us approval, we can begin construction.

Q.
... Permits?
A.

Permitting depends entirely on the project and the scope of work. Alteration permits from the DOB can only be processed by an architect or engineer, and KBR can help facilitate that, even though you'll have to pay those third party professionals separately. Plumbing and electrical permits are more common and are procured by the tradesperson, allowing for easy and simple processes. These types of permits have set prices. Your project developer should be able to inform you early in the process about what permits you can expect.

Q.
Is staying on budget achievable?
A.

Absolutely yes! When working with a project developer, you'll be informed of prices related to labor construction and given a guide to help you understand costs for finishes. By setting a clear path on budget for finishes earlier on in the process, the designers at KBR will have a budget goal to meet and ensure that you stay under.

Q.
How do I prepare my home for a renovation?
A.

Your designer, project manager, and project developer can give you guidance in your particular situation and for your specific project; generally speaking we advise clients to have those rooms be free of clutter, debris, furniture, and electronics that could be incidentally damaged. Any valuables should be secure and away from the project area. If the project area encompasses the entire unit or home, KBR recommends storing those items in a separate location.

Q.
Should I stay in my home during the duration of the renovation?
A.

This is up for debate, and definitely depends on all factors of a particular project. Clients renovating small spaces -- a single kitchen, one of multiple bathrooms -- can usually remain in the space during the duration without incident. If the work means that there will not be a usable bathrooms, or if the work area affects the entire apartment, KBR would recommend the client stay elsewhere during the renovation. Clients will small children or pets are not recommended to stay during the duration of the project, due to reduced air quality on site and dangerous conditions like sharp edges or tools, that occur at any job site.

Q.
Will my home be protected while construction takes place?
A.

Absolutely. KBR will follow guidelines from the building for protecting common areas as per the building's regulations, and will protect the clients apartment similarly. As work is completed that work will be protected as well. Protection involves a combination of plastic sheeting, zip doors, masonite, paper, and cardboard to provide clean surfaces and keep dust, dirt, debris, smudges, or other damages to the existing to newly installed items.

Q.
Who will be managing my project?
A.

This depends a little on what stage your project is in. Prior to signing any contracts, your point of contact will be the project developer or estimator. In the design phase, your point of contact will be the designer. During construction, it will be the project manager. The project manager will be at the site daily to review the work being done, take photographs, and address issues. Weekly meetings will be set up with the client, PM and designer to ensure that the project is moving along and to get feedback from all parties. All team members are available via phone and email during business hours, and many of them go above and beyond to address issues after business hours as well.

Q.
Who buys material?
A.

The majority of our clients purchase their material through us. The client always has a choice to purchase material on their own, but some material will be more difficult for the client to purchase themselves, or may be untenable to purchase themselves. For example, any item which requires fabrication (cabinetry, stone, glass) requires multiple steps, templating, shop drawings, etc, which is more complex than the majority of our clients can take on. When KBR purchases material, we are responsible for every aspect of that material: purchasing and procurement, scheduling of delivery, accepting delivery, bringing it up to the work area, inspecting it for damages and defects, processing returns if applicable, and installation of the material. For materials purchased by the client, KBR can only install, as there is too much liability to involve ourselves in the process -- even to bring items from the street to the work area. A KBR project developer can give more examples and expand on this information.

Q.
What is building approval?
A.

Most of our clients live in apartments in NYC, either in co-op or condos. In either situation, there is most likely a management company involved who, among providing other services for the building and board, review alteration applications and guide the board on approval. (A small subset of these buildings are self-managed, meaning there is no management company and all requests are processed by the co-op or condo board themselves.) When we begin a project in a building with a management company, a representative from KBR will reach out to the management company's contact to begin. KBR will provide a set of information -- usually licenses, insurance certificates, and scopes of work, to start. The building then will request information from KBR until they are satisfied that we are meeting their requirements. Many times this involves sending drawings to the management company, which are reviewed by a third party architect. This architect, usually retained by the building but paid for by the client, will review the package, scope of work, drawings, etc, to determine that we are acting in good faith and following all local laws regarding construction and code. They may recommend additional scope items to be completed, or point out areas that require more technical work like firestopping or insulation. Once the building and their architect have reviewed the package, and KBR has complied with all outstanding items, the building will grant approval, or will grant recommended approval to the board, who will grant final approval. A small percentage of our clientele live in single family homes, brownstones or townhomes. Those clients who own the entire property in this fashion have no board approval and will only have a design phase.

Q.
What happens when everything is done?
A.

Once we are completed with the scope of work and the punch list has been generated and completed, KBR will clean the apartment and return your keys to you. KBR will be available to assist with any immediate or ongoing issues in your apartment. KBR provides a 7 year non-transferrable warranty on labor related items.

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free on-site consultation today!