FAQs

General

• We will handle all duties required of a general contractor with professionalism and care. • The highest level of craftsmanship will be applied to every aspect of your project. • Our priority is always to do what is best for you, the customer. • Our employees and subcontractors will maintain a clean, neat, and professional appearance. • Your personal property will be carefully protected throughout the project. • A respectful work environment will be maintained — no loud music, pets, or smoking will be brought onto your property.

Work hours

Showroom hours are 10 to 5:30 Monday to Friday and 10-4 Saturdays.

Construction work hours are 7:30am-5:30pm Monday through Friday

Schedule

We put careful effort into preparing a detailed project schedule with the best timing estimates for each step in the process. However, the schedule remains flexible, as various factors — such as weather, material delays, illness, unforeseen additional work, or change orders — can impact its progress.

Job site cleanliness

We are committed to keeping your job site clean, ensuring a safe working environment for all. Dust protection will be installed to minimize the spread of dust beyond the construction area. However, we recommend covering or protecting any items you are particularly concerned about.

Communication

Throughout all stages of construction, you will have various meetings with Randy, Designer Linda Williams, Designer Emma Madrigal, and Hahka Kitchens employees and subcontractors as needed.

Before any employee or subcontractor arrives on site, they will have had a prior discussion or meeting with Randy to ensure everything is aligned. While Randy may not always be on-site, rest assured that he has coordinated and communicated the work to be done. All personnel working on your project are managed by the Hahka Team.

Payments

The efficient and timely progression of your project is outlined in the project schedule provided at the start. Regular billing will occur according to the agreed-upon payment schedule.

Upon completion, we will leave the work area clean and orderly. After our final construction cleaning, you may need to perform some light cleaning to fully settle in.

Be available for meetings, phone calls, and emails, and make time for communication throughout various stages of construction.

Please move furniture and household items before workers arrive. If needed, we can assist with this task.

Timely payment of all invoices is essential for keeping your project on track. Invoices are typically sent out on Fridays, and upon receipt of payment, we promptly settle accounts with vendors and subcontractors, ensuring the smooth progression of your project.

Understand that human error is a part of the process, and we appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues that may arise. We consider a project complete only when you are fully satisfied.

Randy Hahka, General contractor, oversees all phases of building projects from inception through completion. With a focus on the client’s preferences and selections, he works with subcontractors and vendors to gather quotes and estimates, then prepares a comprehensive job estimate and budget for materials and appliances. He also prepares a timetable that establishes milestones for phases of the project to ensure completion dates are met.

Key Responsibilities of a Building Contractor:

• Estimate and Budgeting: Prepare a detailed estimate and work schedule for client approval, including costs for materials, appliances, and labor.
• Planning and Design: Review or create plans that meet the client’s needs and comply with building regulations.
• Permitting: Submit necessary permits and manage the expenses involved in securing them.
• Approvals: Ensure all required approvals from associations and boards are obtained.
• Material and Equipment Procurement: Calculate material quantities and obtain bids from suppliers or subcontractors. Determine costs for equipment leasing or purchasing.
• Team Coordination: Assemble a skilled construction crew to efficiently carry out the project.
• Project Supervision: Manage, supervise, and guide the construction process through all stages, ensuring quality and timely execution.
• Trade Coordination: Ensure seamless integration between various trades (plumbers, electricians, etc.), knowing when each should be on-site for optimal efficiency.
• Liaison with Professionals: Communicate and coordinate with architects, engineers, subcontractors, suppliers, and other specialists to ensure the project’s success.
• Logistics Management: Handle the logistics of delivering materials, equipment, and labor to the site, ensuring everything is in place at the right time.
• Rescheduling: Adjust delivery schedules and coordinate the rescheduling of tradesmen if there are delays or changes.
• Quality Control: Supervise subcontractors’ work to maintain high standards of construction.
• Inspections: Arrange necessary inspections throughout the project to meet building codes and regulations.
• Emergency Response: Address any emergencies that may arise, such as injuries, equipment failures, material delays, or weather disruptions, while keeping the project on track and within budget.
• Client Satisfaction: Ensure the project meets the client’s expectations and adheres to safety and regulatory standards (e.g., OSHA, EPA, local codes).
• Safety Compliance: Ensure all safety measures are followed and that the job site complies with governmental regulations and safety protocols.
• Administrative Support: Coordinate with office staff to handle billing, payments, and documentation related to subcontractors, laborers, and material suppliers.

Our in-house designers will work closely with you through multiple meetings to ensure your new kitchen is both functional and beautiful, tailored to your preferences every step of the way.

The designer will guide you through every aspect of your kitchen, from the floor plan, windows, plumbing, and electrical, to paint colors, lighting, countertops, backsplash, flooring, and more.

Yes, we provide you with a free preliminary plan for your project, with a two- dimensional floor plan and two renderings.

An estimate provides a general price range, typically within 10%. An accurate quote or bid can only be given once a job is fully designed and all the details are specified.

We will make sure that your job site is always clean and will provide dust protection.

There are many different factors that determine your cabinet pricing, including the box construction, interior, door style, hardware, and finish.

Absolutely! Feel free to reach out anytime, and we’ll make any necessary adjustments at no additional cost.

It’s helpful to talk about your budget, timeline, preferred styles, important features, and any elements you’d like to have in your new space that you don’t currently have.

Building permits will depend on the scope of work with respect to what’s needed and how long it will take. Typically, they take 3-16 weeks. Generally, many projects will require a permit. This includes:

• Structural work
• Electrical work
• Plumbing work that is behind the walls
• Roofing

When we meet with you to understand the spaces you plan to remodel and the scope of work, we can give you a realistic budget range for your project. Once we know the exact scope of work and all the finish selections have been made, we will give you a fixed price for the complete remodel. We guarantee that our team will stick to that price and work within the agreed-upon scope of work and budget. If there are any additions to the original contract, a change order will be issued. See more information under the About Us section.

This depends on the scope of work. Once we know the details of your home and vision, we will give you a project schedule and a completion date. You’ll have peace of mind, knowing when the various aspects of the project will start as well as when the entire project will be completed. We use a critical path scheduling method made specifically for each project. Most kitchen projects are between 8-12 weeks.

As soon as we complete the design process, sign the construction contract, obtain permits, if necessary, order the materials and have projected delivery dates for the materials.

The initial showroom consultation is complementary. During this meeting, we will look at your photos of the space(s) you are considering remodeling and discuss your ideas. We can compare your project to a similar project that we have completed in your neighborhood enabling us to give you a verbal budget range for the cost of the remodel. This is Step 1 of our 5-Step process which smoothly transitions clients from the pricing, planning and design stages to a final set price on their construction contract. We invite you to review this 6-Step Process found under the ABOUT dropdown on our website.

We understand special circumstances can hinder customers from meeting in our showroom. That’s why we offer video chat consultations and presentations using Zoom. If you have an iPhone, we can use Face Time as well. We have found this feature to be very effective for conducting meetings when our clients are traveling or homebound due to illness, disabilities, or childcare requirements.

At Hahka Kitchens, Randy Hahka runs your project and manages the staff and sub-contractors. The designers, Linda Williams and Emma Madrigal, are also involved with the day-to-day construction management and are often in the showroom Monday through Saturday to answer any of your questions.

• Box Construction: plywood sides or MDF sides.
  • No no-formaldehyde added plywood
• Box interiors: Melamine, laminate or plywood
• Door style.  Prices vary depending on the complexity of the door construction. 
• Hardware: hinges and drawer glides
  • Blum Motion Tandem Full Extension soft close drawer glide
  • 110 degree; may include soft close feature; Salice (Italian) brand. 
• Door: solid wood or veneer on MDF core. 
• Maple, dove-tailed drawer box.  Metal drawer boxes are available 
• Finish: Durable
  • Utilizes a finish system that exceeds all environmental air quality compliance standards by reducing total emissions 30%.
  • Conversion varnish topcoat features ultra-low levels of formaldehyde and VOC’s
• Warranty
  • Limited lifetime – from delivery date for as long as you own your home
  • Covers all manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship
• Installation techniques:
  • Hahka Kitchens has experience with finish details like moldings and the integration with kitchen walls is exceptional. 
  • Hahka Kitchens backs up our installation with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you have any cabinet problems, due to installation, we will correct at no charge to you.

At Hahka Kitchens, we’re all about delivering top-notch remodeling projects for your family, and we back that up with a 1-year workmanship warranty.

 All of the products we supply are of the highest quality, and we guarantee that the warranty issued by the manufacturers will be upheld and in effect with our qualified installers for cabinets, countertops, hardware, floors, tile. 

Occasionally things need to be adjusted or replaced.  If it is an installation of quality issue, Hahka Kitchen’s will at their sole discretion, either repair or replace any defective product.  

In addition, Hahka Kitchens welcomes you to call us any time after the completion of your project if you have things that might need adjustments.  We can come out and take care of that free of charge.

This guarantee applies to kitchens only and does not apply to products used inappropriately, abused, misused, altered, or cleaned with incorrect cleaning methods or wrong cleaning products.

Yes! Depending on the size and scope of your project, either a Project Manager or a Lead Carpenter will be assigned to run your project. They are responsible for project management and meet with you throughout the construction process. They are also responsible for handling all suppliers and subcontractors. Their top priority is customer satisfaction as they aim to complete your project according to the schedule and the plan.

The dominant geometric shapes in most kitchens are the four-sided variety, from rectangular cabinetry to square appliances. But it is a triangle—albeit an imaginary one—that has always been an important element of a kitchen’s design and functionality.

The “work triangle” is defined by the National Kitchen and Bath Association as an imaginary straight line drawn from the center of the sink, to the center of the cook top, to the center of the refrigerator and finally back to the sink. The NKBA suggests these guidelines for work triangles:

1. The sum of the work triangle’s three sides should not exceed 26 feet, and each leg should measure between 4 and 9 feet.
2. The work triangle should not cut through an island or peninsula by more than 12 inches.
3. If the kitchen has only one sink, it should be placed between or across from the cooking surface, preparation area, or refrigerator.
4. No major traffic patterns should cross through the triangle.

Efficiency is the triangle’s main goal, as it keeps all the major work stations near the cook, without placing them so close that the kitchen becomes cramped. The work triangle is also designed to minimize traffic within the kitchen so the cook isn’t interrupted or interfered with.

Here are some examples of standard kitchen layouts with their work triangle:

The above kitchen layouts assume that a kitchen will only have three major work stations and one person cooking. As kitchens grow in size, and feature more than three workspaces, the regular work triangle isn’t always practical. And in many households today, two or more people share cooking duties. Because of these issues, designers do not always play by the triangle’s rules when it comes to drafting kitchen plans.

 With many of the kitchens we design, we’ll have more than one work triangle in it. If you can’t configure the standard triangle, you have to make do by creating the most functional kitchen possible.

 Here are some examples of kitchen layouts that are spread out and have more than three work stations. These kitchens have multiple and non-traditional triangles.

Lifestyle should determine the functionality of the kitchen, not the other way around. The work triangle is not a law, merely a suggestion. Although it can be a helpful tool, don’t let it inhibit you from thinking outside the triangle when it comes to designing your kitchen.

We have an efficient process – Hahka Kitchens remodeling has a design process that consistently delivers beautiful, on-time, on-budget projects with delighted clients   

Showroom. Our showroom allows you to actively participate in the design process as well as see and feel a variety of materials firsthand!

Collaboration. We work with you every step of the way to design and build what you have in mind for your project using our unique design/build remodeling process.

Courtesy + Customer Service from Everyone. Our office is staffed from 10 a.m. to 5:30p.m. Monday through Friday and 10am-4pm Saturdays to ensure that your questions receive prompt attention. 

Communication: Just As Important As Construction. Throughout our collaboration, Hahka Kitchens will maintain an open dialogue with you concerning the small details and big picture of your remodeling project.

Responsiveness. Our policy is that we will respond to your phone call or email within two hours or no more than one business day. 

Quality Guarantee. Hahka Kitchens guarantees our workmanship for one year.

When preparing for your home renovation project, here are some items to consider:

1. Determine what you really want in advance. What are your basic priorities and goals for what you want your remodel to achieve? Write these items down on paper for future reference 
2. Go to www.Houzz.com and create your own Idea Book using their high-resolution photographs. You can make notes about what you like or dislike about each photograph and save them to your Idea Book. You can also select photos from kitchen and bath magazines, as well as our online portfolio. Then you can begin to convey to our designer what direction you want to go with your own unique design. Be sure to write down any questions you have about the various products and designs that you are interested in.
3. Calculate your budget. Your budget will ultimately decide what you can do and how you will go about doing it. How much do you want to invest in your project? Are you familiar with current remodeling costs and the value of home improvement projects? Check out https://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2024 and look at their cost vs. value report for budget ranges on specific projects – both midrange and upscale projects are listed.
4. Consider how you will finance the project. Determine if you will pay cash, take out a home improvement loan or home equity line of credit, refinance your home, or take out a second mortgage. If you are interested in financing your project, we suggest you first inquire with your bank, and then feel free to contact us as we have resources available for you. We do not accept credit cards.

There are a number of different factors that go into pricing a remodeling project. Check the obvious first. Make sure that every estimate includes the same scope of work. If the estimates are so vague that you cannot decipher the information, go back to the contractor for clarification in writing–not just verbal confirmation over the phone or in-person. If you cannot get satisfactory written results, eliminate that contractor from future bidding. Another factor is “Builders Allowances”. This can greatly affect an estimate. An allowance for a $175.00 sink one contractor may include may not be realistic to the homeowners style and result in upgrade charges later. A contractor who includes an allowance for finish materials will typically allow for quality products. The best way to compare estimates is to request that allowances for finish materials (fixtures, flooring, and tile be left out of the estimate) or at least show them separately so they can easily be compared. When a contractor carries all the proper and required insurances, their prices will be higher than a contractor that doesn’t carry the proper insurance. It is required a construction contractor be licensed, bonded, have liability insurance and if they have even one employee (helper), they must have worker’s comp insurance. Request a copy of the contractor’s certificate of liability insurance and verify the rest on the CSLB website “check a business license”. The level of service given by a contractor greatly affects the cost. If the contractor spends lots of time picking out materials, attending to every detail, and taking care of all the little extras, so you don’t have to, it will cost a little extra. When a contractor carries all the proper and required insurances, their prices will be higher than a contractor that doesn’t carry the proper insurance. Quality of work, which is hard to show in a written estimate, is also a factor in costs. For example, our carpenters offer high-quality craftsmanship. That piece of mind is worth extra money up front to most people. This facet of the cost difference is usually only confirmed by calling references or visiting jobs the contractor has done in the past.