What to know before you start
Cabinets and countertops are built to measure, and they are often ordered before the old ones come out. A wrong dimension, a wall that isn't square or a sink that doesn't fit the cutout can stall a kitchen while new pieces are made.
DougCO Builds measures and writes it down first. Our estimator records the layout, the walls and floor, the appliances, and the plumbing and wiring in the way. Every contractor bids on the same cabinet list and countertop scope, and the fabricator still makes a final template once the cabinets are set.
What the job includes
- Careful removal of old cabinets and countertops, with debris hauled away
- Wall and floor prep so new boxes sit level and plumb
- Cabinet supply and installation, including fillers, end panels and crown molding
- Doors, drawers and hardware adjusted and aligned
- Countertop templating after the cabinets are set, then fabrication and install
- Sink and cooktop cutouts, edge profile and backsplash
- Disconnecting and reconnecting the sink, disposal and appliances by the right trade
- Sealing for natural stone and wood tops that need it
What we scope
New cabinets
Stock, semi-custom and custom cabinets for kitchens, baths, laundry rooms and built-ins.
Refacing and painting
New doors and drawer fronts over existing boxes, or paint for cabinets that are still solid.
Stone and quartz countertops
Granite, quartz, marble and quartzite, templated on site and cut to fit.
Laminate, solid surface and butcher block
Other countertop options for kitchens, baths, laundry rooms and islands.
What drives the cost
Every project is different, so your True Bid prices yours line by line after the site visit. These are the things that move the price most.
- Cabinet grade
- Stock, semi-custom and custom cabinets differ in box material, sizes and finish options.
- Layout changes
- Keeping the same footprint costs less than moving the sink, the range or a wall.
- Countertop material and slabs
- The material, its thickness and how many slabs the layout needs set much of the countertop price.
- Edges, cutouts and seams
- Detailed edges, undermount sinks, cooktop cutouts and large islands add fabrication work.
- Plumbing, electrical and gas
- Moving a sink, adding outlets or relocating a gas range brings in licensed trades and permits.
- Hidden repairs
- Old cabinets can hide water damage, uneven floors or crooked walls that need work before the install.
Permits and HOAs in Douglas County
Swapping cabinets and countertops in the same spots usually doesn't need a building permit. Moving or adding plumbing, electrical or gas lines, or moving a wall, usually does. That permit comes from your town in Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Pines or Larkspur, or from Douglas County's Building Division in unincorporated areas like Highlands Ranch.
Plumbing and electrical work in Colorado generally calls for state-licensed trades, and any gas line change should be permitted and inspected. We write each of those items into the scope so the right people do the work and the permit is pulled before the walls close.
Built for Douglas County
Dry Colorado air affects wood cabinets and butcher block. Wood shrinks in winter when the furnace runs and swells when humidity comes back. Painted cabinet doors can show hairline cracks where the frame pieces meet, which is normal wood movement. A humidifier helps, and an oiled butcher block top needs fresh oil from time to time.
Strong sun matters too. Light through a south or west window can fade wood finishes over time, and some countertop materials carry sun warnings in their care guides. Our estimator notes window exposure so you can pick a material that suits the spot.
How DougCO Builds runs your project
- Tell us about itSend the basics through the project form. We call to set up a site visit.
- One site visitOur estimator measures, photographs what's there and talks through what you want.
- Your True BidYou get a written, line-by-line scope and a budget before any contractor sees the job.
- Contractors bid on the same scopeVetted local contractors bid without your contact details. You compare the bids side by side.
- We manage it with youWe check insurance and licensing before work starts, then walk the job at milestones and at the finish.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Are the cabinets stock, semi-custom or custom, and what are the boxes made of?
- Who makes the countertop template, and will it be done after the cabinets are set?
- Where will the seams fall, and can I see them on the layout first?
- Who disconnects and reconnects the sink, appliances and gas, and are they licensed?
- What happens if a cabinet arrives damaged or the wrong size?
Cabinets and Countertops questions
Do I need a permit to replace kitchen cabinets in Douglas County?
Usually not, if the cabinets and sink stay where they are. Moving plumbing, electrical, gas or walls usually needs a permit from your town or the county, and your contractor pulls it.
Should I reface or replace my cabinets?
Refacing works when the boxes are solid and the layout suits you. If the boxes are damaged, the layout doesn't work or you want new sizes and storage, replacement makes more sense. Our estimator can scope both side by side.
Quartz or granite?
Quartz is engineered, uniform and doesn't need sealing. Granite is natural stone, every slab is different, and many need sealing from time to time. Both are heavy and need solid, level cabinets under them.
Can new countertops go on my old cabinets?
Often, if the boxes are level, solid and in good shape. Stone is heavy, so the installer checks the cabinets first. Old tops can also hide water damage that has to be fixed.
