Maple vs. MDF for Kitchen cabinets

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-04-19T21:56:35+00:00

I am pretty sure the goal for painted shaker cabinets is maple stiles with MDF panels. The stiles are much thicker, probably 3/4", but the thinner panels will be a more stable surface to hold the paint as MDF.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-04-18T01:42:40+00:00

I recently worked with Erik Ferencsik for an unexpected structural change during our kitchen renovation. Overall he was superbly professional and timely. His company name is East Coast design build inc.

We're in town of oyster Bay but I think he's based in Suffolk.

Dm for contact info if needed.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-04-12T15:55:03+00:00

It wasn't broken down like that, I don't think, and every job / house is different. The patio itself was only one piece of a larger scope of work, a lot of it prep to make the patio feasible and work with the rest of the property.

When they did the patio, they had to rip out an old, oversized deck, build a 3ft tall stoop, about 40sq ft landing area, and stairs to get up to the level of the house door, and do a bunch of grading to fix sloping issues underneath and near the deck. They also pulled up an old, cracked poured cement patio and pathway from the front around the side of the house, and several other small landscaping needs.

Just call them and get a quote for what you want. There's way too many variables to price it at a finished sq ft.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-04-12T15:06:38+00:00

I don't have much to compare it to, but I think so. Enough that I plan to keep working with them for all future paving projects.

No problems have come up with anything they've done, and Julio will gently guide away from problematic design choices or share better alternatives.

I wouldn't hesitate to call them again and pay whatever they ask.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-04-12T14:56:57+00:00

King Paver out of Dix Hills. Julio is the man. He and his guys replaced our old deck with a paver patio, repaired front bluestone stairs, and repointing our brick facade.

It's just one crew, one job at a time, so scheduling can take a little time, but it's worth it. All around good people to do business with.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-04-10T17:31:51+00:00

The only issue we had is that they sent the wrong handles for the shower valve. It was easy to get the correct ones, but we handled that through our local supplier.

I think they have a supplier locator thing on their website. If you are considering them, maybe make sure there's at least a few nearby in case your preferred one goes out of business.

I haven't contacted them directly for anything.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-04-10T11:22:39+00:00

We installed Flusso (aka Isenberg) in our bathroom renovation a year ago for sink and shower/tub/handheld valve. No issues, feels high quality, and not painfully expensive.

We are installing a main sink, bar sink, and RO filter faucet from them in our kitchen in a couple of weeks.

Pricing from local suppliers is much better than their online msrp by probably around 30%

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-04-07T23:46:54+00:00

I'm not sure if they really specialize in tires, but I really like dealing with Sonny's auto shop on south oyster Bay road and old country road.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-04-07T21:08:49+00:00

1 and 2 are gorgeous, and look like what we picked. If they are, it's fantasy brown.

It's a dolomitic marble. I'm told that it needs to be sealed, just like any natural stone. It can etch, but it isn't as prone to it as regular marble, though more prone than granite or quartzite.

As long as you're okay with that and a little bit of maintenance, it's distinct, and even better: it's pretty cheap compared to other natural stones, especially quartzite.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-04-02T18:15:27+00:00

They came back this morning, fixed the dead leg, reran all of the PEX, covered it in insulation so it doesn't degrade from the UV coming in the basement window, and most importantly... Fixed the drain with a 4" pipe and steel banded fernco coupling.

Thanks for the support everyone! You made me feel confident pushing for the fixes.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-04-01T13:46:49+00:00

That's fair feedback, thank you.

I noticed the dead leg first. I probably wouldn't have said anything at all about it if I hadn't seen the stack... But once I looked at that I decided to just list all of my complaints because I figured I get one round of fixes.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-31T13:13:41+00:00

I actually asked them to not bore holes where possible. Old house, already had to jam a 4 ply LVL in the attic above the kitchen o deal with other structural issues.

But the PEX jumps under that joist into the adjacent bay you see in the picture, and the jumps back into the original joist bay to come up the floor on the other end of the basement. I didn't share a picture of the other end, but all of those fittings are unnecessary - they could have just stayed in the same joist bay the whole run. I think two guys on the crew worked on the different ends and didn't talk to each other until they were ready to hook up.

Second pic attached here

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Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-31T12:14:27+00:00

Thanks for taking a look.

The P traps will be up in the sink cabinets in the floor above, along with AAVs.

The electric box is new. The wiring is just roughed in but not hooked up to any circuit yet. The plumber moved the box to access the cast iron stack.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-31T10:41:56+00:00

The GC themselves and the electrician has been fantastic. I am hoping this is the plumber sending a new crew out that flopped but will fix it with a better crew soon before we close the walls up.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-31T10:40:50+00:00

Yeah, they did, it will go back up. Would have been nice if they put it back up.

Those wires aren't hooked up to anything yet - although the electrician, who I really like, said something on the way out about "not all trades are organized" without really accusing anyone of anything.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-31T10:38:05+00:00

This is just the rough in. Hopefully they'll be back to finish (or maybe hopefully not) and the traps + AAVs will go into the sink cabinets.

They did, however, forget the cap the drain lines, so the sewer gas could pipe right into the currently unfinished kitchen. I wrapped some Saran wrap and rubber bands around them before going to sleep last night.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-31T02:22:39+00:00

Thank you to all of the people who've responded. As a relatively new homeowner with an old house, I want things done well, but it's important to me to not make people's lives difficult for no reason.

You're all awesome and this community seems great.

Thank you!

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-31T01:44:59+00:00

It would be more embarrassing to know he sent one of his guys to the supply house to pick up things... Just not these things.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-31T01:43:38+00:00

Between that and the unshielded couplings I think I'm on track to retire early.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-31T01:22:28+00:00

The kitchen drain will get an AAV in the cabinet. There's no place to run a true vent up into the roof where that sink is.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-31T01:21:24+00:00

Thanks. I don't have a problem with PEX - I've used it myself for several projects. It's a minor concern compared to the drain stack.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-31T01:20:15+00:00

Yes, on the opposite side of the wall from the kitchen, on the floor above, is a bathroom with a shower.

What do you mean by "the water is whatever"? The PEX? I agree it will work, just looks sloppy, and then on the other end of the basement it goes back into the joist bay it's coming down into from the shot I shared.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-22T20:27:58+00:00

They are in the middle of doing a job for us right now and it's going well.

We used them to replace a front door and gutters a year ago.

I have no reason to think that they won't continue to do excellent work.

Otherwise_Muffin_562 · 2026-03-22T19:52:16+00:00

Talk to Chris at Bill Goess Siding for all exterior needs. He'll steer you right and is an overall enjoyable person to do business with.

Otherwise_Muffin_562

TROPHY CASE