Tracy Kaler

Q. My kitchen renovation is done.  One of the problems is a less-than-perfect granite countertop, which in essence runs through the whole kitchen and pantry areas -- 35 linear feet of granite, and then some.  

Some of the seams are rough to the touch, with obvious fillings that are not well disguised. On another counter, there is a 1/4-inch gap between the wall and the counter. The contractor keeps bringing the fabricator to correct these problems, but I think the fabricator did a very shoddy job.  

Q. I’m about to move into a tiny studio, and am considering a murphy bed. What should I know?

A. Murphy beds -- also known a hide-a-beds or wall beds -- are most attractive when they're part of a built-in case or cabinet (fixed or attached) to your apartment wall. The idea is that when folded or in the closed position, no one would ever know that the cabinet is indeed a Murphy bed. 

Q: My renovation was finished 18 months ago, and I’m already noticing some things aren’t holding up as well as I expected. What can I do? Who’s responsible?

A. Every renovation project requires a certain amount of adjustment after completion. As a renovator, you should ask questions about warranties during early meetings with architects and contractors. Don't be shy about presenting worst-case scenarios, because they do happen. 

Q. How are architects compensated? Do they negotiate their fees?

A. Methods of compensation vary depending on the architect.

The two most common options are a fixed fee or a percentage of the cost of construction.

Occasionally, architects will charge hourly. Usually that's just for smaller projects or in the interim until the scope is accurately defined, or it can be for work outside the scope of the project.