Questions we get every week

Most of these questions come up in the first twenty minutes of a design consult, in roughly this order. We have organized them the same way here instead of alphabetizing them, because the order people actually ask is more useful than the order a glossary would put them in.

Pricing & The Number

Why won't you give me a ballpark over the phone?

A ballpark quoted before the design is finished is a guess wearing a contract's clothes. Cabinet layout, appliance choices, and whether plumbing moves all change the number by tens of thousands of dollars, and none of those are decided in a five-minute call. Use the quiz for a real Charlotte range, or see the cost page for the full breakdown.

What is "The Number," exactly?

It is the fixed price we write after the design phase is complete and every selection is chosen — cabinets, counters, tile, fixtures, appliances. It does not move unless you change the scope, and any change is a one-page signed change order stating the added cost and added days before any work happens on that change.

What if you find something bad once the walls are open?

Rot, old wiring, a junction box nobody knew existed — that is our risk, not yours. A contingency for exactly this is carried inside the fixed number, and if it happens, you get a photo and an explanation, not a bill.

Is the number good forever once you write it?

It is good for 60 days from the date we present it, which covers the usual gap between signing and material ordering. Material and labor costs shift over longer stretches, so a number from eight months ago gets re-checked, not re-used.

Timeline & Living Through It

How long does a kitchen actually take?

Depends on the scope. A Refresh (same layout, new surfaces) runs 4 to 6 weeks. A Replace (same footprint, down to the studs) runs 6 to 9 weeks. A Reimagine (walls or plumbing move) runs 10 to 16 weeks. Bathrooms run shorter: 2 to 3, 4 to 6, and 7 to 10 weeks for the same three scopes.

What happens if you miss the completion date?

We pay you a daily credit for every day past the contract completion date, when the delay is ours. Weather, a late owner decision on a selection, or a signed change order can push the date without triggering the payment, and we show the math for why in each case.

Can we still use part of the kitchen during the build?

We set up a temporary kitchen — fridge, microwave, utility sink — before demo starts, usually in a garage, dining room, or basement. It is not a full kitchen, but it covers the basics for the weeks your real one is unusable.

Will the rest of the house stay clean?

Zip-wall dust barriers go up before demo, floor protection covers the path from the work area to the door, and the site gets broom-clean every evening before the crew leaves. This is standard on every job, not an upgrade.

Design & Selections

How does the design phase work?

It runs 2 to 4 weeks and covers a full measure of the space, a floor plan, a 3D render so you can see the room before it exists, and every selection — cabinet door style, counter material, tile, hardware, lighting, appliances — chosen and placed in a physical selections book. Nothing goes into the fixed price until this is done.

Can I bring my own tile or fixtures?

Yes. We will price it into the plan the same way, and note the swap in the selections book so there is no confusion at order time. Anything you supply, you also warranty for defects — our workmanship warranty covers installation, not the product itself.

What if I want to change something mid-build?

You can, through a signed change order that states the added cost and the added days before we touch it. What we will not do is make the change first and explain the number later.

Permits & Insurance

Do you actually pull permits, or is that on me?

We pull every permit ourselves on any project touching plumbing, electrical, or structure — Mecklenburg County for Charlotte, Union County for the Waxhaw and Matthews side, York County for Fort Mill and Tega Cay. Rough-in, insulation, and final inspections are scheduled as part of the build timeline, not squeezed in around it.

Are you insured if something goes wrong?

We carry 2,000,000 in general liability coverage, and every person on a Dovetail site — employee or subcontractor — is covered under workers' compensation. We hold NC General Contractor License #78214 and are NARI members.

What about HOA approval in neighborhoods like Ballantyne or Providence Plantation?

Anything visible from outside — a window change, an addition, exterior material — needs HOA architectural approval in those neighborhoods before we start, and we build that review time into the schedule rather than treating it as a surprise delay.

Warranty & After

What does the two-year warranty actually cover?

Workmanship — cabinet installation, tile setting, caulking, doors and drawers operating correctly. It does not cover manufacturer defects in appliances or fixtures, which carry their own warranties we help you register.

What is the 90-Day Walk-Through?

A scheduled visit, not a favor, at day 90 after substantial completion. By then you have lived in the space through a season of use, and we come back to adjust doors and drawers, re-caulk where needed, touch up paint, and fix the drip nobody noticed on day one. See the full Dovetail Method for where this sits in the four-phase process.

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