NKBA publications - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

orson · 03-03-2009, 09:59 PM

Wondering if anyone has purchased and has an opinion on publications/reference material from the NKBA.

Dansbell · 03-05-2009, 02:58 AM

I have not purchased their material but I work with many designers and have spoken with them about the NKBA many times. Are you considering getting certified? Everyone I have talked with speaks highly of their courses.

If you design kitchens and baths you may find their material helpful as a training resource. Depending on how long you have been designing it may give you a jump start. I have worked with several CKD’s as well as designers that are not certified. My best designer is not certified but has thought about it for the benefit of his resume.

Just because a designer has passed the certification doesn’t mean they know the products available to them. If you are serious about educating yourself I think their material could help greatly. Nothing will replace the knowledge that comes with experience. What their material will give you is a set of guidelines and principles to help you progress through a design.

Mike Finley · 03-05-2009, 08:48 AM

I have most of their books.

I think you will find some of what they contain excellent and some laughable and some so-so. I think their strength would be the information for guidelines for layouts of kitchens and baths if you don't have that knowledge already. There is code and then their are their guidelines which basically if code says you need 24 inches in front of a toilet their guidelines will advise 30" stuff like that.

The so-so is all the reference material that is kind of basic, like what is a kick plate heater, what is double oven...

The laughable is all the stuff where they try to just over-kill the customer relationship process of justification of being a NKBA certified designer. Their processes are way over the top compared to reality. Like measuring your clients to guide you on layouts... huge question sheets and checklists to go over with clients about all kinds of indepth questions. I mean please... the concept is sound in that you need to know your customer, but the execution is ridiculous and over the top. But most of it is driven to justify the existance of the NKBA. They want there to be a reason the NKBA exists so they design their material around justifying themselves.

KitchenSync · 03-05-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Finley

Like measuring your clients to guide you on layouts... huge question sheets and checklists to go over with clients about all kinds of indepth questions. I mean please... the concept is sound in that you need to know your customer, but the execution is ridiculous and over the top. But most of it is driven to justify the existance of the NKBA. They want there to be a reason the NKBA exists so they design their material around justifying themselves.

Some of it can be over-the-top, but no biggie -- I think all organizations attempt to justify themselves. I take what I need and discard the rest. You sound like you're the same. However, for beginners, I still think NKBA offers some good value in their design seminars. I can still learn a few things or refresh my memory with some of the publications.

*cough* Btw, I do take into account client heights, as well as any mobility challenges, and how the clients cook. I never had to worry about that before HGTV. (I blame them more than NKBA but they also made me some $ so I'm not too upset.

) Back 20 years ago, I could have a kitchen ordered and installed faster than it takes me to get counters these days.

Now I'm in an area where people expect me to know that a counter for making Roti takes at least 4' of space by the range, or whatever the Food Network chefs have shown that day will be recreated for supper that night, so it's expected that I'll measure stock pots and recommend where the gourmet salts will go, or discuss the laptop location for internet recipes. That's why the boss hired me, so he doesn't have to deal with it.

Wait. Anyone want to trade?

silvertree · 03-06-2009, 02:52 PM

I have taken the CKD courses, I still open the books from time to time. The best value for me was the lighting book. A lot of the other stuff I knew.
I have a CKBR from NARI. Certified Kitchen Bath Remodeler, also a good study course and it mirrored the NKBA classes. As was said by Mike and others, some is over the top. But you could even take it more over the top with your professional cooking experience.

"Take what you need and leave the rest"
The Band on, The night they shot old Dixie down.