Frisco Builder Kitchen Upgrade

Frisco builds more than 3,000 new homes every year. And here’s a secret the builders don’t advertise: the kitchens in almost all of them are ‘builder grade’ — which is a polite way of saying ‘the cheapest version of everything that still passes inspection.’ Here’s how we upgraded one Frisco new-build kitchen to something the homeowners actually want to cook in.

The Challenge

Our clients closed on a brand-new Frisco home six months before calling us. They loved everything about it except the kitchen. The cabinet boxes were thin particleboard. The soft-close hardware was missing from half the drawers. The laminate counter edges were already chipping. The backsplash was a cheap 4-inch laminate strip instead of real tile. And the pendant lights over the island were the cheapest option in the builder’s catalog. They wanted to know: can you make this feel like a real kitchen without ripping everything out?

Our Approach

• Replace the cabinet boxes with solid construction. Builder-grade particleboard boxes don’t hold up. We replaced them with plywood-box cabinetry with real dovetailed drawers and full-extension slides.
• Upgrade the countertops to real quartz. Goodbye laminate, hello stone. Seamless joints and proper edge profiles that won’t chip in two years.
• Install a proper tile backsplash. Handset tile from counter to upper cabinets, with actual grout — not the 4-inch laminate strip the builder installed.
• Replace the lighting with designer fixtures. New pendants over the island, under-cabinet LEDs, and recessed cans that actually dim properly.
• Add a real hood vent. Builder kitchens often vent the range into a recirculating filter that does nothing. We installed a proper exterior vent — a safety and performance upgrade most builders skip.

What Verified Clients Say

“Mike kept things moving with text updates when cabinets were delayed and adjusted the schedule without drama. Results felt solid and well thought out, especially the lighting placement.” — Verified Google review, UHS Remodeling

“Alex and Louis did an excellent job on our bathroom renovation. They worked efficiently, kept the space very clean, and even left the hallway carpet cleaner than when they arrived.” — Verified Google review, UHS Remodeling

Why This Project Matters for Frisco Homeowners

Buying a new home in Frisco? Talk to us before you close. Homeowners in Phillips Creek Ranch, Newman Village, Starwood, Panther Creek Estates, The Grove, Hollyhock, and the hundreds of other new Frisco developments come to us in their first year because the builder kitchen feels wrong. Many of these upgrades are easier (and cheaper) to do before you move in your furniture. If you’re closing soon, tell us — we’ll help you plan the right upgrades for your budget and your timeline.

Project Gallery — Frisco Builder Home Kitchen Upgrade