BARGAINS : COUNT ON COUNTER TOP SAVINGS.

Byline: Trisha King & Deborah Newmark

Anyone thinking about redoing their kitchen or bathroom counter tops should shop around and then stop in at Pride Enterprises, a manufacturer of custom Formica (laminate) counter tops for builders and specialty stores.

Based on the thousands of counter tops installed by Pride Enterprises since 1959, owner Stan Tyler says the average kitchen in the San Fernando Valley is about 16 feet. Using this measurement, new Formica counter tops with a granite look will run about $460 - less money if your kitchen is smaller than average or more if your kitchen is larger. The price includes measuring your kitchen, delivery of materials, installation, and, best of all, no grout to clean. Other stores charge $550 to $1,000 for the same size kitchen, and when counter tops are special ordered, Pride Enterprises frequently is the one who makes them.

If it's been awhile since you've looked at Formica, you'll be amazed at the selection. In addition to 400 standard colors, some Formicas are textured, others are multicolored and look like marble or slate. The most popular are granite and crushed stone. You also can add a custom wood or metal (a retro 1950s look) edge for an extra $10 a foot ($12 at a large discount store).

Anyone who's handy should ask about the scrap section (usually mistakes such as a sink hole cut in the wrong place). Prices vary, as does the selection.

In addition to countertops, Pride Enterprises also sells floor coverings at discounted prices. For example, if you love the look of wood but don't have the time or patience for the upkeep, flooring that looks like distressed wood planks runs $6.50 a square foot instead of $7 at a discount store.

By the way, do-it-yourselfers that have gaps that are too big to caulk can buy Fill-A-Gap, a caulking support strip that is self-adhesive and swells when sprayed with water. You can get this product only at Pride Enterprises, and it runs $5 for 6 feet and $10 for 12 feet.

With the exception of scraps, all products sold by Pride Enterprises are first quality, and no sales commissions are paid (everyone is salaried). If you need advice, the staff offers knowledgeable assistance accompanied by a big smile.

Pride Enterprises Inc. is at 7326 Fulton Ave., North Hollywood; [phone] and [phone]. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday (closed weekends). Only cash or checks are accepted; no credit cards. Areas covered are Lancaster to Long Beach and Oxnard to Pomona.

Inside info

If your roof has seen better days, now may be the time to do something about it. Tom Reed Roofing Co., privately owned for more than 20 years, specializes in residential roofing. You deal directly with the owner, and because it's a small company (no sales people or commissions), the owner is able to offer low prices. For example, re-roofing over a 2,000-square-foot roof with a 25-year warranty, Class A, fire-rated, dimensional shingle runs $1,999. The same roof from other roofing companies can cost $2,300 to $2,800. The company also handles all other types of roofing. Local references are available, and completed work can be inspected. All work is fully guaranteed, and the company is licensed (California No. 523115) and bonded. If you'd like a free, written cost estimate, call Tom Reed Roofing Co. at [phone]. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. (Because of unknown future material costs, the price quoted above is good for 60 days.)

You're getting married and want pictures to remember the occasion. Affordable Photography will photograph your wedding and supply you with 100 5-by-7-inch pictures in an album and even give you the negatives, all for $500 (elsewhere $800 to $1,000). To schedule an appointment in your home, call [phone] from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Photo

Photo: Stan Tyler is owner of Pride Enterprises Inc. in North Hollywood, which sells counter tops and floor coverings at discounted prices.

Myung J. Chun/Daily News