Main Room Additions and How to Add Them Properly
There are numerous reasons why you can decide to expand your house or undertake a complete home remodel as a homeowner. Your family might have grown, and you need your living space to meet the changing demands. In other cases, family members may have left for college, and the spaces that were previously children’s property may need to be redesigned to satisfy current needs. You might also prefer to rebuild your existing home entirely by adding a second story to boost the value of your property. Regardless of the route you decide to take, you have to hire home addition contractors to renovate your home for numerous reasons. Our goal here is not just to list why you might want to build on to your house but also to emphasize the things you should look out for when considering these upgrades. Before we go into the best practices when taking your family on such a journey, let us go over the most common types of additions: Bathroom additions Though the size of a bathroom is significantly smaller than that of other rooms, its functionality necessitates complex foundation and water line work. The complexity and cost of the job will vary based on the type of bathroom (master, guest, or half) and the grade of finish materials. While this is the case, you should note that bathroom extensions are an excellent way to update your home. Kitchen additions A kitchen addition might include everything from a completely new kitchen to a minor bump-out. The usefulness of a kitchen and the numerous pieces of equipment that beautify this crucial area make this addition more challenging than those for other rooms. Gas, electric, and water lines all play an essential role. You can add a room to an existing kitchen, remodel one, or build an entirely new outdoor kitchen. It’s all up to you. Room Addition Adding another room to your home is considered a “simple” room addition despite no addition being inherently straightforward. A playroom, a guest room, extending the size of an existing room, a new office space, or building an entirely new space on your property’s outside, such as an outdoor kitchen or an ADU, are all alternatives for home additions. Second story addition The title is self-explanatory, but this is the most challenging type of home addition. A second-story house addition is an excellent option for increasing your home’s square footage without reducing the size of your property. To correctly add a second story, your design and construction team must carefully examine the work your foundation and frame must do to support a new floor. Remember that your foundation should be able to handle the extra floor, and if it can’t, don’t put your family at risk. Second-story additions are a great way to raise the value of your home while also providing a greater perspective of your surroundings, depending on where you live. Best practices when remodeling your house Prioritize the function of the addition. The primary danger in all forms of design is that it usually appears nice on paper, but when it comes to life, you […]
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How Can I add Value to My Home?
If you want to sell your house, remodeling it is one way to make it attractive to potential buyers. If this is your first time, you might be wondering about the areas you should remodel to increase the house’s value, right? Well, there are plenty of areas you can touch. These areas, as given by condo remodel experts, include: Fix the superficial defects Minor faults and deficiencies, while unlikely to be the deciding factor in a house sale, can give the appearance that the house has been neglected. Bigger issues (such as moisture) should not bother you because they will appear on a survey and come back to haunt you. Things to watch out for include: Peeling paint Dirty walls, particularly near door frames and light switches, and dripping taps. Squeaking floors, doors, or stairs Moldy sealant in the kitchen or bathroom. Limescale buildup on kitchen and bathroom fixtures Laminate flooring that was not correctly installed Damaged lightbulbs. Add a stone veneer Adding manufactured stone veneer is the most effective project for recouping your investment. The national average stone veneer job will most likely result in a 95.6% cost recovery. So, if you’re seeking cost-effective traditional ideas that will give you back your money, this remodeling project is the answer. Replace the garage door. Designing and arranging a garage may not appear significant in the grand scheme of your home. However, it is one of the best investments for generating a return. ‘The average job cost results in a 94.5% cost recoup. For the best outcome, take on the project sooner rather than later so you can reap the benefits for a longer period of time. This calls for you to go ahead and do the modifications at the time you live in the house rather than immediately before you sell it. This way, you get to enjoy a better garage door and, at the same time, increase the value of your house. Paint the exterior While it is crucial to colorize the interior of your home, the exterior is equally important; therefore, you should also have it striking. The beauty is that painting the exterior is a low-cost house improvement, so you don’t need a large budget. According to Consumer Reports, an outside paint job can boost the value of your property by 2-5%. Choosing the right exterior paint will give your home a clean look, attract a broader range of purchasers, and ultimately increase its value. When choosing the paint for your house, avoid going for extremely personalized paints. Instead, go for more neutral ones that will appeal to many people. Replace your outdated kitchen. Updating your kitchen is always a worthwhile investment. While it’s a pricey home repair project, it can increase the value of your property by 5.5% on average. Avoid being too personal with your kitchen when painting the house’s exterior—be neutral about it. While a kitchen remodel is bound to increase the value of your house, you should avoid being extreme with your material choices. This means that you should avoid costly materials as chances are that you won’t get your money back, and […]
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Kitchen Remodeling Best Practices
The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house, and many homeowners choose to redesign it to keep it modern and practical. If your kitchen is worn out and you are looking to remodel it, you should know that you will face hefty expenses. The good thing is that remodeling is a long-term investment that can raise the value of your home. Due to this, you must put your ducks in a row and do the right things so you don’t spend too much time and money on the project. Some of the things you should do include: Have a plan A clear end goal and vision are essential for a successful kitchen makeover. You should note that this is not a nice picture of what you want your kitchen to look like. You need to decide what your life—and your family’s life—will look like in this new space because the kitchen must perform to meet those ends. Before you begin the remodeling, sit with your condo remodel contractors and explain your vision. You should then devise a plan for proceeding with the project. Being realistic is just as vital as any other aspect of home renovation planning. Before acquiring supplies or knocking down walls, ensure you understand what you can reasonably accomplish within your budget and available area. Make sure you’re also practical about upkeep—if you have children and know you won’t be able to tolerate continuous fingerprint smudges, stainless steel may not be the ideal option, even if you prefer the design. Understand the costs involved You should know the amount of money you plan to spend on the project. To do this, select the most crucial features in the kitchen. These include a kitchen island, correctly tiered lighting, increased drawer or cabinet space, and a dedicated food pantry. You should then allocate your finances appropriately. While working, monitor your budget to ensure you stay on track with your kitchen renovation projects. Even after creating your budget, you may find yourself spending more. Thus, it is critical to set aside a contingency reserve. Take time and extensively research possible cabinetry, countertops, flooring, appliances, accessories, and lighting options. This will reduce the chances of making mistakes. You should then set aside a 15% to 20% contingency. Choose the right floor. If you intend to install hardwood floors in your new kitchen, you should be cautious and ensure that you select the suitable wood. You should choose timber treated with the proper finish; a pre-finished sealed hardwood is a good choice. Hardwood flooring can be slippery, whereas a textured surface, such as hand-scraped, distressed, or reclaimed wood, can provide greater traction while concealing kitchen wear and strain. To be safe, use wood with a high Janka hardness rating, such as hickory, so it can withstand frequent use and drops while minimizing damage. The kitchen is the most accident-prone room in the house, so it’s critical to safeguard the areas where slips are most likely to occur when choosing new flooring. Use rugs or pads in front of the fridge, sink, dishwasher, and pantry. Many homeowners choose cork […]
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8 Signs It’s Time to Remodel Your Home
Getting into a home remodeling project is significant move, but it is well worth the cost once you have the home you want. Maybe you’re ready to start the process or unsure if now is the best time to hire home addition contractors and start. The truth is that a well-designed renovation can increase your home’s value while also changing how you live. To help you out, here are some things to look for when deciding whether it’s time to remodel your home: There are obvious signs of wear and tear Deterioration can cause structural difficulties, such as a leaking roof, decaying floorboards on a front porch, or the need for fireplace and foundation repointing. It’s also possible that your carpets have been worn and weathered for a decade or more or that tiles in your kitchen or bathroom have come loose. Property degradation issues should not be overlooked because they cannot only lead to more expensive problems in the future (such as a roof, foundation, or porch failure) but also likely affect your satisfaction with the property and ability to market it later. So, if your property has apparent signs of wear and tear, it’s time to remodel it. Your home feels old and out of date. Perhaps it’s the 30-year-old bright brass fixtures in the bathroom or the linoleum floor in the kitchen. Is your living room fireplace a holdover from the 1960s? Does having dark-stained cabinetry make your kitchen feel like a cave? If you believe your home needs to be updated, a remodel is most likely necessary. Whether it’s a whole kitchen makeover with airy white cabinets and brushed nickel fixtures or a living room renovation with a modern stone veneer fireplace remodel, new carpeting, and fresh paint in contemporary hues, you must do it. Remodeling your home for a more modern appearance can not only make you happier in your surroundings, but it will also help you maintain (or maybe increase) the value of your home. Remember to discuss it with your contractors so that you can install the correct units for your project. The space isn’t functioning as well as you would want Do you get upset whenever you cook because you don’t have enough counter space in the kitchen? Do you feel overwhelmed by clutter and insufficient storage space? If your home environment isn’t working correctly for everyday life, you might want to hire an architect to figure out why and what you can do about it. Perhaps you should open up your kitchen and install a bar for additional storage and a workplace. Perhaps you need one or two walk-in closets and a built-in entertainment center surrounding your living room fireplace. If your room does not fit your lifestyle, it may be time to renovate. You are not using the space you have Perhaps your guest bedroom has not seen a guest in ten years, or your dining room only sees a set table once a year for a holiday celebration. If you have a lot of unused space in your home, try making it more usable. Perhaps you can knock down […]
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How to Survive a Home Renovation
Whether it’s taking a bathroom out of action or sleeping in the living room, home remodeling can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be disastrous. Surviving a remodeling is possible using the tips given below: Have a solid plan The only way to survive a kitchen makeover or condo remodel is to plan. You should prioritize structural projects (such as replacing your roof, creating new walls, or improving fundamental or electrical systems) before tackling cosmetic jobs like painting. Assume you are staying in your home during the renovation. In that situation, you should communicate with your contractor about the building timetable so that you can design a strategy to eliminate clutter and avoid occupying their construction area. Ask your contractor for recommendations and collaborate to make the process smooth for everyone. Clearly define the scope of the proposed job. Online resources will help you create a clear vision of the appearance you want. You can explore images and add your favorites to ideabooks to share with family members and professionals. Also, consider visiting showrooms and suppliers to see product and finish samples, and take a tour of properties for sale in your region to get ideas about what you can realistically expect. Have a daily routine. Creating and sticking to a daily routine will help you keep organized during your remodel. It also allows you to prepare ahead and predict which days will be the most chaotic. For example, surviving a kitchen or bathroom remodel may require spending the weekend away with the kids if there is rewiring or appliance downtime. The more prepared you are, the less stressful things will be. Of course, disturbance to your and your family’s lives will be part of the process, but there are easy steps you can take to minimize inconveniences, such as sticking to a timetable and requesting one from your contractor. Be ready for dust in the house. To survive a kitchen, bathroom remodel, or any other renovation, you must be mentally prepared for chronic dust. Even after professionals have cleaned the scene, construction dust will most likely be still present. A wise way to do it is to pack up stuff you won’t need and invest in proper storage while renovating. It’s also a good idea to use heavy-duty plastic drop cloths to block the doorways between your temporary living and renovation area and to tape up vents to prevent dust from entering your home’s air system. If there is a potential that the item being worked on contains lead paint, you must follow the EPA Renovation, Repair, and Paint Guidelines. You can also use magnetic vent covers to keep dust out of non-renovated areas of your home. Another method to consider is using plastic drop cloths to seal the entrance between the remodeling area and your living space. You should also ensure your contractor and all personnel understand which areas of your home are off-limits. You need a private location where you don’t have to worry about staff snooping, tampering with your belongings, or invading your space. Make it clear where they may and cannot go. Have a […]
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8 Renovations That Increase Condo Value the Most
Whether you’re preparing to sell your condo or simply searching for ways to increase the value of your property, you want to make upgrades that have the most significant impact on your property, right? If you are concerned about the best upgrades to go for, here they are, as given by condo remodel experts: New appliances Most people do not want to have to buy new appliances when they move into their new condo, so finding a home with modern equipment is important to the buyer. If your appliances are old and worn out, replacing them will boost their value and future sale potential. If they’re of a reasonable age but aren’t all matching or need to be spruced up on the outside, talk to the manufacturer about getting new matching panels. When installing new appliances to sell your house fast, you should be cautious of buying extremely high-end brands, as you can easily fail to recoup your investment. The right way to go about it is to buy a cheaper brand that still looks good and will last for a long time. Increasing the storage space Space is often limited in big-city condos, so your ability to creatively and effectively add more storage will be critical. And the good thing is that there are plenty of ways to go about it. Consider installing floating shelves to add value to your apartment while saving valuable floor space. You should also consider installing kitchen racks to hang pots, pans, and utensils. If you have the capacity and funds, you can expand an existing closet or build a new one. Install hardwood floors Replacing your floors is a significant undertaking, but it is well worth it. Studies show that condominium owners who repair their floors often receive an 80-100% return on their investment. Good looking floors are a significant selling element, giving the entire space a rich, improved, and updated vibe. If you want a minor renovation that will benefit you whether you remain or leave, putting classic hardwood throughout your condo is a no-brainer. If you are already planning to replace appliances, as we indicated above, now is the time to replace outdated flooring with hardwood. Install smart home features. Smart homes and the ability to operate appliances or a thermostat from anywhere in the world are becoming increasingly popular among homeowners. Making your condo a smart home will enhance its resale value and make it more appealing to potential purchasers. You should consider installing automatic lighting, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide alarms, all powered by smart technology. This will make your home more appealing and give an additional layer of protection and monitoring. You also get to enjoy energy savings on your electricity bill. Sounds like a good deal, doesn’t it? Renovate the bathroom Nothing can turn off a potential buyer or reduce the value of your apartment faster than an out-of-date bathroom that requires considerable TLC. Creating a gorgeous master bathroom and improving the guest bathroom is a great way to boost the value of your home and your enjoyment of your condo if you intend to stay. If […]
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Tips to Having a Great Time Remodeling a House
You’re probably extremely excited if a home remodel is on the horizon. Everyone loves a new home design, but first, you must be cautious about how you go about it. Some house renovations can take weeks or months to complete, depending on how extensive they are, and in rooms such as the kitchen or bathroom, this schedule may appear unrealistic. Thankfully, with a little preparation and foresight on your part, you’ll come up with ways to ensure that you have a great time in your remodeling. According to home addition companies, all you need is mental fortitude and put these tips into place to ensure you have a good experience. Place your orders as early as possible. Every remodel will run into unexpected bottlenecks that might cause the project to be delayed. One option for minimizing delays is to order your parts ahead of time. Make sure you’re prepared for the project by having all your parts selected and ordered before starting your project. Either having a lead time as to when they’ll arrive or already having them on site makes a world of difference, as you don’t need to worry about the supplies delaying too much. If you’re rebuilding a kitchen or bathroom and want to upgrade your vanity, hardware, cabinets, and worktops, choosing the fixtures ahead of time will spare you a few hassles during demolition. This way, you won’t be left with a mess in your home or everyday areas that aren’t used for longer than necessary. Cannot decide between different finishes or fixtures? Consult experts who will help with project selection. You only need to ensure that the professionals you hire are experienced and know what they are doing. Consider reconfiguring your space. The flow of a home may not always match your lifestyle; for example, you may require your kitchen to overlook a garden to watch children or pets playing outside, while you may need to relocate the bedroom to the back of a property to reduce outside noise. If you intend to change the property’s layout, now is the time. It is significantly easier to relocate living rooms or bedrooms than kitchens and toilets, which may require extensive plumbing work. If you remove a wall to create an open-plan space, consult a structural engineer to ensure it is not load-bearing. You also should think about your electrical system; you may need to work to bring it up to code, or you could use the chance to install additional sockets or light switches. Aim to keep the air as fresh as possible. During demolition, expect a lot of dust in the air due to sanding and other operations. To avoid ruining your property too much, take precautionary measures to keep dust particles from entering your ducts and returning to the air. If you’re working in a bedroom with a return duct, tape it off—though it’s not ideal for permanent use—when the demo is happening or sheetrock is being sanded, anything that creates a lot of dust should be blocked off. Although your contractor will take precautions to keep the remainder of your home dust-free, this […]
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When Not to Renovate
As much as home renovations come with their perks, such as increasing the functionality of the house and increasing its value, there are some situations when you don’t have to, as in most cases, you end up doing the wrong things. To help you out, here are situations when not to renovate: You want to make your house more appealing to sellers Even if you don’t go overboard with your options, you should avoid upgrading your home to make it more enticing to buyers. If you have a creaky staircase or other evident flaws, make sure to fix them before you place the house on the market, because the home inspector will undoubtedly see them. Hiring condo remodel experts or other professionals to renovate the house may not be a good idea if you’re only doing it to sell the house and make some last-minute cosmetic changes. If you renovate your kitchen or bathrooms, no matter the colors and finishes you use, there will be a buyer who will not like it and won’t want to pay for the work you just completed. For example, if you design a white kitchen, some buyers will prefer blond wood. You create a step-in shower in the master bathroom and the buyer likes to bathe. You should note that we aren’t saying you should never renovate, but if you do so soon before putting your property for sale, you are unlikely to recoup your investment, especially since most homeowners will not pay more for certain features. If you are fully renovating the house for sale, don’t do it. Some of the things you can do instead include painting a room, fixing issues in a floor, replacing a cracked window, or cleaning up wear and tear on window sills. These are cosmetic fixes that show that you care for your home, and they aren’t expensive. Your home has structural problems Structural problems, such as eroding foundation walls, underpinning, and cracked rocks, can quickly become prohibitively expensive. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to estimate the full cost until the work begins and you can see what you’re dealing with. And, while it is necessary to address structural concerns that are crucial to your home’s safety, renovations that may be more difficult due to structural issues may be reasons to forego those modifications. If you are having structural issues with your property, before you embark on the renovation journey, have a talk with your contractor and find out whether it’s a wise move. The last thing you want to do is to start a project and find out that it’s too expensive for your budget. Have a discussion about it beforehand with your contractor and only proceed with it after you find out that it’s a good move. You feel the project is a simple DIY Home renovations can be problematic if you get ahead of yourself. There is so much more to home renovation than what TV shows you, it’s no wonder people get in over their heads and think they can do everything by themselves. One common mistake homeowners make is to attempt renovations themselves and […]
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5 Best Practices When Remodeling Your Home
Are you thinking about undertaking a remodeling project? Here are valuable tips given by condo remodel experts that will ensure that you have fun and, at the same time, do a good job and produce a project that you love: Install enough lighting You don’t want to feel like you’re constantly in the limelight in your house, this means that your house should not be too bright. At the same time, this doesn’t mean that less is more when it comes to lighting. You should have just enough lighting. You should thoroughly check the electrical designs before beginning your job. Sconces, overhead lighting, chandeliers, and even the location of lamp outlets can help set a cheerful tone before your restoration begins. And, if you’re concerned that your lights will be too bright, use dimmers. You should consider layering different types of lights to give your home the perfect look. As a rule of thumb, you should have: Ambient lighting: Ambient lighting provides diffused brightness to the entire room, making your home feel cozier. You achieve this using ceiling lights or chandeliers. Task lighting: Task lighting directs light to a specified region to assist you in doing an activity, such as cooking or dining. In the kitchen, you can achieve task lighting with an island chandelier or pendant lights hung over a table or island. You can occasionally use wall lights like sconces to add task lighting over a specific work area, like a sink. Decorative lighting: Allow your flair to shine by incorporating ornamental lighting into your renovation. This lighting style produces visual focal points and spotlights in any part of your house that you want to highlight, such as wall art, architectural features, plants, and more. For perfect house lighting, you should incorporate all of these lights. Of course, you should work with experts who will give you the perfect outcome. Think about storage Storage is another aspect of house improvements that you should pay attention to. Storage is vital as it adds functionality to a home. When it comes to storage, you should think about the problems and solutions in your existing setup before your project begins. Work with your cabinet maker to create personalized solutions that meet your wants and lifestyle if your budget allows. This will help you maximize every square inch of available space. Items such as a sheet pan cabinet in the kitchen, pull-out dog-bowl drawers in the mudroom, and parking locations for all of your appliances throughout the house will help you establish an ordered area. Consider your long-term needs. When remodeling a room to make it more functional for your requirements, you need to evaluate whether the alterations must be permanent. If you’d prefer a home office to the guest room your third room serves, swap the bed with a desk. Rather than building a permanent built-in desk and bookshelves for the transition, preserve the framework of your room so that you—or someone else—can simply replace it later when family needs change. Whether you use the space for a craft room, a home gym, or an office, a room designed specifically for […]
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Bathroom Remodeling Tricks
If you don’t like the current look of your bathroom, there are several things you can do to spruce it up. Some of these things include: Spruce up the tub and shower According to Deborah Rozell, president of Innovative Inclusive Design and a certified aging-in-place specialist (CAPS), your bathroom should create a sense of well-being—but it can’t do so if you don’t feel safe accessing it. And, while it’s easy to prioritize aesthetics in your shower and tub, water and tile can be a dangerous combination. To avoid this, you should make a few changes in and around bathing places. Falls are a major issue in the bathroom, but there is a lot you can do to reduce the danger. According to Russell Kendzior, president of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), you can use items that grip your tiles if your shower or tub floor is slick. These solutions, made with a mild acid, aren’t a coating but a scrub that you put on the surface to break away the buildup of soil and soap and micro-etch it, boosting slip resistance. To stay safe, work with your home addition contractors and get anti-slip floor treatment, suitable for porcelain, ceramic, and stone floors. You also should choose a bath mat with a nonskid bottom to place outside the shower or tub. A shower bench is a great addition as it assists you while bathing or simply as a place to rest and relax. You should find one and install it. You can have one made from concrete or buy one from your local store. When making the purchase, get one that is foldable that you can easily fold once you are done showering, as it saves you space. Consider installing single-lever controls on your tub and shower fixtures. These controls have a lever that is simpler to grasp than a knob, and having only one handle for temperature control allows for finer changes than separate ones for hot and cold. If you’ve always had a fixed showerhead, you might appreciate the versatility of a handheld showerhead with a long hose (59 inches) and a sprayer head. When the sprayer head rests in a holder at standard showerhead height, you can use it hands-free or as a hand shower whether you’re standing or seated in the shower or tub. Also useful for rinsing the walls or shower door after cleaning.) Choose a model that slides up and down on a vertical sidebar for further adaptability, allowing you to raise or lower it to your desired height without holding it while bathing. Add more lighting Ceiling fixtures give general lighting, but don’t forget to include task lighting in spots where enhanced visibility could prevent injuries. You should add lights near the sink, the toilet, and the tub or shower. You will even be better off if you go with dimmable or multicolored bulbs. Go with lights that allow you to change the strength and color of the light from dazzling white in the morning to a warm glow in the evening. Rather than going for motion-sensor lights, choose ones that stay on […]
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