Home Addition Tips and Tricks
Are you looking to add a room to your house? Here are valuable tips you should pay attention to as given by home addition companies: Go with the easy one No, we are not saying that you should go the easy route, which means you will likely botch your project. We say that you should work with what is easy to finish. For example, if you are simply interested in an additional bedroom, don’t build one from scratch, as this will take time and be expensive. The cheapest and right thing to do is finish the basement, garage, or even the attic and turn it into a bedroom. If you have all of these spaces and can’t decide on the one that is easier and cheaper to turn into a usable room, get the input of a professional. Always have a plan Even if you are turning your garage into a livable space, always have a plan of how things will work and how the room will look once complete. If you have handled a similar project before, this will be a piece of cake but if you aren’t confident in your skills, work with an expert that knows what they are doing. If you are building a new house from scratch, take time to take the measurements and ensure that the addition will fit your property lines. It’s also wise to check with the local government and confirm how closely the codes in your city allow you to build next to your neighbor’s property. When installing a new addition from scratch, ensure that the new building won’t interfere with the utility lines or pipes. Also, ensure that the structural changes you are looking to make will fit into the framing and foundation of your building. Permits are necessary if you are building a new house, so always get them before you begin your project. Always think about value. As much as you are looking for extra space, always think about the value that the space brings to the table. This calls for you to be strategic about how you go about it. For example, if you simply want an extra bedroom for your guests, don’t add the extra space. Think about how you can add the extra space and still add value to your property. An excellent way to do it is to add an extra bedroom with an in-built bathroom. This way, you make the bedroom more comfortable as it has its bathroom and significantly increase the property’s valuproperty’sxtra bedroom means more space for the prospective buyer. Work with trusted professionals. Regardless of how minor your project is, always involve the services of professionals. And not just professionals—experts that know what they are doing. Many people looking for contractors for their projects go online and hire the first technician they find. This is wrong as it often leads to homeowners hiring the wrong contractor. The best way to do this is to contact at least five promising technicians and then schedule an interview with them. It’s only after you have determined that the technicians are qualified and will […]
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5 House Remodeling Traps to Avoid
Are you looking to remodel your house? Home remodeling architects report that many homeowners make plenty of mistakes that turn their projects into money pits. Do you want to be one of these homeowners? To dodge the magazine of bullets, here are some of the common home renovating traps you should avoid: Failing to do enough research When you are excited about giving your house a new look, it’s easy to go straight to the renovation stages, but you should try as much as possible to fight this. The right thing to do is to take your time and thoroughly inspect the house. During the inspection, you will identify hidden dangers, structural botches, and other house defects that might be a surprise when you start the renovation work. If you are buying a new house, be ultra-cautious and work with a certified professional who will help you identify even the most minute issues that might be there. As a rule of thumb, stay away from a house requiring expensive structural work, as you will spend more money than you should. When buying a house for renovation, take your time and find a house that simply needs a decorative makeover and a little updating of the kitchen and bathrooms. Not a complete overhaul. Underestimating the cost of renovations Most homeowners underestimate the cost of renovating their homes, which results in their projects stalling and leads to unnecessary stress. The right thing to do is always to take time to understand your project and all the costs involved fully. Consult an experienced builder who will visit your home and help you approximate a ballpark price for the project. You should note that the budget isn’t set in stone, so always have an extra amount set aside for emergencies. Experts recommend you set aside at least 20% of your budget. Replacing instead of repairing When your property is old, it’s easy to want to replace everything. As much as this will give the property a new, exciting look, it will be expensive. To save money, consider repairing instead of replacing. For example, overhaul the doors and windows instead of installing new doors. Using extremely cheap materials As much as you want to save as much money as possible, you shouldn’t be too cheap. Cheap is always nasty expensive in the long run, so it’s wise to avoid materials that are too cheap. While you should avoid cheap materials, it doesn’t mean you should buy only expensive items, as expensive doesn’t always translate to quality. There are plenty of moderately priced, but quality items in the market, and these are the ones you should go for. To avoid buying the wrong materials, don’t buy online. Remember that it’s hard to tell the quality of the product (even if it has plenty of raving reviews) from online pictures—you need to see the materials in person. You should be cautious of where you buy your materials from. As a rule of thumb, avoid buying from high-end stores as they are often too expensive. Overcapitalizing your renovation Overcapitalizing your renovation involves adding high-end finishes to your low-value […]
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What Are Some Good Tips To Consider When Remodeling A House?
Are you thinking about remodeling your house? There are plenty of tips to consider to get it right. What are some tips to consider when remodeling a house? Here they are as given by home remodeling architects: Know your why Why are you remodeling the house in the first place? This is important as it determines how you will go about the remodeling and the materials you will use. Most homeowners remodel their houses for two primary reasons: to improve the home’s look and to sell it. If you are remodeling for selling, you should pay attention to the parts of the house that add the most value. These are often the bathroom and kitchen area. You also should focus on turning the basement, attic, and other unusable areas into usable spaces. As a rule of thumb, when you are remodeling the house to sell, avoid high-end materials such as granite and marble as chances are you won’t recoup your investments. To be on the safe side, go with beautiful but cheaper materials. On the other hand, if you are remodeling the house to improve its looks to be comfortable and proud of your living situation, there is no limit to what you can do with it. As long as you are happy with the remodel, go with it. Have a budget The last thing you should do is start your remodeling project without a budget and say that you want to see the amount of money that the project will consume. This is wrong. Before you even begin your project, you should know the amount of money you should expect to spend on the various renovation costs such as labor, building materials, decorative finishes, building permits, and so on. If this is the first time you are doing it, get help from an experienced professional and come up with a budget. To avoid surprises later, have a 10% reserve of your budget for unexpected expenses that might arise later. Do your research Once you know about the materials you want and the amount of money to spend on each, begin your research. Right off the bat, get in touch with several experienced renovation contractors in your area and request estimates. This way, you get to compare the prices charged by the contractors. Of course, you should settle with the contractor providing the best service at the least cost. The other thing you should do is visit your local material stores and see what is available. Compare the prices from the different stores and settle on the one that makes the most sense to you. Work with experienced contractors. Your remodeling project will look as good as the contractors you hire, so ensure that you hire good contractors. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the contractors have at least three years of house remodeling experience. They also should be members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and be in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. There are plenty of ways to find the ideal contractor to work with. One way is doing a Google search […]
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How Do I Plan A Home Remodeling Project?
If you are having a home remodeling project, you need a plan. Are you wondering how do I plan a home remodeling project? There are several ways to go about it. Here is one of the best ones as given by architects builders: Have a vision How do you want your home to look once the project is complete? You need to think about this. A good way to go about it is to make a list of the must-have features. For example, if remodeling the kitchen, you can put a kitchen island as a must-have. You also should come up with blueprints and sketches of the finished project. Will you be doing the project yourself or hiring a professional? You need to think about this and divide the project into DIY steps and the steps that will require a professional. As you are coming up with a plan, think about the local zoning regulations and permits and ensure that your neighborhood is zoned for your remodel. While at it, find out whether you need a permit for your project. While different jurisdictions have different rules, most areas will require you to have a permit if your project involves changing the structure of the house or the use of a room. Find out the necessary permits you need but don’t hurry to apply for them—wait until you have hired a team and built a project timeline. Set a project budget Once you have the project’s vision, the next thing to do is to come up with the budget and financing. Of course, your budget should include all the projected expenses, including the miscellaneous. A great way to develop a project is to go through each goal and set a realistic estimate for it. For example, if you are planning on installing new kitchen cabinets, think about the materials you need, the paint, labor costs, and any other costs involved. The unique thing is that if you have been thinking about remodeling your home for a while, you most likely have a figure in mind of the projected expenses. To come up with better estimates, work with experienced professionals. Build your team Who do you need to complete your project? You should begin putting them together. Many homeowners go online and hire the first company that pops up in the search results. Don’t do this, as you often end up hiring the wrong professional. The right thing to do is to take your time and research the different companies in your area. You should then schedule meetings with them and settle on the best one after interviewing three or more contractors. Some of the things you should look out for when hiring include: Years of experience: You want a professional that has been in business for five or more years. This way, you are sure they know what they are doing, so they have a high chance of delivering an exemplary project. Licenses: Of course, the contractor should be licensed to work in your area. References: You should request the references that the contractor has worked with before. And don’t stop […]
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Time To Spice Up Your Bathroom
So you have already set your heart on pushing a home renovation project this year with the help of the trusted architects’ builder in your area. You’ve got your kitchen, living room and probably the bedroom on your checklist, however, there are amazing and cool bathroom designs that might fit your taste. Imagine preparing for the day in a stylish bathroom like it has transported you to a different place, nothing beats that experience. So if you wanted to have an awesome mood and an inspiring spirit before you head out your bedroom try giving your bathroom the kind of twist that you will surely be proud of. Give Your Bathroom A New Face-lift Reshaping some parts of your home is like opening your doors to new beginnings and experiences. Trying out the latest bathroom designs will give you the opportunity to embrace a fresh start as well as for the rest of your family. The Secret Of The Misty Interiors Many had believed that once you’ve used darker hues in your interior it will make the room smaller and it never worked with bathrooms as well. But that belief has changed now and it was a good overturn. You just have to make the right blend of light and dark combinations where the darker colors are used in smaller areas and amounts. One great effect is the small dark wall and wooden floor combination while everything else is white or chestnut colored bathroom furnishings. The Rose Gold Effect Thanks to the rose gold version of the latest iPhone many designers have seen the glamour in this hue. Incorporating this color in your bathroom revamp will definitely give your space a different personality. Just imagine how limitless colors can be when used in your indoor façade. The Classis Grey This color scheme may seem laid back, but it’s actually a trend this year. Needless to say, the grey bathroom will just provide you with elegance in a subtle way. It offers you both the traditional and modernized bathroom setting that will last for years. It means you don’t have to worry that your bathroom fashion statement will just soon be a fad because it surely is too vogue to become one. Make Way For the J-Shaped Theme Have you heard of the J-shaped bathroom design? If not, then you can probably opt to this bath fashion if you wanted to give your bath space a trendy, millennial look. The common bath shapes that have been overused in the market are the L-shaped and the P-shape baths, but now with the J-shaped pattern, your bathroom area will instantly give out a fashionable and an up-to-date charm. The Old-School Patterned Tiles Another classic, but surely have stood the test of the interior fashion industry, patterned tiles continue to make an impression in such an improving way. If you’re aware of the Victorian, Moroccan, and the Spanish tiles then you can already picture how the patterned tiles look like. One way of providing your bathroom a statement is by using plain hues on the walls and patterned tiled as your bath flooring. There […]
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Things To Think About When Making Home Additions
Are you planning on having a home additions project? For the project to be a success, you need to think about a number of things. Some of these things include: Plan You need to have a plan for the project. For a professional look, you should hire a home remodeling architect to help you with the plan. You should ensure that the design of the house is pleasing. It also should complement the current structure of the house giving it a more appealing look. Type of home addition The other thing you need to think about is the type of home addition that you want to have. There are two main types of home additions that you can have. The most popular one is one where the unit that you are looking to add is attached to the side of the house. The cool thing about this addition is that it creates an additional room such as a living or dining room. You can also use it to separate two new living elements such as the servant’s quarters. The other type of addition is one where you put the addition on top of a single story home thus creating a two-story house. Since you need an additional floor plan, you need a larger budget to pull this off. Before you embark on the project you should have a discussion with your home renovation contractor. You should not only discuss the best additions that you should go for, you also should discuss the repercussions of the choice that you make. Value of the addition The other thing you need to think about is the value that the addition has on your property. You should note that the project isn’t simply meant to remodel your home—it also needs to add value to your house. If you are looking to resell the house at a later date, you should ensure that your project gives you value for your money. As always, the return on investment should always be higher than the amount that you spend. If you aren’t sure of whether the addition will be worthwhile, get the input of a home remodeling expert. Conclusion These are some of the things that you should think about when making additions to your home. as mentioned, to have an easy time when making the additions, you should work with reputable and highly experienced architects builders DC.
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