How Can I Save Money Building An Addition To My House?
As much as homeowners love the extra space that building home addition brings, there is always the issue of cost as most of them don’t want to spend a fortune on it, so you will hear them asking, how can I save money building an addition to my house? Well, there are plenty of tricks you can use to your advantage. These tricks include: Do it yourself Do you have home-building skills? You shouldn’t waste money hiring a house remodeling professional. Instead, you should do the work yourself. Even when doing the building work yourself, ensure that you follow the right procedure and don’t cut corners. If you have the skills, you have the luxury of doing the work by yourself, but if you don’t the skills, you should hire a professional to build the house for you. When hiring the contractor, ensure that the contractor knows what they are doing. The last thing you want is hiring someone to botch up your work, and you have to redo it, which sees you wasting a lot of money. Although, you should be conscious of the price charged by the contractor, avoid an extremely cheap contractor, as the chances are high that they won’t do a good job. Source your own materials Did you know you can get the building materials at much lower prices on your own than through a contractor? The reason for this is that despite the contractor making money from the labor costs, they want to make a profit from the materials they supply you, so they mark up the prices. To save money, source the materials on your own. For example, if planning to have a kitchen addition, visit the home improvement stores and find cheaper countertops. If you don’t have a huge budget, find reclaimed materials for your project. Most contractors will do their budgeting while including the materials they will supply you, and if you decide that you will be sourcing the materials on your own in the middle of the project, the contractor may have to go back to the drawing board, and they might not be pleased about it. To avoid bad blood in your work, ensure that you let the contractor know beforehand that you will be sourcing the materials on your own. Shop around Whether you are looking for materials or a contractor, don’t work with the first company you come across—take your time, visit different companies, and see what they have. Many homeowners make the mistake of being in a hurry when doing their construction, so they rush to hire the first company they come across. Don’t do this as you end up spending a lot of money that you shouldn’t. The best way to go about it is to take your time and knock on several doors and see what is available. Sometimes you might not only find the company or supplies at a low cost, but also discover materials you have never heard about. Go the prefab way If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on new items, consider getting prefabricated materials. Some people […]
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Do I Need An Architect For An Addition?
Most home addition projects are small that many homeowners ask themselves, do I need an architect for an addition? The answer to this question is a resounding yes. Regardless of the size of your project, you should have home remodeling architects that will help you bring your dream to life. The architects you hire will be responsible for a variety of duties, including: Designing the house Regardless of the type of addition you are having, you should have a design for it. The architect will help you plan how you will execute the project and how the entire project will look once complete. Besides the architect helping you come up with the project design, he/she will also help you come up with pull permits and design changes to the house’s structure. Serve as a contract writer. If your home addition is going to be big, the architect can serve as a contract writer to pull all the pieces of the project together. This includes: The estimate House specs The scope of the job Hiring the subcontractors Hiring a contractor Since the architect always comes before the contractor, if you don’t have a contractor in mind or don’t want to get involved with the hiring process, your architect should help you identify a good contractor for your project and even hire them. The architect should also supervise the contractor and ensure that they are doing a good job. Advice on fixture and finishes The architect should also advise you on the best fixtures and finishes to install in your house. Some of the areas the contractor should advise on include: Painting and color pairing Drawers and cabinets Lighting Kitchen and countertop works Outdoor landscaping Knobs and metal accents Tiling and flooring Hiring the right architect Since we have seen the vital roles served by an architect, you should be cautious of the contractor you hire and ensure that you are hiring the right one. The cool thing is it’s easy to identify an experienced architect as all you need to do is to ask them questions. Some of the questions to ask during the hiring include: What roles and responsibilities do they think they will be handling? What is their role in choosing and handing fixtures? What strategy will they use to see through the project? Are there challenges they expect in the project? How will they go around them? How will they deal with conflicts in the project? What are their references? When it comes to references, many homeowners collect them, but they rarely follow up. You don’t want to be this way. After the architect gives you a list of customers they have worked with, take it as your initiative to get in touch with the mentioned people and ask them about their experience with the architect. Of course, you should work with an architect with a stellar record—the clients should be happy and proud to have worked with the said architect. What other things should you consider when hiring the architect? Besides asking the architect as many questions as possible that will help you nail down their experience […]
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Wondering What Order to Do Home Renovations? Follow This Guide
To avoid wasting money, time, and resources, you need to have a detailed order on how to accomplish your home remodeling project. The safest and most sensible way to go about it is to hire home remodeling architects to help with the planning, design, and budgeting, but what if you don’t have money? You should do it yourself. Wondering what order to do home renovations? Here is a guideline to follow: Make a plan The usual cliché, if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail, holds even in a home remodeling project. Before you begin the remodeling, carefully assess the areas you would like to renovate and set your priorities. You will need money to accomplish the project, regardless of whether it’s big or small, so you need to come up with a budget. When creating the budget, factor in all the costs that you will incur. Think about the cost of the materials, transport, tapes, and others. The most difficult cost to budget for is the labor costs, but you will be on the safe side if you put it at 20-40% of your total budget. As you are coming up with a budget, remember to have a 10-20% contingency for emergencies. This amount might seem like a lot, especially when you are looking to make every dollar count but remember that you are better off being left with money once the project is done than to halt the project in the middle after your pockets run dry. Hire a contractor Unless you are a skilled handyman, you shouldn’t try to handle a remodeling project yourself, as you will waste a lot of time and money. Regardless of the size of your project, hire a contractor to handle it. The key to finding the right contractor is taking your time and not hiring the first contractor you come across. You should interview several contractors and settle on the most qualified. Avoid an extremely cheap contractor as they are most likely inexperienced, and chances are high they will botch your project. At the same time, avoid an extremely expensive contractor, as they might be ripping you off. Take your time and find a contractor that gives you value without having to part with astronomical amounts of money. Talk to your insurance company. Do you have home insurance? You should talk to your insurance company and ensure you have the amount of coverage that fits your needs. Most likely, the home renovation will raise your home’s value, so the insurance company should increase your coverage limits, so your investment has better protection. Secure the necessary permits and order the materials Most municipalities will require you to have construction permits, and not having them will have a significant impact on your project, so ensure you have them. You also should check the municipality’s regulations and ensure you adhere to them to avoid being on the wrong side of the law. While at it, order the materials you need for the project. These include: lumber, windows, doors, and drywall. Start the demolitions If there are areas of the house that you […]
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4 Outstanding Room Addition Ideas For Small Homes
Imagine this. You have a small house, your family is growing fast, and you don’t have money to move, so you feel trapped and out of options. Are you doomed to live in this little cramped house your entire life? Absolutely not, as you can hire a home addition builder and put these room addition ideas for small homes to work: Create a storage space Did you know you can give your house the perception of space by simply getting rid of the things lying around? If you have no use for these things, you can throw them away, but if you still need them, you should create a storage space for them. Some of the best places to create the space area around your front and back door, garage wall, and back porch room. When designing the extra space, pay close attention to whom will be using it and how they will use it. If you are creating the space for your kids to drop their belongings instead of scattering them around the living room, have easy to reach cubbies and hooks. As you create this additional space, give it its own texture and look so that it feels like it belongs. Create a home office with additional functionalities Due to COVID-19, over 42% of the U.S. labor force is working remotely. If you are also working remotely, you need to be comfortable and a great place to start is by having a home office. Unfortunately, since you have a small house, you can’t style the office like other people—you need to be creative. As you are designing the office, work on maximizing functionality. For example, design the office to have custom built-ins and floating shelves. For the keyboard and printer, build sliding trays to tuck them out of sight when you aren’t working. You also should furnish the space to serve as storage. For example, you can place an upholstered storage bench under your window or corner reading chair. Avoid filing the shelf space with unnecessary items. Instead, place your best books and decorative items there. For the office supplies, store them in the designated wall organizers. You should note that when working with small spaces, illusion is of major importance. To create the illusion of a higher ceiling, hang the curtains at ceiling height instead of directly above the window frame. Work on drawing the eye up with decorative wall sconces. To complete the look, anchor the room with a colorful area rug. Remove a wall to add a dining area. Who said you should have a large house to have a dining room? If you have always wanted to have a dining room but have been limited by space, you can extend your kitchen’s usable space by knocking down the wall or adding on with a bump-out. Doing this not only makes your house feel bigger, but it also brings in a strong return on investments when it comes to selling, as over 86% of homeowners prefer houses with partially or completely connected kitchen and dining areas. Even if you have got the dining room you […]
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6 Home Renovation Ideas on a Budget
Every homeowner would want to hire the best home remodeling architects and give their home a complete overhaul, but there is the issue of money. You might not have enough. While this is the case, does it mean you should give up on your dream of a better-looking house? Absolutely not! Even if you have limited funds, you can do several renovations and give your house a new look. To help you out, 6 home renovation ideas on a budget: Install full-length curtains Full-length curtains are usually 0.5mm longer than normal curtains, and they are beautiful and more elegant looking. The cool thing is when you use the right color and install them properly, they create a fantastic and positive atmosphere that makes your home feel and look new. For a great look, go for quality, unique curtains with an inviting color. You can also transform the look of your sofa or chair using slipcovers. Toss a few new, cheap throw pillows on the furniture, and you have a completely fresh look. For the dining room and kitchen, place a new tablecloth. If you are crafty, get a few cheap fabric remnants from the craft store and make new pillows and window treatments. Rearrange the furniture Did you know a simple act as rearranging the furniture can completely change your house’s look and feel? Since you don’t have a lot of money, you can’t afford to hire an interior designer, but you can afford a few home design magazines. Go through the magazines and make use of the brilliant ideas you come across. You can also borrow your creative niece or cousin on a lazy Sunday and ask them to help you come up with creative furniture arrangement ideas. Refresh your rooms with paint Sometimes all your washed-out walls want is a burst of new color and the beauty is that paint doesn’t cost much. You also don’t have to hire a professional to do the work. Simply watch a few videos, and you will transform your home. Paint all the dull-looking areas both outside and inside the house. The only trick you have to pay attention to is to ensure that you choose the right color for the different rooms. Restore the old tiles If your house tiles are old, ugly, and losing their functionality, it’s time to restore them. Head to your local stores and buy new, modern tiles and install them. When you are in the stores, bargain and get the best deal possible. This calls for you to avoid stores in the upmarket. You also should avoid rare tiles. When it comes to installation, you can take time and learn installation techniques, but you can hire a professional to help with the installation if you have some money left. Replace your area rug Sometimes your house might be looking old and out of condition simply because the area rug is worn out. To revamp the house, get a new rug. When buying the new rug, pay attention to the textures and finishes and ensure they match the house’s design. You should note that certain rugs such […]
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How to Let Natural Light Come Into Your Home
Most homeowners often take natural light for granted. Instead, they would often splurge on expensive lighting fixtures to enhance the beauty of their interiors. However, most people often do not realize how natural light can do wonders to their house interiors. If you are planning a home remodeling addition, you might want to include ways to let natural light into the home addition design. Why your home should embrace natural light A survey conducted by Origin Global found that about 26 percent of homeowners would love to have natural light in their homes. Other “must-haves”, according to the survey, include having a large garden area and dining area/kitchen. No wonder people still prefer natural over artificial light. For one thing, daylight exposure can help improve our mood. Likewise, it can make your interiors look bigger, brighter, lighter, and more welcoming. Letting natural light can also save you electricity as you don’t have to turn on the lights during the day. Natural light can also freshen the air circulating inside the house. There are also studies stating that natural lighting lessens the tendency to overeat and oversleep and improves energy levels. Natural light can even improve your work productivity and lessen the risk of depression and other mental health issues. In other words, natural light can do wonders to our health and our usual daily routines. How to let natural light in your home If you are in a process of building a home addition, it is better to consider how you are going to let natural light into your home. A home addition design that includes natural light can help you save electricity and uplift your mood. Here are tips you should consider if you want to bathe your home with nature-given light. Use light-colored paint on your walls. Ditch the flowery, Grandma-style wallpaper and opt for lighter shades of paint. Home improvement experts suggest using white as the safest bet if you want natural light to come into your home. Lighter shades of paint will make the room look bigger and brighter. On the contrary, dark paint can make a room look constricting and hotter. When using white paint, you can opt to use off-white hues for a warmer and calmer effect. Avoid using pure white or brilliant white as it can make the room look cold and boring. Also, consider using paint with a satin finish so that light will bounce better in the room. Place mirrors or any shiny tiles. Make your kitchen or dining area look bigger by installing reflective tiles or backsplashes. Mirrors can also do wonders in your room, hallway, or living room areas. These can make your room look more spacious and brighter as well. Relocate your furniture. Your bulky furniture might be blocking your windows, so make sure not to block them with any furniture or décor. Use sheer or light-colored curtains, or opt for blinds so you can also control the amount of light coming into the house (not to mention add privacy as well). Turning green to brighten your home Did you know that plants can also brighten up your […]
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Planning to Build an Outdoor Deck? Here’s What You Need to Know
Being inside the house all the time can be boring eventually. At some point, we would miss the beauty of the outdoors. But because of the pandemic, there are certain travel restrictions in most countries. It can be frustrating not to go to different places anytime we want to, unlike before. But this doesn’t mean we have to be cooped up inside our rooms until the pandemic goes away for good. There are ways that we can still enjoy the beautiful outdoors without stepping out of your residential property. One way is by building an outdoor deck in your home. Building an outdoor deck area can be one of the best decisions you could make. So if you are planning to build one soon, make sure to hire the best home addition companies out there. Why you should have an outdoor deck A lot of people often consider renovating their bedrooms or expanding their bathroom or kitchen areas. However, it is also a good idea to hire a professional home additions builder to build your outdoor deck. Also, you need to determine whether you want a deck and not a patio (which are two different things). There are several reasons why you should consider building an outdoor deck. It can add value to your home especially if you are planning to put it in the real estate market. Not to mention adding aesthetic appeal to your current home. It is up to you to think about the home addition design you want and has it given to live by professional architects builders. You can use your outdoor deck for several purposes. This is where you can relax in the mornings or late afternoons and enjoy the outdoors. It can also serve as a receiving or hangout area for your guests and host barbecue parties. You can also use the deck area to grow and tend to your plants. It will also be a good resting spot if you have a pool or spa in your backyard. That said, deck areas are both aesthetic and functional. You can add potted plants, bring out some furniture, and even hang hanging lights. You can also design the deck area any way you want depending on how you want it to look. What to consider before building an outdoor deck There are also several things you need to consider before building a deck in your home. For one, you need to hire a home remodeling addition professional to make your dream deck come to life. Here are other things you should consider as well. Budget Well, of course, you need to have a budget to build an outdoor deck. When coming up with a deck building project, you should factor in the following: Deck design and size Features (ex. seating, railings, powerboxes, etc.) Material costs (ex. lumber, metal or steel, bricks, etc.) Labor cost (if you are going to hire a home addition builder) Location The size of your deck area will depend on the location you have. You would also want your deck to be steps away from your house. More importantly, it […]
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What to Consider Before Choosing Paint for Your Home
Improving your home is a major project to partake as a homeowner. It can be an expensive affair, even tedious, depending on how big your planned home improvement project is. Planning for a home addition design is another story. You can avail affordable home additions from professional home remodeling architects that will suit your budget. But sometimes, home improvement can be as cheap and simple as buying good quality paint. Instead of tearing up the walls or replacing old cabinets, you can opt to repaint them for a fresher, more renewed look. Applying a fresh coat of paint is also a good idea if you are planning to sell your home. But first, you need to consider several things when choosing paint. Types of paint For starters, paint comes in different sheens. Two of the most popular ones are latex and oil-based paints. Latex paints This one is more common and more preferred to use because it is easier to clean up. Plus, it can last for many years as well. Latex paint is also less susceptible to premature fading and bubbling, hence the durability. It is also said to be more eco-friendly than its oil-based counterpart. You can use this type of paint to work on various surfaces including wood and concrete. Oil paints Meanwhile, oil-based paints came earlier than latex paint, existing for more than 50 years. But it is still being used until now mostly wood trims and moldings, as suggested by most architects builders. Oil paints also tend to dry longer than latex paint, so make sure to allow drying time. Some use an oil-based primer and use latex paint as a top coat, but it depends on your paint preference and requirement. Types of paint sheens And then there are different types of paint sheens, popular of which the glossy, semi-glossy, are and matte finishes. When to use glossy paint? Home remodeling architects recommend using glossy paint in high-traffic areas such as the living room, kitchen, or the playroom. You can easily clean and wipe walls and other surfaces with glossy paint. On the downside, glossy paint can highlight surface imperfections including bumps and other blemishes. When to use semi-glossy paint? Home improvement experts suggest using semi-gloss paint for bathroom and kitchen areas. Semi-glossy paint is also a little cheaper than glossy paint, making it a good alternative to the latter if you are aiming for the glossiness of paint. When to use matte paint? Matte or flat paint, although can hide imperfections more effectively, may not be recommended in high-traffic areas. This is because it may not be easily cleaned unlike using glossy paint. But if you want to use matte, you can opt for eggshell sheen. It also resembles matte paint but easier to maintain and wash, smoother, and more long-lasting. What to consider when choosing the paint color It can be overwhelming to choose the right paint color for your home, as there are a lot of colors to choose from. Well, it depends on your objectives. For example, experts suggest using white or off-white paint for walls if you are planning […]
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Home Additions for Added Property Value: Which Ones to Pursue and Ones to Avoid?
Much has happened because of the pandemic. For one, a lot of businesses have been affected and some even have to close. While some businesses are able to bounce back and survive the impact of the ongoing pandemic, some industries are still struggling until now. One of these is the real estate industry. Being mostly at home, a lot of homeowners took the quarantine period to do something valuable. Say, planning for a home addition design for your outdated kitchen or bathroom. For your home improvement needs, better hire home remodeling architects. Home improvement in the middle of a pandemic As mentioned, the real estate industry has been affected a lot by the pandemic. Buying property may not be a priority for now. However, there are some homeowners who are considering selling their homes now. One reason is because of financial problems – some may have lost their jobs and have no means to pay for a mortgage. Unfortunately, this is the reality of many homeowners now. It will be a lucky occurrence if they are able to sell their homes during these uncertain times. But for those who are more fortunate, now is the time for a home improvement project – no matter how minor or major it is. Then again, it also depends on your long-term goals. If you are planning to live in your home for many years, it is good to invest in your home. It is also a good idea to hire a professional home additions builder to help you with your home improvement project. However, home improvement projects can also be tempting. For example, you might be considering to add a small pool or build a treehouse in your backyard. But the question is: Are they necessary? Is hiring an outdoor remodeling expert worth it? More importantly, will these add value to your home? Home improvement projects to avoid this pandemic As luxurious as it may seem, there are a lot of home improvement projects that won’t add value to your real estate property. More so, if you are planning to move to another place after a couple of years. So, which of these popular home improvement projects you should avoid? Jacuzzis/Sauna baths It may sound relaxing to have your own Jacuzzi in your bathroom. For one thing, building a Jacuzzi or sauna bath can cost you high electric bills aside from frequent maintenance costs. In-ground swimming pool Depending on the type and size of the pool you are aiming for, it can cost as much as tens of thousands of dollars. While having a pool seems like a dream come true for many homeowners, it might make your house challenging to sell. For one, families with small children may not want to buy a house with a large pool due to safety reasons. High-end kitchens Too much home addition design not only is expensive but also unnecessary. Just like when you buy expensive tiles, countertops, and appliances. Trends come and go, and so will these appliances, tiles, and other home décor. Your high-end refrigerator might already be outdated when you decide to sell […]
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Starting a DIY Furniture Making Project: What You Need to Know
It can be boring at home due to the ongoing lockdown, quarantine, or whatever it is called in your place. But instead of bumming all day, you can use this time to be productive at home. Some may already be productive since they are working remotely. Otherwise, you can improve your home little by little during this time. Hiring a home additions builder may not be the best decision for now. However, you can plan for a home remodeling addition or condo remodeling (if you live in a condo unit). A home addition can be a simple tile replacement or a major one like building a living extension in your home. DIY furniture, anyone? It’s nice to imagine living in your dream home. With your own backyard pool, a landscaped garden, and majestic walk-in closet. You’ll feel like a celebrity having these amenities. There are home addition companies that can help transform your house into your dream home. Then again, it may not be the right time to hire home remodeling architects while there’s a lockdown/quarantine ongoing. For now, you can focus on other things that you can improve at home. Say, change your current bed and pillow sheets or add a carpet to your bedroom. Or why not make your own furniture? Making your own furniture may seem intimidating. However, you don’t have to be a professional carpenter or craftsman to make your own furniture. More so, it’s not complicated to maintain your home and keep it in style. DIY furniture ideas Want to make your own furniture? It can actually be not that as hard as you think. You can use your old furniture and recreate it into a creative and useful one. You can use an old bench and turn it into an extra space to place your home décor. You can just repaint it if there is no damage to the bench. It won’t spend a lot of your time refurbishing the old bench, table, or chair. Not only is it a resourceful way to reuse old furniture but can look good in your home, too. Why not add an indoor swing? You and your kids will surely love this DIY swing right in the comfort of your own home. You can make a hanging chair made from canvas, leather, or any other durable fabric available. With some knots, drills, and couple of stitches, you can create your DIY indoor swing. Make sure there are no vases and other fragile items nearby or else it might be knocked down accidentally. If you have an old drawer, you can revamp it into a kitchen island. You can repaint, repair, and modify some parts if you want. For example, you can add a slab of wood on top so it can be a countertop as well. Plus, this DIY kitchen island can be your extra storage space and a kitchen attraction, too. Old road signs can be converted into stylish stool seatings at home. Secure the metal signs on wooden stools, bend it if necessary, and you will now have eye-catching trendy seats at home. Tips in crafting […]
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