Tips To Consider When Renovating Your House
If you want to fix your house but are unsure where to start, you’re not alone. Many people start planning a home improvement project without knowing what to expect. When things go wrong during renovations, they only realize they should have had a plan. If you don’t plan, renovating your home can disappoint you. This is because, unlike when you build a new house, you aren’t starting from scratch. There can be costs and problems that come up out of the blue that makes the process harder. So, before you start down the winding road of home improvement, here are several things given by home addition contractors that you need to know to have a great project: Start with the kitchen. People often want to know in what order they should make home improvements. It’s best to start with the kitchen because these renovations add value to your home. If your kitchen is old and worn out, updating it will let you enjoy it more at home. You should also remodel the kitchen first because it will create the most dust and debris you don’t want to get on freshly painted walls or new finishes. Putting plastic over doorways or passageways is a good way to keep demolition mess from spreading. Remember that a big kitchen remodels usually takes several months, so you’ll need to set up a temporary kitchen in your dining room, family room, or a nearby room. Spend time in the space. Even if it seems obvious, you should wait to decide on things like paint colors, carpet, and light fixtures until you’ve spent some time in the space you’re fixing up. For example, if you want to replace an old carpet, there are many options. Dense or loose fibers? Or no pattern at all? What shade of gray should you go for? The answers depend on choosing paint colors and other parts of the renovation. Even if you choose paint colors before remodeling, you still need to see them on the walls. As you spend more time in the house, you might change your mind about the house colors. Also, newly painted walls and new carpet can show that the lights you already have don’t give off as much light as you thought, and you are forced to change them. Before you paint or replace the carpet in the room you’re remodeling, take a few minutes to think about how everything fits together. This will save you from having to go back to the drawing board and spend a lot of money on it. Don’t hire the first contractor. It pays to talk to multiple contractors and look at their bids. Many people make the mistake of hiring the first contractor that they come across, but this isn’t the right way to go about it. Instead, you should talk to three or more contractors and compare their bids. You might be tempted to hire the cheapest but don’t go this route, as chances are the contractor isn’t experienced enough and will most likely botch your project. At the same time, you shouldn’t hire an expensive one […]
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Can You Live At Home During A Remodel?
In an ideal situation, when you are having a remodeling project you should find a hotel or any other place to live in to give the home remodeling architects enough space to work on. What if you can’t afford a hotel for extended periods of time? Can you live at home during a remodel? The short answer to this question is yes. You can definitely live in your house when having a remodel but you need to consider a set of tips that include: Separate the remodel space Since you won’t be leaving the house, you should talk to your contractor so that they can create a clear separation between the space you are looking to remodel and the rest of the house. The purpose of doing this is to ensure you are safe and at the same time prevent dirt and dust from getting into your living area. There are plenty of ways the contractor can separate the two areas. One of the ways is to erect a pole zip wall or a magnetic wall system. To keep the house clean, the contractor should use an air filtration system such as a HEPA filter that will constantly filter the air and also cover the ducts in and around the work area so that dust doesn’t get inside. Set up a temporary kitchen If you are remodeling the kitchen, it automatically means that you can’t use your kitchen area for some time. To continue preparing your meals, you need to set up a temporary kitchen. Bring the appliances you used to use in your new kitchen. They include: coffee maker, microwave, instant pot, toaster oven, burner hotplates, and any other necessary appliance. Besides the appliances, also think about the sink. Where will you be washing the vegetables? Work with your contractor and hook up the sink to the existing plumbing source of your home. If the laundry room is nearby and has a sink, you don’t have to stress yourself over setting up the sink as you can use that one. Tips to living through a bathroom remodel Living through a bathroom remodel can be complex or stress-free depending on whether you have another bathroom you can use while the other one is being worked on. If you have multiple bathrooms you can use you have nothing to worry about as you simply need to use the ones you aren’t remodeling but it will be a little tricky living through a remodel when you have only one bathroom. If you are in this situation, you should work with your contractor and come up with a plan. One of the things you can do is to set the toilet back at the end of the day. There is nothing fun about living without a toilet so if the contractor has to pull it up to undertake the project, ensure that they put it back to operation before the end of the day. When remodeling the bathroom, chances are high that your regular shower will be out of operation. Should you stop showering simply because you can’t use your shower? Absolutely not. […]
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What Should You Not Do When Remodeling A House?
When having a home remodeling project, you want the project to be a success, and part of making it a success is avoiding things that can bring it down. What should you not do when remodeling a house? Well, there are plenty of things you should stay away from. These things include: Don’t hire a cheap contractor. In the bid to save money, most homeowners hire the cheapest home remodeling architects they come across. Don’t do this. Remember, there is a good reason why the contractors are cheap, and the most likely reason is they are inexperienced and will most likely botch your project. And you don’t want this, do you? For your project to be a success, you should stay away from cheap contractors. You also should avoid hiring the first contractor that pops up in the search results. The right way to go about it is to schedule a meeting with the contractors and interview them. During the interview, ask them as many questions as possible. Some of the questions you can ask include: How long have you been providing your services? How would you recommend we go about the project? Are you insured? Are you certified to work in the region? Do you offer a warranty? For the best outcome, only work with experienced contractors that know what they are doing. While these contractors will be expensive to hire, they will be worth it. Don’t work without a budget. Even if you have unlimited resources, the last thing you want is to work without a budget, as you often waste a lot of money. The budget guides you in knowing whether you are still in the right direction. After you have settled on a contractor to work with, have a sitting with them and ask them to help you come up with a budget. You should include everything in the budget, from the countertops to the screws you need. As you are making the budget, remember to factor in surprises as they are bound to happen, and when they come, they drag your project behind and cost you extra money. A clear example of a surprise is you damaging the wall as you are installing the backsplash. When you damage a wall, even if it wasn’t part of the budget, you have to replace it. You also have to inspect the electrical lines and fix them if damaged. For peace of mind, set aside at least 15% of your total budget for unexpected expenses. Don’t be in a hurry When you have been thinking about remodeling your house for a long time, it’s tempting to start the project as soon as you get the money. Don’t do this, as it often leads to you making plenty of mistakes. For one, you end up hiring the first contractor you come across, which is often not the right one to work with. You also end up buying the remodeling materials at premium prices as you don’t have time to research and find cheaper stores to buy from. To hire the right contractor and save money on the building materials, […]
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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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Home Remodeling Architects: The Benefits That Come With Remodeling Your Home
Are you thinking about remodeling your home? You should go ahead and do it as there are plenty of benefits that come with doing it. To help you out, here are some of these benefits as given by home remodeling architects: Home remodeling increases the value of the home If you are thinking about selling your home at a later date, there is no harm in making a few additions that will make it more appealing to the buyers. You can make simple changes such as applying fresh paint, changing the floors, upgrading the carpets, installing new fixtures, among many others. When you are remodeling your home to increase its value, you should pay attention to the projects that have a high return on investment. Some of the best projects that you should go for are: upgrading the kitchen, bathroom, replacing the front door, and even increasing the size of the living space. If you have the budget, you also should consider installing a new roof. The remodeling project makes the house more comfortable and efficient If you are looking to make the house more comfortable, you should put your effort in the areas that you spend most of your time. For example, if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you should work with your remodeling contractor and come up with ideas that will make the kitchen more comfortable. In some cases, you might be interested in spending more time outdoors and want to make it more comfortable. For example, you might want to add an outdoor fireplace, make the patio more comfortable among many other things. Here you should work with an outdoor remodeling company that will guide you on the units that you will install to make the space more comfortable. When it comes to making the house more energy efficient, there are a number of ways that you can use to make it possible. You can use green materials, replace the new windows, add insulation that decreases the energy costs, among many other things. Remodeling helps you keep up with the latest trends Are you a trendy person? You can always remodel your home so that it fits the current trend. When you are making additions, ensure that the trend is here to stay as you don’t want to keep on changing your home when a new trend comes. You also should ensure that you work with a reputable home addition builder DC.
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Home Remodeling Architects: Home Remodeling Dos And Don’ts
Are you thinking of remodeling your home? Here are a few dos and don’ts you should consider as given by home remodeling architects: Home remodeling dos Get the highest ROI: When you are remodeling the house, you should always think about what you will get in return. You should note that not all home remodeling projects will give you the same return on investment. To help you out, here are a few ROIs of the various remodeling projects: Replacement windows: 80% ROI Bathroom remodeling: 78% ROI New siding: 88% ROI Additions: 90% ROI If a remodeling project doesn’t give you a great ROI, you should avoid it. Use high-quality materials: This is a no-brainer as there is no way that you will get a good result when you are using low-quality materials. While you should use good quality materials, you should avoid overly priced units as they aren’t worth it. In fact, you will end up wasting your money by doing it as you won’t get a good ROI. Take your time: You should note that the home remodeling project is an expensive one; therefore, you shouldn’t jump into it—you should take your time and plan it. You should take your time and find high-quality materials. If your budget allows it, you should hire a remodeling contractor to help you with the project. While it might seem expensive hiring a contractor at the beginning, you end up saving a lot in the long run as you avoid making costly mistakes. As rule of thumb, you should hire a reputable and experienced professional. Don’ts when remodeling your home There are a number of things that you need to avoid making for you to get the most from the home remodeling project. One of the things you should avoid doing is making improvements solely because you want to solve a temporary need. You also should avoid remodeling the house if you are only looking to cure a major deficiency. For example, adding a bathroom or bedroom. The reason for this is because you might not get your return on investment. Conclusions These are some of the things you should and shouldn’t do when you are looking to improve the look of your home. To get the most from your project, you should make the improvements in moderation. Unless the project is too minor, avoid doing it by yourself—always hire home additions companies DC to handle the project.
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Bathroom Remodeling Contractors: Understanding Bathroom Remodeling Options
The bathroom is the place where you can take long soaks for long hours after a workday. When you remodel it, you enjoy taking the baths as the place looks beautiful and you want to spend as much time as possible in it. You can also hire bathroom remodeling contractors to remodel the unit when you are looking to sell the house. According to real estate professionals, a simple bathroom remodeling greatly raises the value of your home thus you not only sell your house fast, but you also get to sell it fast. When you are remodeling the place, you have many options that you can go with. Some of these options include: Surface level remodeling This is basic remodeling. Here you repair the bathroom fixtures, knobs, and other minor units that are in bad shape. You can also repair the bathtub if it’s also shabby. This option is good for you if you are operating on a budget, but you want to improve the look of your bathroom. If there are parts of the bathroom that you need to replace, you should go ahead and replace them. You should note that you should replace the minor units such as the shower liners, bathtub refinishing, shower units, and wainscoting. Changing the bathroom layout This project is similar to how you would rearrange your living room. You need to rearrange the location of the various bathroom fixtures. In the process, you give your bathroom a new look and also most likely more room. Unlike in the previous project that requires you to repair or replace the minor unit, here you will have to move large fixtures such as cabinets. You may also have to move sensitive units such as the sink and shower stall. You should avoid handling this project on your own as its complex, and you might mess with some units. To be on the safe side, hire remodeling contractors to help you out. Overhaul remodeling If fixing the minor units or moving the different units doesn’t work for you, you have no way out other than to give your bathroom an overhaul. You need to hire a contractor who will tear everything down and redo the space. As you might have expected, this process is not only the most tedious; it’s also the most expensive; therefore, you should be ready to part with a large amount. Conclusion These are some of the bathroom remodeling options that you have. To have an easy time, work with highly experienced bathroom contractors DC who will help you out.
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Basement Remodeling Contractors: Understanding Basement Remodeling
Basement remodeling is one of the most effective ways of making use of the unused space in the house. To remodel the area, you need to hire basement remodeling contractors to help you out. Basement remodeling ideas There are many ways to which you can convert your basement. One of the ways you can transform the room is by making it a multifunctional unit. Here you need to work with your contractor and divide the room into sections each with its function and allocation. For example, you can create a games area, children’s den, audio section, and even a bar in the basement. You can also convert the room into a guest room. If your house is small and you regularly have guests, you can transform the basement into a guest room. If the area is big enough, consider adding a bathroom. Finally, you can convert the area into an office. With the rise of work at home jobs, you don’t need to construct a new room or place the work table in the bedroom. If the basement is large enough, work with your remodeling contractors and come up with an office design that is appealing to you. Factors to consider when undertaking basement remodeling Once you have thought about remodeling the unit, you don’t have to jump right in—you need to consider a number of factors. One of the factors to consider is whether the room is healthy enough for remodeling. Here you need to inspect the area for infestation by molds, water, and other damaging effects. You also should ask the contractor to inspect the area for leaks, fissures, and cracks. Another thing to consider is whether the basement is large enough for your needs. You also need to consider whether it’s appealing enough. For example, if looking to convert it into a guests room, you don’t want the guests to see ducts, pipes, and other appliances running through the room. Finally, you need to consider the insurance. Does the insurance company cover the remodeling? You need to find out about it. If it doesn’t, you should prepare yourself to part with a substantial amount. Conclusion This is what you need to know about basement remodeling. To get the most from your remodeling project, you need to work with the right professional. Most people go for the general remodeling contractor, but this is wrong. For ideal results, hire a professional who specializes in basement remodeling.
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