Tips and articles about remodeling and home renovations. A well-planned remodel can improve your lifestyle and add value to your home.
Although a home addition or remodeling project is almost always a major effort that can affect the resale value of your home, it should be done primarily to improve your quality of life. Keep the following list in mind when adding on to your home:
Finding the right individual or team of professionals to plan, draw and build your new home or major remodeling/addition project can be a time consuming process because there are often no clearly defined boundaries among various home design professionals. Whether you decide to hire someone to design your home and another to build it, or find one firm to do it all, you need to find professionals who understand the nature of your project and can serve your needs. The more time spent during the hiring and planning phases, the fewer problems you should encounter during building and completion.
Q: I would like to make two bedrooms and a bathroom in my attic. To do this I would have to lift my ceiling. Can you recommend a contractor who would be able to come in and give me a free estimate?
More and more homeowners are deciding that the best way to improve their lifestyles and their personal balance sheets at the same time is to invest in their single biggest asset: their home. Home improvements are not only a winning investment because they may increase property values, but also because they can help us enjoy life more in our own homes.
Consider the following before you decide how to finance your home improvement project:
Kitchens and baths are the most important, the most expensive and the most complicated rooms to remodel in a home. These rooms where families spend so much of their time merit attention because they have to be functional and pleasant. Remodeling an outdated kitchen or bathroom is not only a smart investment, but will also bring your family more comfort than most any other home improvement.
A grand deck out back, new energy efficient replacement windows, a new driveway -- we all have a list of improvements we want to make to our home. But it always comes down to money. What can we afford? Most improvements have substantial long-term returns in both quality of life and in hard benefits like increased resale value and lower energy costs. It makes sense to look at financing as a way to tap into these benefits sooner.
From the bone-chilling cold climates of the North and Northeast, to the sun and moderate temperatures of the Southwest and West Coast, the trends of home improvement and interior design are strikingly similar.
Q: I am planning to buy a home in Lake Geneva and would like to expand the house. I would like to redesign the house so that we have more space in the kitchen, dining and living rooms.
The house is about 40 to 60 years old. What should I do first to expand?
A home addition or remodeling project is almost always a major effort that can affect the resale value of your home, but it should be done primarily to improve your quality of life.
When undertaking a remodeling project or addition, there is an expected level of stress. However, while we expect it, dealing with a home under construction is much easier said than done. Think of the finished product and use it as motivation to keep your emotions from getting the best of you.
Many of us wish our homes were larger. But the obvious solution -- building an addition -- entails a major commitment of time and money. Moving to a larger home involves even greater costs. So what can you do?
We all read and hear complaints about the time it takes to get a building project "off the starting blocks." Negotiating the planning/permitting process and actually starting construction comfortably within the same building season is tough to do at best, depending on the size of the project. Naivete on the homeowner's part frequently leads to poor timing that results in high costs in job quality, higher project costs and mental health. The answer? Start now!
This is the time of year people begin to plan major remodeling projects. The winter months are a good time to gather ideas and investigate options. Remodeling is a major undertaking, and careful preparation can help assure that you get the most for your time, effort and money.
The following information can clarify and help answer questions about some basic needs when planning an addition to your house.
This information can clarify and help answer some questions about planning for an addition.
Q: What is the going price for two rooms added to your house with a master bath in one of the rooms?
In the olden days, families yearning for more space hitched up the wagons, gathered their belongings and traveled over vast plains, deep river gorges and snow-capped mountain ranges.
Fortunately, today we can get extra space without the danger and the dusty trails.
Q: Can you give me a ballpark figure for my remodeling project?
Dream big and realize that you can achieve the feel of a new home without having to move. One of the great ironies of homeownership is that many houses reach their highest potential just when they are sold. The owners get by for years without improving or repairing their home. Does your house fall into this category? If so, get busy and start improving your greatest asset.
Many people have a hard time deciding if they should remodel their home or move. Here are some issues to think about.
One room that is often neglected for most of the year is the guest room. If you're planning on having overnight guests within the next year, consider remodeling your guest room to make it more appealing and welcoming. Think about the things that make you feel comfortable when staying in someone else's home. Aim to include any luxuries you can afford and your guests will thank you for it.
Most people remodel their home to make it better fit their needs and desires. They upgrade the kitchen, build a deck, or add a bathroom to make day-to-day living more practical and enjoyable.
Q: I just bought a very plain, old house, and I want to personalize it. I do some carpentry work myself. I am just getting started and need some advice.
For most of us, homes are not only where we live, but also our single biggest investment. As a living space, design and condition impact our lives day in and day out. As an investment, we seek to preserve and enhance value in the market place.
Remodeling is a major undertaking, and careful preparation can help assure that you get the most for your time, effort and money.
Q: I recently purchased a century-old restored arts and crafts home. It is a two-storey house and one of the greatest features of the upper floor is the roof deck, which has shared access from both upstairs bedrooms. Currently, the master bedroom has double French doors opening onto the deck and a single panel door from the second bedroom. The deck needs to be replaced, resealed with a waterproof membrane, etc.
When undertaking large remodeling projects, it is smart to research your local real estate market to find out if your project will return your investment when it is time to sell. Depending on where you live, the right project may return 100% of your investment. That is why research is the smartest way to begin any remodeling project.
The sauna is most often identified with Finland, where the hot, steamy and relaxing ritual originated. The bathing practice is believed to be good for the circulation and for opening the pores for a deep cleansing.
Q: We are in the process of planning a second storey addition as well as some updating to the rest of the house. There are so many choices and decisions to be made that I am beginning to realize that I might need more than a contractor's help. Is this where a "designer" comes in or an architect? Help!
Requirements: Whether you've been thinking about a security system, intercom, an in-home theater, automatic sprinkler system, motorized drapes or complete computer control of your home, you should consider a smart home specialist.
A sunroom can bring sunlight and air into your home without sacrificing the comfort of the great indoors. Sunrooms can be custom-designed or purchased as a kit. When planning, decide how you are going to use the room. For example, if you want to extend your living room or kitchen, you'll have different construction requirements than if you want to install a hot tub or create a solarium for your plants.
A sunroom can bring sunlight and air into your home without sacrificing the comfort of being in your home. Sunrooms can be custom-designed or purchased as a kit. When planning, decide how you are going to use the room. For example, if you want to extend your living room or kitchen, you'll have different construction requirements than if you want to install a hot tub or create a solarium for your plants.
When life was slower and simpler, many houses had substantial front porches. These were places to relax, catch up on the latest neighborhood gossip, or cool down on a hot summer night.
"Remodeling." For many, the word evokes thoughts of soaring entrance ways, magazine-cover kitchens, and half-acre bathrooms. Unfortunately, it also brings to mind a sense of invasion, dread, and chaos. As our homes age, it makes more and more sense to bring things up to date by remodeling. It's more cost effective than moving and is usually far less disruptive. But make no mistake about it: remodeling can be very stressful. However, most of the horror stories you hear are avoidable.
Q: Our house is a cape which has two bedrooms on the first floor and two bedrooms and a half bath on the second floor. At some point in the future, we would like to add dormers (the house is a brick exterior w/a slate roof). Would this project be very costly (can you estimate a range) and about how long would the project take to complete? Also are any permits/licenses required?
This information can clarify and help answer some questions about plumbing projects.
If your remodeling project includes any structural changes, it will be necessary to consult a structural engineer who will provide you with the required stamped drawings that must be submitted, along with the architectural drawings, to the building department for approval.
Kitchen remodeling is cooking! It ranks among the most popular remodeling projects each year, as kitchens have become the functional and social hubs for many families. Good kitchen design has become more important than ever. The first element in design is the one that is the most fun for homeowners. It's exploring the many options you have when redoing a kitchen. In this stage, look at magazines, show rooms, builders' model homes and the homes of neighbors.
Q: I am looking for information on how to remodel the countertops in my kitchen. Could you provide me with step-by-step instructions on how to do tile countertops? I am also going to refinish the cabinets in our kitchen. I already have the stain picked out. What are the correct steps in doing this project?
This information can clarify and help answer some questions about remodeling your kitchen.
Years ago, the kitchen was considered a room for messy work and was hidden away from the rest of the house. Attitudes about kitchens have been changing. We are adding more functions and more style to kitchens, which are becoming hubs for modern families. As a result, kitchen remodeling ranks among the most popular projects each year.
Q: I would like to enlarge my kitchen by bumping out the exterior wall. How would the floor joists from the floor above be supported now that there is no structural wall for them to sit on?
I understand some sort of beam would be required. Would it be as simple as replacing the rim joist with a beam and then hanging the joists on joist hangers?
A modern kitchen serves as an ideal hub for the home. Whereas kitchens were once private places solely for food preparation and dishwashing, they are now often well lit, open spaces used for everything from entertaining to surfing the net. While nearly everyone would like an up-to-date, multi-purpose kitchen, many are overwhelmed by the prospect of major remodeling.
Kitchen remodeling ranks among the most popular remodeling projects each year, as kitchens have become the functional and social hubs for many families. Almost every kitchen has a design flaw or something that can be changed to make the space more workable. However, no challenge is quite as difficult as reworking a small kitchen space. If you are on a tight budget, have building restrictions, or own a condominium where you must work with the space allotted, there are options that can help transform your kitchen. Use the following tips as a guide.
Q: I would like to expand my countertops. I'd also like to widen the new countertop in this section to allow for an eating bar. Looking to use granite, if costs allow.
Q: I am planning a remodeling project, and want to find out what has to be done, and what steps are involved to create a pass through wall between my kitchen and family room.
As I know that this is a load bearing wall, what are the things I must do and the sequence to be done with respect to ensuring stability of the supported ceiling?
For most of us, homes are not only where we live but are often our single biggest investment. As a living space, its design and condition affect our lives daily. As an investment, its value in the marketplace is something we seek to preserve and enhance. When considering repair and improvement projects, we must consider both roles.
Q: I want to remove an exterior wall that separates my living room from a sun porch. It is a load-bearing wall and I would like to support the 14 foot 6 inch span with as small a beam as possible, wood or steel.
Can you let me know my options for temporary support and permanent post and beam size requirements?
Q: I would like to enclose my carport. At this time it is attached to the house with an adjacent wall. Do I need plans or permits? Should I hire a draftsman or a licensed contractor?
Q: I am getting ready to totally remodel my kitchen and would like some advice about incorporating furniture into my kitchen design. Should I buy ready made furniture or have it custom built to fit the area in the design?
Q: I want to remove the vinyl flooring before I lay down ceramic tile. Underneath the vinyl is cement. The vinyl is stuck really well. I have a large scraper (six inches attached to a six foot handle) that I have been using, but it is a really slow process.
Q: My husband and I are planning to expand our bathroom in the near future. However, the expansion takes us over a covered rubber roof that has been enclosed to make some type of storage area.
Q: I want to faux the concrete floor in my kitchen. Right now there is vinyl flooring glued down. What is the best way to remove this vinyl? I do not know what glue was used.
Q: I want to put up a wall to turn a den into a bedroom. Do I need a permit to do this?
Q: We would like to remodel our two bathrooms upstairs. Do the walls have to come down to get the old tubs out? Ideally, we would have the toilet moved about 3 to 6 inches sideways, but I heard that this could be an expensive process.
A small affordable project is a redesign of your master bathroom. Any changes you make are guaranteed to make a difference in your daily routine.
Q: My bathroom is very small. I have no place to store anything. The toilet is too close to the vanity. The tub takes up most of the space. Is there any way to expand the bathroom?
One of the most enjoyable experiences resulting from remodeling your bathroom comes from soaking in the tub when the work is finally completed! And one of the most enjoyable aspects of soaking in the tub is experiencing the natural light and warmth of the sun streaming in from a well placed and creatively designed window system.
Here are answers to some common questions about bathroom remodeling.
Start your bathroom remodeling project right with the following tips.
Bathroom remodeling is one of the most popular home improvement projects. Whether adding a new bath or remodeling an old one, here are some things to keep in mind to make sure you get the most out of the project.
Q: My husband and I would like to semi-finish our basement and finish it as much as we can without getting the tax increase that finished basements get. What part of finishing a basement classifies it as "finished"? Drywall? Taping? Flooring? Wood framing?
Q: I would like to remodel the basement of my century-old house. I want to put a floor down but I am not sure what I should place on the concrete slab first, so the floor will not be so cold. Additionally, I want the walls to remain as is - that is, I want the bricks to show.
There are pipes everywhere, but I am not sure what they all go to. I would like to paint them but I am unsure what type of paint to cover them with. I am also unsure what type of paint I should use on the ceiling since I will not be putting a new ceiling in. Can you help?
When we think of a basement, a dark, unwelcoming room usually comes to mind. We think of an undecorated, boring space that most people use for storage. Basements don't have to be stuck with this unpleasant reputation. You can change the look and feel of basements with a simple remodel. However, if your basement has never been worked on, you will need to start with a basic, overall finishing. Exposed pipes and concrete walls aren't ready for design ideas!
Before World War II, homes in this country were built one at a time. Afterwards, pent-up demand inspired builders to mass-produce homes and standardize design details. To get those designs just right, builders looked for ergonomic data -- information about how the human body moves and how much space is needed to comfortably perform daily tasks. They discovered that the military had lots of such data: after all, it needed exactly this kind of information to properly build tanks, ships and submarines.
Before World War Two, most homes were built one or two at a time, with each home being built to meet the unique needs of the family it was intended for. After the war, builders met the huge demand for housing by rolling out large subdivisions of standardized homes. The builders wanted to build rooms that met the ergonomic needs of the typical adult.
Q: My mother has a hip problem which is starting to make it difficult for her to get around. I expect that eventually she'll be restricted to a wheel chair. Most of her house would be navigable by wheel chair, but I'm concerned about the bathroom. Where can I get good unbiased information on bathroom design for someone in her circumstances?
Our houses are full of steps: steps up to the front door, steps down to the basement, steps up to the bedrooms, steps everywhere! Strange how those steps seem to get a little steeper and a little higher with each passing decade!
Here are some common remodeling projects to make areas more accessible to people with difficulty walking or in wheelchairs:
Designing the interior of a home is critical for accessibility, especially the kitchen and bath areas. Wheelchair accessibility issues should be emphasized within these areas.
Most homes today are designed for young adults and don't have the features and conveniences to make them appropriate and safe for seniors. Our homes are one of the most important factors in determining how long we can maintain comfortable independence. A well adapted home will make many day-to-day living tasks both easier and safer-often preventing the most common kinds of accidents.