Ways to Increase House Space Without Breaking Bank
If you are looking to increase the size of your house but don’t have a large budget, there are plenty of ways to go about it. These ways, as given by home addition contractors, include: Enclose the patio It will take a lot of effort to enclose a patio. Putting up walls, a roof, and a foundation, but if done right, it might become additional square footage. When doing the encasement, ensure it feels like a part of the house and is accessible from within. If you don’t want to take on such a large job, another alternative is to build a screened-in patio. Before you proceed with the addition, determine how you will use the contained space. Knowing the intended purpose will influence your design choices, whether it’s a dining space, a lounge, a home office, or an entertainment room. To avoid being on the wrong side of the law, check with your local authorities to see if the enclosure project requires any permissions or approvals. Always follow the building norms and regulations to ensure a safe and legal makeover. Finish the basement Unfinished sections in a house, regardless of level, are not included in computing the square footage of a home. So, if your basement has stud walls and bare concrete floors, you should think about finishing it. Before beginning the project: Determine whether the basement is suitable for finishing. Look for any signs of moisture, leaks, or structural damage. Check that the area has enough ceiling height and complies with local construction codes. Remember that finishing the basement may necessitate changes to your HVAC system, electrical panel, and plumbing connections. Consult a specialist to handle any necessary changes. Finish the garage It’s a Catch-22 situation. Finish your garage if you wish to add square footage. However, for your garage to be considered square footage, it must no longer be a garage. Even if you don’t want to go all out, you can build the garage of your dreams while still parking a car. Remember to seek the advice and expertise of professionals, such as contractors or architects, throughout the process. They can guarantee that the project complies with building codes, offer structural guidance, and assist you in achieving the ideal look for your finished garage. Enclose your porch Enclosing a porch, like enclosing a patio, can increase the square footage of your home. For the best outcome, ensure that the porch is heated, feels like a part of the house, and is accessible from within. To easily decide on the enclosure type, determine how you will use the covered porch. Will you use it all year as a sunroom, a home office, or something else? Understanding the goal will help you make design decisions. When it comes to the enclosure type you can go with, there are plenty of options. They include windows, screens, or a mix of the two. Windows give superior insulation and weather protection, while screens provide ventilation and a more open appearance. Choose the option that best fits your needs and budget. Add a small kitchen Consider expanding the size of your kitchen […]
Read moreTricks to Reducing Wastage When Renovating
While remodeling a house can be extremely fulfilling as it makes the house livable and improves its appeal giving you an easy time selling it, there is always the issue of wastage. There is no shortage of waste materials at a renovation site, from shattered drywall and excess boxes to decrepit appliances and leftover materials. The unfortunate thing is that you spend money on these items, so every time you let them lie to waste, you waste them. Can you do a condo remodel or any other renovation project without wasting a lot? Well, the good news is that it’s possible. To help you out, here are tips you should follow: Sell the excess As much as you might try to be as economical as possible, it isn’t easy to accurately anticipate what you will require for a project ahead of time. Thankfully, you can ensure that any extra is not wasted by finding another purpose for it in the community. You can resell or give away unwanted items on Facebook using the Marketplace option, or by posting in specific groups such as Buy Nothing or Take My Shit. The NextDoor app also has a section for free and for sale items where you can post the items left behind after a renovation. You can also try local community groups that might be interested in purchasing your stuff. Consider the organizations near you and what they might require, then call out to inquire before delivering the goods. For example, a club that assists low-income neighbors with house repairs may require extra bathroom tiles, whereas a children’s support group may want excess paint and decals for classroom decorating or crafts. Buy what you want Nobody wants to get home, start a project, and then find they must return to the store for more paint, tiles, or whatever. However, overbuying a product, such as paint, is far more prevalent than underbuying, and only some are used. Though it may be tempting to shop in bulk to take advantage of lower prices and save on future excursions to the store, only buy what you need. A great way to ensure you don’t buy more than you need is to take your time and analyze the items you need. A great way to do it is to get quotes from different companies and buy only what is necessary. Work with an expert Homeowners might need help understanding their alternatives for decreasing remodeling waste on larger projects. A lot of times with construction, I think people feel a little bit like it’s outside of their control in specific ways because there aren’t many obvious resources for where to find that information. But feel free to ask your contractors if they agree with you on decreasing waste and how they intend to do so. Working with a skilled professional with a plan is crucial to achieving zero waste or coming close. Regarding construction materials, work with experienced pros to help you do all kinds of cool things with leftover materials, such as repurposing countertop remnants in a powder room or a home bar. Use secondhand products or […]
Read moreHome Renovation Projects That Turn Buyers Off
If you are looking to sell your house, there are several tricks you can use to boost your home’s value, such as planting trees, adding a bedroom, and so on. However, some projects might diminish their worth. There is a narrow line to tread when renovating, and if any of these three large projects are on your wish list, you should reconsider. These projects, as given by home addition contractors, are: Personalizing bathrooms too much Having an extra bathroom in your home will increase the house’s value and attract more buyers, but you risk putting prospective buyers off when you overdo it. Your bathroom is the most private area of your house, so it is tempting to gut and redesign it to suit your preferences and requirements. But, pause and carefully consider this idea before continuing further since it is rare that most purchasers would share these precise likes and demands. A good rule of thumb is to avoid painting your bathroom with unique colors such as blue, orange, pink, etc. A good way to do it is to use plain colors that attract many people. You also should avoid installing plenty of bathroom accessories with a particular design as they might be a turnoff. If you aren’t sure about your limitations, get the input of a professional. Many opinions exist, but research indicates that many buyers will want to view at least one bathroom with a bathtub before putting in an offer on your house. So it’s always wise to have a bathtub in your bathroom. Although the use of big shower stalls has been on the rise and is enticing to many purchasers, if you want to appeal to the broadest audience possible, you should leave at least one tub in your bathrooms. This is because many people love a soothing soak, and those with children and pets know that bathing them in a tub is simpler and safer. Demolishing walls Open-concept houses have their fair share of positives but aren’t attractive to everyone. If your home has several walls and you are considering demolishing any of them, proceed cautiously. Removing a wall between your kitchen and dining area may be a no-brainer for you and any future purchasers since a bigger eat-in kitchen is quite practical. But, if your renovation plans entail demolishing walls to lower the number of bedrooms, this will likely be less attractive. It is essential to have enough bedrooms to accommodate everyone in the family (and their hobbies, such as working from home in a quiet area). Upgrading your kitchen with high-end equipment and fittings Kitchens are another crucial element of a house, and if you’re an active home chef, you may yearn to replace your 1980s equipment with a high-end convection oven and granite countertops. While this is understandable, you should proceed cautiously as you might put prospective buyers off. Even if a prospective buyer enjoys cooking, a high-end kitchen might be scary ( if you’ve priced your property higher to compensate for your invested money). The right way to do it is to paint your cabinets, match your (non-fancy) appliances, and […]
Read moreHow Can I Reduce The Cost Of Building An Extension?
As much as a home extension increases the size of your house, making it more functional, it can get expensive. When your pockets are bottomless, the cost of constructing an extension isn’t an issue, but when you are on a budget, you have to watch every coin. Are you wondering how to reduce the cost of building a home addition? Here are valuable tricks you can use as given by home addition contractors: Consider a smaller extension It goes without saying that when you build a smaller extension, you require fewer materials and less labor, which saves you money. While you save money when you build a smaller extension, you should ensure that your new extension meets your family’s needs and provides you with the space you desire. To ensure that you get an extension that is the right size for your needs, work with an experienced planner who will help you get the maximum value for every meter you build. Go with simple extensions. The same way you should avoid larger extensions than you need is the same way you should stay away from complex ones. To save money, avoid clever angles, curved walls, or cantilevered structures, as they will cost more to construct. They also might require expert skills that you might not have. Hire an affordable contractor The contractor you hire can go a long way toward determining the cost and quality of the extension you build. One major mistake that people make is to hire the first contractor they come across. This is wrong. The best way to do it is to contact a few contractors and compare their quotes. As you compare the quotes, pay close attention to what the quotes cover. An ideal quote should have the technical plans, architectural plans, schedule of works, structural designs, and so on. It also doesn’t hurt for the quote to have a list of all the items you need for the project and their pricing. Go through the quotes with a fine comb, then decide the one that makes the most sense. You can even save more money by hiring a design and build contractor. This professional can handle both the design and construction of your extension. Such a contractor will save you money, as they will design the extension with cost-saving measures in mind. Stay away from premium materials. There are many materials you can use for an extension; some are cheaper than others. As much as you would want to install premium materials that look good and last for a long time, you should avoid them when you are on a budget, as they tend to be expensive. Instead, you should go for cheaper alternatives that do the same job. For example, you can use wood instead of brick or concrete in your extensions. Do some of the work yourself. You can save some money by doing some of the work yourself. For example, you can do the work yourself instead of hiring a contractor to do the painting. As much as you save money doing this, you should note that you can easily end […]
Read moreHome Remodeling Tips Every Homeowner Should Know
Are you thinking about remodeling your home? Here are expert tips given by home remodeling architects that will ensure that you have a successful home remodeling project: Always plan ahead How do you want your remodeling project to look? What are the projected results? You should plan this ahead of time. Before you even begin the project, you should know how you want the project to look. You also should know the amount of money you will spend on the project. It’s also important to know who will handle the project beforehand. The last thing you want is to look for a contractor too late. You should note that when you do it too late, you make many mistakes that often jeopardize your project. Have a budget As mentioned above, you should know the amount of money you should plan to spend on your project, and there are plenty of ways to know how to go about it. Visit several stores and find out the prices they charge for their materials. While you should try to save as much money as possible, avoid a store selling its products at ultra-high prices, as they will be ripping you off. You also should avoid those selling you the products at low prices as they might be selling you substandard materials, and you don’t want to use low-quality products on your house, do you? Besides knowing the prices of items, it’s also wise to know how much you will spend on labor, building permits, and decorative finishes. An excellent way to estimate the prices is to get quotations from experienced contractors that know what they are doing. The best way to go about it is to get quotations from at least 3 contractors. If the estimates exceed your budget, consider cutting out some unnecessary elements. To avoid running out of money, reserve at least 10% of your budget for unexpected costs. Find a way to finance your project. Where will the money for the project come from? You need to know this. If you have some savings, you can use them on the project, but if you don’t, you should consider getting a loan. Don’t get the loan from anywhere—shop around and find a plan that gives you the best deal. One of the best to go with is a fixed rate with flexible repayment terms. This way, you have an easy time planning how to repay it. Come up with a timeline. For your project to have a goal, you must develop a timeline. This calls for you to have the project start and completion date. If you are doing the project by yourself, you should have a plan of when you will start it and when you will complete it. If working with a contractor, come up with timelines of when you will achieve certain milestones. As you are coming up with the timelines, ensure that you have time to ship the necessary materials and, at the same time, have enough time to prepare the area properly. As much as you want to complete the project, you don’t want to do […]
Read more6 Tips For Building An Addition To Your Home
Are you having a home addition project? Here are tips to consider: Work with an expert A home addition project is an expensive endeavor and the last thing you want is to hire someone that botches up the project. To ensure this doesn’t happen, work with an experienced home addition builder. Before you begin working with the contractor, have everything in writing—this is solely to make the contract binding and have evidence should the contractor fail to deliver their end. The contract should clearly spell out what is included in the price so that you don’t keep being asked to pay random fees that can easily pile up and bury you. Although it’s good to have the contract in writing, you should note that this can’t account for unexpected problems that might arise later on. So, despite having everything in writing, it’s wise to prepare for surprises. Don’t go overboard When you want to impress and give your home the best look possible, it’s easy to go overboard. For example, it’s easy to go all the way out and build an extremely large addition. It’s also possible to be carried away and use the highest quality materials possible. To be on the safe side, construct a house of the right size. When it comes to materials, go for quality materials that will stand the test of time and withstand the usual wear and tear. Be decisive If you ask any home addition contractor, they will tell you of a horror story of when the homeowner changed their mind severally regarding the kitchen cabinets, paint or flooring while the project was underway. You should avoid this as it often causes plenty of confusion. It also increases the costs of labor and materials throwing your budget out of place. If you aren’t sure about how you want the cabinets, kitchen or any other part of the house to look, don’t begin the project. Wait until you are sure then find a contractor. If you aren’t sure about the look you want, get the input of a professional. Be flexible As much as you should to be decisive about what you want, you should be flexible in making important decisions. For example, if you had planned to install a magogany door but it’s not available, you should be flexible enough and install a fiberglass or steel door instead. This way you prevent the project from stalling because you can’t find the exact item you planned for. The only caveat to this is that your decisions shouldn’t affect your budget too much. Buy the materials in bulk To save money and get exciting discounts, you should buy the materials you need for your project in bulk. To attract even larger discounts, buy the materials from one company. If you live in a small town, it’s wise to do your shopping in a larger city as there are plenty of options there to choose from. Don’t shy away from negotiating with the contractor When the home addition companies DC give you their quotes, try to negotiate with them so that you can bring down the […]
Read moreWondering 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 […]
Read moreCan I Build My Own Addition?
If you are asking, can I build my own addition? You must be thinking about adding another room in your house, but you don’t have money to hire a home addition builder, right? Well, the good news is that you can build an additional house if you have the necessary skills. You only need to follow the right procedure. Step 1: Draft the house plan. This is the first thing to do. Come up with a plan for the house you are looking to build. Of course, you should have the plan done by an expert. An ideal plan should include the shape, size, architectural points, floor layout, and other room aspects. When getting the plan, be specific about what you are looking for. How many square feet do you want the house addition to be? Do you want the room addition to have a bathtub or walk-in shower? Be specific about it to help the architect come up with a perfect plan. Being specific will also help you come up with a more accurate estimate. Step 2: Get the necessary building permits. Most states require you have building permits for every house you are putting up. To avoid being on the wrong side of the law, check with your local zoning board on the requirements you need to meet. Depending on your state, a building inspector may visit your property to check on the progress, so follow the plans closely and stay within the local authorities’ parameters. Step 3: Sink the foundation. Once you have the plan and the necessary permits, now it’s time to begin the construction work. Mark the areas that you need to dig and proceed with the work. When digging the foundation, ensure the new foundation is as close to your existing house as much as possible. The size and depth of the foundation vary depending on the size and height of your home addition. Step 4: Put up the walls. With the foundation in place, now it’s time to put up the walls. Since you are simply building a home addition and not a full-scale house, it won’t take you a long time to construct the house’s frame. After you have constructed the frame, begin erecting the walls. If you are constructing a small house, you can save money and time by getting prefabricated walls from your local store. Step 5: Install the roof. As soon as the walls are in place, install the roof to protect the walls from the harsh weather elements. For a uniform look, ensure that your room’s roofing style is similar to that of the main house. If you have roofing skills, you can install the roof by yourself but if you have never done it before, let a roofing professional do it so that the new roofing lines up with the existing roof. Step 6: Complete the electrical work. Are the walls and roof in place, and you are satisfied with them? Now it’s time to do some electrical wiring and HVAC system work. Since you will be dealing with electricity and ductwork, it’s wise you have an […]
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