From Concept to Construction ™

When Not to Renovate

March 12, 2024

As much as home renovations come with their perks, such as increasing the functionality of the house and increasing its value, there are some situations when you don’t have to, as in most cases, you end up doing the wrong things. To help you out, here are situations when not to renovate: You want to make your house more appealing to sellers Even if you don’t go overboard with your options, you should avoid upgrading your home to make it more enticing to buyers. If you have a creaky staircase or other evident flaws, make sure to fix them before you place the house on the market, because the home inspector will undoubtedly see them. Hiring condo remodel experts or other professionals to renovate the house may not be a good idea if you’re only doing it to sell the house and make some last-minute cosmetic changes. If you renovate your kitchen or bathrooms, no matter the colors and finishes you use, there will be a buyer who will not like it and won’t want to pay for the work you just completed. For example, if you design a white kitchen, some buyers will prefer blond wood. You create a step-in shower in the master bathroom and the buyer likes to bathe. You should note that we aren’t saying you should never renovate, but if you do so soon before putting your property for sale, you are unlikely to recoup your investment, especially since most homeowners will not pay more for certain features. If you are fully renovating the house for sale, don’t do it. Some of the things you can do instead include painting a room, fixing issues in a floor, replacing a cracked window, or cleaning up wear and tear on window sills. These are cosmetic fixes that show that you care for your home, and they aren’t expensive. Your home has structural problems Structural problems, such as eroding foundation walls, underpinning, and cracked rocks, can quickly become prohibitively expensive. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to estimate the full cost until the work begins and you can see what you’re dealing with. And, while it is necessary to address structural concerns that are crucial to your home’s safety, renovations that may be more difficult due to structural issues may be reasons to forego those modifications. If you are having structural issues with your property, before you embark on the renovation journey, have a talk with your contractor and find out whether it’s a wise move. The last thing you want to do is to start a project and find out that it’s too expensive for your budget. Have a discussion about it beforehand with your contractor and only proceed with it after you find out that it’s a good move. You feel the project is a simple DIY Home renovations can be problematic if you get ahead of yourself. There is so much more to home renovation than what TV shows you, it’s no wonder people get in over their heads and think they can do everything by themselves. One common mistake homeowners make is to attempt renovations themselves and […]

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When Is the Best Time for a Home Addition?

August 29, 2019

There is something about having your own house that makes you feel proud and accomplished. It is as if you are doing what the younger millennials call “adulting” the right way. Buying a house is not cheap either – you either have to get a housing loan or pay for it in full cash. Owning a house is one thing, planning for a home remodel is another thing. A home addition design may be necessary depending on your home living needs. You would also have to contact a professional home addition builder to achieve your home improvement objectives. Likewise, it requires careful planning and you need to invest time and money in a home addition project. When to start a home addition project As the popular adage goes, “there is always the best time for everything”. The same applies in a home addition. It can be exciting to plan for a home addition project. But the question is, do you really need one right now? There are some important factors you can consider whether it is the right time to have a home addition. Here are some things you need to think about first before giving a professional home additions builder a call. Season In many countries, summer is the best season to do outdoor remodeling. For one thing, it is better to do any home improvement if the sun is up with no threats of project delays due to rain or any bad weather. Material costs On the downside, prices of raw materials may shoot up in peak seasons especially during summer. Having said that, it may be a good idea to plan your home addition project ahead of time. In other words, you may consider purchasing building materials in advance before summer arrives. Contractor’s availability You should also include your contractor’s availability in your home addition plans. Like building materials, the contractor’s availability may also be compromised if they are busy juggling other building projects. That said, it is important to determine which times of the year are their busiest seasons. Planning for a home addition You may get inspired by home addition ideas you see on the internet or glossy magazines. But there are times that it may not be applicable to your own home for some reason. However, you can consider these questions if you are planning for a home addition. What kind of home addition do you need? There are different kinds of home addition that will suit every homeowner’s needs. It is like creating an entirely new home for your growing family. How much will it cost? For one thing, a home addition can be expensive depending on how big the additional room will be. It will also depend on the materials that will be used and labor costs, among a few. Are there building and zoning restrictions to consider? In most places, you may have to find out any restrictions when it comes to building another structure in your property. This includes restriction in a structure’s height and materials to be used, among a few. Do you even need a home addition? As […]

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Home Remodel: Tips On How To Remodel Your Small Kitchen

April 28, 2019

When you have a small kitchen, you are always looking for ways to improve its look and functionality. According to home remodel contractors, kitchens are usually very expensive to remodel on a square foot basis. The cool thing is that when you have a small kitchen, you have an easy time remodeling it. You also spend less doing it. To help you out, here are some of the tips that you should consider when giving your kitchen a makeover. Find areas to scale down Many homeowners rush to getting new appliances, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Before you do anything, you should look at your kitchen and identify whether there are any areas in which you can scale down. For example, if you have big double sinks or farmhouse sinks, they are most likely taking up a lot of your space. In such a scenario, you should remove one of the sinks and install a smaller one. You need to think about the people that are living in the house. If you are living alone or only with your partner, what is the point of having a large dishwasher or fridge? You should look out for items that you don’t regularly use such as canned goods or appliances and get rid of them. Consider your priorities We have different priorities when it comes to our kitchens. Some people give priority to the look of the surfaces while others are more concerned with the storage spaces. You should put your effort on the appliances and features that are of interest to you. If you like a lot of storage space, you should have a lot of cabinets in place. On the other hand, if the look of the surfaces is important, you should go with high-quality countertop surfaces. Work at making the kitchen look bigger When you have a small kitchen, your aim should be to make it look as big as possible. The cool thing is that there are many ways in which you can do it. One of the ways is using large floor tiles. You also should consider using lighter colors. You should use lighter colors on the floor, surfaces, and on any other surfaces of your interest. Conclusion These are some of the things you should consider when you are looking to renovate your small kitchen. For you to have an easy time doing it, work with a reputable home addition builder DC.

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The Advantages and Disadvantages Of A Full Carpet Flooring

February 28, 2019

Part of any home remodel checklists are the floor and its covering, like whether you would settle with a bare flooring or you’ll go with an area rug or a full carpet. But if you are after a soft floor covering that will make your feet at ease while walking, then what you need is a full carpet flooring. Although, you just don’t choose a carpet without considering a lot of things. Like the patterns and colors are a factor that can affect the way your house looks, as well as your furniture and decorations. Consider the PROS and CONS of CARPETS, based on what YOU NEED. In picking a carpet as your textile floor covering, you have to know which carpet can truly provide you with more advantages than disadvantages. Every carpet characteristic can greatly affect the way you see and need it. Carpeting can be good and bad depending on the various contributing factors in the environment. With the information that this section provides about the benefits and flaws of a carpeted floor covering, you can finally decide which floor covering is best for your home. The PROS Carpets are quite Carpets are great sound absorber. They can reduce any noise by contributing to the sound insulation of your home. This kind of element is perfect for those who are working from home, residents of an apartment, and those with large families. So if you are the noisy type of person, a fully carpeted floor can save you from any neighbor complaints. The softer the floor the softer the fall If you have little humans around expect that falling is what they do best – for now. At their age, toddlers can’t control themselves, but fall and topple most of the time. So with carpets around, especially on your stairwells, you will not worry about your little ones getting hurt. Smart move there. Of course, carpet maintenance should not be the least of your priority. Carpets keep you warm With the stubborn winter season, having a soft, warm carpet around your nook with a nice fireplace, you will definitely tell yourself that the cold will never bother you. Homes with full carpeting as their floor cover get to have a satisfying insulated space every time winter season comes. Carpets are replaceable Of course, carpets wear and tear over a long period of time. And you don’t want to have an old-looking décor sit around your nook, right? With the whole nine yards of shades, designs, and patterns, carpets are an instant game changer when it comes to the overall look of your house. With proper care and maintenance, you can always lengthen the life of your carpets and other floor covering. Carpets keep you on your feet Carpets happen to always be in tempo with friction, which means that you’re able to keep your balance while walking on your soft carpeted floor. Especially if you have toddlers and elders in the house, they are safer with soft undersole floorings whenever they walk. This also minimizes the risk of accidents and injuries. It’s fairly cheap! This is definitely the […]

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Give Your Dining Area A New Look

January 28, 2019

You may have been aware that there are some homeowners to consult Feng Shui experts when it comes to their home remodeling and decors before they ask their home remodeling architects to do their job. So what is the purpose of it? To invite peace and tranquility into your home. FENG SHUI AND THE DINING ROOM But when it comes to the room which Feng Shui finds it more important is the Dining Room. Because it is where the entire family usually dine and spend a genuine time together, either every day or whenever there is a chance to be complete. However, in most houses, the dining area is not being used that often and instead, it becomes a dumping area for different stuff and in Feng Shui, this brings negative energy to the entire room. As a matter of fact, piling clutter anywhere in the house or in the office decreases the positive energy Feng Shui has for that space and it is believed that it restricts the flow of Qi energy. THE (FENG SHUI) DINING ROOM TIPS Feng Shui aims to make the dining room in every home an area where harmony, prosperity, wealth, and the strength of the family bond be more centered and focused. And here are the dining room tips that will change the way your dining room looks. Set your dining area to be calm, instigate hunger, comfortable, and inviting. Keep the balance of colors in your dining area; avoid having it too bright or too plain. Determine whether your dining room is well-exposed to sunlight and has proper ventilation. Hang a mirror that will reflect your dining table to attract prosperity It is optional to place a wash basin in the Eastern or Northern part of the dining room. Your dining room should be very close to the kitchen. The kitchen and dining area should be situated on the same floor area. If you have a big kitchen, utilize a portion of an area of the kitchen to be your dining spot. If the dining area is arranged to be part of your living room (which is also common in most homes) install a curtain or place some indoor plants to set a division. As for furniture, choose an oval, square, rectangular or circular dining table. Choose a dining table that is made from high-quality wood material. The dining table should have enough space for every member of the family. The number of dining chairs should be even. As much as possible no one’s back should be facing the door or window when seated because it can cause insecurity. The head of the family should be facing East when dining, while the rest of the family can be seated facing, North, West, or East. Maintain being polite and gentle to every family member when dining and if possible – always. Always be happy, calm, relaxed and stress-free while dining. It should be a habit. Keep the following on your dining table: Apples to develop friendship; Pears to attract positive energy; Peaches for good health and; Oranges for prosperity and richness. If you are […]

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Some Amusement Space Ideas

September 6, 2018

When working on a home remodel project you will eventually find a bigger space than you expected. Now, after all, your excess and unwanted junks and space have been decluttered and cleaned, then you shall see the other unused spaces that have been sitting there. And maybe this time, you can make use of that space as your recreation area. Of course, you will be needing an area where all the amusement and party happens. It is where you can play your favorite video games, play pool with your friends or even bowling if your space is really big enough. It can be a spot for a small gathering and for a few drinks. It can be a room where you can go crazy with your kids and become like a kid again. How Do You Want Your Hobby Room To Be? If you don’t want to make a mess out of your living room or you basically don’t have any room for your past time activities, then maybe you can convert your outdated attic or basement into something – amusing. When you think about entertainment, you instantly visualize about gaming consoles, board games, ping pong table, pool table, or an entertainment system which realistically needs space. And your basement is just the perfect spot for you all your toys. Personalized Gym If you wanted to be fit, but don’t have the time to visit the gym, then you can bring the gym into your home. You can set up a mini gym in your basement with the right theme and lighting, you will be excited to burn some calories every single day. Besides, if that’s what relaxation is for you then do whatever pleases you. Billiard Area Dear, who don’t play pool or have been addicted to billiards and wished they can have their own pool table? Well, there’s a lot of people who are still in this classic leisure game. And if you’re one of them, then it’s about time to have your own pool table so you can just invite your friends over or play a match game with your father. For sure, elderly folks like him still got the moves like he’s traveled back when he was your age. Very Own Home Theater If you and your family are movie buffs it is just right to convert your basement into a theater or movie room. Make sure you are investing in the finest home theater system that will bring out the quality in every movie, series or show that you will be watching as well as its digital sounds. Don’t forget about the proper lighting system too. Plus comfy seats or long lounge sofa for a more satisfying comfort and entertainment. Rec Room With An Outdoor Feel If you wanted to go the extra mile with your past time area revamp project, then you can also install an electric fireplace to set an outdoor mood. This is perfect if you wanted to spend some quality and intimate time with your partner or just a downtime moment with your hood. Dim lights are perfect as well as […]

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Architects’ Builders: Things You Should And Shouldn’t Do When Remodeling Your House For Sale

March 28, 2018

When you are looking to remodel your house for selling, you want to remodel it in such a way that you increase its value so that you can sell it at a higher price. To help you out, here are the things you should and shouldn’t do when renovating your house as given by architects’ builders: Things you should do The first thing you should do is to look at the profit potential of the remodeling project that you are looking to undertake. As rule of thumb, you should never do anything that you won’t get much from it. Two of the areas that you should pay close attention to are the bathroom and kitchen. When it comes to the bathroom, you should install a new floor. If the fixtures are old, consider replacing them. You also should consider giving the cabinets some attention. If they are still in intact condition, you shouldn’t replace them—simply repair and repaint them. When it comes to the kitchen, the look of the kitchen countertops comes in handy. You can install new countertop surfaces if the current ones are worn out, or you can simply repair them. When it comes to the appliances, consider replacing them if they are old. Things to avoid when renovating your house It’s a no-brainer that you shouldn’t spend more than you are going to get. For you to avoid spending a lot of money on a house that doesn’t have a lot of value, you should hire a professional to help you in valuing the house before you start the project. Once you have the value of the house, you should work with your home remodeling expert who will help you choose the simple projects that won’t cost much but will greatly improve the look of the house. Another thing you should avoid doing is to give attention to areas such as the media room, offices, basements, theaters, back decks, attic remodels, and others that don’t have a good resale value. Lighting is crucial to the look of the house; therefore, you should never remove it. Even if it looks bad, you should leave it in place. Remember that bad lighting is better than no lighting. Conclusion These are some of the things that you should and shouldn’t do when you are renovating your house for resale. For you to get the most from the project, work with reputable home remodeling architects DC.

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Cheap Home Remodel Ideas

March 15, 2018

When people think about having a home remodeling project, they picture themselves spending tens of thousands of dollars doing it. While some of the remodeling projects cost a lot of money, it doesn’t have to be always the case as there are some projects that are cheap and affordable. All you need to do is hire a home remodel expert who will guide you through. Affordable home remodeling ideas New flooring: If you have an old house and you don’t like the current look of the floor, you should consider installing a new one. The cool thing is that the project isn’t expensive. All you need to do is get a few colorful tiles from your local store and hire a contractor to help you install them. If you have the skills, you should purchase a do-it-yourself kit and install the units by yourself. Remodel the bathroom: The bathroom is the place where you go and relax after a long day. If you don’t like its current look, you should consider upgrading it. The most affordable way of livening it up is to install new fixtures. For example, you should invest in new towel holders. You should also consider replacing the medicine cabinet or simply paint it a new color. Install new lights: When you install new lights you not only give your home a new look, you also increase the amount of light in the house. Depending on the design of your house you can buy a number of small lights or install one large light. If you aren’t sure of the home remodeling direction you should take, ask your home additions contractor to help you out. Add modern firepits: If you are like most homeowners, you have a wood burning fireplace in your home. For you to improve the look of your house and also give it a modern look, you should consider investing in a modern firepit. One of the best ones to invest in is a gas firepit. When installing it, ensure that it matches the theme of your home. Paint the house: You will agree with me that there is no other method that gives a house a new look as fast as new paint. The beauty of it is that paint is very affordable. You can paint by yourself but if you have a larger budget, hire a contractor to help you out. Conclusion These are some of the ways of remodeling your house without spending much. If you have to hire a home addition design DC, ensure that you hire the most reputable.

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All About Home Additions

February 13, 2018

Are you thinking of adding a feature to your home? You should go ahead and do it. All you need to do is hire a home addition builder to help you with the work. Benefits of home additions There are plenty of benefits that come with having additional features in your home. Some of these benefits include: Cheaper: Compared to buying a new home with a feature that you are looking for, hiring a contractor to install the feature in your home is much less expensive. You should find a reputable contractor who is highly experienced in building the unit that you are interested in. Less stressful: Deciding to move to a new house is very stressful as you have to find a new house. It can take you months or even years before you find a house that you like. The stress is even more pronounced if you have small children. You have more control: This is a no-brainer. When you work with your home addition design contractor, you have control of where you want to build the additional feature. You also have control of where you want to install the unit. This isn’t the case when you buy a home with the feature already built in place. Additional features you can build in your home You can build many units in your home. The most common ones are: Sunroom: Do you enjoy the sun but you don’t want to display yourself in public? You should go ahead and install a sunroom in your home. In addition to the unit providing you with privacy, it also gives you control of the environment and air. Patio: If you have a large yard, and you enjoy spending time outdoors, you should install a patio. You can install a fireplace on the patio and even furniture to make it homelier and a great place to spend time with friends and family. Swimming pool: If your yard allows it and you have a budget, you should contact a home remodel expert to help you in designing and constructing a swimming pool that will be ideal for you and family. In addition to the swimming pool providing you with a great place for you to relax, it also greatly improves the value of your home thus you sell it at a higher price. Conclusion This is what you need to know about home additions DC. For you to get the most from the project, work with an expert.

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