From Concept to Construction ™

I Want To Renovate My House Where Do I Start

October 10, 2022

There are plenty of reasons you would want to renovate your house. Maybe you don’t like the current look, the house has become too small for your family, or any other reason. If you want to renovate your house but don’t know where to start, here is a guide given by home remodeling architects that you should follow: Have a plan This is the first thing you should do when thinking about remodeling your home. When you are coming up with a plan, you need to consider plenty of things. These things include: Who will do the project? This is important to consider, as it will directly impact the amount of money you spend on the project. If having a small project such as painting, small-scale demolitions, and baseboard installation, you can do the work yourself, but if it’s a major one such as large-scale demolition or door and window installation, it’s wise that you hire experienced professionals so that they can execute the project expertly. Your budget How much are you willing to spend on the project? The size of your project will influence this. When creating a budget, you must consider various factors such as paint, contractors, cabinets, countertops, etc. Many people try to cut costs with contractors and materials. While it’s okay to bargain, you shouldn’t go too low as you risk getting bad quality services or materials, and you don’t want this, do you? When hiring contractors, don’t hire the cheapest. The best way to go about it is to interview several contractors, settle on the one that charges you the least amount, and have proof that they provide excellent services. Regarding materials, visit several stores and see what is available. Obviously, you should stay away from the high-end stores as you usually pay premium prices for the same quality items you can get at lower prices elsewhere. Like contractors, avoid buying from extremely cheap stores as you risk buying extremely cheap products, which often don’t give you the results you are after. Think about the design and style of your home How will your home look once complete? You need to think about this. Regardless of whether you are remodeling a part or the entire house, you need to ensure that the spaces remain uniform. Most people are confused about the final look of their houses, so if you are one of these people, consult a professional to help you. Think about your budget as you come up with the house’s style. Remember that the more complex the house design, the more expensive it is, and vice versa. Get the appropriate permits. Some projects will require you to get a permit. In most cases, you will need a license when making footprint changes, structural changes, installing new windows, or undertaking plumbing and electrical modifications. You won’t need a permit when undertaking smaller projects such as painting or replacing the floor. To avoid being on the wrong side of the law, do your research beforehand and find out the permits you need so that you can add them to your budget. Another excellent way to go […]

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Is It Worth Remodeling An Old Home?

August 14, 2021

If you have or looking to buy an old house, you must be wondering, is it worth remodeling an old home? After all, you don’t want to waste money on a dodo. According to home remodeling architects, remodeling an older house can be worth it, when done right. To help you out, here are the tips to consider: Know the house’s history If you are looking to buy the house, don’t go at it blindly—ensure that you know its history. After all, you don’t want to buy a house, then find out it’s constructed on riparian land. Since nature never forgets, this can be catastrophic. A good way to understand the house better is to look at the old maps from your local historical society. You can also look back at the real estate listings of the older properties in the area. If there are older occupants in the neighborhood, ask them about the house. Even if the house is selling dirt-cheap and you are sure that you can turn it around, don’t make the purchase if you don’t know its back story. Avoid adding another room. It can be tempting when you are renovating the house to add another room. While it can be a good move, it often interferes with the look of the main house. The reason for this is you will be building a new house next to an old one. While you might ensure that the details and finishes match the rest of the house, it will always stick out, and if it doesn’t look good, it will always be a bother to you. You should always avoid adding another room to the house unless it’s necessary. Always prioritize working with what you already have, then look outside if the space isn’t enough for you. Don’t renovate the house by yourself. With everyone recommending DIY projects and with the never-ending supply of YouTube tutorials, it’s easy to try and handle the house renovation project yourself. While you will learn a thing or two from the project, chances are you will make mistakes that will be costlier than hiring a contractor. Obviously, when you are handling a complex project such as bringing down a wall, it’s recommended that you hire a professional, but when you are dealing with older houses, even the simple projects can end up being catastrophic. For example, it’s easy to replace a faulty faucet in a new, modern house but a completely different game when dealing with an older house. With an older house, the faucet and knob cutouts are of different dimensions from the modern faucet assemblies, so you would have to find salvage pieces or custom make the faucets. And you can’t do all of these as a DIY, can you? Even a simple task such as removing the old paint can be an issue as the paint can be containing lead, which increases your chances of suffering from cancer. To be on the safe side, regardless of how minor the task looks, let it be handled by experienced architect builders Washington DC. When hiring professionals, don’t simply look at […]

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