Remodeling FAQ

When you want to remodel your kitchen, bathrooms, basement or have room additions, home improvement contractors will save you from doing the heavy work, and they have the know how to do the job in the best possible way. Also, unless you understand structural engineering, a contractor can save you from causing major structural damage to your home.

Most homeowners would like to have their homes remodeled, but in many cases this remains a dream and never becomes a reality. There are a number of reasons for this. A homeowner may have no idea of how to do it. Financing may be an issue. And planning the remodel is overwhelming.

As specialized home remodeling contractors we know how to bring together a special team. In addition to our own skilled crafts people, we utilize the strengths of numerous home improvement subcontractors. Each of these skilled designers, electricians, engineers, interior designers, and joiners (to name a few) are specialists in a specific aspect of home remodeling. Working together we ensure the successful completion of any home remodeling project.

Even if your project seems small, anytime you intend to modify the structure of your home, it is best is to get the services of a good home remodeling contractor. Your choice of contractors will have a big impact on the results that you get. Before hiring a contractor, check first with relatives and friends. They may be able to refer you to someone they have worked with. Always check out a contractor you are considering with your local and state consumer protection officials such as the Better Business Bureau and the State Attorneys Office. Ask the contractor for customer references for projects similar to yours. Ask for their credentials and a copy of the contractor’s current insurance certificates and licenses.

Ask to see examples of their work, and get written estimates from several firms, but ensure that bids are based on identical project specifications. All guarantees, warranties and promises should be made writing. Make sure you have a written contract, to ensure that everyone is clear of what is to be done, how much it will cost, and a schedule for completion. The process of negotiating a contract also helps homeowners get more comfortable asking questions and talking about the process with the contractor, making ongoing communication much easier.

For most home remodeling projects, keep in mind that all the materials and labor costs are to be paid by you. Remember that you have control over your project, by controlling the release of funds to the contractor. Make sure that all the proper permits have been applied for and are posted. Always make sure that you see the contractors’ certificates and the materials that they use. Do both of these prior to commencement of the job and while the project is in progress. If you do not like something they are doing, you have the right to stop their work. Most problems can be corrected and resolved by maintaining both financial control and reasonable oversight on a project. Do not pay for work if you are not satisfied with the results.

The following five steps are necessary to the success of home remodeling projects. We help you with these steps because we know that when you are fully aware of each step it is much easier for you to proceed with your project.

Read home building books and magazines. Look for ideas on the internet. Watch for open houses where you can see what other people have done with their homes. Television can be a great source of ideas, especially channels like the Home Network. Talk with an experienced home builder. This research will help you know what you like and don’t like. Gather prices. After this step, set a home building or remodeling budget. Review your list again, and see if the features you want realistically fit into your budget. Once the budget is set, you need to decide the scope of your custom home remodel. If you are remodeling the kitchen determine what appliances you are installing and their sizes. Finalize on tub or shower spaces, cabinets, and toilets when planning a bath remodel.

Even if you are only remodeling your home, there may be foundational work needed. Code may require upgrades to certain sections of the existing foundation to support the changes you are making. Walls may require modifications. Structural beams may be required. Our team is experienced in making these structural modifications so that the integrity of your home is maintained throughout the remodeling phase.

 

 

This stage in a remodel will involve removing materials such as walls or adding materials, such as filling in a doorway. In a kitchen remodel foundational work may be as simple as removing doors from existing cabinets for replacement with new doors, to complete gutting of the kitchen. The foundational work for a remodel is unique to each job and will be clearly laid out for you so you know what is involved.

The amount of rough-in work on a remodel is unique to each remodel. Rough-in involves framing walls, installing plumbing, electrical and other elements that are hidden in the walls of your home. Upgrading your electrical makes a great deal of sense at this stage if you are working with an older system, especially when your remodel involves the kitchen. This is a time-consuming stage, but just like the foundation, it is a vital stage.

After the rough-in stage is completed we may work on Step #4 and Step #5 concurrently. When our remodeling work involves an addition to your home we ensure that the addition looks like it belongs. Nothing looks worse than an addition that looks like an afterthought that tacked on without thought to making your home look even better than before.

While we complete exterior work, we will finish walls, paint, install doors and windows, hang cabinetry, put down flooring and install tile. Once the drywall has been put into place, it is time to complete the fun task of finalizing all the design elements that are going into your home. The sizes of your appliances and fixtures were determined during Step #1. Now you will finalize the styles. This is where the careful planning from Step #1 pays off as you purchase cabinets, counter tops, flooring, paint, wallpaper, windows, doors, trim, baths, showers, sinks, and toilets. Now the look of your home becomes distinctly your own.