Things to Look For While Hiring a Home Remodeling Contractor

If you have a residence that needs to be remodeled, you have to find the right professional to get the job done. A home remodeling contractor is the one you should be looking for to ensure that your home remodeling is a success.

Home remodeling contractors assist you in choosing the right style for your home decor or provide advice on remodeling certain rooms. Before remodeling, a contractor pays a visit to your home to do an analysis of the section of the house which needs remodeling. This visit allows the contractor to check the condition of the house and plan the remodeling accordingly.

You can ask the contractor for pictures of his past remodeling projects to get an idea of his work. The contractor on the other hand, may ask you questions about the remodeling to know whether you want to make any changes to the original remodeling plan.

When everything has been finalized and the deal done, the contractor gets down to work on the remodeling. The remodeling contractor may cordon off the area of remodeling for safety reasons or may ask the family to move to a different location during remodeling.

You can get many home remodeling contractors who do quality work at a reasonable price. And then, there are many charlatans who hoodwink customers by taking advantage of their ignorance and extract tons of money in the name of remodeling. You need to pay attention to these tips to avoid falling into their trap.

1. If you get a referral about a contractor from friends, family or relatives, do a proper evaluation of the contractor referred. It may be that the contractor has a good record on remodeling, but you need to make sure whether he can remodel your home according to your requirements.
   Many people blindly trust referrals and sign a contract without checking on the credentials of the contractor. According to a study, those people encountered problems and were dissatisfied with the work of the contractor.
2. Arrive at a deal with the contractor after you get a contract which clearly states the final cost of the remodeling project and not an estimated cost which can fluctuate during the course of remodeling. The contract should be specific and detailed and include a warranty for products which are installed.
   It should also contain a statement specifying that the materials used in remodeling are new and they meet the required standards. If the contractor is unwilling to sign the contract, look for another one.
3. You must be sure that the contractor carries a workman’s compensation insurance and liability insurance to compensate for the injury or death of a worker and cover the loss or damage to your property or personal possessions.

Why Remodeling Your Home Is A Smart Choice?

Home remodeling is an expensive but exciting venture. It is also a reflection of your individuality, taste and style. With spaces shrinking in urban areas and families increasing, the need for remodeling a house seems to be the last resort.

Remodeling helps to create more space, reduce energy consumption and preserve the cultural heritage of the house, albeit with a modern look. Some people renovate their homes to get rid of the boring look and feel of the house and bring an air of freshness and modernity into it.

Remodeling a home enhances the living comfort and the inner climate of the house. It optimizes the energy consumption of your home and saves money. Besides these, your home receives a much needed facelift which increases the aesthetic appeal of the house.

Before dwelling on the remodeling of your house, you should first chalk out a roadmap and be clear on your needs, wishes so that the end result syncs with the vision you had at the start. Using clay blocks, roof tiles and bricks are the best options for a healthy renovation since clay building materials have a long lifespan. Hiring a qualified professional from the Queens area is a must to advise and help you with the right decisions.

Benefits of Home Remodeling

1. Create new living space: Since the available space in your home doesn’t suffice the needs of our family, it is important to carve out some additional space to fulfill the needful. The conversion of the attic to a living room can possibly a viable solution. A pitched roof can create the additional space. Besides this, you can provide a thermal insulation to the roof to keep your new living room warm and increase the energy efficiency of the house.
2. Increase your property value: Purchasing a new house may cost a fortune. So remodeling your existing home is a profitable option since it will save the expenses you are going to spend on a new home and will increase the real estate value of your whole property. It can give you a sense of accomplishment since renovation can change the entire façade of your home, increase its size and improve the functionality of the abode. An upgrade increases the aesthetic appeal of the house and you end up fetching a higher price for your property.
3. Reduce maintenance and utility costs in the long run: Remodeling a home helps reduce the maintenance and utility bills. We often ignore the maintenance of our home or postpone it for a long time which ultimately inflates the repair costs. By remodeling a home, every section of a house is attended to and issues are ironed out. Replacing old windows and doors with new ones increase the security of the house. Also, replacing outdated insulation and wire-fittings increase the efficiency of the home.

Read More: Hallmarks of Capable Home Contractors in Brooklyn NY

Home Remodeling in NYC: Things we often overlook

We know that a home remodeling takes a lot of patience. Especially in NYC, where people feel like twenty-four hours a day isn’t enough for them. A major home project then requires patience not just in terms of waiting for it to get done or patience to deal with any setbacks, but also patience in terms of planning each thing carefully, choosing the right contractor in NYC, and making decisions about the budget. And when you’re in the early phase planning a home remodeling you need to be sure that you’ve made a note of all the changes and additions that you want to make in your house.

Along with that, you should also jot down things that you don’t require anymore or things that are now outdated – maybe the kids are all grown up now and don’t need bunk beds and require separate rooms instead. So, in the tiresome process of trying to cover everything we forget some of the most basic things that must be included in a remodeling. To make things easier, here’s a list of things that we often overlook while planning a home (be it a condo or an apartment) remodeling:

Doors and Doorways

It’s one of the most common aspects of the house (and arguably the most important one) that we tend to overlook. We think about the remodeling of each room in great detail but we forget our home’s entryway. The entrance to your apartment should make a statement, and the pathway to the living room should not be dull and boring. Think of getting different types of doors and interesting additions that add character to the doorway.

Rooftops and Balconies

Vacant rooftops and empty balconies can be transformed into private getaways or places of solitude. Better yet, have your contractors convert your rooftops into rooftop farms! It’s an amazing way to eat and live healthy. Rooftop farms are the new trend that residents of NYC are taking up. You can also set up a secret dining area somewhere in the rooftop farm for lazy breakfasts or family dinners. Similarly, you can think of various things for your balcony, provided it has enough space to experiment with.

Checklist When Going for Living Room Renovation

Renovating your living room is a golden opportunity to redesign one of the most important areas of your house. It also gives you the chance to make the living room more livable and accordingly develop your list of features which you would like to add in the process.

Living room renovations require a checklist, one of which is as follows –

Layout

When a living room is renovated, it should be done in accordance with the furniture. The furniture determines the kind of activities which you will be conducting in the room as you will spend most of the time there.

If your intention is to use the room primarily for conversations and gatherings, then the seating area must be made comfortable. If the groups are large in size, additional seating can be included along the edge of the central space using window seats. If you like reading you can have a reading chair placed in a corner where there is ample lighting.

If two or more chairs need to be grouped together then they should be made to face each other in a circular or square pattern. In primary seating areas, the sofas and the opposing chairs need to be kept 5 to 7 feet apart.

Focal Point

The focal point of a living room is the most distinct aspect which pulls your attention towards the room. Mostly it happens to be the fireplace but it can be something else like a large window which offers an excellent view or a piano or a sought-after piece of artwork.

Walls and Ceilings

Walls and wall openings play a critical role in changing the aesthetics of a living room. The size of the walls and the way they are arranged dictate where and how the furniture needs to be placed. The addition of walls increases a sense of enclosure which makes it feel more private. Removal of walls, on the other hand, opens up more space.

How the ceilings are to be done is a matter of personal preference. While some prefer tall ceilings which can be 16 feet while others prefer the standard 8 or 9 feet tall ceilings. One way to reduce the ceiling height is to frame a lower ceiling along the perimeter of the room or over an alcove. If you want to raise the height of your ceiling then it is not always possible but if you have a single story home with rafter roof framing instead of truss framing then it can be done.

Practical Tips to Save Money When Remodeling Old Bathrooms

Most people who go for bathroom renovations tend to be under the impression that it is a costly affair. The truth is that if you want your dream bathroom, it can be achieved at a fraction of the cost, without having to spend a bomb. The final cost in fact, does not depend on your preferences but is affected by how they are implemented.

So, the first step here would be to figure out how much you can actually afford to spend and then accordingly consider your preferences.

If you are on a tight budget, you should go in for cosmetic changes such as new fixtures, sink or a new coat of paint. If you are willing to spend more, you can opt for major changes such as adding tiles, getting a bigger shower or a window.

Here is thus a list of suggestions which can come in handy and help you save a lot if you are planning to remodel your old bathroom –

Limiting the Tiles

Tiles can be a rather expensive proposition depending on the kind of layout you are looking for. To save money, you should limit the number of tiles, and instead focus on the areas which are of high-impact such as the floor, and only parts of the wall, and paint the remaining area.

Saving on the Counter Top

Bathroom countertops are much smaller as compared to the ones in your kitchen. Despite that, the most sought after in materials such as granite or marble, are rather costly. To save money, the best recourse would be to consider other materials, such as laminate, glass, or concrete, etc.

Painting

If your budget is not very high, then painting would be a good option when going for bathroom renovations. There is one point which needs to be remembered here- it takes more time to paint than it takes in doing other renovation work. This is because, despite the bathroom being the smallest room in the house, painting must be done very carefully around the mirror, shower, sink, switch plates, toilet, tub, and the wall corners. Not only does it take time, but it also requires a lot of precision.

Home Remodeling Tips That You Should Keep In Mind

A house becomes your home when you put your heart and soul into setting it up in your own way. Without your personal touch, a house remains a work piece of an architect. Despite all the efforts and money that one puts in the styling of the house, after a few years, your home might lack the appeal it initially had for you. It is at such a time when you should consider remodeling your home to get back the charm your home had initially.

Home remodeling requires planning before execution of any kind. Listed below are a few pointers that you should keep in mind for the purpose of home remodeling:

• Before starting off your home remodeling project, you should keep in mind the exact idea you have envisioned for your home. This is essential as remodeling involves a lot of changes in every nook and corner of the home. These changes can only happen once the workers are given a clear idea of what needs to be done.

• Some of the important factors that govern the purpose of home remodeling are- long term maintenance, energy aspects and repair expenses. These should be kept in mind while designing the remodeling layout.

• Not everybody is creative, so in case you need help, hire a remodeler who has enough experience in this regard. You could also ask for ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of their previous projects for inspiration and assessment.

• A detailed contract is essential for the purpose of home remodeling. This helps in laying out the key responsibility areas of the contractor so that no scope of work is missed out.

• It becomes quite difficult to stay in the same place where the remodeling work is happening. It is advisable to collect the essentials and shift temporarily to a place nearby. This will enable you to keep an eye on the progress of the remodeling work, while giving you the freedom to continue with routine life without any hassles.

• In case you are looking to achieve a major change in the look of your home, it can be easily done by breaking down walls and creating a connected area to make the place look bigger.

Want To Buy A New Home? Go For Gut Renovation Instead

Homeowners often face the dilemma whether or not to renovate an existing home according to their current needs or to relocate to a new place by buying a new home instead.

Although the answer largely depends upon the preferences and budget of the homeowner, there are various factors that suggest that a gut renovation is a better choice than buying new home.

If you feel stuck with the two choices, consider these benefits of gut renovation over buying a new home that can guide you in making an informed decision.

Cost of Gut Renovation vs. New Home

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the average price for buying a new home in the United States was $301,400 in February 2016.

In addition, buying a new home also involves real estate commissions and seller closing costs, which considerably add to your overall expenses.

On the other hand, the price of a complete home renovation is almost half of what is takes to buy a new house. Moreover, professional remodeling contractors can considerably reduce the cost of renovation through appropriate planning to avoid unnecessary expenses.

However, modernizing a house in terms of energy efficiency and overall quality might be very expensive in some cases, but the great end product saves big bucks in the future.

Personal Touch

Finding a new home that conforms to all the unique requirements of the home-buyer is a challenging task in itself. From inspecting home designs to examining kitchen and bathrooms, there is a lot to consider, and chances are that you might end up in a less comfortable home than the previous one.

On the contrary, gut renovations allow homeowners to modify the structure and add amenities pertaining to their choices and budget.

Furthermore, home remodeling is also effective in creating extra working and storage space by restructuring the house or building new rooms and porches.

Re-grouting Tiles – As Essential Part of your Home Renovation

A large number of homeowners change the floor layout as part of their bathroom renovation projects. However, in order to achieve a new look, it is not necessary to get a new flooring installed. New grout in the flooring can give your bathroom a brand new look. Re-grouting during minor or major house renovations is a great way to improve the look of your backsplash and kitchen area, without the need for a complete renovation.

Re-grouting tiles is a simple process –

First, the old grout is scraped out. This is usually done with a Dremel rotary tool or a diamond blade saw. It is important to scrape out the old grout from all the way down to the substrate. The de-grouted area is then wiped clean after which, the process of re-grouting begins.

In order to ensure longevity, the old grout needs to be removed.  If the new grout is set over the old one, it will not last as long as it is supposed to. Over time, a number of chemicals get added which only damage and weaken the grout.

Thus, it is essential to start the process of grouting by removing the old grout first.

In cases when tiles are placed really close to each other, grouting needs to be done precisely. In such situations, it is best to call in the experts rather than trying to do it on your own. Re-grouting of gaps which are smaller than three-sixteenth of an inch should under no circumstance be done on your own. You should be very careful about grout which is cracked, stained or falling out. Such grouts indicate that the tiles or the substrate were not installed the right way.

If such grout is found during house renovations, then you must immediately contact professionals.

The question then is, who should you hire?

It is recommended that you look out for tile contractors who have the requisite experience and skills of re-grouting in your area. The hired contractor must have the requisite license and insurance as well.

Best Home Renovation Trends for Pensioners

Most people intend to stay in their current homes till the time they retire. The homeowners who are over sixty years of age do not express any inclination to move, according to a recent survey of nearly one hundred fifty thousand people. Probably, this is one of the most pertinent reasons as to why home renovations, especially bathroom renovations have become such a sought-after activity in recent times.

Close to twenty percent of senior citizens do some kind of home renovation work including bathroom renovations, which are done by contractors.

Here is a list of home and bathroom renovation ideas which are much appreciated by every age group –

Looks Matter

Irrespective of their age, most homeowners are of the opinion that improving the appearance of the house is one of the biggest reasons for taking up a renovation project. The other reasons happen to be the better energy efficiency and improved functionality.

Thus, improving the design and looks of the house matter more above any other reason, including boosting the resale value.

New Generation Prefers Upgrades

It has been observed that generation X is most open to the notion of home renovations. More than half of them have done some kind of work on their homes.

However, not many of them own a home yet.

Despite this, it is the baby boomers who drive the home and bathroom renovation market because not only are they seen to hire contractors more, but when they do so, they also tend to spend more on the renovations as compared to generation Y.

Renovating According to Location

Apart from age, bathroom and home renovations are also affected by geography.

For instance, people from the Midwest and the Northeast of the United States tend to spend more when hiring contractors while homeowners in the west and the south tend to focus more on the outdoor work.

The most frequently done interior remodels involve bathroom renovations, followed by the kitchen, living room and finally the bedroom. Minor jobs like expanding a deck, installing a shed or a fence, a hot tub or a pool come last on this list.

Home Renovation Projects for the Spring Season

With the snow slowly melting, paving way for the West winds to carry the sweet smell of blooming flowers, the spring season arrives, filling freshness in nature and in our lives. This creates in us, a desire to add some life and energy into our homes as well.

It is the perfect time for the homeowners to undertake home renovations.

If you are also looking forward to giving your home a new makeover, consider these valuable renovation projects to add significant value to your home this season-

Kitchen Upgrades

According to Remodeling magazine, a quality kitchen renovation that complements the overall theme of the house can recoup up to 70 percent of the renovation expenditure.

However, if your budget does not permit a complete kitchen renovation, you can start off with cost-efficient kitchen upgrades to improve the efficiency and aesthetics of your kitchen. This can be achieved by replacing cabinets, upgrading kitchen appliances, installing LED lightings or backsplash.

Most renovation contractors recommended using ready-to-assemble cabinets over custom cabinets to save money. Furthermore, using recyclable materials like stone, concrete or laminate for countertops also reduces the cost of kitchen renovations considerably.

Landscape

An attractive landscape could possibly be the best renovation project that homeowners can undertake for the coming spring season. A well-maintained lawn not only improves the outdoor appearance but also increases the value of a home.

Since landscaping demands attention to various factors such as the architectural style of the house and zoning laws, it is better to begin the planning process long before the actual commencement of the landscaping project to save money.

It is suggested to communicate with professional renovation contractors who can aid you in selecting the right landscaping design for your home that falls within your budget.

Building Decks

From providing space for hosting parties and summer BBQs with family, a well-constructed deck has many benefits, not to mention the added visual appeal to the overall appearance of the house.

Moreover, building a deck is not only cost-efficient, but ensures greater return on investment as well. As per renovation contractors, homeowners can easily recover up to 72 percent of the deck building expenditure by adding to the resale value of the house.