Construction Deal Update

In my last post on bathroom remodeling, Bathroom Remodeling Options, I started a discussion about how it's possible to have your bathroom renovated in stages. Instead of shelling out $10,000 to $20,000 all at once, you could hire contractors or companies to come in and only do a portion of the project. It's not quite as satisfying as a complete makeover, but it could allow you to get the products and materials you want and pay for them over time.

Stages of Bathroom Renovation (continued)

Remodel Your Countertop:
After you've determined whether or not you want to go with a bathroom designer and you've renovated your walls, you should next start on your bathroom countertop.

Even if you don't replace or refinish your cabinetry, you could replace the countertop surface and make a huge impact. After painting or covering your walls, the counter area is the next major component in the room.

Whether you've got pink tiles from the 50's or the cheap laminate countertop that came with the house, installing a new counter should be your next step. The surface should be durable and a good color/material match to your new walls. If you've gone with a dark wall, consider a lighter countertop surface and vice versa to balance out the room brightness. For durability, beauty, and home value -- consider a natural stone.

Stone countertops will always be in fashion and keep your bathroom looking great for years. If the price is too steep for natural stone, you might try a cultured marble, cultured granite or similar product. You can get a cultured stone counter for half the cost of a natural stone option. You could also go with a more expensive option, like a solid surface material (Silestone, Corian, Avonite) or you could try a fairly inexpensive material like ceramic tiles. Some modern laminates might be a possibility. Check around to see that your choices are endless.

Remodeling Those Floors:
After dealing with walls and counters, your next big change should be your bathroom flooring. Depending on your choice of countertop material, you could use a matching material for your flooring, too. You could do marble, granite, or even travertine tiles on the floors (and those tiles may even be able to move up and go on your walls and shower, as well!) but that can be expensive.

Consider ceramic tiles or even a laminate flooring -- laminates could give you the look and feel of a wood floor without the maintenance hassles or even the look of ceramic tiles at a fraction of the cost.

By doing the bathroom in stages, it might give you the option to go for a more expensive material so that when you're done, your bathroom will be perfect for you...

Cabinet Time!
If you've replaced your countertop and sinks to accommodate twin sinks or a vessel bowl, you may have already had to buy a cabinet. If not, you can find a stock, semi-custom, or even have a custom cabinet made for your bathroom remodel. Your cabinetry could be your only source of storage if you have limited space, so consider that when buying a replacement.

There are numerous choices - from very inexpensive, where you simply paint existing cabinets and replace the hardware, to the the expensive, where you get a custom made cabinet in a luxurious solid wood.

Don't fall for the flashy trends when it comes to your bathroom cabinetry. It can also be a good idea to contrast light wood with a dark counter or a dark wood with a light counter.

Finally, Your Bathroom Fixtures and Appliances!
Now, we get down to the final stages of your bathroom remodeling project. These items are essential to every bathroom: your tubs, your shower, your toilet, your sink(s), and the fixtures that accompany them. I've saved this stage for last because it can be the most expensive part of your renovation project.

First, unless you want to up your budget big-time, try not to move any plumbing fixtures. Relocating a tub, shower, toilet or sink can really add to the costs. It may also be possible to simply refinish some of the appliances to avoid the cost of replacement.

It can also be cost-effective to replace the faucet and handles on a sink while leaving the existing one in place or having it refinished. Chrome, silver, and gold fixtures have fallen out of fashion and have been replaced by brushed nickel, brushed brass, and other matte finishes are popular.

If you have the money, you could consider converting your regular bathtub to a whirlpool tub. Many are opting to convert their bathtub & shower set for a walk-in shower. Multiple and rain shower heads are big right now, too.

Other Remodeling Options
You can upgrade your vanity mirror, towel racks, add a high quality exhaust fan, and so much more. Don't skimp on the lighting in your new bathroom. You can add recessed lighting or sconce wall lights. No money left in the budget? Consider adding a dimmer switch just to give you the ability to adjust the ambiance in your new at-home spa!

If you need to find a local bathroom remodeling company or a bathroom designer, post your request with Construction Deal.com and we'll match you up for free. It is easy to use. And you are under no obligation to hire any of our network of professionals!

Related Posts:
Budget Bathroom Remodeling Ideas
Travertine Tiles in the Bathroom
Updating Bathroom Fixtures

Labels: Bath Renovation, Bathroom Designer, Bathroom Remodeling

Whether you're building a new home, adding on to your existing home, or simply want to protect your family and your assets in your current house -- you need to consider residential fire sprinklers.

Fires in American homes killed more than 3000 people in 2006.

One would think that all the talk of fire safety, smoke alarms, and in-home fire extinguishers that the numbers might be going down.

What is the problem? According to a recent study provided by Underwriters Laboratories (the U.L. on nearly all electronic equipment) and The Fire Protection Research Foundation.

From their site:

The $700,000 joint study systematically investigated the characteristics of smoke and how materials used in modern residential settings have changed the way fires behave in homes. The year-long Smoke Characterization Project studied 27 synthetic and natural materials and various combinations of materials now more commonly found in homes.

Their study reveals that there are fewer natural materials in our homes today. We used to have furniture, window treatments, rugs, and other household items made from cotton, wool, silk, rubber, linen, etc. But now... homes are filled with plastics, polyester, rayon, and more.

In the study, they burned a lot of the synthetic materials found in a typical American home to see how they would react in a fire. Items were set aflame individually and together. Couches, mattresses, carpeting, even appliances were burned to test burn rates and smoke composition.

According to their study - fires in homes burned hotter and faster and smoldered longer because of the increase in synthetic materials:

The study also concluded that because fires could grow more rapidly, the time needed to escape some types of fires has been reduced from approximately 17 minutes to as little as three minutes in certain situations.

Three minutes is not very long. In any situation.

A remedy for this could be the installation of a fire sprinkler system in new homes and a retrofit in existing homes.

• Fire sprinklers react quicker to a fire and usually have the blaze completely out in the time it would take for the fire department to arrive on scene.
• Sprinklers use less water (by as much as 80% in most cases) than the average fire department trying to put out your fire.
• Systems are not nearly as expensive to install as most think. In a new construction, it's usually around $1 per square foot. Retrofit costs can run from $2 to $5 per square foot and may go as high as $10 per if the work needed is more specialized and difficult.
• Homes with fire sprinklers installed generally pay a much lower insurance premium than those without, helping the system to pay for itself.
  
• All sprinkler heads do not come on at once. Usually one head comes on in the location of the fire and that is enough to put out the flames.
  

Adding a fire sprinkler system to your home appears to be a priority now more than ever. The U.L. study proves that fires are moving faster and burning hotter than ever before. It's important for you to protect your home and protect your family.

RELATED POSTS:
Cost of Fire Sprinkler Installations
Fire Sprinkler FAQs: Do they all come on at once?
Fire Sprinkler Water Damage?

If you'd like to talk with a fire sprinkler company to get an estimate on installing them in your home, we're here to help. You can post your request on Construction Deal.com for free. We'll connect you with local sprinkler system installers. It's a fast, free, and easy way to find a local professional!

Labels: Fire Safety, Fire Sprinkler Systems

Improving a kitchen or bath in your home is still a great way to improve home value. But many want to improve their master bathroom because it is a sanctuary, a refuge from the daily grind.

You may be thinking about remodeling your bathroom but are worried about sticker shock. It can cost anywhere from ten to fifteen thousand dollars to completely re-do your bathroom... and that's a lot for what is probably the smallest room in your house.

If you're not ready to commit to hiring a bathroom remodeling company and doing the entire project all at once, you should consider doing it in stages.

Stages of Bathroom Renovation

To Design or Not to Design:
You have some options when it comes to a bathroom makeover. The first is taking care of your design or remodeling plans. If you already have all the colors and materials in mind, you should probably make a file with all your pictures, ideas, notes, and design plans. This way, if you renovate in stages, you won't go off the plan and your bathroom will come together when you're done.

If you're not sure what type of flooring or countertops you want, what colors you'll go with, or what materials and colors compliment each other -- you might consider bringing in a professional. You could hire a bathroom designer to review your room and draw up plans for you. The additional cost at the beginning could help make sure you don't make any expensive major mistakes in the room.

Start with the Walls:
Once you have your design in mind, start with the walls. It's the easiest change to make in your bathroom. You can paint the walls, add or remove wallpaper, add borders, crown molding, or add wainscoting.

To save money, you can paint the walls or add wallpaper yourself or you can hire a professional painting company. It's important to prime the walls first and use a durable paint that will stand up to the excessive moisture. A semi-gloss paint is best.

Remember that lighter colors will keep a smaller room more open and have it appear larger. Avoid a completely white ceiling if possible because that can also shrink the appearance of the room. White or gray walls may make your room look and feel cold and industrial. Soft pastels and light earth-tone colors are best in the room. Avoid reds in the room. Dark colors are only advisable when you have plenty of windows or light as well as lighter accents in the bathroom to contrast against.

Don't be afraid of wallpaper. Or a textured paint. Don't go for something trendy (that you'll have to remove in a few years) but instead look for a classic paper that will stand the test of time.

Coming up Next on the Construction Deal Update! Tips on:

• Countertops
• Bathroom Flooring
• Cabinets
• Bathroom Fixtures
• Tubs & Sinks

If you need to find a local bathroom remodeling company or a bathroom designer, post your request with Construction Deal.com and we'll match you up for free. It's fast and easy to use. And you're under no obligation to hire any of our nationwide network of professionals!

Related Posts:
Budget Bathroom Remodeling Ideas
Travertine Tiles in the Bathroom
Updating Bathroom Fixtures

Labels: Bath Renovation, Bathroom Designer, Bathroom Remodeling

As Spring and Summer roll around, you notice a lot of discussion in the media about home repair scams. It's as old as the hills - warm weather brings out the crooks who want to take advantage of the unsuspecting... and the lazy.

You can protect yourself from an unscrupulous contractor or even an outright scam artist by doing your due diligence. Or, in other words -- doing your homework.

Scam Artist?
Where do the scam pros lurk? At your front door, for starters. Don't ever hire anyone soliciting repair or renovation services door-to-door with a "special deal" or someone who has some "leftover materials from another job." Usually, you should leery if an unknown contractor or company calls you out of the blue. Treat an unsolicited call from a remodeling or repair company the same as you would any telemarketer. Hang up.

Can I Trust the Yellow Pages?
Just because a company is in the phone book does not mean they represent quality nor has the company been screened by the directory. They simply paid for an ad.

Beware any contractor who only gives you a cell phone number and has no business address. It doesn't mean you should avoid them completely, but it means that you may not be dealing with a qualified or established company. Do a little extra homework and thoroughly check their references. Go to a current or recent job site to physically review their handiwork.

Does a Contractor License Matter?
Yes and no. Some people prefer to work with a local contractor who will simply give them the best price - they don't care of that repair or remodeling company has a license or not. However, a license is a great indicator of quality, history, experience, and stability for any contractor.

If you want to find out if your potential contractor is licensed, ask for their license information and check this online resource!

Also, find out if your state even requires a license. Some do not. Some only require a license for certain projects or projects over a specified dollar amount.

Should I Check the Better Business Bureau?
Absolutely! The construction industry provides the BBB with the most complaints nationwide. They handle, monitor, and help resolve customer grievances against companies. Check to see if your potential contractor has current problems or a history of complaints. They hold complaints on record for 36 months.

What About "Pre-Screened Contractors"?
Ha! There are several online companies out there that promise that all their companies and contractors have been pre-screened. Or, there are "excellent" reviews and ratings on their sites. Construction Deal.com doesn't do anything quite so foolish.

Why? Well, read this story to get an idea. It's nearly impossible to keep track of all the thousands and thousands of contractors in our network. They may sign up with no BBB complaints, all their insurance and bond payments made, with no legal actions against them, but... all of these things could easily change the next month, week, or even day!

Any company that promises their contractors are prescreened are providing a false sense of security to homeowners! We want you to ALWAYS do your homework on ANY and EVERY service professional who may step foot on your property. The more you know, the less chance you have of getting burned.

How Much Should I Pay Up Front?
Ah, here's where many homeowners get screwed. The unscrupulous contractor and especially the scam artist will ask for most (if not ALL) the money up front. But, they're getting smarter about this. They know most homeowners can't or won't pay it all up front. So, they're trying to get as much as possible and they're running away with it.

The BBB says you should never pay more than one third up front. I'm a little stingier and I think you should be, too. Try to negotiate a serious pay plan in your contract. Tell the contractor or company you will not pay more than 15% up front - but will give another ten percent on the first day of the job... if they show up. Then, if work progresses, you'll pay more each day/week/month. And then pay the final amount after work is complete and you are happy.
There will be compromises there. But I would rather see you not get your project completed than to be ripped off by a scam artist. So don't be afraid to negotiate to protect yourself.

What Else Can I Do?
Again, if you can - check REFERENCES of every contractor or company who will do work for you. And if they cannot provide you with more than one or any reference more recent than 2 months ago, you should be concerned. Quality companies should be proud of their work and should have plenty of satisfied clients. If they do not - what do you think your odds are that you'll be happy with your project?

If you do get burned without doing any of your own research, you've got no one to blame but yourself. If something does go wrong, try to work with the BBB to get help. They can usually help resolve almost 85% of all the construction, remodeling, and repair cases they mediate. If not, the courts might be your only alternative.

RELATED POSTS
Remodeling! 'Tis the Season!
Carpeting Scam to Avoid

If you need to find a home repair expert, post your project with Construction Deal.com. We'll match you to as many contractors as you wish -- and don't forget to check them all out! It's a fast, free service for all homeowners and business owners with remodeling, building, or repair jobs.

Labels: Find a Contractor, Home Improvement, Home Repair