Find a Remodeling Contractor

When you need to find a contractor for any remodeling project, you usually have to search randomly through your yellow pages. Or ask a friend for a referral.

It's not easy to find the best contractor. More and more homeowners are going on the Internet to search for information. So, it made sense to offer an Online Contractor Referral Service.

Several years ago, we created ConstructionDeal.com to help you get your remodeling project done.

On our site, you can:

• Post your remodeling project in minutes!

• Receive bids from local Contractors

• Meet with remodeling pros and make your decision

• Save time by not calling contractors at random from an outdated phone book

• Save money by getting multiple bids from remodelers and... go with the best bid!

• You do all of this -- for free -- on Construction Deal

Do you need to hire a home improvement contractor?

Many homeowners need a contractor to fix, maintain, or improve many areas of their house: remodeling their basement, attic, roof, drywall, and individual rooms. A general contractor is knowledgeable about every aspect of the whole house and has an expertise for nearly every project.

The national average age of American houses is 36 years. As your home ages, it's important to maintain and improve your most valuable and largest investment. When you need a contractor, think of ConstructionDeal.com and submit your home improvement project with us!

Top Home Renovation Projects Submitted to us:

1. Kitchen Remodeling
2. Bathroom Renovations
3. Master Bedroom Remodel
4. Garage Improvement
5. Basement Finishing & Remodel
   
6. Attic Renovation
   

Labels: Contractor, Home Improvement, Home Renovation, Improving Home Value

From the Noblesville Ledger.com article by Bonnie Britton: "Whether it's redoing a kitchen that causes you to lose your appetite, or a bathroom where you never want to linger, 2007 might be the year to think about updates and check out the latest trends.

Home-furnishings retailer ShowPlace Direct has identified some of the top decorating and home-improvement trends for 2007, based on polls conducted with U.S. interior design firms and furniture manufacturers. On the hot list: hardwood floors -- especially bamboo -- still reign, blue decor and furniture to capture the still popular 'cottage look,' flat-screen TVs screened-in porches or sunrooms, and energy-efficient faucets.

Fancier faucets

Judd Lord, director of industrial design for Delta Faucet Co., based in Indianapolis, said faucet trends for 2007 will reflect Americans' need to relax and be more environmentally conscious.

In an e-mail interview, Lord said the 'homeowners want to bring the Zen-like feel of the spa into the home, and both the urban/loft and eco-chic trends play into this need.'

But there's still room for luxury and glamor.

'Many products, including faucets, lighting, etc., take on design cues from the glam heydays of the '20s, '30s and '40s.Warm glamorous finishes and textures such as polished nickel, polished chrome, pewter, glass and cut crystal come into play.'

Flat and framed out

Marian Salzman, recognized as one of the world's leading trendspotters and co-author of 'Next New: Trends for the Future,' said by telephone recently that 'flat-screen TVs are the new artwork.'

'They're here to stay.'

Rosalind Pope of Rosalind Pope Interior Designs in Indianapolis says the nicest thing that has happened for decorators and designers are flat-screen televisions.

'You don't have that huge armoire anymore. You don't have to worry about the depth. You can put it on a slender console which looks smart, or you can hang it on the wall.'

Totally out? 'Conspicuous consumption, heavily branded ostentatious items, unnecessary gadgets,' Salzman said.

Hail the hardwood

Still the champion: hardwood floors. Everyone wants them, home design experts say. And now the floors themselves are evolving.

Distressed flooring is gaining in popularity, says Anita Howard of the National Wood Flooring Association.

'Borders and medallions, anything that is going to customize the floor... hand-scraping, a process that you use to make new wood look antique (is big).

'One of the big trends is reclaimed wood. You take it out of old barns, factories, warehouses and make flooring out of old wood.'

Exotic woods, whatever isn't grown domestically, such as Brazilian cherry, are also going to be big in 2007.

As for tile, it's still holding its own.

Kelly Cheslyn, vice president of Architectural Brick & Tile in Indianapolis, says 'We're still holding strong in our market with glass and metals. Porcelain has absolutely taken over the ceramic market.'

Big sizes in tiles are also a trend for 2007. 'Or, the smaller the better,' she says. 'Twelve-by-12 tiles are definitely in.'

Sunrooms let light shine

Gathering and entertaining outside is still growing, experts say. Leading the way are outdoor kitchens and screened in porches, says Case Design/Remodeling, the country's largest full-service company.

Screened-in [sunrooms] will be as big as ever in 2007. The design of these rooms includes simple square floor plans with screens, to more elaborate add-ons with vaulted ceilings, all-weather glass windows, wallpaper and heat and air conditioning. Not changing: The decor. Rattan is still No. 1.

Blues have designs on you

Home-design consumers are going to have the 'blues' in 2007.

Josette Buisson, artistic director for Pittsburgh Paints, says the latest color trends 'represent the classic confluence of nature's elements and global influence and how their beauty connects and inspires our individual style.'

Pope says crisp blues and whites are back, 'not just robin's-egg but the fresh French blue.' This includes not just paint, but furniture and accessories, too."

'You are seeing more white walls, but color is still good.'

If people had to repaint every time a color trend came along, 'the paint would never dry.'"

Okay, just to let you know, Construction Deal.com is here to help! If you need to find a local remodeling company to help you update and modernize your home - you can use our free service to find quality professionals. Simply tell us about your remodeling project and then sit back and wait for them to contact you (no more searching at random through your yellow pages!)

Labels: Design Trends, Home Renovation, Interior Paint

Top 10 Reasons to use ConstructionDeal.com to find your next Contractor!

1. ConstructionDeal.com is a free service: we do all the work to match you with a quality service professional. Unlike other online services, you will only have 4 contractors call you!

2. You're under no obligation to use any of the qualified contractors in our nationwide network.

3. It's a simple Two-Step Process - tell us about your project, then sit back and wait for companies to call you!

4. If it's inside or outside your home, we've got you covered! We have professionals available in over 300 categories, from architects and new home builders to plasma television installers and pest control pros.

5. The company is nationwide, but we'll find a contractor near you - usually within 24 to 48 hours.

6. We've got outstanding customer service - we'll call you after you post your project to verify your information and answer any questions you may have. If you have any problems with your project, we'll work with you to get it solved.

7. ConstructionDeal.com can help provide you with tips on financing for your remodeling project! We are a one-stop shop to help you complete your project.

8. Our online resources save you time. Looking up contractors on your own, you can spend hours sifting through the phone book. You'll call and leave messages or have to explain your project over and over again. At ConstructionDeal.com, our contractors call you!

9. Using ConstructionDeal.com will save you money, too. Instead of talking to only one service pro, several companies will bid on your project. Having multiple bids means you'll get to choose the best price and the best company for you!

10. Our site is chock full of great resources to keep you informed! Check our our home improvement blog - tons of useful information that will help you get your project done.

Labels: Construction Deal.com, Home Renovation, Remodeling

Labels: Home Improvement, Home Office, Home Renovation, Improving Home Value, Remodeling

While many new homes have these massive master baths with spa tubs, double sinks, and the latest in modern showers, most of us have to deal with the fact the bathroom is a fairly small room.

When knocking out walls is not an option for your bathroom remodeling project, there are a number of things you can do to add new life to a small bath.

Pedestal Sinks - if storage space isn't a huge issue, consider switching to a small pedestal sink. The lack of a large cabinet under the sink can really open up a smaller room.

Keep Plumbing in Place - if you're remodeling your small bathroom, there's probably not much room to move a toilet or tub to another spot anyway. But if you can keep from moving any of your plumbing fixtures, you'll really save money on the remodeling. It's very expensive to relocate these items, so you should be able to save money over the larger bath remodeling projects.

Smokin' Mirrors - adding a large mirror, or even two mirrors on opposite walls, can make the small bath space feel larger.

A Wall Hung Toilet - to really make space in a small area, you can install a wall-hung toilet. It does require some plumbing relocation, but if you're really trying to save space and open the room, it's a great option. And, because the pipes go into the wall and not down onto the floor, it makes it much easier to clean the bathroom floor.

Enclosed Showers - very few take baths anymore and it might be the perfect upgrade to remove the tub/shower and replace it with an enclosed glass shower. The glass on the doors will also help open up a small space.

Add Luxuries - because the room is small, it doesn't mean you have to go without. You can still add state-of-the-art technology for additional comfort. Massaging shower heads, towel warmers, radiant heat flooring, and natural stone counters and shower walls are all great options. It would even be possible to add an LCD TV into the wall or a stereo system with in-wall speakers.

Skylights - consider adding a skylight to bring in a ton of natural light and really pop the small room wide open.

There are a lot of other small tips that can help bring your small, outdated bathroom to life. Go with lighter colors or wallpaper to make the room feel bigger. Avoid excessive window treatments that will cut back on light. And make sure to keep the small bath clutter-free. Too many small things sitting around or hanging on the wall will close the room in on you. Finally, if you can't expand the bathroom out, consider expanding it up - by raising the ceiling, you can really make the small space seem much bigger.

If you need to find a bathroom remodeling expert to help with your remodeling project, consider using us. At Construction Deal, you can post your project request for free, choose how many remodeling companies will call you, and then sit back and wait for them to bid on the project. It's fast, free, and easy. And you'll certainly save lots of time and money.

Labels: Bathroom Remodeling, Home Improvement, Home Renovation, Remodeling

Construction is a seasonal industry. Because so much work is done outside, from installing a new roof to adding brick pavers to a backyard patio, the majority of remodeling and building companies always have more work lined up from the Spring through the Summer.

Also, the Fall holidays and Winter weather don't have many homeowners thinking about adding their new swimming pool. I mean, who thinks about buying a new swim suit in the middle of February?!

So, it's obvious that the perfect time to talk a local remodeling contractor is during the Fall and Winter months - usually from October through March. Waiting until March, however, could still mean some delays.

Because most remodeling companies do not have as many jobs on their schedule, it can mean that you will have their undivided attention. Most renovation contractors are working on several jobs at one time -- you may hire a company to remodel your basement and they'll work on your house for two weeks straight. But they will disappear for two weeks while they wait for subcontract work on your room. During that wait, they'll be working on someone else's house. It can really add to the length of time that your house will be under construction.

So, if you'd like to make sure that a remodeling company is focusing on you and your home improvement project, the best time to have the work done is during the "off season." You may even get a better price on labor because there is not as much demand for their services! Don't be afraid to haggle to keep those costs down.

If you've got your plans in mind, or down on paper, and you're ready to remodel -- good news! We can help! ConstructionDeal.com will match you to a local renovation company to help you get your project done.

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Labels: Home Renovation, Remodeling

So, your current home is not quite your dream home? You know you'll be moving in a few years? I bet you're putting together a list of projects you want to complete in the long term to make sure your home is ready to sell, if and when you plan on moving.

Let's face it - the average American moves every five to ten years. So, anything and everything that you can do to your home to improve the look and functionality could potentially mean a greater return on investment when you sell.

Everyone talks about renovating the kitchen and bathrooms in a house to improve value. But let me help you look as some of the smaller, less interesting but still very important tasks that you need to clear up first. These are the small tasks that a local handyman or contractor could help you with, if you can't do them all yourself, to improve the overall value on your home -- without spending very much!

Lose the Popcorn Ceiling - have you got those acoustic ceiling tiles or popcorn ceilings in most of the rooms in your house? Get them out. They've been an eyesore since the mid-eighties. Nearly everyone hates them and wants them gone. If you get rid of them and replace them with smooth drywall ceilings (possibly with some crown molding up there), you'll win favor with potential buyers.

Air Conditioners in the Windows? Central heating and air conditioning is the way to go. Yes, it's very expensive to have it installed, but it will serve you well while you'll live in the house and serve you well when you go to sell the house. A very wise investment. In most states, it's practically expected and when it's not there, it can be a deal breaker.

Lose the Linoleum - If you've got dated vinyl, plastic, or linoleum floors or counters, you should think about replacing and upgrading when and where you can. There are even modern equivalents to the linoleum products that look and feel much better than the old stuff installed in your house from the 60's. New technology has improved most of the man-made tile and sheet products to make them look like natural stones and ceramic tiles.

Run for the Border - Remove all the wallpaper and borders that have tattooed your walls since 1984. Even faux paint is starting to fall out of favor. Go with quality paint in conservative colors that match the tone and style of the room and house. Paint is classic and much harder to go out of style (the colors may not be but paint is always "in.") If you need to find a painting company, we can help...

Peel the Paneling - Remove or paint over all the dark faux wood paneling in the house. It's been out for a long time but most people have been looking at it for so long, they've tuned it out. Fresh and airy and light is what people want from their home. Not dark and muted, which is what paneling provides.

Improve your home and you'll eventually improve your bottom line. The housing market is slow right now but it doesn't mean that it will be this way in a few years when you're ready to move on.

Keep ConstructionDeal.com in your bookmarks and remember us when you need to find a quality home improvement expert. It's free and faster than looking up remodeling companies at random from your local phone book.

Labels: Home Improvement, Home Renovation, Remodeling

Perhaps you're looking to sell your home or maybe you want to spice up the exterior of your house exterior. They say that "looks aren't everything" but then they also say that "you never get a second chance at a first impression." How the outside of your home looks truly does matter. But because it's your home, you've grown comfortable with how it looks and may not realize that it needs some help.

When family comes for the holidays, potential buyers for the first day of Open House, or friends come over for the big game, the first thing they see when they get out of their car is the front of your house. How much curb appeal does your home have?

Here are a few tips to give your home a facelift and make it the envy of the neighborhood:

House Exterior

Is your home painted? A fresh coat of paint will do wonders for the look of your home. You might even think about a new color. Does everyone on your street have white paint on their house? Consider a khaki color with white trim. I've seen a lot of houses from the 80's and 90's that were painted a flat gray -- it might be time to try a pale yellow, a tan, or switch to an ivory color to be different from all the other suburban homes.

Is it covered in vinyl siding or stucco or brick? Stale, old siding or cracking stucco can really bring down the value of your home. Nothing says 1960's Split Level like a house covered in multicolored bricks. Consider having a siding contractor come out to give you an estimate and bringing your home into the 21st century.

Shutters? If you home has large windows on the front of the house with nothing else around them, it can make the house look flat and boring. A set of shutters, in a darker/contrasting color from the house paint can make your house jump up and demand your attention. If you've got shutters, a nice new coat of paint can do amazing things.

Landscaping

The landscaping around your house means more than planting a few flowers or bushes under the windows of your home. Sometimes it means removing what's already there. Overgrowth of bushes, trees, and plants can hide your home's architecture and curb appeal. Cutting back or even removing large chunks of landscaping can open it up and breathe new life into your aging house.

Try to get landscaping that is native to your area to make sure you don't need to water or care for everything more than you normally would. People sometimes install plants, trees, and grass that doesn't belong in their state. Then, they're forced to spend more time, water, and money to maintain it. Many give up and it ends up looking worse than before they started.

Consult a lanscape architect or landscaping company to plan out your yard to really draw attention to the home's best points and pull away from areas the house is not as strong in.

New Roof

It's a drastic measure, but if you're home is in need of a new roof (you've got leaks, missing shingles, sagging roofline, etc.) it can really add to the look of your home. The great thing is that there are a host of new roofing products and materials out there that can really liven up your house. Even if you go with traditional asphalt shingles again, there are dozens of styles, textures, and colors to choose from.

Driveway, Walkways & Sidewalks

Resurfacing or replacing your asphalt or concrete surfaces can be the final touch in updating your home's curb appeal. If you're interested in going beyond just a new coat of concrete or black asphalt, consider adding a unique look to your home. Going with brick or concrete pavers, acid stained concrete, or other decorative concrete will really make your neighbors jealous and improve your home value. Click here for some info on some acid staining options.

Accessories

A new front door can really do wonders for your curb appeal. Make sure that the door fits the architecture of your house. I've seen many people try to squeeze a set of double doors onto a 2 bedroom ranch and it just makes the house look even smaller than it is. If you can't afford a new door, consider painting your door to add some spice to the front of your house.

Don't forget about updating the porch light, street light, mailbox, and house numbers. Try to get a matching style for your house architecture and also make sure that all the accessories match each other (if not an exact match, then at least the same material or color.)

If you've got fencing on either side of your home exterior, you might think about updating the wood or chain link fences or maybe adding a decorative gate.

Making adjustments to the front exterior of your home is the first, best step to improving the curb appeal as well as the value of your biggest investment. If you need to find any type of home improvement guru to help with your renovations, contact Construction Deal - - we're your resource to find a quality professional and it's free to use for all homeowners!

Labels: Curb Appeal, Home Renovation, Renovation Contractor

Thanks to the soaring price of real estate, growing numbers of modest postwar homes are being gutted and rebuilt, not just to make them larger, but to bring them into current vogue as well.

When done with care, such drastic makeovers occasionally succeed. More often, though, they just obliterate the very traits that give a home character, replacing them with a confused muddle of real estate sales cliches.

The reason most makeovers fail is simple: Architectural style resides in the very bones of a building, not just on the surface.

A home's original style can't just be stripped away and replaced with another one, as you might throw a slipcover over an old sofa. Like the sofa, the basic form beneath will always show through.

The proportions of windows and doors, the pitch and style of the roof, and even the way a house occupies its site are all integral to its style, whether it be Victorian, Bungalow, Mediterranean or ranch.

Short of eradicating every trace of these features, it's no easy task to credibly transform one style into another. Nor is there much point in an exercise, which, at great expense, usually sacrifices a home's long-term timelessness for a few brief years of fashion currency.

Radical makeovers aren't a new idea, of course. During the first half of the 20th Century, when Victorian architecture was widely despised, those homes were often "modernized" into near-comical renditions of Spanish Revival, Bauhaus, or other more fashionable styles.

Ironically, now that Victorians are once again appreciated, those irreversibly re-muddled examples are worth markedly less than their unsullied neighbors.

Today's makeovers are no less ludicrous than those of years past. We just don't notice how jarringly inappropriate they are, because the homes involved don't yet seem worthy of respectful remodeling.

Right now, it's the misfortune of postwar houses -- especially the tract homes of the 1950's and '60s -- to inherit the oh-well-nothing-here-worth-saving status once accorded to Victorians, Bungalows and every other style temporarily at its nadir.

Drive down any suburban street and you're likely to find a mid-century home that's been re-muddled into oblivion.

Usually, these heavy-handed makeovers are meant to tart up the clean lines of postwar homes into something closer to the grab-bag traditionalism currently in vogue. More than a few such projects are carried out by speculative builders with a minimal grasp of the subtleties of postwar design. Many blithely load up on their favorite remodeling goodies from the local building emporium -- vinyl windows with divided lights, plastic six-panel doors and yard upon yard of crown molding -- convinced they're making some major improvements to that boring old ranch.

Yet such neo-traditionalist frou-frou has no place in mid-century homes, no matter how drastically revamped. The sort of frantic applique detailing so popular on today's tract houses is inevitably at odds with the intentionally calm lines of most postwar design.

Crown moldings and gridded windows won't change a ranch house into an Italian villa, any more than stucco and a red roof turned those Victorians into adobes.

About the Author
Arrol Gellner - Inman News


When you're ready to remodel your home, use ConstructionDeal.com to find a Home Remodeling Contractor!

Labels: Home Remodeling, Home Renovation, Remodeling Contractors

Should you take on your remodeling or home repair project yourself? Or should you hire an home improvement contractor to be the expert on the job?

Well, it all depends. To answer this question, you'll need to ask three more questions:

• Do I have the money?
• Do I have the time?
• Do I have the skills?

Do I have the money?

A big factor in any home improvement or repair is whether or not you can afford to hire a professional to do the work or, at least, help with the job. Paying for labor can add to the cost of any project, sometimes doubling it. Right? Like the answer to so many questions - it depends...

It's possible you might have to spend even more money by not hiring a contractor or subcontractor. If you do a project yourself, you might have to buy or rent tools to get the job done. And you could spend a lot more buying building materials. Many contractors get special deals for buying in bulk or have built up relationships with many suppliers. You might be paying retail while your contractor is buying wholesale. Finally, if your skill level is not up to par, and you have to pay a contractor to come out and fix your mistakes, your costs could shoot through the roof (that you just tried to replace!)

Always consider money when taking on a remodeling or do-it-yourself project. Without access to proper tools, special discounts, or how-to knowledge, you might need a pro to come in and do the job. If it's a simple project and you have the tools and the skills, then hiring someone else to do it could be the wrong move.

Unless...

Do I have the time?

Read more on the ConstructionDeal.com Resources page to find out if You Really Need a Contractor!

Labels: Home Remodeling, Home Renovation, Remodeling Contractors