Whether you have owned your home for a few months or many years, all homeowners can benefit from a home remodel. Remodeling projects greatly vary – are you looking to spruce up a fireplace surround, or is your home in need of a complete home makeover? If you feel it’s time for a home overhaul, a remodel can make your dreams come true and help you turn your house into the home you’ve always imagined. Before you get started, however, know that the remodeling process itself can give you nightmares. You should proceed with caution if you are thinking about a home remodel. Read on for more guidance on this endeavor.

Before you even start the process, you must first set aside a budget for this project. How do you know you have enough? Put together a list of your desired remodel projects and get an estimate from several contractors; this will give you a good idea of what your home remodel will cost. How do you look for good contractors? Begin by checking the phone book and websites for contractors in your area. Ask friends, family and coworkers if they have any personal experience working with a contractor they would recommend.

When searching for the right contractor, remember to check their experience and expertise. Have they been in business for a long time? Do they specialize in particular remodel projects? It is also a good idea to ask for references. A good contractor will have many references to share with you. Be wary of those who don’t as this could be a sign of inexperience or a contractor who doesn’t have a good working relationship with clients. If they have one, ask to view their portfolio of past home remodels to see what the contractor has accomplished. Work with someone you trust. You want to get quality results within your budget.

The Next step is knowing what you want to be accomplished. If you aren’t sure exactly what you want, work closely with your contractor; they will be able to give you technical insight and experience-based knowledge that will help you decide where to spend your remodeling budget. Get a blueprint of your house and determine which parts will need the renovation. Are there things that need immediate structural repair? Perhaps there are cracked walls, or weakened beams, or damaged sidings. These things should get the foremost attention.

Be certain of the new look that you want to have for your home. You may want to get suggestions from a professional so they can help you realize your home remodel ideas. Planning and design always come first before any work is begun. Keep in mind that kitchen and bathroom remodeling add a lot of value to your home, but they are also more difficult and more expensive due to added plumbing and electrical requirements.

Here are some questions to ask yourself in a home remodel project:

• Do you want a good landscape for your lawn?
• A nice façade for your home?
• How big is your living room and what type of furniture do you want for it?
• Do you wish to have a separate entertainment room for your latest home theater system and other electronic gadgets?
• What theme do you want for your kitchen and how big should it be?
• What appliances will you get for your cooking needs?
• How space should the dining room be?
• What kind of lighting do you want for it?
• How many bedrooms are in the house?
• What specifications do you want for each?
• How many bathrooms are in the house?
• Do you want a consistent look for them?
• Would you consider getting a bathroom suite for this?

Remember that besides the aesthetic features that you may want to improve, note also the soundness of the functional features of the house like the electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning systems.

Know the timeline for the home remodel to be finished. Work closely with the contractors. You should be updated with the progress as frequently as possible. Ask questions about the remodel should you have any. Remember, once the work is finished,you should come home to the house of your dreams!

Congratulations! You’ve decided to remodel your home. There is can be a wide spectrum of emotions from excitement, uncertainty and sometimes trepidation in making decisions. One of the most common problems people are having today is how to navigate their way through the myriad of choices and pressure from the web to catch up to speed with the latest trends.

Home Remodeling

Let’s put trends into perspective and explore what they really mean to you as a remodeling client.

The definition of a trend is the general direction in which something is developing or changing. Trend setting is usually set on the east and west coasts and slowly travels throughout the country. Now the internet has hopped on board and the explosion of trends are displayed on Houzz, Pinterest and hundreds of other sites. There are all kinds of trends to consider and sometimes overwhelms clients who are trying to find their own since of style for their home remodeling.

On the flip side these sites can be a helpful tool to help see completed projects, styles and trends. I often encourage clients to take a look to see if something speaks to them when they are at a total loss for direction. But some become confused, self-doubt their own preferences and feel pressured to go in a direction that may not make them happy. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard “I know this is the trend but I just don’t know if it’s me.” So, it’s always wise to back up and take a few easy steps to find out what you’re looking for.

 Kitchen Remodel – Bathroom Remodel

1. Think about color first. What colors make you happy? Are you drawn towards warm colors, beiges, taupe, and earth tones? Or cool colors, grays, blues, cool undertones. The trends right now are gray tones but if are a warm color person then stick with it! There are updated colors that look fresh and will please you.
2. What style do you like? Traditional, rustic, french country, contemporary/modern etc. Trends are showing a lot more of the contemporary flair. But if you are drawn to another style that’s completely ok! Traditional and other forms have also advanced and incorporated elements that give a new updated look.
3. Now that you have these two elements decided, you can begin to consider what kind of countertops, cabinet styles, flooring, and finishes you want.
4. Do you prefer a calm field or lots of movement? People sometimes try to make themselves like surfaces they know others like. This usually pertains to countertop selections and tile/floor. Trends are showing a lot of quartz and marble which are calmer fields, but granite is still very popular. There is a wide array of both to choose from and you should select what you like. Remember, you will be living with it.

Trends give us a barometer for new colors, decorating elements and stylized movement into different or sometimes reemerged components. It is possible for everyone to incorporate new elements into every style and project. Touches of accents in a backsplash or shower can freshen up the look. It’s all a matter of finding what will speak to you and if it will still speak to you in the future. If you think you’ll tire of seeing a certain element in a few years, then you might want to tweak it.

The wonderful thing about living in Texas is that we have every style represented and there’s something for everyone to identify with. Take into consideration the style of your home, your preferences and how long you plan to remain in the house. Sometimes timeless over trendy will stand the test of time. Remodeling should not dictate to you, your preferences should direct the design and finishes. Happy remodeling!

A large part of a homeowner’s job during home remodeling in College Station, TX or Bryan, TX is simply surviving the process without getting too stressed out. Even a general remodel upsets the natural flow of your life and makes it more difficult to get things done, but temporarily out of service kitchens and bathrooms can really cause problems for the unprepared.

Before the Kitchen or Bathroom Remodel Begins

If you hire reputable building company, they will be happy to work with you as you lay down some ground rules about when they can work and what access they have to the house. Of course, having handyman services or home remodeling (bath & kitchen in particular) done requires strangers to walk around your house and interact with your family in some manner.

Meet with the person in charge of the process and discuss such things as the earliest and latest working hours, which door they should use access the house and how, which parts of the house they can access as needed and even such things as where they can smoke or if they can play music as they work.

During the Kitchen or Bathroom Remodeling Process

These two rooms are the most frequently used and most irreplaceable in a house. If, for example, you are having a bedroom repainted or Skytunnel skylights installed in the living room, you can make other sleeping arrangements or simply stay out of the room for a while. Bathrooms need to be used regularly and the kitchen is where you cook all the family meals. If the only bathroom in the house is being remodeled, staying at a hotel or a friend’s house may be the best idea.

It is essential that everyone in the family understands when they can access the rooms being remodeled and when they have to stay away. This is especially true for kids who may be curious about the process. If the stove and fridge are still in place during the remodeling process in College Station, TX, cooking meals in advance and fetching them from the fridge quickly can help you stay well fed without disrupting the workers who are diligently finishing the remodeling job.

Keep the Family Happy During a Remodeling

Not being able to use the kitchen or bathroom can cause stress within the family as well. As long as you picked a reputable home remodeler in the Brazos Valley, TX, the workers are sure to be diligent and quick so you can have your home back as soon as possible. The idea behind remodeling, of course, is to have a new, more attractive room to use. Focus on positive outcome rather than the stressful process. Make sure everyone in the family understands how long it will take and what to expect before the job commences.

Going into it with realistic expectations, clear guidelines and a positive attitude can help. A bathroom or kitchen remodel can improve the family living space and the value of the property, but the process can be disruptive and even stressful.

Adding extra living space to your home always provides more options for a comfortable family life and entertaining, but having an entire addition put on can be cost prohibitive and too disruptive. When you don’t need another whole room, contact experts in home renovation College Station, TX or home remodeling Brazos Valley, TX to find out what your options are for sun rooms and screened porches.

Five Useful Reasons to Get a Sunroom or Screen Porch Addition

1. Creates another whole room to play or work in.
2. Allows you to enjoy the outdoors without glaring sunlight or biting insects.
3. A great place to grow plants and extend your garden indoors.
4. Helps regulate home temperature in an earth friendly way.
5. Increases property value.

General Remodel Options for Home Additions

Sun rooms and screened porches give more living space and create an interesting combination of indoor and outdoor living that is very accessible and dynamic depending upon the season and weather conditions. Deciding which one to have built is something you, the homeowner, need to discuss with experts in home remodeling in College Station, TX or Bryan, TX. They should be able to use their knowledge and experience about home construction and remodeling to recommend the best option for you.

A sun room is much closer to an actual room of the house, but with a lot more windows, glass walls or sliding glass doors that lead out to the backyard or a patio or deck. Although most people install shades or curtains in the sun room to keep out the hottest sun, they do tend to heat up in the hot Texas weather. They make excellent greenhouses if you want to start seeds or grow exotic houseplants.

The screened porch is more like a deck or patio that has an impermeable roof to keep off the sun and rain and screen windows to keep out insects and debris. These can be built on top of an existing deck or added separately to the back wall of the home or even created from a freestanding gazebo. Experts in home remodeling and design can help decide what works best for your needs.

Although both sun rooms and screened porches get a large amount of light, there are additional options that may accentuates the sunny glow of your new home edition. Many people put skylights in these types of rooms in order to increase brightness and offer a way to create more airflow to remove heat accumulated near the ceiling. Although they do not open, Suntunnel skylights offer a simple way to illuminate a screened porch or sun room without the need for electricity.

Home Remodeling in College Station, TX

Improve Kitchen and Bath Lighting With Suntunnel Skylights and New Windows

Before your first cup of coffee or invigorating shower in the morning, the harsh glare of fluorescent or incandescent bulbs can seem like a shock after the quiet dark of your bedroom. During a general remodel of a home, light fixtures can be changed and dimmer switches can be installed, but there is another option that brings natural sunlight into your kitchen and bathroom without the need for electrical re-wiring or extensive home remodeling (bath & kitchen in particular) in College Station and Bryan, TX.

Choose the Right Windows for Every Room

When you undertake home remodeling in College Station, TX, replacement windows may be one of the improvements in your budget. Although it is good to have a cohesive window type throughout the house, there are options for particular rooms that may serve you better.

Bathrooms require not only a way to get some fresh air but also privacy. Having large windows in the bathroom is not standard design procedure, but they can work if certain steps are taken to ensure no neighbors or passersby can begin and what you shower or change. One option is to replace standard, clear glass with frosted glass or even stained-glass options if they match your overall decor style.

Kitchens are usually meant to be bright and sunny places, so large windows are perfect for them. Natural light is easier on the eyes and can help you see particular ingredients better when cooking. Some say that people enjoy food better when they can see its attractive presentation.

Other Options for Natural Light in Kitchens and Bathrooms

If you peruse online home decor websites or magazines, you will notice that many kitchens and bathrooms have spotlighting or recessed lighting strips to add additional light to the work areas of the room. Experts who do home remodeling in Bryan, TX can certainly install these types of lights so you can cook more easily or shave and apply makeup in front of the bathroom mirror.

Besides electric lights, there are other options that will give you sufficient brightness in natural tones without having to spend any money or energy at all. Skylights are one option. They come in various sizes and styles to suit particular room’s needs.

In a kitchen, a large skylight that can open and close and provide not only lights but a way to vent the heat of cooking or any smells that may linger after dinner. The same benefit can be found in the bathroom, but since they are usually smaller rooms, a large skylight may be overwhelming. One option that provides an amazing amount of light but not the vent benefit is Skytunnel skylights. These cylindrical holes through the roof have special lenses above to magnify the sunlight down into the room. They are essentially natural spotlighting for workspaces.

Whatever option you choose for additional light in kitchens and bathrooms, be sure it fits your purposes and decor style. During you home remodel, changing windows and adding skylights can be affordable way to spruce up your living space and make it easier to manage those early morning tasks.