Tips Archives - Windham Construction

4 Questions to Ask Your Remodeling Contractor

August 15, 2018 by Alison Windham ·

No matter what venture you’re about to enter into, it’s best to be prepared. If you’ve never has a remodeling project done in your home before, you can do your own research about companies, products, and processes. However, there’s no better resource than going straight to the expert. Here are a few of the most important questions to ask your remodeling contractor in order to be more informed about your project and your choices.

Do You Have a License and Certificate of Insurance?

This is one of the most basic questions to ask, and something you need to know before hiring. Licenses are a requirement to work as a contractor in Brazos Valley, and while insurance is technically optional, it’s ideal. A contractor’s insurance protects you from being held liable in the event of property damage or injury on the job.You may also check for the contractor’s license online.

What’s the Timeline to Complete This Project?

Chances are, this question is already on your mind. Remodeling projects are much like moving: people enjoy the finished project but usually not the process. The timeline is also important to keep in mind because it will need to coincide with your schedule. For instance, maybe you need the project to be finished before summer break starts for your kids, or before your move-in date. Maybe you’re preparing to sell and the sooner the project is finished, the sooner you can list your home. Make sure to ask, too, what their protocol is in the event of adverse weather and whether they have other projects that could delay the timeline for your project.

Do You Have Your Own Crew or Work With Subcontractors?

Remodeling contractors don’t always have their own crew; in fact, very often, it will actually be subcontractors who do the physical work on your home. That’s not always a bad thing. Often these contractors have been working with the contractor for so long they might as well be their own team. Ask your contractor how long they’ve worked with their subcontractors, and if the subcontractors are also insured. You should also ask how often the contractor will be there to check on the work.

How Does Payment Work?

Very rarely will you pay the entire cost of your project upfront, and if a contractor insists upon it, you should probably avoid them. Instead, you’ll pay on a payment schedule, and that schedule varies from company to company. If the payment schedule seems overwhelming for you, ask about financing options. Many contractors have financing plans to help fit into your budget. Just ask how to apply for a plan that fits within your budget so that your payment plan suits you as well as the contractor.

If you have an upcoming remodeling project in Brazos Valley, Windham Construction can help. With over 20 years of remodeling experience in the area, we’re qualified to answer any questions you might have about your project or the way we do business. Contact us today for more information or a free estimate.

Filed Under: Remodeling, Renovation, Tips ·

3 Hardwood Flooring Trends of 2018

August 1, 2018 by Alison Windham ·

Hardwood floors have been the favorite of homeowners for decades, and 2018 is no exception. They’re smooth, beautiful, easier to clean than carpet, and you can always embrace your inner child by sliding around hardwood floors in your socks. Whether you prefer a rustic design for your home, a classic colonial style, or something sleek and modern, hardwood floors provide an attractive solution.

So it seems almost redundant to talk about hardwood floors as a trend of 2018. Instead, let’s talk about the trends within hardwood flooring.

Hardwood All Over

What we have noticed this year is an uptick in how much hardwood flooring homes contain. For some time, hardwood has been a popular choice for living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and the like. However, this year it seems as though you can find hardwood in just about every room. Many homeowners are redoing their kitchens and entryways in order to make the switch to hardwood floors. True hardwood remains a risky choice for bathrooms, because of the propensity for water spillage and humidity. However, with advances in engineered wood or faux hardwood, you may even start to notice hardwood bathrooms soon.

Faux Hardwood

Sometimes you want the look of hardwood, but you don’t want the maintenance or cost of hardwood flooring. In that case, you might be interested in faux hardwood flooring. You can find laminate flooring for your kitchen that has the authentic look and texture of wood with an overlay of plastic that keeps it waterproof. Vinyl, however, can be made to mimic the look and texture of wood, and it’s much more affordable. Cork flooring is becoming a popular alternative to true wood flooring, partly because it’s a green choice. It can be made with recycled cork, and if you decide to take it out, it can be recycled itself.

Reclaimed Wood

Another green option when it comes to hardwood flooring is to use reclaimed wood, and with our society becoming more and more environmentally conscious, this option has really taken off in 2018. Reclaimed wood requires no additional trees to be cut and there’s much less production effort. It also often comes with rich character and texture that homeowners prefer stylistically. If you prefer a rustic style for your home, reclaimed hardwood flooring is a perfect choice. The grooves in the wood are a little deeper, and the discoloration can be seen throughout. Some even prefer to use reclaimed wood that’s mismatched, using some boards that have been painted and others that haven’t, for an added touch of character.

What do you think about the recent hardwood floor trends? Are there any that could be right for your home, using either traditional hardwood floor, reclaimed wood, or wood alternatives? If you’re interested in making a switch to hardwood flooring, you can trust Windham Construction with our 20+ years of experience in Brazos Valley as your remodeling contractor. Contact us today for more information or a free quote for your next remodeling project.

Filed Under: Home Remodel College Station TX, Remodeling, Tips ·

Is a Vintage Style Right For Your Home?

June 15, 2018 by Alison Windham ·

A big part of deciding to remodel is settling on a style that you want for your space at the end of project. Remodeling can be an opportunity not just to fix problem areas or update an old room, but to play with different styles. Among those is the vintage style — which is, more accurately, a wide genre of styles. In the design world, a “vintage” design can be anything that harkens back to the styles of the past.

Vintage is something many homeowners consider when remodeling their kitchen, living room, or bedroom. But is it right for your home? Here are a few reasons that homeowners choose vintage styles.

Versatility

Again, vintage has a rather wide definition. It can mean anything from art deco to mid-century modern. It can have the look of a rustic farmhouse or play on the classic features of the house by exposing a red brick wall or ceiling beams. Because of this, vintage styles can suit a wide variety of homeowners with a wide variety of tastes. Vintage styles can also work in just about any room, be it kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, or even hallway. If you like a vintage style, you can incorporate it anywhere.

Nostalgia

This is the main reason so many people enjoy vintage remodeling styles. Maybe they’re attached to the style they grew up with, or the style of their grandparents’ home. Maybe they just fell in love with the look of a kitchen in their favorite old movie. Even those who don’t necessarily want past eras to return may want to bring back the best styles from those times. Fortunately, you can do that. We haven’t lost the sharp contrast of light and dark colors that made art deco rooms what they are, or the wood and carpet materials of mid-century modern rooms. When it comes to your home’s look, you can be as nostalgic as your heart desires.

Preservation

In some ways, this is tied to nostalgia, but it’s less nostalgia for a certain time and more a nostalgia for the early days of your home. Let’s say you live in a house that has a lot of history to it, something that was built 50, 60, even 100 years ago. Of course, over time that house has been updated so that it now has all the modern appliances, but you want to hold on to some of its historic charm. One way to do that without losing the contemporary conveniences is by remodeling some of the rooms to create a more vintage style. Mirror the style off of the time in which the home was first built. Infuse the best of the colors, shapes, and materials from that age.

Whatever style you’re looking for when it comes to your remodeling project, Windham Construction can help. We have over 20 years of experience with remodeling projects in Brazos Valley, both indoors and even in your outdoor space with arbors and decks. Contact us today and let us know what remodeling work you need done.

Filed Under: Remodeling, Renovation, Tips ·

4 Ways to Add Light to Your Brazos Valley Home

June 1, 2018 by Alison Windham ·

It’s a universal fact that humans crave light. It’s not just a matter of being able to see. Light cheers us and motivates us. Light helps us to stay energized and focused during the day and sleep better at night. Natural sunlight is especially beneficial to both our physical and mental health, but being surrounded by light in general can’t help but lift our moods.

The problem is that when it comes to electrical light, filling the room can quickly become expensive. That’s why homeowners often search for other methods of adding light to their home. Here are a few methods they’ll often use:

Simple Window Treatments

If you have a great window, you really don’t need to adorn it with elaborate window treatments. A thin frame and maybe simple window shutters should be enough to do the trick. This is especially true with wide, tall, floor-to-ceiling windows. The lighter the window frame, the more the window itself is accentuated — and the more light it allows into your home.

Light Walls

This is no secret, but it really can help to fill a room with sunlight. Dark painted walls can make a bold statement in a room, and that suits some homeowners. However, if your goal is to optimize the light in the room, light colored walls are essential. Light colors will reflect light from the windows or light fixtures in your room, to make sure that you get the most of it. Dark colors will only swallow that light. That doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to white walls. Yellow or blue or even light green will all reflect light and give the room an airy atmosphere.

Clear or Reflective Accent Pieces

A clear vase with glass marbles inside. A transparent coffee or dining room table surface. A mirror on the wall or ornate glass on a side table. All of these accent pieces will either reflect or allow light to shine through them, which further helps it to spread throughout the room. They also add to that airy atmosphere that we discussed above.

Cut Down on Clutter

You don’t have to go for minimalism, although minimalist spaces and light are a natural fit. However, you don’t want the room to be too busy, either. If your bookshelf is a little too cluttered, or you have a few boxes in the back of the room that you’ve been meaning to move for months, this is a good time to do it. If the kids toys are always lying around, consider giving them a designated play room or play area.

Adding light to your room can not only help you feel more cheerful and content in your home, but it can be inviting for guests and healthy for the whole family. If you need help adding light to your home, contact Windham Construction. We can repaint a room, add windows, or even create a sunroom for that specific purpose. We have over 20 years of experience remodeling homes in Brazos Valley and we’d love to help you, too. Contact us today and tell us your vision for your lighter, brighter living space.

Filed Under: Blog, DIY, Tips ·

Why Spring is the Best Time of Year for Remodeling

May 15, 2018 by Alison Windham ·

With the right construction company to help with your remodeling project, any time of year can be a good time of year for remodeling. However, remodeling professionals often find spring to be the start of their peak season and homeowners often see spring and early summer as the best time of year to start their remodeling projects.

It’s the season of spring cleaning, of refreshing and making improvements. Here are a few reasons why so many people find spring to be the best time of year for remodeling.

You’ve Lived With Your Home’s Flaws All Winter

Because of cooler temperatures, winter is the time of year that people tend to spend most indoors. Because you’re at home more often during the winter, you become more acquainted with all of the quirks of your home, both good or bad. It’s in winter that you’ll be most aware of that draft in the living room or how tired you are of the wallpaper in your home office. The holiday season may also make you painfully aware of a need for a larger kitchen or dining room.

Often throughout the winter, homeowners find themselves creating a checklist in their minds of ways that they can improve their homes. So when the snow melts and the sun comes out again, what better time than now to get started on those renovations?

The Weather is Warmer, But The Kids Are Still in School

While summer is still a popular season for home remodeling projects, homeowners may have to juggle with kids running around the house during the time of a remodeling project. This is another advantage that spring has when it comes to remodeling projects. The longer days and warmer weather are here, but the kids are still in school, which makes the remodeling go more smoothly overall. It will also make a nice surprise for the kids on the last day of remodeling to come home from school and see the finished project.

The Tax Returns Are In

It’s no secret: remodeling projects are no cheap. But if you’ve been in need of a remodel for some time, it might be worth the money spent to hire a professional contractor to remodel your kitchen, bathroom, deck, and so on and so forth. One way that the timing of spring is perfect is that it’s tax season, which means it’s time to get your tax return. People often prefer to use their tax returns on one big project or venture that they wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise — why not take care of your remodeling with this year’s tax return?

This spring, or any other time of year, Windham Construction can help you with any of your remodeling needs. We are a family owned company with over 20 years of experience in Brazos Valley. We handle anything from deck and sunroom installations to kitchen and bathroom remodeling to window installation and painting. Whatever your project might be, contact us today. Tell us what you’re looking to do in your home, and how we can help.