Why getting 15 different estimates for your home renovation is the wrong way to start.

When sitting down and discussing all of the details for your upcoming basement or bathroom renovation, it is always difficult finding where to start. In between making decisions like tile colors, floor plan layouts, and deciding on a realistic budget for your project, the biggest decision you will make throughout this process is selecting the right contractor to produce the desired end result. Lets face it, the contractor you choose will basically be living with you and your family during the construction process, greeting you as you leave for work in the morning and cleaning up when you return in the evening…hopefully. Instead of calling 15 local contractors you find online for estimates and suggestions on finishes, try focusing on qualifying 2 or 3 companies based on the following guidelines and award your project on services provided and credentials and not only the lowest price.

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Communication is a very important consideration when hiring a professional remodeler. One point of contact throughout the process is a major consideration. Details and discussions will not get lost from design to construction with one point of contact. It is important to be aware of Home Builders who are entering the remodeling market now because of lack of new home start-ups. These firms have teams of sales, project managers and Directors of Construction who pass along your project as it develops. Multiple points of contact only create confusion. Ten emails or phone calls a day about the same one issue will only confuse the situation and just imagine this scenario over a 2 month renovation!

How clear is your end vision of the project? Since you most likely will have questions and considerations on the design and finished look, you will benefit from hiring a design / build renovation firm from the first discussions. Design / build renovation firms can provide accurate material cost estimations, which is important for determining your true budget for the renovation. When considering hiring an architect at the start of your planning, understand most architectural firms remove themselves from discussing costs of construction. This limits your preliminary information gathering when you are trying to grasp the true cost of your project from start to finish.

My remodeling company offers detailed proposals outlining materials, floor plan designs and cabinetry elevations for your home investment, which will be much more comprehensive than a number on a piece of paper. If your vision of the end result is not clear, calling 15 contractors for 15 ‘bids’ will only amount to confusion and bids that are all different.  This starting point adds confusion to your project and most likely, will lead you to miss out on the level of service you deserve and expect.

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More Than Take-Out…Take Home Commercial Kitchen Features for the Serious Home Chef

For homeowners who have answered the call for serving nutritious foods for their family and friends by swapping the take-out lines for home cooked meals, it is time to embellish your kitchen. Serious cooks are drawn to the commercial equipment featured under the bright lights of their neighborhood Bistros. Just look at the appliance advertisements highlighting $7,000 stainless steel Viking stoves spanning over 4 feet long. Architects and designers are answering the calls for these efficient cook and prep areas for today’s serious cooks. Follow these guidelines for a kitchen that can perform and handle your toughest customers – your friends and family.

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Design ideas for serious cooks start with lighting. Task lighting or direct lighting in the form of pendant lights or mini halogen spot lights over prep and serving areas are important. Lighting in the form of cabinet lighting and indirect ceiling lighting offers ambiance after the work is done for open floor plans and eat-in kitchens. Cultured Stone from Eldorado Stone is commonly used in today’s kitchens found surrounding built-in ovens or large hood / range combos. This stone is a beautiful accent used as a contrast to wood cabinetry.

A large prep area, disconnected from the main traffic areas, offset from the sink and stove is also important. Common design ideas for these prep areas are butcher block countertop islands. Another more featured design highlight for this type of prep or serving area is changing the cabinetry stain or door profile for a distinct look separating itself from other parts of the kitchen. Multiple dishwashers and multiple sinks are other important features for high-performance kitchens.

Large oversized stove options are endless. When considering your cooking and baking requirements, make sure to consider convection oven options and 6 burner stoves to provide ample space for completing multiple cooking tasks simultaneously. Venting is very important for the larger stovetops. Make sure your heating contractor is working directly with you during the design process to make sure your hood is properly sized and vented according to local codes. 

Designing the kitchen around the hood is important to consider. Sleek stainless steel free-standing hoods work well with modern kitchens. Traditional ornate kitchen design includes more subtle hints by hiding the hood behind the cabinetry, lessening the overpowering visual impact of large stainless steel hoods.

For the most demanding entertainers and household chefs, home design changes even futher to include mutiple kitchens and serving areas.  Rooftop commercial venting for rotisserie barbeques, custom vine cellars and pizza ovens make your home even more unique.  If your wishlist includes these features, make sure your design / build team is qualified to deliver.

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The Urban Ghost Town - Stalled Construction Eyesores....Buyer Beware

THE URBAN GHOST TOWN

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In today’s society it is commonplace to see stalled partially completed construction development projects. This is a prevalent situation in most urban neighborhoods and it is also very common in the suburban areas. There is a block in every town where a partially started construction project stands quiet, without any sounds of running power tools or heavy equipment tracking through the neighborhood. In some areas it is as commonplace as the boarded up foreclosures. Some causes stem from more housing being available on the market than buyers and buyers’ financing drying up as the banks tighten their belts.

As we have seen in the past, society recovers when the buyers and the banks eventually return. These jobsites will then continue working as ownership changes, bringing along with them new visions and new financing. When the buyer returns to the market, they should proceed with caution when purchasing new homes or condos from previously stalled projects.

Eventually when the paint and interior finishes are complete, you may never know the project stood vacant without any windows installed for 8 months. There are several problems with stalled construction projects, which the future buyers will inherit. The biggest source of future problems depends on at what point the construction process stalled out. If the exterior is not fully completed prior to the work stoppage, there will be future issues for potential homeowners.

For example, if the project stops before the windows or all exterior walls are completed, moisture in the form of rain, snow or excessive humidity will deteriorate interior framing and plywood subfloors. Repeated rains will imbed mold and mildew into wall framing, which could lead to obvious future problems. Unprotected plywood subflooring will delaminate and pose potential problems for hardwood flooring systems planned to be installed in the future. This will manifest in the form of ‘cupped’ floor boards and squeaking. Another problem with partially completed building envelopes is the windows. Moisture saturating unpainted interior window sills and jambs causes windows to improperly operate in the future. Big window manufacturers such as Pella and Marvin will document the construction conditions after delivery, which creates a case for these companies to potentially void the manufacturer’s warranty in the future.

There are several ways to avoid being a victim of a stalled construction project. You could check with the window manufacturer to inquire if they documented the project conditions after delivery. It is also important to be familiar with the neighborhood and its surroundings when purchasing a home. Talk to nearby homeowners and businesses, ask people’s opinions of local neighborhood builders.

You cannot always judge a book by its cover.

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Project Spotlight - Light Makeover For an Uncomfortable Bathroom

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Chicago Construction Works completed a light renovation, completely transforming the master bath for a local suburban homeowner. During the construction process, we positively identified the underlying problem with the old bathroom and implemented the homeowner's design and material finishes. The resulting end product is an inviting and comfortable bathroom with a few new features.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BATHROOM MOISTURE REMOVAL

The single, largest problem with the previous bathroom design was the absence of a bathroom fan. This simple little device is the most important component to extending the life of the finishes inside your bathroom. Moisture expelled from showering deteriorates paint, grout, cabinetry and walls behind the tiles in the shower or bathtub. Once mildew embeds itself behind the tiles in the wallboard, it is impossible to keep the shower area clean. At this point, the tiles, including the wall, must be replaced.

NEW MASTER BATHROOM FEATURES
We started with a complete demolition of the existing fixtures and finishes. The ceramic tiles, associated shower drywall and insulation were taken down. The existing plastic shower pan was disconnected from the drain line and removed. The toilet, vanity and sink were also removed. After the demolition was complete, new Durock cement board was installed in the shower stall in lieu of conventional drywall green board. Durock cement board was also installed over the vinyl flooring to accept new floor and wall tiles. New porcelain floor tiles were installed on a diagonal run. New porcelain tiles were also installed on the shower walls, from floor to ceiling. A new vanity, countertop, faucet and associated plumbing were centered over a new wall sconce.
A new oversized bathroom fan was installed and vented through the attic outside the house. Finally, the shower floor was poured over a rubber liner, incorporating a new drain. Smaller 1” tiles were sloped to the new drain. The duration of the project was 6 days with minimal interruption to the homeowners during the construction process.

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Planning Your Home Spa Bathroom Suite

While the American homeowner is reconsidering the purchase of the McMansion these days, there are certain portions of your home that should not be downsized. Larger kitchens that focus on a surrounding open floor plan and a large master bathroom suite are both very smart upgrades that promote a healthy resale value. Not to mention, the functionality and level of comfort a large master bathroom suite brings to your everyday life is second to none. Now the 5’x7’ bathrooms with the door hitting the toilet as you walk in, have buyers looking the other way.

The bathroom space in the home has evolved, and the focus of the master bathroom has shifted from a utilitarian place in the household to a space that homeowners are residing in to relax, recuperate and enjoy. A leading trend displayed at the National Association of Home Builders annual convention has been the popularity of ‘dueling master bathroom suites’ (2 bedrooms both with master bathrooms) for Baby Boomers whose families have moved and return to visit.

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IMPORTANT PRELIMINARY DESIGN DECISIONS FOR YOUR MASTER BATHROOM SUITE

Homeowners who are starting the design process with an Architect or General Contractor should strongly consider these important decisions, which will save money and headaches when decided before the renovation or new construction process starts.

1. Is the upgrade shower spa going to be a part of the master bath suite? This should be the first decision made by homeowners. This sole part of the bathroom suite impacts all of the mechanical systems involved. A Larger electrical service may be needed for larger whirlpools or steam packages. Larger plumbing waste and supply lines will be needed for multiple shower heads and body sprays. Kohler’s DTV Custom Showering Experience is a cutting edge shower control system that gives a normal shower stall a life of its own. This system has plumbing and electrical re-wire implications that should be considered early in the design process.

2. Will the shower also duel as a steam room? If you are deciding to incorporate a steam room / shower feature, this area needs special attention. The steam room should be large enough, with a bench seat for one or two people to sit comfortably. A larger electrical line will need to be run to power the steamer controls. All surfaces of the shower will need tiling and a larger door with a tight gasket will also need to be considered. Finally, a rubber membrane will need to be added to the wall system prior to the wall tile being installed to prevent mold and leaks inside the wall, which is the most common item missed by contractors.

3. Is the whirlpool the focal point? Kohler’s SOK Overflow Tubs can be as large as seven to eight feet in length. With tubs of this size, additional structural floor framing should be considered underneath the tub. An electrical pre-wire of multiple 220 circuits may be needed for this size tub’s jets and heater functions.

4. I-Pod / Speaker system pre-wire. This feature is very economical and usually is the most used. With the I-Pod being as common place these days as cell phones, everyone should consider this option. A simple wall docking system for your MP3 player or I-Pod wired to a couple of ceiling speakers can create an entertainment feature for under $500. Kohler’s DTV Custom Showering Experience controls multiple shower heads and body sprays that can be programmed to connect to an I-Pod for listening enjoyment inside your shower, using waterproof rated speakers!

5. Consider a tankless hot water system. A tankless hot water system is a must for the high demands the upgrade master bathrooms. These tankless systems supply endless hot water that does not fluctuate with increased demand. Consult your local plumbing supplier for proper sizing and / or the possibility of needing more than one tankless systems synchronized to work simultaneously to meet your family’s hot water needs. Tax credits are now available to homeowners considering this installation for this year.

6. Consider multiple bathroom exhaust fans. This small detail seems silly, but should be considered with master bathroom suites having larger footprints. A quick rule of thumb is one fan for every 45 square feet of bathroom area.

7. Consider a separate toilet stall partition. Treat your new master bathroom suite as another room in your house and not just as a bathroom by adding a door to separate the toilet area from the bathroom suite.

8. Consider insulating bathroom walls. Additional insulation in the walls and ceilings around bathrooms will dampen the sound of running water from other parts of the house. Sound attenuation using batt insulation is very affordable that will help you sleep better at night!

9. Consider radiant floor heating features. This is another comfort feature that has preliminary electrical requirements. All of these electrical additions listed above combined may require an upgraded panel or an additional sub panel.

Make sure your electrician, plumber and plumbing supply house are actively involved early to help you plan and consider everything from service requirements to fixture selections. Instead of focusing on which plumber is cheaper before the start of the project, focus your attention on qualifications and certifications.

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Steps for Brightening your Kitchen - For Any Budget

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With the warm spring weather approaching, this is the time to open the discussion on upgrading your kitchen area. Whether you like it or not, your kitchen is the interior focal point of your home. With open floor plans promoting the integration of the living room, dining room and kitchen area - your family and friends congregate in your kitchen when entertaining. The kitchen is the dirtiest area in the house. Food preparation, cleaning dirty dishes, cooking grease and pet’s food bowls constantly create a mess that builds up over time. So let’s clean it up! This most used space generally needs attention every few years in varying degrees. Here are some renovation ideas in varying magnitudes ranging from a light upgrade to a full overhaul.

LOW COST & IMPACT IDEAS

If a full-blown kitchen renovation is not in your budget or timeframe at this time, here are suggestions on low-cost lighter impact ideas that will change the look without all the dust. The touch factor….there are very few places in the house that you and your family directly interact with and actually touch on a daily basis. Examples are faucets, cabinetry knobs, door handles and appliances. All of these items are in your kitchen! Some low cost low impact kitchen renovation ideas are replacing cabinet door handles, installing a new kitchen faucet or installing new electrical switches or dimmers.

FOR MID RANGE BUDGETS

We have options available for homeowners that are looking for a little more ‘pop’ on top of their
current kitchen design. These changes do not carry a high price tag.

1. Install a tile mosaic backsplash under the wall cabinetry. These areas of the kitchen show dirt and wear the most. A new tile mosaic backsplash will cover the bad caulk lines on the countertop, grease from the stove and grime above the kitchen sink on the wall.

2. Install a new kitchen sink and faucet. A new self rimming or under-mount kitchen sink and faucet can improve the functionality of your workspace.

3. Replace sections or all of your countertops. Countertops come in all sizes and materials these days. Granite and laminate tops are most popular. Green options are Quartz and Bamboo. If a full countertop replacement is not an option, consider replacing part of the workspace with a butcher-block top. Reconstruct a new kitchen island. Removing and replacing your existing kitchen island with a newly designed island will bring that custom look to your kitchen area. New island options include a different stain color on the cabinetry, chopping-block countertops, accent lighting, drawer bank cabinetry storage, etc.

FULL KITCHEN RENOVATIONS

Homeowners who are researching options available for their complete kitchen renovation can take advantage of new and cutting edge installations. The National Association of Home Builders constantly promotes the latest ideas in kitchen design. Here are just a few of the cutting edge concepts and ideas for new kitchens:

1. Install a professional slide-in or over-sized gas range. The sleek looking professional ranges add a distinct look and functionality to kitchens.

2. Install dual dishwashers. Larger families all know how quick you can be outnumbered by your dishes. Installing two dishwashers is an effective way to keep your daily kitchen workload to a minimum. The dishwasher is the least expensive appliance in a new appliance package purchase.

3. Upgrade your kitchen lighting. While the walls and ceilings are open, adding additional lighting to your existing electrical circuits is very easy. You perform different tasks in the kitchen so different forms of lighting are essential. Task lighting and accent lighting include recessed can lights, pendants, under-cabinet lighting, indirect lighting and interior cabinet low voltage lighting.

4. Include a mobile storage hub. Everyone is wired with mobile phones, PDA’s and I-Pods these days. Make certain when designing your new kitchen you include an area with additional countertop space, electrical outlets and / or cabinetry cubby holes for the storage of chargers and these devices. We all know how quickly outlets disappear when everyone has a charger for a portable device plugged in!Include an adjacent work area. Most new kitchen floor plans are incorporating a small work area directly part of or adjacent to the kitchen for children to work on homework or a spouse to plug in a laptop and not be in another room when their significant other is working in the kitchen area.

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