There are many reasons why people remodel their homes. After nearly 30 years in this business, I could easily write an article listing all of the reasons why I have seen people remodel an existing home as well as reasons why they chose to build a new home with specific features. But the most common reason homeowners remodel is to improve their comfort. Yet while the end result can be increased comfort, the remodeling process can at times be less than comforting.
If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen or bathroom or to add on much needed space, we have some advice.
As I said, I have made my living for nearly 30 years as a home builder and a remodeling contractor. During that time, I have helped hundreds of homeowners transform their dreams into reality.
Whether we’re talking with a prospective client or addressing consumers at a seminar, we always begin our discussion by stating the three most important steps of a remodeling project. They are, in order of importance:
- Planning
- Planning
- You guessed it, PLANNING
We believe that planning is the best defense against things going awry. It is much easier on the check book, construction schedule and nerves to move a wall on the drawing board, or computer monitor, using an eraser, or a mouse, than to tear out the studs, drywall, and wiring using a hammer and pry-bar.
Seat-of-the-pants planning is risky. Most decisions should be made before the first nail is driven. Size, design, finish selections (doors, hardware, plumbing fixtures, appliances, counters, cabinets, flooring, paint colors, etc.), schedule (commencement and completion dates), contract language (yes, there should be a contract) and, last but not least, cost are among the many details that should be worked out before signing on the bottom line.
Pressure from a contractor to begin a job right away and make decisions along the way is higher risk for being a recipe for disaster. Some contractors may call it “Fast Tracking” a project. This is not uncommon with large commercial project that take a year or longer to complete. However, this should rarely be done with most residential projects. Failure to plan properly is why I hear frequently about kitchen and bathroom projects taking over six months to complete. With proper planning, a kitchen or bath should never take more than six weeks. Even six weeks is a long time to wait for a remodeling project in such a personal space. Many times we can complete a modest bathroom in two weeks and a kitchen in 4 to 5 weeks.
A key element of good planning is making decisions that will give you the biggest bang for your buck. Some people think they can save money by performing some of the remodeling tasks themselves or by using home-center “bargain basement” products such as plumbing fixtures, lighting and paint. Be careful not be penny-wise and pound-foolish. I’ve seen homeowners try to save money by reusing plumbing fixtures and appliances. The old stuff might not look bad in its original setting, but with new walls and fixtures, an old tub or appliance can look mighty ugly. The few hundred dollars that you save in purchasing a new fixture can cost you thousands in the long run in diminished value. Not to mention the fact that an old appliance will probably not be energy-efficient, or repair parts might be impossible to find.
The design of your project has a tremendous impact on how it is perceived and, hence, its value. Installing basic cabinets and counter tops and expensive ceramic tile on the floor is ill-advised. This creates a mix of low-end and high-end finishes. You would be better served to spend less on the floor and more on the cabinets and counters…for uniformity. The same mistake is often made when choosing appliances. Avoid picking one high-end product and then choosing mid- or bottom-tier items to keep your budget intact. This approach gives an imbalanced look to the room. A better solution is to start with more mid-range products across the board.
Painting is one of the most popular do-it-yourself tasks. Almost anyone can paint, or so they think. Just ask my wife, she won’t let me within 10 feet of a paint brush. And even if you are a better painter than I am, painting takes a lot of time and can stall the finish of your beautiful new space. Fortunately, we have craftsmen on our team who are excellent painters. Getting back to the subject; you can buy the most beautiful doors and trim, and have the best wall finish, and destroy them with a substandard finish. If you do decide to do your own painting, avoid the common mistake that some people make of buying bargain-basement paint. If you buy cheap paint, you’ll be applying coat after coat trying to get the paint to cover. Cheap paint has cheap ingredients. It requires more coats for good coverage, fades more quickly, won’t wash well and will require repainting sooner. Buy high-quality, brand-name paint. It will pay for itself in the long run.
Need to cut costs? Consider using less expensive finishes that mimic the more expensive stuff. For example, some modern plastic laminate counter patterns can look exactly like natural granite. Keep in mind that, if necessary, counters can be replaced down the road when budgets permit. The places not to cut corners are in the walls with plumbing and electrical. Installing extra outlets and wiring for extra phone and fax lines and running cable for televisions and computers can cost pennies on the dollar while walls are open. Doing this after the fact can get expensive.
For more information on how to get the most for your remodeling dollar and how to get through a remodeling project unscathed, you can always call or e-mail one of our Designers for a no obligation design consultation (office: 703-537-0930, email: info@summitdesignremodeling.com). We serve all of Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland.
Michael Crum, GMB, CGR, CGB
Summit Design Remodeling
