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 You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand that home renovation can be a major undertaking. Nor do you have to send NASA all those calculations, presumptions and conclusions in order to buckle in for the thrill ride of home repair. But how easy is it to ensure that your project is less house of horrors and more tunnel of love?
WHERE TO START
According to the 2005 Cost vs. Value Report midrange bathroom improvements of about $10,500 yielded a national average 102.2% return on investment (ROI). The same report also noted that kitchen upgrades classified as “minor” (costing around $14,900) offered a 98.5% return while “upscale” improvements averaging $81,552 only offered a 84.8% recoup of investment. This proves that how you spend your money will be largely dictated by where you spend your money when improving your home.
The kitchen is the second costliest room per square foot in a home after the bathroom. So it becomes paramount that you spend your money wisely, keeping your mistakes and your mind changing to a minimum. Researching home design magazines and Web sites for the right ideas to fit your lifestyle and home, interviewing numerous contractors or pricing materials at home improvement outlets for the best deals if you’re a do-it-yourselfer The more you know going in, the less money you will spend on contingencies.
WHAT'S COOKING?
When it comes to kitchens, the larger the space the easier it is to remodel. Trends in the 21st century are leaning toward larger kitchens and great rooms – combining the family room and kitchen – in order to create the optimum cooking area for dishing up your green eggs and ham. Of course, budget and pre-existing living area equate themselves somewhat significantly into most home remodeling projects so careful planning of space is usually a necessity.
Cabinets are probably the number one biggest expense in a kitchen remodel; experts suggest starting with what you already have. Take careful inventory of the items you now store in your kitchen. Start estimating the amount of space it is going to take to store these items and what you would like to do differently.
After planningspace it’s time to make the necessary accommodations for your appliances. Chef-style cooking equipment, such as six burner gas cooktops and large freestanding range ovens, have gained significant popularity over the last few years. Islands that combine stovetops, eating space, storage areas and even small sinks are popping up more and more in the kitchens of today. Fast cook ovens with side hinge doors that make access safer and easier are worth a second thought.
But a plan is nothing without action, even a really good one. It’s time to get down to brass tacks. Take your budget and your ideas to a kitchen specialist and find out if your design is plausible. Private contractors as well as specialists at home stores will be happy to assist you and offer you estimates on your projections. Don’t forget about lighting the space properly and make note of any flooring issues which may need to be addressed.
If your budget begins to present a problem, ask yourself if you can reduce your amount of cabinets, compromise on style or re-evaluate your appliance features. Keep your mind open and your budget firm. Consider that, more than likely, the more your renovation costs, the less your return on investment will be.
WINDING DOWN THE DAY
After a delicious meal dished up in a cozy kitchen, most of us like to relax with a good book, our favorite television program or some family conversation. As our day winds down we either like to jump in the shower before hitting the rack or stave off the shampoo and suds until rise and shine time. How and when one chooses to bathe is of personal preference, but daily routines of soap and water are scientifically proven to be hygienically necessary as well as keeping your friends, family and co-workers happy.
Trends in bathroom remodels point to larger spaces, bigger bathtubs, tile or stone floors, and designs that lean toward a spa-like realm of relaxation as well as meeting all the functional requirements. How use of space is employed as much as what necessity is served there becomes paramount to a commode worthy of your manor.
HOT STEPPING
Tile and stone, by nature, are considered “chilly.” An environmental proclivity which is usually the cause of curt phrases and arm flailing towel grabs upon stepping from a warm shower. But not only is ceramic, marble or stone flooring beautiful, it staves off the mold and mildew easily accumulated in such moist environments as one’s bathroom. What to do?
Home improvement specialists suggest using tile or stone work with deeper colors that not only psychologically “warm” humans but create an eye pleasing contrast by offsetting the cooler styles that exist in most fixtures, sinks and tubs. Rugs and mats are also worthy of consideration. But electric floor heating is where astute floor remodeling really comes into play.
Nothing more than a thin mat about 1/8 of an inch thick, an electric floor heating system is made of serpentine heat-resistant wire covered by thinset cement upon which the tile or stone floor of your choice is laid over top. The heat distribution is controlled by a timed thermostat, can be installed for anywhere between $500 and $700 for an average size bathroom, and runs on less than 10 cents a day of electricity. No maintenance is required.
RUB A DUB DUB
Of course, when most people think of the bathroom, they’re thinking of getting clean. Stand alone showers with multiple shower heads and steam showers have gained in popularity over the last five years. But, although whirlpool baths are used, on average, four times a year, the tub remains the gem in the crown of consumer friendly bathrooms today.
If you have decided that the fate of your remodel hinges on the installation of a Jacuzzi-style bathtub there is a few things to consider before your destiny is complete. Verify you have an adequate water heater to the meet the water requirements of the tub. As a general rule 65% of the tub’s capacity will be hot (140 degrees) water. Will the dimensions of your chosen tub fit the room and are the jets in a location that best suits your comfort? And, does your electric panel have adequate space/size for the proper sized circuit. Failing to take these considerations seriously can add significant costs and time into your project.
Consider accent lights, walls lined with mirrored cabinets and decorative wood beams to set your bathroom apart. Account for vanity and sink fixture styles – the options are as varied and unique as your vision. Put plants in odd vessels or use beveled mirrors framed with tiles to add personal style. Get creative, just keep it functional.
MAKING IT HAPPEN
Once you have come to terms with what area of your home you would like to remodel and have outlined a design you feel best suits your vision, it’s time to consider how it will be done. Will you use professionals or work on the project yourself? If you are going to try things on your own, do you possess the right tools and knowledge to complete the project?
If you’re re-doing the bathroom can you run extra plumbing lines if necessary? If you’re re-doing the kitchen will there be gas lines to contend with? If you’re running new electrical do you have a license to do so? Do you need a work permit in order to begin your project?
Have you taken into account the time that it will take to finish the project, including any contingencies that may arise. Renovation projects can easily begin to drag under the daily pressures of work, family and the disenchantment that comes from projects that seem to roll on into perpetuity.
PICKING A PRO
Going it alone might look good in the beginning, but the added expenses of unseen contingencies and unrealistic time frames can quickly spiral out of control. Hiring professionals is well worth consideration. The time it takes to acquire a few estimates if you have any question as to your ability to complete your projects in a timely, efficient manner can be well worth the money and sanity you will save.
The Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Division (say that ten times fast) offers up some advice when choosing a contractor. The FTC warns consumers to steer clear of those businesses who solicit door-to-door, accept only cash or ask that you garner the required building permits. Never be pressured into an immediate decision or give all the money for a job up front, and be extremely careful about borrowing money from a lender the contractor knows.
Always get several estimates for a project, don’t necessarily hire the lowest bidder and always ask for explanations on price variations. Talk to neighbors who have had work done. Were they pleased with the work, price and professionalism of the company they hired? Are the contractors you are considering licensed? Is personal liability, worker’s compensation and property damage covered under the contractor’s insurance policy? Will they be using subcontractors? Are their subs licensed and insured?
COUNTING THE COST
Also take in the age of the home you are remodeling. Grounded outlets and the 200 amp standard electrical boxes (which cost anywhere from $9k-$12k) of today may not have been required from codes at the time of construction. The cement or cinder block used from the mid-1960’s back is not as structurally sound as materials more recently used and cracks much more easily, bringing water penetration which can eventually lead to that dreaded parade of termites. Lead in pipes and paint, radon in older foundations (which is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States) and asbestos are all possibilities in older homes. Even after considering the cost and feasibility of older home projects, experts suggest on setting an additional 15% of your projected budget aside for contingencies.
Yet, there is nothing overwhelming about home improvement projects. They just have to be taken step by step. So take it slow – study, scrutinize, discuss and calculate. Make sure and sleep on it before you come to a decision. Putting in the necessary work is the only surefire way to guarantee your project and your budget hit their marks.
Patience, reason, work and accountability are what keeps all projects seem like small steps for a man instead of giant leaps for mankind.
~ By Craig Hysell
~ Photo courtesy NKBA, digital manipulation by Brad Kelley
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