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Avoid Getting Frazzled When You Are Remodeling Your Home

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mn kitchen remodeling contractors near meYou’ve been wanting to remodel your home for a while, and you’re finally getting the chance. Just thinking about what it’s going to look like is fun and exciting. However, you know it’s going to take time, lots of time, to fit everything together perfectly. On top of that, thinking about all the disruption, the noise and nosy questions from your neighbors might cause you to think that you’re not ready to go through with it. Don’t get frazzled. Maintain control by using these three tools in your remodeling arsenal: knowledge, organization, and patience.

Knowledge: Start by consulting a licensed contractor who has expertise in the type of remodeling that you would like to do. Discuss the specifics of your remodeling needs, your time frame, and your budget. Ask him to clarify what materials they will provide and what they expect you to provide. Have the contractor write down a detailed plan and timeline so you can keep track of each step of the project. Be sure to tell him if you prefer the crew to work on certain days or during a specific time range. Do not hesitate to ask any questions if you need anything to be clarified.

Organization: The next thing you should do is to agree on a date for the remodeling to begin. You will need time to prepare the site. This will require your removal of things that are hanging on the walls like pictures and posters. The room to be remodeled should be empty except for the permanent fixtures on the walls. Store the items that you have removed in another space apart from the work site like the closet, a spare room, the garage, or an attic. If you plan to remain at home during the remodel, make sure that you and your family members do not get in the way of the crew. If you need a kitchen, you will need a place with sinks, shelves and outlets. If there is no room for you to stay in your house, store the things that you removed in another room, close the door, and stay in a hotel or a friend’s house.

Patience: One of the most important things you will need to have is patience. There will be many challenges during the remodel. You will need to be courteous to the work crew and allow them space to work. If you interfere too much or rush them in their job, you will get inferior results. There might be unexpected setbacks like materials that are missing, delays, damaged items, etc. Losing your temper won’t solve any problems. Just be patient and seek a solution together.

When you are armed with knowledge and organization, it will help you to be patient and calm. When you look at the beautiful results, the remodeling journey will be well worth it. You will enjoy your new space for many years to come, and the challenges will be long forgotten. If you want to learn more, contact us.

Add Additional Square Footage To Your Home By Remodeling Your Basement

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basement remodeling near meHave you been thinking about remodeling your basement for a long time? If so, there is no better time than the present to get started. This is the perfect year to take on a remodeling project – especially when you consider how much square footage this particular project can add to your home. Check out the helpful tips and information below on basement remodeling to get your project underway.

Hanging Drywall

Putting up drywall can be more complicated than it looks. You will to contact a professional to hang the drywall, and mud and tape it. If it is not installed correctly, you will see the mistaped and unsanded joints.

Electrical Work

Typically, any electrical work should be left to the pros. Wiring your basement yourself is a dangerous prospect that could be deadly if you don’t know what you are doing. Working with a qualified electrician is the best option unless you have a lot of previous experience and know how to safely work with electricity.

Flooring Options

Like any other room in your home, there are a lot of choices when it comes to flooring for your basement. One of the easiest, least expensive options, however, is simply to stain the concrete. Stained concrete floors are a natural choice for basements.

Some people turn their basements into rec rooms or living rooms. Others add a guest room or transform the space into a playroom.

However you decide to use it, remodeling your basement can provide you with a lot of extra square footage in your home. If you are ready to start turning your basement into usable space, reach out to us today for help with your remodeling project.

5 Things To Ask Yourself Before Adding On To Your House

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Remodeling Contractors minneapolisEver picture your home with an extra guest bedroom, a cozy new nook in the kitchen, or a bright and airy sunroom? You’re not alone. Strong housing market conditions are encouraging more and more homeowners to invest in projects like room additions in Minneapolis.

The right addition can transform a MN old house into a dream home. But before you start, ask yourself these questions to set yourself — and your bank account — up for success.

1. How much do I want to spend?
Hold on to your chair: The average cost of adding a room or house addition is $40,942. That’s one hefty chunk of change! Costs vary from project to project, but every successful addition project starts with a plan and square footage estimate. Once you have that, you can formulate a budget by getting estimates from a Plymouth Remodeling Contractor:

2. Is an addition going to pay off in the long run?
Even if you have no plans to sell after your sparkling new space is complete, a new addition should pay for itself in the long run. Here’s what you might expect to get back on a few popular home addition investments:
Sunroom Addition: 49% return
Bathroom Addition: 53% return
Master Suite Addition: 63% return
Two-Story Addition: 65% return (an upstairs master suite and a downstairs living area)

3. Are there building restrictions I should worry about?
The answer to this one is almost always yes, but restrictions vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. Reach out to your city and county offices for a breakdown of rules in your area.

What can you expect? The buildable portion of your land generally doesn’t stretch all the way to your lot lines – and for good reason. These “cutoff lines,” which are enforced by your local government, may give you less space for an addition, but they are in place to prevent house fires from spreading and to protect your neighborhood’s aesthetic. There may also be a height limit, which would restrict floor additions.

4. Could I remodel an existing space instead of adding a new one?
The costs of adding onto your home add up, so it’s wise not to jump in without thinking of alternatives. Remodels are generally more affordable than additions, so start by taking inventory of every room in your house to see if any could be updated to meet your goals of an addition. Maybe you could finish the basement or renovate the attic to create extra living space. Instead of adding on to your kitchen, you may want to remodel your existing kitchen to increase space, or even install custom cabinets to make things more efficient.

5. Is it smarter for me to build up or out?
Building up can save you money because it does not require excavation and foundation work. But going up may require an architect since it can be more complicated than staying on the ground.

If you decide to build out, a detached addition can save you money. Detached additions are often used as garages, guesthouses and home offices. Homeowners report spending an average of $15,000 to $24,658 to have a detached addition built. Work with a Minneapolis remodeling contractor to find out what is possible in your area.

Remodeling Ideas For Finishing Your Basement

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mn basement remodeling near meBefore you consider remodeling your Minneapolis basement, you need to ask the following question: is my basement finished? A finished basement means that the space has the necessary electrical wiring, plumbing, waterproofing, and other amenities that make it usable after a basic remodel. It’s also important to consider lighting and air flow before you begin your remodel and consider what to do with the completed space.

A Note Of Caution

Anyone can take a sledgehammer to their basement and make a mess. But, can they do a good job and finish the project? Probably not. Many homeowners get inspiration online from numerous resources that claim there are just three easy steps to a perfect remodel, when in fact, there are dozens. Before you take the ideas from below to heart, make sure you find a trusted Minneapolis remodeling contractor who can work with you.

Remodeling Ideas For Your Basement

*Turn your basement into a playroom for your kids. It’s important to consider with this remodel that children grow up pretty quickly, so avoid making any permanent changes to the structure that won’t be of use to kids when they’re older. Additionally, stay away from themed playrooms that kids quickly outgrow.

*Are you looking to get into shape and burn some of that belly fat? You can turn your basement into a personal gym. Best of all, you don’t need to completely finish your basement in order to make the space work. For example, concrete walls can work with vinyl flooring to give the workout space an industrial look.

*The man cave is another ongoing theme for remodeling basements. Of course, telling people that you want some space all to yourself may seem rather selfish, so it could also double as a family room or a place where people can just relax and hang out.

*The most commonly chosen basement remodeling idea is to turn the area into a guest bedroom or a master bedroom with an en-suite bath. In this example, you may wish to consider whether or not the basement has any windows as it may feel claustrophobic downstairs not having any natural lighting or air flow.

There are dozens of ways that you can go about remodeling your basement. The above ideas can work well for a number of situations, and best of all, a remodeled basement adds a great deal of value to any property!