Home Remodeling & Construction Blog

Looking for a small and affordable project to get the remodel rolling? How about doing some touchups and updates to your master bathroom? Any changes you make with Virginia bathroom remodeling are bound to make a big difference in your daily routine.

Build out your space

A lot of homeowners complain that they don’t have enough space in their master bath. In Virginia homes, bathroom remodeling can help you expand that space in any direction whether you need physical space or just some extra storage.

It might seem like a big task to move or knock down a wall but that’s the most extreme choice. Your Virginia bathroom remodeling project doesn’t need to be taken that far. Try just adding a larger window or skylight to allow more natural light in creating the effect or feeling of more space. Read more…

A common mistake the homeowners make when getting new Virginia roofing installed is that they fail to take the time to consider all their options. There’s actually a wide range of Virginia roofing shingles available to fit almost any home design and architecture.

Asphalt shingles are the most common and popular (as well as cost effective) option for Virginia roofing projects – they’re perfect for most budget jobs but if you have the means to dig around and play with your options so that your Virginia roofing project starts turning heads then you should look into those other options Read more…

While Virginia Siding of the aluminum variety used to be one of the more popular materials it has steadily become less popular and has been replaced by the more popular and more durable forms of Virginia siding. A telltale sign that older styles of Virginia siding are going the way of the dodo are evident in the fact that many suppliers stopped carrying aluminum siding completely.

The rise of vinyl and cement in popularity, being installed by Virginia siding contractors, has more than doubled and it’s been pushing aluminum out of the picture completely. For those who like the qualities of metal Virginia siding, steel has been growing in popularity as well to replace aluminum.

Virginia Siding - Metal

Virginia siding made from metal has a lot of benefits over other forms of siding. For one thing, and as a huge bonus, it’s resistant to fire as well as pests and metal siding is far more resilient. Provided a coat of protection is maintained there’s usually little worry about rust and the average life span of Virginia siding crafted from metal can be up to 50 years or more. This siding often comes pre-colored with premium treatments that prevent color fade, keeping the exterior of your home and the all the Virginia siding looking like new for years.

Virginia Siding - Steel

With all the moisture we get in Virginia, siding needs to be able to put up with the weather and rain. While steel siding used to be less able to withstand the moisture (and of course rusted rather quickly) new bake-on coatings have changed the way we do Virginia siding using steel. It’s now equally rust proof. Better yet, steel siding coated with vinyl gives a natural look of such things as wood with the added durability and protection of stronger siding.

Virginia Siding - Aluminum

Still got your heart set on new Virginia siding with the ol Aluminum style? That’s fine, but at least put the money in to get the higher quality stuff. When you’re talking about aluminum Virginia siding, that means getting thicker stuff. If you cheap out and get thin siding, then every little hail pellet from the sky or rock kicked up from a car or lawnmower is going to put a fat dent in the side of your home.

The benefit to getting Virginia siding made from thicker aluminum is that it won’t cost you anymore than steel siding and could be just as strong and durable as most high quality metals.

Virginia Siding Installation with a Contractor

When you start talking about the cost and installation, materials are just a small portion of the total cost. Labor of course makes up a big chunk of home improvement costs but the style of your home including number of doors windows and corners can change the cost as well.

Find a Virginia siding contractor that can give you an accurate measurement of costs up front based on designs, materials and all other factors pertaining to your home will help you determine the best materials for the job as well as your budget.

The majority of Americans understand that Feng Shui is a style of arranging items within a home to create harmony, a concept that hails from China. This discipline is gaining popularity throughout the world as homeowners are looking for ways to improve balance within their homes. No place is this more true than in the Virginia Kitchen.

This is extremely important in the kitchen because it’s one of the most common gathering places for friends and family. If you’ve had your mind set on kitchen remodeling in Virginia then consider some of the guidelines for a more Feng Shui Virginia kitchen. Read more…

One of the most prominent reasons for getting Virginia window replacements done is to improve energy efficiency in the home. This is especially true in older houses with outdated single pane glass (with aluminum-framed windows – yikes).

Virginia window replacement is getting high tech now and the options that are available to home owners are proof that there is an affordable model for every budget that will still contribute to energy efficiency.

Before you settle on any particular model or type, you should check with a Virginia window replacement specialist to find out what type of window is best for your home. The variety of options means you could end up with the wrong type of window. Multiple frame materials, various low-e coatings, tinting, spacers, number of panes, glazings, etc – there are just a few of the options you’ll have to sort through.

Virginia Window Replacement Design

Since you’re looking to upgrade your windows, now is the perfect time to decide if you want to change the aesthetics of your home. Window replacements in Virginia don’t always have to be drab and boring. There are traditional designs to choose from that fit most homes and they continue on into more eclectic styles for just about every taste imaginable.

Virginia window replacements not only add color and appeal to the outside of your home but wider or taller designs can help lend additional light within your home. They can open a room to make it feel like there is more space over all and let the beauty of nature into your living space.

Virginia Window Replacement Costs

It doesn’t take much to realize that window replacements in Virginia are a sound decision for every homeowner, especially if they’re long past due on an older home. Some people fear about the cost of windows but they’re one of the best decisions you can make to help save money and increase the value of a home.

You don’t even need to purchase the windows all at once. Many homeowners get their window replacements in Virginia ahead of time, often one by one, and set them aside until they have all the windows they need. At that time, they make the move to get everything installed. Some even install the windows one by one.

Window replacements in Virginia can run as low as a few hundred depending on the style you choose, but the overall cost in savings through energy efficiency and keeping the elements out will completely pay for the windows over time.

Sunrooms in Virginia are a great addition to any home, especially those that offer excellent views of nature with an open skyline. People tend to install sunrooms primarily for relaxation but as this elegant addition grows in popularity it’s becoming mainstream in a number of larger home.

Homeowners with Virginia sunrooms are transforming their homes into more than just a place to live and exist. The sunroom allows them the convenience of a gym, a spa, various entertainment areas and more.

Here are some great tips on how you can use a sunroom in your Virginia home to spice up your live and start doing something interesting with the space around you. Read more…

This style of patio door is exactly what the name makes it sound like. They’re a wide exterior door that comes in both sliding and accordion format. Likewise, they can be customized in a variety of finishes. Regardless of the style they all perform the same function – bringing your Virginia patio inline seamlessly with the interior of your home.

You can transform any room of your home into an extension of your Virginia patio with ease.

Consider the convenience of an entire wall within your home, perhaps your family room, being able to open up directly onto your patio. With Long Span doors, they can disappear revealing a wide open space right to the outdoors of your home. You could, in effect, be sitting within your living room while enjoying the outside weather.

Can you imagine how easy it would be to enjoy the outdoors in Virginia? Your patio could act as an extension of any room that you set to join it. A bedroom, the kitchen, the office. Where ever they fit your interior and exterior design.

These multi-paneled doors cover 8’ to 24’ foot spans and can retract completely to help anyone living in a comfortable climate be inside while staying outside.

How Well Do They Stand Against The Weather?

Very well actually. Long span Virginia patio doors are very versatile but of course it all depends on the quality of the doors, the installer and the fierce nature of the climate. They probably wouldn’t work well for someone in Alaska but for most homeowners these would be a perfect fit to allow access to their Virginia patio. Because there are a variety of doors, it’s important to get one that is rated for the climate you live in. A door built to keep the heat out of a home in Arizona might night work as well for a Virginia patio and the rainy season.

Installation

Getting long span Virginia patio doors put in is not a DIY project. Slight variations and incorrect measurements will not only cause the doors to function poorly but you’ll be letting in the worst of the elements – never something you want to do.

Most manufacturers of long span doors state that a competent contractor should be utilized when linking the inside of your home to a Virginia patio. The opening should be completely engineered by a professional to ensure that you don’t have any problems with your rooms. Due to the size and scale of the project, it’s important that the home be inspected to insure that creating such an opening (most are at least 8’ wide) won’t affect the structural integrity of the home.

Virginia patios can be made even more rewarding with access through long span patio doors. No other design and remodel offers the same mesh of indoor and outdoor for your home.

When it comes to your Virginia basement, those moldy odors down there can come from a variety of sources. Really that smell often comes from the fact that it’s damp down there and that moisture gets trapped due to poor ventilation. You can eliminate that with some basement remodeling in northern Virginia homes to increase ventilation.

Of course sometimes you can simply cure the issue on your own depending on the actual cause and what you want to do with the basement of your Virginia home. If you just want to store some boxes and other goods down there, maybe do some laundry, you can just improve the ventilation a little to reduce the smell so it doesn’t permeate the things being stored in your basement.

On the other hand if you’re planning on turning the basement of your Virginia home into something more, like a complete lounge or finished area rec room then your’re gonna have to work a little harder.

Basement Remodeling and Other Measures For Moldy Basements

A lot of older homes have a Virginia basement that’s just a compact dirt floot. If this is what you’re looking at then your best bet would be seal it with a vapor barrier like a heavy duty plastic. The other option of course be some basement remodeling. Northern Virginia contractors can come in and lay down wire mesh then apply some concrete to finish the floor. This can help with the moisture issue for the most part but you’ll still need to look into ventilation.

Of course not all homes are made equal in Virginia. A basement with a concrete floor that’s pre-existing can be a little trickier. You’re probably going to need to do some waterproofing, and consider that you may very well have an internal plumbing issue.

Cracks in the foundation, leaky plumbing running underground and bad drainage can create moisture that comes in through the walls and floor of your home. One of the leading causes of moisture through the basement walls is poor gutter drainage, where the rainwater falls against the edge of the house and collects against the Virginia basement walls in the soil.

If It Looks Like A Duck

If your basement has a moldy odor then more than likely you’ve got mold growing somewhere. A small bit of mold can be removed with little work but depending on the size of the issue in your Virginia basement, you may need to hire a professional to come in and tackle the issue. Mold can be devastating, and can destroy insulation as well as wood framing.

Not to mention how damaging the spores can be to anyone in the home who has allergies. Many forms of mold can be toxic and cause serious health issues if they gather in large quantities so often times it’s best to leave the work to a professional. Not only will a contractor be able to remove the mold but it will leave things in the cleanest condition so that you’re ready for basement remodeling in your northern Virginia home.

I already mentioned the need for ventilation and regardless of whether your basement is finished or completely bare you should always provide adequate ventilation. If you live in an older home in Virginia, your basement is probably lacking in ventilation and may not even be up to code. Basement remodeling can get your Virginia home updated so that you don’t end up turning your basement into a Petri dish.

Give any consideration to adding a Virginia Deck? The deck can be an awesome extension to your indoor living space. Just adding that deck doesn’t do it for you though, you’ve got to figure out what to do with it once you’ve got it. There’s some strategy involved but ultimately how you use your new Virginia deck is completely up to you.

Consider some of these great, fun ideas to make the best use of your outdoor oasis.

Dine out Al Fresco

People love dining outdoors and that can make your table the centerpiece of your outdoor Virginia deck design. With the right chair styles and some careful placement with lighting you can actually transform your deck space into a patio restaurant getaway. Granted, a quaint little dining experience doesn’t afford much space for large gatherings but if you’re not the overly social type then this Virginia deck style is perfect for you.

How Social Are You

On the other hand, if you’re a conga king and you like to get a lot of people over to your house for family gatherings, backyard parties and big potlucks then a larger Virginia deck with a more open design might be your cup of tea. Designs like this often do well with various planters that can double as Tiki stands and an area built out to allow space for a wetbar and a large grill.

If you feel adventures, remember that nothing brings people together like a roaring fire – you can add a fire pit to your Virginia deck design for the ultimate party coup de gras.

A Star To Snooze By

If you love the experience of camping but can’t put be bothered with the packing, the travel, the cost and other things then why not make your Virginia deck part of an outdoor adventurescape. There are plenty of people who transform a simple deck design into perfect sleeping quarters. Ranging anywhere from comfortable outdoor sleeper areas to make sleeping bags and mats that much more cozy to advanced furniture and daybeds within an enclosed and covered deck area, homeowners love to bring the outdoors in and the indoors out with their Virginia decks.

Taking A Break

The Virginia deck is the ideal place to park a second living room. Deck designs like this incorporate numerous elements that people used to only get inside the home. Many a man has designated his outdoor living space as the new enclosed “man cave” complete with sound system and LCD televisions made to be used outdoors. All you need at that point is a grill, some buddies and you’ve got yourself the start of a good tailgate party – or you can kick everyone out and enjoy the peace and quiet of your personal space in your very own backyard.

The Safer Place To Place

Of course if you have kids then the whole concept of outdoor dinner parties, relaxing on the Virginia deck and social mingling are non-existent. But at least with a good deck design you can ensure that your backyard provides a safe place to get outdoors and play. You can even incorporate kid friendly designs (want to make a deck that looks like a castle?) like built in sandboxes, storage for toys and furniture that can withstand flying corner-post leaps of doom during those epic wrestling matches.

Knowing how you plan to use that outdoor space makes it much easier to envision just what you’re going to do and how you’re going to install that new Virginia deck.

As we’ve previously discussed about topics pertaining to remodeling in Virginia, home improvement is necessary to maintain the best home possible and keep out the elements year round. Virginia home improvement strategies are vital to keeping your home structurally sound no matter the time of year.

The economy has put a dampener on Virginia home improvement projects unfortunately. That’s why we’ve put together some recession-proof ideas for your next remodel

Upgrading Your Siding

The better your siding, the longer it will last. While the upfront cost might make some cringe, it’s well worth the investment since that siding is also shielding and protecting the rest of your home. It can be one of the best investments you make toward preventative maintenance in Virginia. Home Remodeling Magazine put out a report stating that installing fiber-cement siding can recover up to 88% of installation and construction costs in added resale value and the money you save in maintenance over time.

Enhancing The Bathroom

Though it’s one of the smallest rooms in most houses in Virginia, home improvement in the bathroom can create a substantial difference in the final sale value of a home. The bathroom is one of the prized areas for a lot of people and improving and remodeling the bathroom can recoup as much as 73% of construction costs in that final sale. Think of the money you waste on leaks, inefficient shower heads and toilets and old mirrors that fog over forever – it’s easy to see why people love a fresh, newly remodeled bathroom.

Better Flooring

People love the feel of plush, soft carpet as much as others love the knock of elegant hard wood on the floor in Virginia. Home improvement remodeling to lay down those new floors is an excellent, long term investment in your home. When you consider that traditional carpeting has a life expectancy of about 8 to 10 years in primary traffic areas, and hardwood has a life expectancy of 100 years or more you can easily see why wood is the right choice for your next Virginia home improvement project.

The Favorite Room In The House

Not the living room and not the dingy old basement. It’s the kitchen. People love to have a beautiful kitchen in their homes. Virginia home improvement contractors can make that easy by either touching up the kitchen or performing full on remodels. While gutting the kitchen and reinstalling everything new can really make your home shine, a few improvements go a long way as well. Consider new fixtures, perhaps new cabinet faces. Maybe some new trim or a new countertop. You don’t have to do everything at once and they all add value at a small cost.

People try to stick to that motto of “if it aint broke don’t fix it” but in the recession it’s been more like “just don’t fix it”. In Virginia, home improvement can’t be left to the side. Without proper remodels to tend to general maintenance issues you can end up with bigger problems on your hands, with a depreciation in value being the least of your worries.