Home Remodeling & Construction Blog

The goal of almost any home owner that has an unfinished Virginia basement is to eventually finish it off. An unfinished basement is after all almost a whole extra floor underground, which can be turned into anything you or your family might need.

Basement finishing projects are far from cheap. There is no real comparison to any other single room in the house; there are challenges that only occur in a basement remodeling project. The basement is usually filled with utilities such as the plumbing, heating, and electrical junctions. Moisture and water buildups are commonplace.

Attempting to Finish a Wet or Flood Prone Basement

The way that many basements were constructed creates a very conducive condition for water seepage. The basement is likely either poured concrete or cinderblocks, both of which are fairly porous materials. When the rain saturates the ground with water, it is forced with hydrostatic pressure against the outside of the basement walls. This pressure is great enough to force the water into the structure and through the wall; this infiltration is called capillary action. On the inside, plumbing leaks and accidents, shattered water tanks, and other mishaps can cause flooding indoors. A basement needs reliable drainage, a good sump pump system, and proper dehumidification in order to be dry enough to be finished.

Constructing with Wood Studs, Fiberglass Insulation and Drywall

These materials are excellent to use above ground, but in the basement they can spell disaster. The natural humidity that a basement tends to create a condition conducive to the growth of mold when combined with organic materials such as wood, paper, and in fiberglass as the urea based adhesive that holds the batch together.

Not only is the mold hazardous, but the fiberglass insulation loses all of its R-value when damp. Drywall is even worse; when it comes into contact with water it begins to slowly decompose and release toxic fumes. All materials used to construct basement walls should be inorganic and 100% waterproof if they are expected to survive a flood or water accident.

Improper Use of Vapor Barriers

Shady contractors will try to convince you that you can use any kind of finish you want as long as you staple poly sheets all over the walls and to the floor of the basement. There is a worse suggestion, placing the vapor barrier over the studs and fiberglass, and putting the drywall on top. The US Department of Energy’s Building America Best Practices recommends that any moisture from basement walls and floors should be allowed to evaporate and dry to the interior. An Improper vapor barrier will only serve to do one thing: trap condensation between the concrete and the barrier, creating another ideal situation for mold to grow, which you definitely don’t want in your Virginia basement.

Some may think that they can save themselves a few bucks by doing the grunt work themselves, but that may not always be the case. A person may decide to replace or upgrade their bathroom counters, not realizing that they would have to install a sink as well. There are bathroom vanity combinations available, that include the sinks and all of the hardware that goes with them, usually in very elegant designs that are eye catching, but blend well into most Virginia bathrooms.

Versatile Beauty

These all-in-one units are manufactured to suit any installation. The choices of wood color are quite broad, as well as the available looks of all of the other fixtures. There are extremely large vanity combos for luxurious oversized bathrooms, as well as scaled down units that are better suited to smaller rooms. Materials available include marble, granite, or tile for the counter tops, and glass, porcelain, or china for the basin. Together, the combination of beauty and versatility can match what any person desires for their home improvement project.

Just because the bathroom space is smaller than many other rooms, doesn’t mean that it is going to be less expensive to remodel. On the contrary the cost per square foot can be much higher than other rooms, like a bedroom. This can be offset slightly by purchasing a wall mounted vanity to conserve money and space. The units are designed to be extremely easy to install and plumb all in one step. The bowl comes already attached to the vanity. The main advantage is that there is more floor space under the sink, creating the illusion of more room in an otherwise tight area.

A Better Option Today

Expense used to be a big concern for people who bought bathroom vanity combos, but competition from overseas has really done a lot to change all of that. The American standard of high quality workmanship and materials is now available at affordable prices. The more high-end your bathroom vanity combo, the more likely that it is going to bolster your future asking price, if you ever decide to sell the house. Think of it as an investment.

It doesn’t matter if you are brave, foolhardy, or handy enough to successfully complete the project if you don’t take proper measurements of your space. Never neglect to measure the distance of the plumbing and electrical outlets from the floor and ceiling, as well as the height and width of the door that your vanity must fit through. Too many people try to “eyeball” a size in the store where the gigantically high ceiling and bright fluorescent lights will make it look a lot smaller than it is. Having to return your vanity to the store because it wouldn’t fit through your door is embarrassing and discouraging.

The proper measurements in hand, a good place to look for a good vanity is the internet. The competition online is very fierce, and the lack of overhead gives the savvy customer a wide selection at practically wholesale prices. Of course, a qualified general contractor is also quite capable of installing the vanities as well, and will likely get it right on the first try. When it comes to the look of your Virginia bathroom, the ball is in your court.

If you own a home in Virginia, a sunroom should be one of the featured rooms in your house. If your house doesn’t have one, why not build an addition? The sunroom is practically a southern tradition, and nothing beats a warm summer evening sitting in your sunroom, feeing the gentle breeze glide through open windows. It can be like having a little slice of heaven on earth.

Convenient Relaxation

Where else in your home can you go to relax in a quiet soothing atmosphere? With the ability to shut out the rest of the house and create a completely separate space, either for reading or meditation, or whatever it is that you like to do in your quiet time.

Natural Beauty

Many sunrooms are accented by lots of plant life that not only adds to the relaxing atmosphere, but also provides a piece of living art to enjoy throughout the year. A little research into when the plants blossom during the year is a good idea so that different plants are going off all year long. Additionally, placing some plants directly outside of the sunroom attracts some of the prettier wildlife, like birds and butterflies.

Entertainment Room

Such a beautiful and relaxing space deserves to be shared with your family and firnds don’t you think? A sunroom makes a fantastic place to hold quiet tea parties, and yet equally suitable for more formal affairs. Practically any occasion worth celebrating can take place in the natural beauty of your sunroom.

Extra Living Space

If you live in a home full of people, wouldn’t an extra room to get away from it all be a really good idea? Even if there aren’t many others around, you probably have several extra chairs and maybe a little table that all deserve a good home in a brand new sunroom.

Value of Equity

The use you get out of your Virginia sunroom could be bonus enough, but home improvements are their own bonus because of home equity. The value of the home itself increases with an addition, so building one can really pay for itself. One day, probably a faraway date, you will thank yourself for having the wisdom and forethought to hire a general contractor to complete your wonderful new sunroom.

With your sunroom addition you are not only investing in the future, but you are also getting a room that can add all kinds of possibilities. Your Virginia sunroom can be both a functional practical component of your home, and a fun place to be all at the same time.

Whether you live in a residential Home or own a commercial building in Virginia, roofing advice is pretty much the same: the roof can be a big weakness if it is neglected. The roof takes the most beating from the elements, whether it is rain, snow, sun, or wind. If a roof is able to stand up to them, the other parts of your house will suffer less decay in the long run, saving you money in maintenance costs. Once the roof starts to go, however, the other parts of the structure aren’t far behind.

Today’s Modern Roof

The Green movement has really put a focus on the home’s energy efficiency, and that includes the roof. The goal with modern roofs seems to be creating a system that will help keep the home cool in the summer. The United States Secretary of Energy has urged all new “cool” roofing systems, and there is even a federal tax credit encouraging the use of cool roof technologies, and in some states there are utility company incentives as well.

The roof of a home does more than keep the weather out and cool the house, it also collects more of the sun’s rays that any other part of the house. The best quality roofing systems on the market today provide for the installation of solar panels to augment the energy used by the home, and in some cases, the very roof tiles themselves are little solar panels.

Advantages of Roofing with Metal

These advancements have brought back to the forefront a roofing material that some considered to be a thing of the past: metal. Ten years ago, metal roofing only held about 2% of the market share, today that has jumped to 10% and may still continue to climb. This is good news for our economy because most metal roofs used in the U.S. are also produced here from raw materials in our soil.

Everyone knows that a metal roof is just plain more durable than most other types of roofs. Other materials begin to deteriorate from the very moment they are installed, beginning a process that leads to brittle spots, soft spots, curled up edges, cracks, and wind damage. This is not the case when it comes to a metal roof. Metal roofs hold on to that “like new” quality that can add great curb appeal to a home.

Moreover, new metal roofs installed are often coated with reflective materials that add to the cooling capabilities of the roof. They send the sun’s rays right back into space, which has remarkable results in the upper floors and attic space. New roofing systems are also made to work with high efficiency ventilation systems for enhanced temperature control and energy savings. If you live in Virginia, roofing systems like these may actually save you money in the long run.

It isn’t uncommon for a homeowner to begin the process of a home remodel or renovation without understanding the exact responsibilities and duties of their Virginia general contractor. It is up to you as the customer to ask the questions. With the information you gain from the questions below, you will stand a much better chance of completing you project successfully.

What is your best estimation of the schedule?

Most homeowners are very interested in this one. Whatever the general contractors that you interview say, remember that the renovation could take longer if there are snags that no one can predict.

What kinds of insurance do you carry?

The answer should be no less than public liability and property damage insurance. Verify that the policies are current and that they aren’t set to run out before the work is estimated to be completed.
How many employees work in your crew?
A general contractor should have a crew of at least a few workers to make sure that the work is completed in a timely manner. If electrical or plumbing must be done, then you must insist that licensed contractors complete it. Ask if the skilled labor will be done by actual employees or subcontractors.

Are YOU going to personally oversee the work site every day?

A general contractor can be a very busy man with more than one site going at once. The homeowner may assume that the general contractor will be there every day, but this is often not the case.

Whose responsibility is it to obtain the permits?

Obtaining all of the right permits is just part of the job. If a general contractor that you are interviewing doesn’t want to get permits, then you probably shouldn’t hire them.

Can you give me contact information for 3-5 past clients?

Talking to people who have successfully completed a home improvement project with the general contractor in question can do a lot to put your mind at ease. It will also give you a good idea of the finished quality to see what the contractor has done before.

What is not included in the price quote you give me?

This should scare off the low ballers that are just trying to get the job with a small quote. Note that sometimes there is extra expense that no one sees coming, but adding on every box of screws as the contractor gets them is over the line.

Are you registered with any professional organizations?

A general contractor is going to be much more accountable to their work if they have to maintain a good reputation with any or all of the following organizations:

• Home Builders Association
• Better Business Bureau
• Chamber of Commerce
• NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association)

How can I most conveniently stay in contact with you?

It can be very frustrating to call a contractor over and over again, just to get voicemail. Establish beforehand the best way to get a hold of your general contractor beforehand to prevent such difficulties.

The best defense against disaster and theft is knowledge. By forearming yourself you can start on the right foot towards your goal of a fully renovated or remodeled space. It takes a partnership between you and your Virginia general contractor to make your dreams come true.

A homeowner is free at any time to begin any kind of home improvement in Virginia. Usually it is for comfort or aesthetic reasons, but your home improvement should always have the secondary goal of improving the property value of your home. If and when you choose to eventually sell the house, the work you do to it will really show in the price that your buyers are going to be willing to pay.

Smart homeowners use this to guide their decision of where to begin their renovation projects. If your bathroom is in disrepair, then start there as the return on the investment for the remodel is going to pay out handsomely on the back end. That is, if you keep your budget in mind and plan carefully the schedule and materials necessary. In the end, a home that is more comfortable and a better source of future income can be achieved with a few simple steps.

Speaking of the bathroom, it is a common place to begin a value adding home improvement for a number of reasons. Technology for bathroom efficiency and comfort brings us new gadgets every season that not only sell homes, but allow you to live in luxury while you are there. These new fixtures may seem like an expense that can never be repayed, but you would be surprised exactly how much they can get you when the home sells.

Another excellent place to begin a home remodel is the kitchen. As the second most functional room in the house, it is important to make sure that every appliance is less than 5 years old at sale time. The built in cabinets must be both large enough to store everything that a person could need in the kitchen, but also they must appear stylish and timeless, to avoid having to replace them again. It is important to remember, however, that it is also a room in which people will need to move to around in, so make sure you leave plenty of work space.

Green renovations are also very popular, because you see the savings almost immediately in your own bills. Things like sealing up the cracks in your windows and replacing old inefficient appliances, anything that reduces the amount of energy it takes to run the home, and therefore lowers the cost of living in it.

Finally, there is nothing that is going to replace just plain keeping up with the maintenance to retain ass much of the value in the home as you can. Sure it is easy to let the little things slide for a while, but it only means that you are going to pay more in the long run. Preventative maintenance can be much more cost effective as well as providing you with more time to yourself and less time handling emergency breakages. Fix things just as they are starting to reach the end of their lives. Virginia home improvements of a more elaborate scale will probably require the help of a general contractor, however.

There is a big difference between a house and a home.  Look at it from the perspective of the common man and you’ll see that a house is just a structure of some kind but a home is where a family grows and it’s made from adoration and endearment.  It’s crafted from laughter and people.  There’s more to a home than just that however, it’s also the furniture that’s within and the accessories use even if it’s the accessories on your Virginia patio (or deck).

People tend to get attached to furniture and associate it with enjoyable living, comfort and home.  It makes sense because that’s part of your home.  It’s part of that identity you like to feel when you walk in the door.  Familiar sites that you enjoy make it easy to relax after you come home from a long day.  The perfect couch, that soft bed, that curtains that lead you outside onto your Virginia patio or deck space. Read more…

Virginia deck or patio? That is the question. The purpose is usually to create an outdoor recreational space to be enjoyed by the whole family. Both options can accomplish this, but what about the cost? That is the determining factor for many individuals when choosing between a deck and a patio.

Of course, there is planning that you must do which will affect the cost of the project no matter which you choose:

• The square footage you intend to cover must be considered. The space you intend to fill must be of a certain size to even accommodate a deck or patio, although a patio usually takes up less overall room. A patio is more labor intensive, however due to the fact that the land must be cleared and leveled in preparation of the stones or bricks. The deck will take up more space, but is easier to put up because it requires no landscaping.
• You have to have your design in mind. A patio is usually either round or square and is laid at ground level. The deck gives you a few more options here, because it can be built on multiple levels and not just in line with the first floor.
• Deciding what kind of materials to use is another big job when choosing between a patio and deck. Decks are usually made of wood, specifically cedar, redwood, or other pressure treated wood, and alternatively a composite material. The cost of composite materials is a little higher, but they are becoming popular because of their ease of maintenance and long life span. Patios usually consist of tiles or bricks made of stone or concrete,
• Future maintenance is also an important factor. Wood materials require regular sealing cleaning and painting. The materials of a patio, being brick or stone stand up to power washing and hard scrubbing, making them longer lasting in general.
• You must decide for yourself whether or not you feel confident handling the job, or if hiring yourself a reliable Virginia contractor might not be a better idea. The patio is an overall simpler job; it is just digging and precise leveling. Professional help might be a good idea for the site preparation, but it doesn’t take that much skill to lay the tiles down in a pattern. A patio must be able to pass code, and is more complex to construct, overall.

These variables create a situation that gives the homeowner multiple options to fit any budget. A small deck that is constructed of less expensive wood will likely be cheaper than a patio made of the finest stones and tiles. On the other hand, a multilevel redwood deck is going to cost more than a simple brick patio.

Ultimately, the right project depends on what the area is going to be used for. Patios are better for outdoor cooking and other movement oriented activities, while the deck is better for sit down eating and reading. There is no price that can be put on you preferences for your Virginia deck or patio.

The recession settled in some time ago, and with it came all of the paranoia and doubt that comes with an economy that isn’t growing like a weed. Homeowners that were planning an gigantic square footage doubling Virginia addition a couple of years ago are probably holding off on their plans until things start to look a little more optimistic, when they can afford to go bigger and grander again.

There might be a better way than just sitting on your hands and waiting for the sky to clear. Try contacting your local general contractor in Virginia, and you may find that you aren’t as far away from your goal as you thought.

Green Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Expensive

If you are going to proceed with a large home improvement project, it is best to do it as green as you possibly can these days. Energy efficiency immediately springs to mind when the word green is mentioned, but new home construction can go way beyond that. It also has to do with indoor air quality and other factors that have to do with organic living.

Try to keep in mind that just because your new home addition in Virginia is more energy efficient that your bills will go down. Adding that much space to your home, no matter how good the insulation in the walls, the quality of your window seals, or the energy star appliances you have installed can save you from the fact that a larger house is just plain going to eat up more energy.

An addition to your home in Virginia is just too big a task for anyone to handle alone. Your general contractor can get in contact with all of the expert individuals they need to help you get the best home improvement for your buck. Also remember that if green is your goal, try to reuse as much of the old house as you can when adding on. Remodeling an existing structure is always greener than building a new one anyway.

Have Your Cake and…..

There is character and memories attached to your Virginia home that you don’t want to leave behind. Why not just make what you have bigger, instead of trying to build new or find a home that isn’t going to need as much renovation as the one you have now? If you oversee the work yourself, you can make sure that it is done to your satisfaction.

A lot of people may prefer to build a house from scratch to get the most energy efficiency out of a structure, but it isn’t really necessary. Especially when so many Americans seem to think that there are, too many new houses built already. You may not need a Virginia addition, if your existing home can be sealed and built on to give you the added space and green living that you desire.

Designing your new Virginia bathroom can seem to be a monumental task, but with the right planning, the process can be hassle free. Fore thought can save you a ton in time and money. The shower is often a focal point of the bathroom, so it should definitely have a distinct look. There are little details that go into choosing just the right tone that can really set off the wall colors or flooring.

Begin with the Finish

Hardware is the element that brings every element together in the bathroom. When you select your new shower enclosure, keep the finished look of the room in mind. The faucets and other fixtures should compliment the color of the shower doors, hinges and other hardware. The choice of finish should really set the tone of the colors you use everywhere else in the room.

Silver is a finish that blends in seamlessly with many of the older chrome fixtures, although modern designers are trending more towards brushed nickel and oil-rubbed bronze.

Looking Through the Glass Door

The metal look may be going the way of the 8-track, but new doors are a little more pricey because of it. In order to remain stable, the glass much is much thicker. The choices available in modern patterns are as numerous as the fish in the sea. If you prefer to have privacy without a bunch of geometric lines, obscured glass is the way to go. Of course, classic clear glass will let anyone who wanders into your bathroom see what great taste in fixtures you have.

Off with that Head!

The newest showerheads are not only stylish and elegant, but water efficient and able to deliver strong water pressure. Many people find the removable hand held sprayers very convenient. The vertical shower spa is also becoming very popular, and customers are raving about how luxurious they feel.

For the ultimate in luxurious showers, you need a combination system that has an overhead shower, vertical sprayers on the walls, and a hand held sprayer. There is a whole new level of clean feeling skin for anyone who has a water delivery system like that installed.

Don’t Forget to Accessorize

Once the main hardware finish has been chosen and all of the other big decisions have been made, it is time to settle on your choices for things like towel bars and shower door handles. Most manufacturers of water delivery systems for showers (i.e. showerheads) provide what they call “suites” of products that are supposed to match the showerhead for a very cohesive look.

A Virginia bathroom remodeling project is not complete without a new shower. A licensed contractor must be hired to do work as extensive as removing the older shower enclosure and creating the new one. Like any other home improvement, the outcome is what really matters, and the small amount of discomfort is worth it.