Home Remodeling & Construction Blog

Going green is on everyone’s mind these days. There is a push to recycle more, waste less and generally take better care of the planet. Whether you are building a new home or planning a renovation, your Virginia contractor can help you design and build a greener home. Move forward into a cleaner future with green building materials and construction techniques.

Contractors Offer Expert Advice

General contractors are experts in their field. Because they deal with subtrades, material suppliers and manufacturers, these professionals have an insider’s view on industry evolutions. As the green building industry expands and new products and technologies are offered your Virginia general contractors will have premiere access.

They can also help you to decide which green projects will work in your home. In some cases, a certain type of recycled material or construction technique will not be advantageous on your property. It could be that exposure or climate conditions will wear down materials quickly. Or possibly the size of your home will push the cost of a certain project element out of reach. You can trust a professional contractor, relying on their extensive experience and industry knowledge.

Elements of a Green Home

When working from the ground up, homeowners and house designers have many more options for green building. Consider advanced wall framing techniques (this style of framing cuts down on the amount of wood used, as well as reducing heat loss with comparable amounts of insulation used), high efficiency lighting and the latest window and door designs.

Interior finishing materials can also be green. Products made from renewable resources like bamboo, cork and other wood species are considered excellent choices that deliver minimal environmental impact. Think about the paint and wall treatments used, and try to reduce the amount of toxins and VOCs used. Recycled materials are popular in the kitchen and bath. And high efficiency heating and cooling systems will also help to create a greener home.

Professional Installation

Choose a Virginia contractor with a solid reputation and you can look forward to professional installation. Your new energy efficient windows will be handled with care, bamboo flooring and recycled glass counters will fit perfectly and lighting and solar panel systems will be wired well.

If your project includes an element that the contractor does not normally handle - such as solar panels - they should have connections within the industry. You can expect a reliable recommendation, at the very least.

A Warranty to Count On

One of the best things about hiring a reputable contractor for your green home renovation is the warranty. Smaller firms or handyman services do not often offer comparable coverage, and an investment of this size should come with the security a warranty delivers.

There is often separate warranty coverage for the materials and installation. Your contractor may cover the labor and installation for a certain period of time, while the materials will be covered by the retailer or the manufacturer. Be sure to obtain all of the details before the project is completed, including any paperwork or registration information you will need. Be aware that manufacturers of some products (windows, doors, lighting , etc.) will keep your personal information on file in order to validate the warranty.

Talk about how to build a greener home with your Virginia contractor. They will offer informed suggestions and help you to design a home that is truly environmentally friendly.

We all want to live in a home that is safely built and efficiently designed. Life is just more comfortable that way. But in order for your home to be constructed in a safe manner with properly tested materials and skilled labor there needs to be a system of standards and accountability to ensure those standards are followed. Simply put, that’s why there are building permits. And you can count on your Virginia contractor to help you wade your way through the often complicated world of permits.

From Application to Inspection

Depending on the type of home improvement project you have on the go, the building permit process can be a lengthy one. An initial application will need to be filled out and submitted, along with an application or permit fee.

Your Virginia contractor may include this service and fee in their estimate. Or they may specify that you apply and pay for the permit separately. Good contractors will offer you the advice and information necessary to obtain a permit, even if they do not apply on your behalf.

From the date of application you will generally need to wait for the municipality or state to review the drawings and plans and issue their approval. There could be changes to the project at this stage, forcing you to comply with current building codes or insisting that certain parts of your home be upgraded to today’s standards. Be prepared to have some flexibility in your design until you have that seal of approval from the planning department.

Once the project is underway there will likely be inspections during the process. These usually need to be booked by the contractor, since they know how far along the work will be and when. You may need to be present at the inspections, although some projects and some inspectors will simply leave a confirmation of the process allowing the contractor to move forward.

Always be sure that any changes to the job are handled quickly and professionally. You do not want to take short cuts and have the building department shut down your job.

A final inspection is very often required in order for the final permit to be issued. There may or may not be infractions at this point. Be aware that even the best contractors get infracted at some point or another, sometimes due to error and other times due to design or communication issues. Infractions can usually be taken care of very quickly and the permit issued soon after.

Permits are Important

Your insurance company and financing arrangements may insist that a building permit be issued for your home improvement project. This covers your liability and ensures that the contractor follows building codes and produces good quality, consistent work. It is an added cost and does take a certain amount of time, but in the end obtaining a permit is not only necessary, it’s also wise.

An experienced Virginia contractor will have the tips and information to help speed the building permit process along. You can count on their advice, design and skills to make this portion of your home renovation move smoothly and efficiently.

It’s not really an entertaining process for anyone, but it’s one that shouldn’t be handled by the homeowner. Permits are the way that cities regulate construction and help ensure that the construction taking place within the city or township limits is done safely. The safety of the building occupants is the primary concern and the reason construction codes were developed. Most government agencies develop or adopt codes for constructions, mechanical, plumbing and electrical. In addition there are federal, state and local laws that govern the way construction is done. It’s all related to the permit process, and most home projects require a permit. Read more…

There is no place like home – no matter the size or where it is, if you share the space with friends, family, or pets, it should be a happy place where you feel safe. Part of that safe feeling comes from keeping a home that looks nice and is free of structural disturbances. Taking up a home improvement project every now and then is necessary. If you live in Virginia, your contractor can help you with anything that you can’t do yourself. Any major projects, such as roof replacement, or whole room remodels are their job.

Your contractor can you help you determine whether the plans you have for your house are actually good for it. Often a homeowner will dream of something that will do more damage to the structure than good, but careful planning can avoid all of that.

Planning the budget should be one of the basic steps that are probably mot homeowner’s biggest limitations. Another common conflict comes from the time schedule, so you should make sure you allow for that. Your home improvement contractor will help you keep everything in perspective, letting you know what can be accomplished when.

If you decide that the scope of your home improvement project is not beyond your abilities, you can follow these basic tips to prevent you form making some rookie mistakes.

v Kitchen: Your kitchen renovation can be fun, if you follow some simple guidelines. Choosing the right materials can be daunting, and the right appliances even more so. Evaluate the quality of your project by weighing the estimated life span against the total cost.

v Bathroom: Try to keep everything as water proof as possible. From disastrous leaks to rowdy, bath splashing children, there is no way to tell where water can end up in the bathroom. Make sure all fixtures, floors, and tiles are properly sealed.

v Flooring: If you have loose floor tiles, or old and stained carpets, you need to replace your flooring. The types of floors in you house are a matter of taste, but try to choose flooring that will last and that you can live with because the whole process is labor intensive and can be very costly if repeated more than once every five years.

v Back Yard: Gardening and yard work are a big part of home ownership. Decorate your exterior spaces with colorful stones and flowers. Fountains and walkways are also nice touches. It is important to remember that once you start putting up yard decorations, you must know where to stop, because it can get to be too busy very quickly.

These basic ideas can keep you from paying through the nose when the time comes, but it also pays to know when you get in over your head. If you started with a small project that ballooned into a huge problem, contact you Virginia contractor today because there is no reason to have a home you aren’t happy with.

Most people realize from go that they need a Virginia general contractor when they’re looking at the scope of work that needs to be done. Mainly because there’s a lot to keep track of on the large jobs and having a Virginia contractor on hand to manage everything can simplify the entire project.

So what kind of factors do you need to look at when you’re trying to settle on a Virginia general contractor? What can you use to help you figure out if you’ve located the right one? With all the choices, it’s hard to settle on just one contractor especially if several of them make excellent bids. That’s why it helps to focus on the actual skills of the Virginia general contractor. Read more…

Forming Virginia Contractor Relationships

Virginia contractor relationships should be generated and formed before any of the work actually begins on your remodel project. When you’ve got a repair or home improvement project on your plate then the process of selecting a Virginia contractor to work with is one of the most important aspects of your project.

Too often, homeowners rush through this process and just leave the decision to chance, often rolling with the first price they hear that seems appealing – often it’s the first ad they see. Read more…