TJK Remodeling

Archive for the ‘Remodeling Contractors’ Category

For a lot of folks, reading a contractor estimate is like trying to read a foreign language. Some of the words and phrasing look familiar, but they just can’t put it all together and totally comprehend it. This is often due to the fact that contractors tend to use industry terms that most homeowners haven’t seen before. In this article, I’ll try to translate some of these terms to make it easier to understand.

Feet and Yards

These are common measurement terms used by construction professionals everyday and sometimes when writing an estimate, we tend to forget that the person reading the estimate may have never heard these terms used in this manner. Feet are generally used 2 ways: square feet and linear feet. Linear feet is the most basic of the measurements. If you needed a piece of baseboard to run the length of a wall, hold your tape measure on one end and stretch it the length of the wall; that measurement is the amount of linear feet of baseboard you need. Square feet is the most common of construction measurements and it’s easy to calculate. Multiply the length of a room by the width and you have the square footage of that room. Common items such as flooring, painting, drywall, and much more are estimated by the square foot. Yardage is generally calculated in square or cubic yards. To find square yardage, just divide square feet by 9. This is most often used for estimating carpet or sheet vinyl. Cubic yards are a 3-D measurement. It is basically square yards multiplied by thickness. For example if you have an area of ground that measured 75 square yards and you dig out that area to 2 feet deep: 75 x 2 = 150 cubic yards. Cubic yardage is used for measuring such things as concrete, water, and dirt.

Remove and Reset

Commonly abbreviated R/R on estimates, this is simply removing an item such as an appliance or light fixture in order to perform some sort of job, like painting or drywall repair, and the putting the item back in place after the work is complete. This is often seen in insurance contractor estimates and should not be confused with replacement, which is removing the old item and installing a new one.

To Match Existing

This term is commonly used in remodeling or repair work and, as the name implies, it involves performing a repair or creating something new that matches what’s already there. For instance if you have water damage to a wall from a water leak, you might receive an estimate to repair the drywall and paint “to match existing”. You should understand from this, that only the repaired area will be painted; not the entire wall.

Per: Plans and/or Specifications

This is a term you will only see if you have had a set of plans drawn or specifications written for your project. If you are doing a room addition or large remodeling project, you would have probably done this. Per: plans and/or specs is simply an acknowledgment, by the contractor, that they have received them and bid the project accordingly. If you are using plans or specs, make sure your estimate and contract include this wording.

Exclusions

This one may seem pretty obvious, but it may be, sometimes by design, hard to spot. An estimate may read “Per: plans and specs, all labor and materials” only to have hardware and painting excluded in another section. Many contractors will exclude certain portions of the work for a variety of legitimate reasons and that’s OK as long as they’re up front about it. This is another reason why it’s critical that you read the entire estimate or contract before signing. If you’re not clear about something, ask for a clarification or consult an attorney.

By Others

When reading your estimate, you may see: Install New Kitchen Cabinets, [Painting by Others]“. This is simply another way of excluding an item. If you see by others, you must assume it is not included in the price.

Hopefully, these explanations will give you a better understanding of the language used by construction professionals and aid you in making informed decisions. For more information on the estimating process, check out the estimating home repair costs section of my website.

For a step by step guide to managing your home improvement project, check out our

Do It Yourself Contractor Kit. It comes complete with questionnaires for interviewing contractors and checking references, sample contracts that can be customized to fit your project, tips and tools to help with cost estimating, and much more. Take the proper steps to protect your home and assets.

Thanks for reading and good luck with your project,

Glenn Whitehead

YourselfHomeRepair.com

Most building contractors in Utah are quoting $20-$100 per square foot as the “range” for finishing a basement in Utah!

With the real average price being closer to $25-$45 a square foot, for the average home.

Why is it that price and is everyone charging that?

NO!

There is a “Utah Basement Finishing Company” (www.Finishedfor14.com) out there that specializes in finishing basements, that’s all they do! In fact what’s really cool is that they have developed a system that guarantees a finished basement (with top quality, expert craftmanship of course) for an unheard amount of only $14 a square foot! And, they are not “skimping” on materials or worksmanship!

The secret is in their “system”. They have developed a process of design, construction and finishing that allows them to offer an unbeatable price and still provide a professional job done!

Yes there are variables in every situation and there are unforseen things lurking behind walls, etc. They have figured all of that out!

Don’t let the “finished for 14″ concept worry you or let you believe that you will be getting anything short of the best quality, attention to detail and a job finished on time.

The best way to judge any company or job is to ask for referrals to jobs they may have done for others and see what they think. Look at their work, talk to their existing customers.

Some may scoff at the idea that anyone could finish a basement in Utah for only $14 a square foot, but remember the secret is in the system. Every other contractor and builder in Utah could charge the same……….but they either haven’t figured out a system or they may be overlooking (and over charging) something.

The following are some of the things you should insist on (up front in writing) when getting your basement finished in utah, regardless of the price!

1. Framing: Make sure they furnish framing materials (#2 or better) and labor necessary to complete the construction of all parts relating to your project.

2. HVAC: Make sure they Install heat runs and cold air returns according to industry standards and practices

3. Electrical: Install wiring, outlets, lighting, smoke alarm, switches, covers, and plates according to your plans.

4. Insulation: Standard R-13 insulation to be installed in exterior walls per industry standards and practices.

5. Sheetrock: Insist on 1/2 sheetrock on walls and ceilings per plans. Be sure they will tape, double, flush and finish smooth per industry standards and practices.

6. Finish Carpentry: Look for them to provide and install doors, casing, and baseboard. Also includes standard space saver closets and linen closets where applicable.

7. Paint: Provide material and labor for single-tone paint. Color to be selected by homeowner-(one coat primer-one coat finish)

8. Misc Hardware: Provide and install door knobs, door stops, closet rods, electrical trim.

9. Clean-up: Be sure to ask about and have the contractor be responsible for all construction related clean up, and debris disposal. Have them isolate work areas to minimize impact to non-work related spaces.

Make sure that all of their work meets or exceeds the NHBA standards and practices.

Good Luck on your basement project and don’t hesitate in contacting me with any questions.

Did you find these tips helpful? You can learn more by visiting http://www.finishedfor14.com or contacting Todd Cella at todd@finishedfor14.com

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I am a mother of 5 children. Yes, you read right. I have F-I-V-E children. They range in ages from 17 to 4 1/2. As you can well imagine with that many kids in the house, safety is sometimes an issue. It didn’t really cross my mind that my bathroom could be so dangerous until my youngest son gouged his head on the broken edge of our old countertop. When I stopped to take a look around I realized that so many things needed repair that total renovation was likely the only option. This bathroom was a death trap and Salt Lake City bathroom remodeling was going to make it safe again.

Calling the Contractor

The day after our trip to the ER for my son’s head wound, I got on the phone with my brother in law who also happened to be a contractor. I shared with him the troubles I was having with the dangerous condition of our bathroom and he said he would be right over.

After taking a slow turn around the bathroom space, he looked me in the eye and clicked his tongue. I wasn’t surprised at his disdain. We sat down and discussed my budget, came up with design ideas and made a list of stores in Wasatch that would have the products and services I needed for my Salt Lake City bathroom remodeling project.

A Trip into Utah Remodeling Heaven

Within the week I was busily shopping for the products, fixtures and tools I would need to get the remodeling project done. I spent a lot of time flipping through online guides  on the subject of bathroom remodeling and I came up with some neat custom ideas that would make my bathroom safe and totally modern.

Once I had spent the money and hired the rest of my brother in law’s crew, they set to work on my Salt Lake City bathroom remodeling project. What started out as a way to keep my kids safe ended up being a very selfish gesture on my part. I realized that I deserved a bathroom I could use as a haven away from my kids.

From retiling the floors, to replacing old and worn out fixtures, to replacing the toilet, and cabinet re-facing…my bathroom became safe, secure and awesome all within a short period of time.

Salt Lake City bathroom remodeling is Home Show Daily’s specialty. Visit www.homeshowdaily.com to get bids from our pre-screened Salt Lake City bathroom remodeling contractors.