TJK Remodeling

Archive for the ‘Remodeling Cost’ Category

A den addition to your home can be a terrific investment of both time and money. Not only will it increase the value of your home, it will also create a wonderful cozy family gathering place you can enjoy for many years to come.

There are many ways to add a den to your home. One way to add a den is to claim attic space. The use of attic space offers a number of fascinating possibilities ranging from a secluded and cozy retreat to a loft that overlooks the kitchen or great room. A second way to add a den is to consider the basement. Unused space in the basement of your home can also be converted into a very nice den. A third way, which offers unlimited possibilities, is to build an addition to your home for a cozy den.

A den will probably be relatively small (as compared to a family room or great room. You will want to make it cozy and comfortable for your family to use for TV or movie viewing, reading, enjoying music, or just gathering for an evening chat. Creating a feeling of warmth and comfort is generally the goal of den design.

The first questions you will need to answer in deciding where you will add your den and what size the room should be are these:

* Will you convert an existing room?

* Will you renovate your attic?

* Will you finish a space in your basement?

* Will you den be an addition to your existing home?

* If the den will be an addition, where will it join the existing structure?

* What will be the size of the room?

The next set of questions to answer concern access and connection to the rest of the house.

* How will you have access to your new den? Will you be able to use an existing stairway (to attic or basement)? Will you need to add and construct a new stairway?

* How will you connect your new den addition to the existing structure? Will you need to create a doorway or hallway from the existing structure into the new den? Will you remove a wall from your house to connect with the new den?

One very popular approach to den additions is to remove an exterior kitchen wall, allowing the new den to connect with the end of the kitchen. This approach can create a very warm, comfortable and cizy living space for your family. If you choose this option, you will need to decide whether to remove the entire section of wall or to create either a doorway or an arched opening into the den. The use of a smaller doorway to the den will have minimal effect on the look and feel of the kitchen. Building a den addition that is completely open to the kitchen will affect the look and feel of both den and kitchen. This very popular approach to den addition, however, will require careful planning and design.

There was a time when a den was simply a small room that might have built-in bookcases and was probably paneled in wood (Generally knotty pine). Families, builders and contractors have become far more creative in recent years, designing spaces that are far more interesting and functional. Here are some room-design ideas you might want to consider in planning your den.

1. If you are remodeling an attic space, consider creating an open staircase from the floor below and leaving the area that connects with the rest of the house open. Either a half-wall or a wood or wrought iron rail can prevent accidents and create a feeling of more space in both rooms.

2. If you are remodeling a basement space, consider ways you can create the same effect of openness in the way you provide access to your basement den.

3. If you are adding to your home, consider something more creative than a simple doorway to join the den to the existing structure. You might consider placing a see-through fireplace between the kitchen and the den with open space on each side for access. You can connect your den to other rooms in the same way.

4. If you are adding a den that connects with your kitchen, consider using a “breakfast bar” to delineate space. Or, just allow the kitchen and den to flow together.

5. You can create the feeling of warmth in a den through color choices for paint, wallpaper and furniture. Flooring materials can also create very exciting effects. Rather than paneling, you might consider adding the warmth of wood with hardwood floors and open-beam rafters in the den.

If your new den will be an addition to the house, you will need to think carefully about the grade of the land, the appropriate type of foundation, and the external appearance of the new addition. The external materials will certainly need to match or blend with the exterior of the existing house. The line of the new roof will need to be consonant with the existing roof line, and the shingles should match. You can, however, consider some options that will make your home more energy efficient, such as installation of solar energy panels or a skylight. A fireplace could provide alternative heating as well as creating a feeling of warmth in the room. With so many styles of fireplace available, you will certainly be able to find and include a fireplace that accents your den and other rooms with which it connects.

Whether you choose to remodel existing space or to add to your home, you will need to attend to heat and air conditioning in the new den, as well as electricity. This, as well as the need to construct a foundation and exterior walls, may help you decide whether this is a do-it-yourself project or you need to call in professionals for all or part of the work. Many localities require electrical and heat/air work to be done by licensed professionals. If you are building a fireplace, proper ventilation will be critical. You may want to have a professional do these types of work, leaving the paneling or drywall and decorating for you to do.

Whether you choose a simple plan or a very creative and exciting room design, you can create a marvelous living space for your family by adding a den to your existing home. The project will be great fun to plan and build, and you will have a renovation that will improve your lifestyle and increase the value of your home.

Copyright 2008 by ABCD Publishing

Although there are many things that can go wrong during a home remodeling project, spending too much doesn’t need to be one of them. At www.remodelormove.com, we hear far too many stories from people who have ended up spending far more than they wanted to spend on a remodel. This doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, there are many things homeowners can do to control the cost of their remodeling projects.

Before anyone begins a home remodeling project, I encourage them to think very carefully about protecting themselves from the top five reasons costs get out of hand.

1. Contractor relationship and the remodeling contract.

Many homeowners find costs spiraling when they remodel because they either have not developed a good working relationship with their contractor or because they don’t communicate with the contractor effectively. Poor communication generally results in a weak contract.

Homeowners must be able to communicate with the contractor — before a contract is written — to clarify what they do or do not want done. There needs to be clear agreement, reflected in the contract, about the extent of the work, the quality of workmanship expected, the quality of the materials use, and other specific details of the remodeling design. All of these details should be spelled out in the contract.

When this doesn’t happen, most homeowners find themselves making decisions and choices that cost extra either in labor or materials. In some cases, poor communication and failure to understand expectations can result in disaster.

2. Poor Planning.

Without careful planning, many homeowners end up spending far more than necessary on many materials, fixtures, etc. They also fail to schedule their projects at times when they can save on some of the associated costs. For example,

* Many people just don’t understand that many contractors charge lower rates (by as much as 5  7%) for work during their slow time.

* Workers are more productive and efficient in cooler weather than they are in the heat of summer.

* Shop for materials and fixtures far enough ahead to be able to benefit from shopping sales.

* Avoiding late changes and upgrades is also part of planning. Changes in the design, the materials, or the installation of items after purchases have been made and work has begun are more costly than most people realize. There will be additional labor costs and materials costs to accommodate each change.

* Avoid upgrades. They seem small at the time the decision is made, but they add up to significant additional cost very quickly.

3. Budgeting and Estimates.

Unfortunately, too many homeowners start with a remodeling contract instead of a budget. The first thing homeowners should do is create a budget for the remodeling project. The budget should reflect what they already know about the cost of materials, tools, fixtures, etc. I usually recommend using a planner to help with itemizing costs and related expenses and to keep track of all the information and estimates homeowners gather during the planning stage of their project. I even wrote one to help people with these issues (www.remodelingorganizer.com).

People need to remember that different contractors quote in different ways. They need to gather as many quotes and estimates as possible before they decide which contractor to hire. At the very minimum, one should compare at least five estimates; three is not enough. And try to get at least two estimates from different “types” of contractors — large contractors with lots of employees, and small companies with few if any employees.

Creating the budget first, helps homeowners select designs and materials that will result in the quality they want at a price they can afford.

4. Comparison Shopping.

Most homeowners are accustomed to shopping for deals on most large purchases, such as cars, boats, etc. But when it comes to a remodeling project, many seem to think there are no deals to be found. Many homeowners enter into agreements with contractors to have the materials purchased by the contractor without regard to cost. Many other homeowners assume that the price of all materials will be the same everywhere. When people shop around and compare prices, they can save a bundle on materials, fixtures, tools, etc.

5. Pitch in to Save.

Lack of experience or skill leads many homeowners to conclude that they need to turn a project over to their contractor and just get out of the way. While this is true for some homeowners, for others doing part of the work can be fun and can help keep a project under budget. Painting, demolition, tiling, electrical, clean up are just a few of the projects homeowners can undertake to better manage the cost of their remodel.

I am convinced that if every homeowner considering a remodeling project would plan, budget, shop, pitch in, and be sure they are communicating clearly and effectively with their contractor, most remodeling projects could be completed within their budgets.

Remodeling a kitchen can be a very big job.  Depending on the extent of the remodeling project, remodeling a kitchen can take weeks or even months.  There are, however, some things you can do to remodel your kitchen faster.  The ten ideas listed below will get you started on ways to remodel your kitchen faster and still have a finished room that shows quality work and attention to details.



1.  Work with the existing space if at all possible. Moving walls takes a great deal of time. It is also costly. If you are trying to update or remodel, try to think creatively about how you can make better use of the existing space. If you are trying to enlarge the kitchen, try to do so by moving or removing only one wall. This will reduce the amount of electrical work, as well as the amount of framing and drywall work necessary.

2.  Don’t move the sink. Moving plumbing also takes a great deal of time, and adds significant cost to your project.  Even if you are replacing the sink, keeping it in the same location will save the time of rerouting pipes, which could also result in the need for work to replace flooring.

3.  Don’t move a gas line or gas appliances. Moving a gas line will take additional time in completing your kitchen remodel.  In many localities, this will require the assistance of a professional.  You will need to schedule this work and allow the time necessary to move the line and then make any necessary repairs to walls and flooring.

4.  Choose standard-sized pre-built stock cabinets. These cabinets will probably be available for immediate pick-up or delivery, eliminating the wait for custom work and delivery.  These stock cabinets will be ready to simply set in place and attach to walls or floor.  This saves the assembly time required for special-order cabinets and the on-site construction time for custom cabinets.



5.  If you choose custom or semi-custom cabinets, pitch in and assemble the cabinets yourself for your contractor. Assembling pre-cut cabinets is not terribly difficult if you have some do-it-yourself remodeling experience.  Assembling cabinets takes time, however.  If you can assemble the cabinets in advance and have them ready for your contractor or for installation, you will save time during the actual remodeling project.

6.  Use large stock cabinets to make a pantry instead of building a closet. This saves the time of knocking out wall, re-framing for the closet, hanging the drywall, etc.  You might even find that you prefer the appearance of the matched cabinetry throughout your remodeled kitchen.

7.  Reface instead of replacing your cabinets. If your existing cabinets are in reasonably good condition, have them refaced instead of replacing them. This will also save time.  In some cases, the actual work can be done in a day.

8.  Install a new countertop. A new countertop will make your remodeled kitchen look bright and clean.  Your choice of countertop material could completely change the appearance of your kitchen. 



9.  Don’t install a backsplash. If you are trying to remodel your kitchen faster, don’t take the time to install or replace a backsplash.  Tile installation takes some time to set and allow it to dry completely.  If you are in a hurry, leave this for a weekend project at some point in the future.

10.  If you are building a window seat, save construction time by installing stock cabinets as the base for the seat. You can easily find stock cabinets the right height for a seat.  Just choose cabinets that match or complement your kitchen cabinets.  Then you need only position the boards on top of the cabinets and add cushions.

These ten ideas can save time on your kitchen remodel.  You will probably think of others as you begin planning your project.  But you can make a good start with these ten things to do to remodel your kitchen faster.

Copyright 2008 by ABCD Publishing