Talk to home addition contractors about garage options.

Should Your MA Home Addition Include an Attached or Detached Garage?

September 22, 20160

Once you have chosen which of the many home addition contractors in MA you trust with your project, the fun part can begin! You and your contractor can come up with a Needham custom built floor plan that includes all of the special touches that will make your house the home you’ve always wanted. The devil, as they say, is in the details. Deciding you want a garage is not enough. You need to decide if you want an attached or a detached garage. Here are three things to consider when making your decision.

Why Adding a Garage of Either Type Is Smart

Once your Needham garage addition is complete, you’ll obviously benefit from having plenty of extra storage space. Being able to store your car out of the elements and away from potential criminals is another benefit. Safe from the elements and vandals, your car will look good and serve you better for longer than it would being parked outside. Additionally, a garage offers opportunities to incorporate patios or decks that can be handy when hosting parties or events. Last but certainly not least? Once you eventually decide to sell your home, you’ll discover a garage will be on the must-have list for many potential buyers.

Consider a garage addition for your home.

A garage addition can be a valuable asset.

Pros of Building an Attached Garage

Attached garages are attractive for several reasons, primarily convenience. When it’s raining or snowing, you can simply hit the button on your garage door opener, drive into the sheltered space, park and head inside without getting wet. You can place an extra refrigerator or freezer or even your washer and drier in an attached garage and still have easy access to it. From a cost and construction standpoint, a contractor can incorporate your home’s existing walls and electrical wiring into an attached garage, which is a time and money saver.

Pros of Building a Detached Garage

Arguably, the biggest benefit of a detached garage is it is ideally suited for a rooftop deck or patio entertainment space or garden. With a detached garage, you often have more leeway in terms of how large your structure will be and even what it looks like. When your garage is attached to your house, you’ll need to ensure it is architecturally similar. Another benefit of a detached garage? Fumes from your vehicle’s exhaust system and chemicals you may store in your garage won’t leach into your home. Finally, if you ever decide you want to turn your two-car garage into a three-car garage or add a garage apartment, the process will be much easier with a detached garage.

Are you ready to get going on your home addition? Contact us at Colony Home Improvement. We have decades of experience planning and building amazing home additions in MA. We have before and after photos to share and plenty of testimonials from happy clients. Call us today. You will be glad you did!

home additions

Planning on a Home Addition? Let the Light Shine In!

September 15, 20160

One of the most exciting things for homeowners planning home additions in MA is they’re able to embrace their creativity and work with a skilled Hingham home improvement contractor to bring their ideas to life. On the top of many homeowners’ wish lists? Brightening up a dark and sometimes depressing home. Here are some great ways to accomplish that.

Add Windows and Skylights

The most obvious way to brighten up your home is to incorporate more or larger windows and/or skylights into your Hingham home addition. Brightening up your home by letting the sun shine in not only will boost your mood, but it may also save you money by cutting down on the need to turn on the lights. Just be aware not all windows are created equally. There are many options from which to choose, including single- or double-pane windows, bay windows, awning windows, casement windows, double-hung windows and more. Home addition contractors in MA who have expertise in home additions will be able to recommend windows and skylights that will work best with the design of your home.

Walk to your home improvement contractor about adding windows.

A home improvement contractor can help you choose the right windows.

Incorporate a Sun Room into Your Home Addition

If adding windows will brighten up your home, just imagine what adding a room of windows will do! A sun room will add valuable lighting and square footage to your home. When the time comes to sell, every square foot equates to a higher asking price! You can use it as a sitting area, a kid’s room, a dining area, a music room; you’re limited only by your imagination. Your contractor will be able to provide guidance on where best to situate a sun room so you’ll be able to use it comfortably during all four seasons.

Carefully Consider Your Choice of Flooring

When you’re considering flooring for your home addition and your goal is to make your home feel brighter, consider skipping the carpet and choosing a light, shiny tile or even a warm wood or faux wood. These materials reflect light and will make your home feel cheerier. They’re also much easier to clean than carpeting. If you do insist on carpeting, choose a light color and the most durable, stain-resistant style you can find. There is nothing bright and cheerful about dingy, stained carpeting!

The Right Paint Colors Will Brighten Up a Space

One of the last phases of your home addition will be painting the walls and trim. You may be enamored by magazine photo shoots featuring navy blue or charcoal gray walls, but if your goal is to brighten up your space, opt for soft whites, yellows or grays. Lighter colors will also make a room appear larger, whereas dark colors make it feel smaller. You can always bring in your favorite bold colors through your artwork and accessories.

If you’re ready to remodel or add on to your home, make sure to partner with a skilled, reliable contractor who can bring your ideas to life. Contact us at Colony Home Improvement today! We would love to work with you to create your dream home!

Bathroom remodeling requires large decisions.

bathroom addition, bathroom remodeling, home additions

6 Important Decisions to Make Before Remodeling Your Bathroom

September 8, 20160

When the remodeling bug hits, it often hits with a vengeance. Once you’ve made up your mind to proceed with a home addition in Duxbury or to pursue bathroom remodeling in MA, you may be anxious to get the show on the road. While that’s certainly understandable, it will benefit you in the long run to spend time contemplating the specifics of your project before scheduling a time for your contractor to begin. If your next home improvement in Duxbury will be a bathroom remodel, make sure you answer the six questions below before you get started.

What Is Your Maximum Budget?

This, arguably, is the most important consideration before beginning your project. Your answer will guide how many wants you’ll be able to fit in to go along with your basic needs for the project.

Do You Want to Emphasize Style or Substance?

One important question to answer before beginning your bathroom remodel is who will be using the bathroom and for what? Will it be used by school-aged children who will be rushing to get ready and out the door in time to meet the bus? Or are you an empty-nester who values luxurious bubble baths? The answer to this question will have a huge effect on many of your choices for the room.

Bathtub or No Bathtub?

Some homeowners say they can’t live without a bathtub. Others say they rarely, if ever, use theirs. If you aren’t a big bathtub fan, deciding to go without one in your new bathroom will free up space for a larger walk-in shower, a double vanity, a walk-in closet or other amenities.

Your home addition requires plenty of planning.

Do You Want to Go Green?

In recent years, the assortment of energy-efficient lighting, low-flow toilets and water-saving faucets and shower heads has soared. You may pay a bit more upfront for green products. However, over time, expect to recoup those upfront costs in the form of lower electric and water bills. Green options are also better for the environment. If environmentally friendlier options are important to you, let your contractor know before he begins your project.

Custom or Stock Cabinets and Vanity?

Built-in cabinets and custom marble or granite countertops often cost more than off-the-shelf cabinets and pre-assembled vanity/countertop options. Before beginning your project, discuss your options with your contractor. Often, contractors have relationships with carpenters and fabricators and can negotiate an affordable price for custom cabinetry if that’s how you’d like to proceed.

What Type of Tile Do You Want?

It’s a safe assumption your bathroom will include tile. Most bathroom floors are tile, as are shower walls and floors. Decorative mosaic tiles are a popular option, but they often cost more than larger, more common tiles. If you insist on a pricey tile, you may have to compromise elsewhere in your budget.

A bathroom remodel will invigorate your space and make it more functional and more appealing to potential buyers down the road when you decide to sell. Colony Home Improvement has been completing beautiful home additions in MA for decades. We’ve completed hundreds of bathrooms of all styles and sizes. Contact us to get started on your project and to ensure it is completed professionally.

Kitchen remodeling means picking new appliances.

home additions, kitchen remodeling

How to Choose Appliances for Your New Brookline, MA, Kitchen

September 1, 20160

One of the most popular home improvement projects is a kitchen remodel. In many homes, the kitchen serves as the heart of the home. Meals are cooked, heated up or delivered and enjoyed. Lunches are prepared and packed for the next day. Conversations are had and laughter is enjoyed while all of these utilitarian functions take place. Whether you cook regularly or rarely, your kitchen is probably a treasured gathering place in your home. When you’re ready to spruce up your kitchen, buying new appliances is an important part of the project. Read on for tips on choosing three of the most used appliances for your new kitchen.

Choosing the Ideal Refrigerator

When you are in the planning stages of your project for kitchen remodeling in MA, you may visit home improvement stores or peruse magazines looking for ideas. One of the most important appliances you’ll choose is a refrigerator. Even if you don’t cook at all, you’ll want to keep your heat-and-eat foods and drinks cold! Before you decide on a side-by-side fridge packed with bells and whistles or a pricey, custom built-in unit, first you need to do your homework and decide which of the many home improvement contractors in Brookline, MA, will oversee your remodel. Why? You cannot choose a refrigerator until you have an idea what the floor plan for your new kitchen will look like. Buying a refrigerator is like buying a piece of furniture. If it won’t fit in your space, it won’t work.

Talk to home improvement contractors about your kitchen appliances.

Home improvement contractors can help you choose appliances.

Choosing an Appropriate Cooktop for Your Lifestyle

Arguably, the most important cooktop consideration is gas versus electric. If your kitchen is not equipped with gas and you have no desire to invest in running a gas line, the decision is obvious. If your kitchen does have gas, you have a decision to make. Many cooks prefer gas because it allows them to specifically regulate the flame and degree of heat. Electric cooktops don’t deliver this level of control. They do, however, heat things up faster. Gas cooktops lose almost half of their heat from burner to pan. Electric cooktops lose minimal heat so they are extremely efficient.

Choosing an Oven You’ll Love

All ovens essentially do the same thing: they cook foods by delivering heat at a steady level. There are subtle nuances that can make a big difference if you cook often. Convection ovens are ideal if you cook regularly and value efficiency. These ovens are outfitted with fans that circulate heat to cook food quickly and evenly. If you use your oven primarily to bake cakes, cookies, muffins and other baked goods, you probably prefer a traditional oven. If you want to have your cake and eat it too, choose a double-oven configuration with one of each!

Not all people, couples or families have the same interests and habits. Some kitchen remodeling projects demand high-end appliances. Others definitely don’t. You know what you like, but when you’re preparing for your project, it is wise to consult an experienced Brookline, MA, kitchen remodeling contractor to guide the job. You may not cook often. If there’s a possibility you will sell your home in the coming years, though, it’s smart to give at least minimal consideration to how your appliance choices may impact your ability to attract a buyer. Not all home addition contractors in MA have the expertise to give you solid advice. Colony Home Improvement has decades of expertise guiding homeowners and delivering beautiful results. Contact us today for help with your project!

Monthly: September 2016