Five Critical Basement Renovation Mistakes You Want to Avoid

November 24, 20160

If you were to ask anyHingham home improvement contractor to name the top three hottest Massachusetts home improvement projects, most would probably include basement renovations on that list. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense to incorporate a basement renovation into your Hingham home addition. Most basements are dreary and unfinished, yet quite large. Skilled home addition contractors in MA can transform an unused space into a new living space. The caveat? Make sure you avoid the following common basement renovation mistakes.

Mistake 1: Creating Too Many Rooms

In many homes, the square footage of the basement is similar to the square footage of the living space above. Do not try to duplicate what you have above ground down below. The best way to make a basement inviting is to pursue an open concept. Chopping up the space with too many walls has the opposite effect. A couple of rooms is fine, but don’t go beyond that.

Mistake 2: Failing to Soundproof

Most of your home’s critical mechanical systems are located in the basement. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Make sure your contractor pays special attention to soundproofing. Otherwise, your new basement sanctuary may not be peaceful at all.

Finish your basement in place of a home addition.

Instead of a home addition, consider a basement finishing project.

Mistake 3: Failing to Plan for an Emergency

The fact basements exist partially or completely underground means if a fire breaks out down there, you need to have a clear and easy way to escape. All home additions in MA need to be conducted with a focus on safety. Make certain your basement remodel has an egress route. Typically, this involves adding one or more windows in the early stage of construction. It may be expensive, but it could save your life or the lives of your loved ones.

Mistake 4: Not Addressing Moisture Issues

One reason so many people don’t bother finishing their basement is because basements are damp spaces since they are underground. They don’t have to be. To keep moisture at bay, make sure any cracks and crevices are patched with a heavy-duty compound, concrete surfaces are sealed, a dehumidifier is in use at all times and waterproof paint is used. It is uncomfortable to hang out in a moist, humid environment. Humidity also causes rust, stains and degradation.

Mistake 5: Using the Wrong Type of Flooring

Yes, hardwood floors are beautiful. They are also prone to warping and buckling when exposed to moisture. Despite taking steps to remove moisture from your updated basement, you will never succeed 100 percent. Laminate, tile and stained concrete are the best flooring options. Even carpet can mold or mildew over time so avoid that flooring option too.

If you are interested in adding living space to your home, a basement remodel can be a smart way to achieve that. Due to the fact a basement is underground, it’s critical to choose a skilled contractor with the expertise to know the pitfalls to avoid. Colony Home Improvement has remodeled many local basements with beautiful results. We would love to prove to you why we should be your Hingham home improvement contractor. Contact us for a consultation!

Consider bedroom flooring for your home improvement.

home additions, home renovations, master bedroom remodeling

How to Choose the Best Flooring for Your Master Bedroom

November 17, 20160

There is nothing as inviting as a warm, cozy, beautiful master bedroom. After a long day, you deserve to retire to a room that is an oasis from the stresses of the outside world. Your boudoir not only is the place you sleep, but it is where you recharge your batteries, connect with your partner and go retire to enjoy peace and quiet. Remodeling your bedroom is gift to yourself. Find a home improvement contractor in Duxbury you trust to do justice to this important room, and pay attention to details. Case in point: do your research before you choose your flooring!

Is It Comfortable?

One of the main reasons people decide to invest in home improvement in Duxbury or any other city is to make their home more comfortable. Your home is your sanctuary. Your bedroom is your private refuge. If you have children or share your home with parents, in-laws or roommates, your bedroom is the one place you’ll feel comfortable closing the door and embracing privacy. Rule number one when choosing flooring for this space is to ensure it is comfortable. Our winters are cold. Carpeting ensures your feet won’t freeze as you step out of bed. Carpeting also provides cozy cushioning. However, so does a throw rug over tile or laminate, as well as an option like cork.

Talk to your home addition contractors about flooring options.

Home addition contractors can help you make the best decisions.

Is It Durable?

Carpet may reign supreme for comfort, but is it practical for your situation? Carpet is one of the hardest to clean flooring options. It is prone to staining and wear and tear. Many savvy home addition contractors in MA try to steer clients with large families away from carpeting. They know the more foot traffic carpeting receives, the more quickly it will become worn and need to be replaced. Tile, laminate, natural stone and even stained concrete flooring top the list for attractive, yet durable, flooring options. Carpet is comfortable, but one spilled glass of merlot or doggy disaster can be disastrous to this flooring option.

Is It Attractive?

Most people decide to pursue home additions in MA for one of two reasons: They want to add value to their home or they want to make their home more attractive for themselves and their families. Actually, many people pursue home additions in MA because they want to achieve both of these goals! If you plan to live in your home for a while, you want to love the way your bedroom looks. You want to choose flooring that makes you love to look at it. Taste is entirely subjective. What look do you love? It could be the plush look of carpet, the modern look of polished marble, the eco-friendly look of bamboo or cork or the color and shine of tile. What look do you gravitate toward?

There is no one-size-fits-all best master bedroom flooring solution. Consider your lifestyle and be honest. How likely are you to track in dirt on your shoes? How frequently do you clean? Do you have small kids who are likely to spill juice or milk on your bedroom floor? Do you have pets who sleep in your bedroom? What about your spouse? Does he or she have a messy streak? Are you a stark minimalist? Nature lover? Eclectic soul? Look within, be honest and then choose. Your bedroom: Your call!

You’re in the driver’s seat 100 percent when you decide to remodel. Advice and guidance from skilled pros never hurts, though. That’s our focus at Colony Home Improvement. We absolutely encourage our customers to call the shots, but we give them insight so they can make smart choices. Ready to renovate? Contact us!

Kitchen remodeling can involve open or closed cabinets.

home additions, kitchen remodeling

Is Open Shelving or Closed Cabinets the Right Choice for Your MA Kitchen

November 10, 20160

If you’ve decided it’s time to pursue a kitchen remodel in Dover, MA, you’re probably excited about what lies ahead. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and you probably spend a significant amount of time in this important room. Kitchen remodeling in MA is your opportunity to transform this space into your dream kitchen by choosing a layout and color scheme and making design choices that will make you smile. You have many decisions to make! One decision you may not have considered yet is, “Should I go with closed cabinets or opt for open shelving?”

When Closed Cabinets May Make Better Sense

If you have an aversion to clutter, a hodgepodge of dishes and glassware and lack the time or desire to organize your kitchenware, closed cabinets may be your best option. If you have guests coming over at the last minute and are rushing to tidy up your home, you could, conceivably stuff your kitchen clutter into your cabinets, close the doors and be good to go. If you’re always rushing around, have kids or teenagers who don’t take the time to put things where they need to go or simply prefer a seamless, no-mess look, closed kitchen cabinets could save your sanity.

Choose the right cabinets with the help of home addition contractors.

Home addition contractors can help you choose the right cabinets.

In Some Cases, Open Shelving Is the Better Option

If you pride yourself on your stunning china collection, love to polish and display your silver heirlooms or have collectibles you want to display, open shelving allows you to showcase your belongings. Additionally, if you’re an amazing cook, open shelving allows you to see all of your kitchen tools. You won’t have to hunt for the tools you need to work your magic if you tell your Dover home improvement contractor you want to go with an open-shelving format.

Beware: There Are Drawbacks to Both Options

If there is one thing home addition contractors in MA stress to all of their kitchen remodel customers, it’s this: make sure you are absolutely sure about what you want before you begin construction. The last thing you want is to spend the time and money to remodel your kitchen only to discover in a few months it doesn’t work for you. In regard to storage, keep these facts in mind. For open shelving to work, you need to be organized and diligent and you need to be willing to clean and dust frequently. Cobwebs and dust bunnies on your prized china isn’t a good look. On the other hand, with closed cabinets, you risk the “out of sight, out of mind” phenomenon. It’s possible you’ll store away dishes and kitchen tools and forget they exist. Before making your choice, consider your lifestyle and the other members of your family. Are you most interested in showcasing objects or have the ability to hide them?

Whether you’re ready to get started on a kitchen remodel or are in the beginning planning stages of your project, we encourage you to contact us at Colony Home Improvement. We are experienced, skilled and passionate about transforming customers’ homes into their dream dwellings. We would love the opportunity to be your Dover home improvement contractor!

Consider bathroom remodeling in the winter.

bathroom remodeling, home additions

You Don’t Have to Wait for Spring to Remodel Your Bathroom

November 3, 20160

Most bath remodeling contractors in Brookline, MA, and the surrounding areas will probably tell you spring is their busiest season. Homeowners who have been stuck indoors all winter are motivated to get going on their home improvement projects once the chill of winter has subsided. Here’s a secret, though. Most MA bath remodeling contractors will also tell you they’re able to devote more time and attention to jobs in winter because they have fewer of them.

Why the Bathroom Is the Ideal Room to Remodel in Winter

Once the leaves fall from the trees and cold fronts are the norm, it’s understandable you may not want to embark on a remodeling project that involves gaping holes in your home’s exterior. In most cases, remodeling a bathroom is a project that is contained to one small area of your home. Unlike a kitchen remodel that will require your family to eat out or bring home takeout until the project is complete, a bathroom remodel will be just a minor inconvenience (if, that is, your home has more than one bathroom). While you are remodeling one bathroom, you and your family members can simply use a different bathroom until the project is complete. Since bathrooms are small spaces, remodeling one shouldn’t take too long if you choose a reputable contractor.

Talk to bath remodeling contractors about your options.

Bath remodeling contractors can help you make the right decisions.

Remodeling Your Bathroom Will Enable You to Enjoy Winter More

Home additions in MA are especially appealing in wintertime because Massachusetts winters are so brutal. If you time your remodeling project right, such as scheduling it to take place before the height of wintertime, you can take advantage of contractors’ increased availability and also enhance your home’s warmth and coziness. Bathroom remodeling in MA before the February deep-freeze occurs will allow you to turn the one room in your house that is cold and uninviting into a warm, welcoming refuge. You will be drawn to linger in your cozy bathroom, instead of dreading bathtime and showertime in a sterile, insufficiently insulated freezing cold room.

Incorporate Warmth into Your Bathroom Remodel

Remodeling a bathroom is one of the home additions in MA that will deliver a huge return on investment when you sell your home. You can create a peaceful spa-like sanctuary without spending a huge amount of money. Future homebuyers will be wowed by your home’s incredible bathroom. More importantly, you and your family will be able to enjoy it on a daily basis. Here are some touches that will add warmth, both physical and aesthetic, to your bathroom remodel:

Heated towel racks
Heated floors
Heat-retaining wood or ceramic countertops
Chandeliers and pendant lights
Warm color schemes
Plush throw rugs

As the dead of winter approach, consider making good use of fall and winter to upgrade your home with a bathroom remodel. If you need inspiration, contact us at Colony Home Improvement or check out our website. Regardless of the size or style of your home, we can transform your bland bathroom into a warm and cozy oasis.

Monthly: November 2016