Lenny | Colony Home Improvement

Need More Room to Live? Consider a New Room Addition by Building Out

July 23, 20150

Get more living space by building your room additions outward.

Building out with room additions can give you more living space.

Sometimes after you’ve lived in a house for a few years, it can start to feel a little cramped. Maybe your family is growing, or even your interests. Most homeowners make the best use of what space is available, but when you simply don’t have room for guests or need a larger living area, it might be time to contact a Massachusetts home improvement contractor to discuss your options.

A popular option today is building out instead of adding another level onto your house. It can be more feasible, as well as affordable. Before getting started on any project, consider these factors.

Is There Room to Build Out?

Some homeowners may not want to build out from their house because they have a nice sized back yard they are not willing to sacrifice. On the flip side, you may not have enough yard to provide room to build out. However, if you do have plenty of room, it is possible to design it around backyard features and make the best of a smaller yard.

Will the Addition Complement or Complete the House?

Consider how a new room will change the floor plan of your house and whether it will adequately solve your square footage problem. If there isn’t enough space on the bottom level of your house to create a design that solves the problem, consider other options like the basement or adding a second story.

Your home improvement contractor can help you build out.

Talk to your home improvement contractor about building out.

Is Building out Feasible and Cost Effective?

Of all the room additions in Brookline, a build on can be one of the least expensive options. Discuss the available options with your home remodeling contractor to see which ones will be the most reasonable for your home and situation. Adding a lot of extras will drive the cost up even more so figure out what is needed and what is most practical and discuss how to accomplish it with the contractor.

Is It Possible to Match the Existing Exterior of Your Home?

When adding to the exterior of a house, it is important to make the addition match the original. It doesn’t have to be a perfect match since it’s cosmetically complementary to use stark contrasts, making one part stand out without clashing. Just make sure the room addition is an aesthetic match.

How Big Does the Addition Need to Be?

In some cases, it doesn’t take a large addition to solve a space problem in a home. Sometimes it’s enough to add three or four feet onto a small, cramped space to open it all up. If a smaller addition will serve the purpose without having to frame a roof for it, you can save money and time. Just build on what is needed.

Are you ready to explore the options for an add-on to your house? Contact us to discuss the details and possibilities.

Avoid These Design Mistakes by Hiring an Experienced Contractor for Your Bathroom Addition

July 21, 20150

Get the job done right with a contractor for home additions.

A contractor for home additions will get the job done right.

When starting a bathroom remodeling project, there are many minute details to consider. It can be easy to overlook what seems like an insignificant point and end up with a design disaster. Because of this, it’s important to cover every detail in the planning stages so you don’t end up with a major problem later on. Even though the bathroom is typically a smaller room, it can take a lot more effort when it comes to designing. Hiring a home improvement contractor can help you avoid these common design mistakes.

Include an Outside View

One of the most common mistakes is forgetting to include a window on an outside wall. Providing natural light helps people relax in the space. It can also be a source of fresh air, which can help prevent the growth of mold and mildew. If it isn’t possible to include a window in the bathroom, make plans for a skylight or solar tube to allow natural light.

Line of Sight

When possible, avoid placing a bathroom where it is in the direct line of sight to other rooms like a kitchen, living or dining room. Sometimes there is no way to avoid the bathroom being right off one of these rooms. In these cases, use a small alcove, partition or passage to mask the room so the toilet is not seen from an outside room. No one wants to see into the bathroom from the dining room table so plan ahead.

Doorway Disaster

Planning bathroom space can be tricky, but the proper design can help you avoid a doorway disaster. The door should not knock into a toilet, tub or vanity when it is opened. People should not have to squeeze in or out of a bathroom. Be sure to allow adequate space for a door and ease of passage. A Westwood contractor for home additions can take the proper measurements and help you avoid this mistake. They can also offer alternative solutions, such as a sliding pocket door, which takes up less space than a traditional door.

Create the ideal bathroom with the help of a home improvement contractor.

A home improvement contractor knows how to create a great bathroom.

Center Stage

Try to place the toilet so it isn’t the first thing you see when you walk in. The toilet and the shower should be out of direct sight. If possible, place the sink or vanity between the toilet and the rest of the room. If the bathroom is smaller, use design strategies so anything but the toilet is the first thing you see when you enter the room.

Bigger Is Not Always Better

The bathroom design should be a priority over the size of the fixtures and features. The bathroom should be designed to be functional, rather than trying to squeeze fixtures into a small space. The most important feature is functionality.

When you are ready to discuss your options for a room addition in Westwood and the surrounding areas, contact us. We can help you avoid design disasters.

Home Improvement and Renovation Projects That Will Increase the Value of Your Home

July 16, 20150

Talk to your home improvement contractor about projects to increase your home's value.

A home improvement contractor can help you increase the value of your home.

Buying a home is an investment of time, as well as money. Once the initial purchase is made, you want to do all you can to protect it. Every home needs renovating from time to time, even if it’s just to update it. There are some home improvements and renovations that can help increase the value of your home. You may want to undertake a remodeling project simply to improve the functionality of the home, provide more space or just because you want a different look. Before you begin, check out these projects that will help you get the most for your investment.

New Look with New Doors

Replacing garage doors or entry doors not only changes the overall appearance of the home, but it also offers a return when it comes to home value. New doors help improve the visual appeal of the home. Doors are available in a variety of materials, colors and styles so you can match the existing exterior design.

Window Replacements

Increasing the value of a home with window replacements is just one of the reasons homeowners are undertaking this renovation project. Updated windows will help increase the resale value of the home, partially because they are more energy efficient. Window replacements are a good idea, even if you are not planning on selling anytime soon. They improve the curb appeal and can save you money on utilities. They also provide a natural lighting alternative. Keeping older or outdated windows can end up costing homeowners more money in the long run.

Talk to a contractor for home additions about adding value to your home.

A contractor for home additions can add value to your home.

Outdoor Projects

Sometimes homeowners concentrate their efforts on inside projects, but there are several noteworthy outdoor renovations you should discuss with a Weston home improvement contractor. Major improvements to the exterior of the home can mean a significant increase in curb appeal and value. Adding a walkway or other masonry projects, as well as building on a backyard deck or an outdoor kitchen, can increase the value of the home. Even a landscaping project can boost the home’s curb appeal, beautifying its exterior with perennial plants and shrubs to provide color and shade. A professionally done landscape project can help the home sell a lot faster once it’s put on the market.

Repainting or Siding Projects

A visitor to your home is going to base their initial impression on what they see first: the exterior of the home. Repainting the home’s exterior can not only give the home a new look, but it can also increase its value. Vinyl siding is a practical way to protect the home and add to its value.

When you are ready to increase your home’s value, contact us at Colony Home Improvement. We are a contractor for room additions in Weston and the surrounding areas in MA and can help you finish your project and increase the value of your home.

A Room Addition Above the Garage Can Provide the Extra Space Your Growing Family Needs

July 14, 20150

Add extra space with room additions over the garage.

Room additions over your garage add extra space.

There are many ways to add more space to your home to accommodate a growing family. A room over the garage is one alternative that can prove to be an excellent choice. In many situations, there is nowhere for a house to expand so looking to the space above the garage is the perfect solution. Here are some of the top reasons to consider this option.

Additional Space for Virtually Anything

Before you begin any construction, talk to a home improvement contractor about the structure of your garage. As long as it is sound enough to manage a room on top, this space can be the perfect size for just about anything. It makes a good area for a home-based business, an extra bedroom or a workout room.

Additional Space Can Add Value to Your Home

No one doubts the functionality of an extra room, but it could provide much more. Adding a room above the garage can improve the curb appeal of the house and complement the home’s aesthetic look. In addition, an extra room means more square footage, which can increase the overall value of the home.

Talk to a home improvement contractor about a garage addition.

A home improvement contractor can help you can help you with an addition over your garage.

Additional Space for Extra Income

Whether you need the extra space now or just want to have it available for those just-in-case situations, it can provide extra income. An above garage room can easily be made into a small apartment, which can be rented out to college students or other individuals.

Considerations to Make Prior to Building

Building an extra room over the garage should first be discussed with a contractor. They can help you better understand the logistics and scope of the project. Here are some things you should discuss with your contractor before building room additions in Wellesley.

Check the garage for structure and framing

Provide adequate insulation

Do you want to add plumbing and where’s the best place for it?

Do you want outside access? Where will you put it?

Before contacting your Wellesley contractor for home addition advice, check to see if your home has to meet any building codes or zoning requirements. You will also want to check how an additional room might influence homeowner’s insurance and property taxes. In some regions, there may be some discounts on insurance rates as long as you meet certain building requirements.

Are you ready to add usable space to your home by adding a room above your garage? Contact us with your ideas and questions.

3D Design is Becoming an Industry Standard: Here’s Why

July 9, 20150

Talk to your contractor about designing your own home.

Designing your own home is made easy with 3D designs.

Our homes provide us with more than just a comfortable place to relax each evening. It is our emotional haven and safe place from the hectic world we live in. One of the latest trends in home remodeling is to design your own home addition or remodeling project in 3D. Having a Scituate custom built floor plan in 3D can help you gain a better understanding for the design and a sense for how it’s really going to look and feel once it has been completed. Here are a few reasons you should ask your home remodeling professional about a 3D design.

3D Designs Give You a Better Picture of the Home

When you are just looking at a two-dimensional picture of your home’s floor plan, it can be difficult to get a good feel for the elevations and features. A basic floor plan can give you the general idea of how the home is going to be laid out, but it can be difficult to visualize how the design is actually going to look when it’s done. A 3D design helps you see it better and gain an understanding of how it’s going to work for you. The more understanding you can gain of your design and the more you get a feel for its overall effect, the easier it will be to make the necessary decisions.

A 3D Design Reduces Changes Later On

Dealing with an inadequate representation of your home’s floor plan can lead to a lot of changes once construction begins. This will eventually translate into more money and time spent in completing the renovations or home addition. Since a 3D design lets you see the floor plan more clearly, it’s less likely you’ll need changes further down the road.

Create a custom built home plan in 3D.

A 3D Design Lets You See Renovations Before They Begin

A three-dimensional display isn’t just for designing and building a new home. It can be beneficial when you want to make renovations too. The 3D view allows you a chance to see what the completed changes will look like. Seeing your renovations before construction even begins can allow you to spot any potential problems or something you hadn’t thought about before. Being able to see your home remodeling or new building project before it has begun can prevent making unnecessary changes and helps homeowners avoid having to pay for work that is not needed or wanted.

A 3D Design Helps Everyone Get on the Same Page

Displaying your 3D design to those who will be working on your home can help unite everyone in working toward common goals. A simple meeting can bring everyone together to contribute ideas to the design process. When all members of the team can see the images on a shared screen, changes can be made immediately, saving those involved huge amounts of time.

Are you ready to start designing your own home in Scituate? Contact us to see your ideas in 3D.

Author: Lenny