Lenny | Colony Home Improvement

A Homeowner’s Guide to Beginning a 2nd Floor Addition

May 28, 20150

A second floor addition needs the right support.

Make sure your home can support a second floor addition.

A second floor addition in Newton can double your living space and give you room to grow without resulting in lost yard space. This makes it an attractive option for many homeowners. However, before you move forward with your home addition floor plans, there are a few elements you need to understand to ensure the project goes as smoothly as possible.

Structural Requirements

Not every home can accommodate a second story addition. When working on custom built home plans for Newton and the surrounding towns, your contractor will evaluate the structure of your home to determine whether a second floor is an option. If the structure can’t hold up to a second story, they may be able to make changes that will allow for the project to continue. They can also help with any required permits to complete the project.

Your home addition floor plans will address the size of the project.

Consider the size of your home addition floor plans.

A Seamless Approach

When completing a second floor addition in Newton, the end result can be awkward if your contractor doesn’t take a seamless approach to the project from the start. In addition to making sure the exterior materials match up with the first floor, it’s also important to make sure the interior design is in alignment as well. While there are only certain areas in which the stairs can be built, you don’t want to place them in an unusual position. Your contractor can help you create a plan that will make your second floor look like it was built with the first.

Consider the Size

Not all homes need a full second story addition. When working on your custom built home plans, consider your exact needs. Perhaps you only want to add an extra bedroom and a half-bath to go with it. These projects often cost less and can create just what you need, helping you keep your budget down. You can also cut back on costs by saving your existing roof and building under it. Skilled contractors can remove your roof, build the second floor and replace it with no damage.

Custom built home plans should factor the mechanical units.

Consider the mechanical factor of custom built home plans.

The Mechanical Factor

Your existing heating and cooling system were purchased and installed to fulfill the needs of the space available in your home at the time. When you’re adding an entire second story, these units will most likely need to be replaced to accommodate the change in size. Talk to your contractors about how much space you are adding so you can determine the right size for your next heating and cooling system.

Home addition floor plans for adding a second story can be more complex than other types of home addition plans. For this reason, you need experienced contractors who are familiar with this type of custom built home plans in Newton and the surrounding towns. They can help you make the right decisions so you can get the beautiful home you’ve always wanted and the additional space you need.

If you’re interested in a second floor addition for your Newton home, contact us. Our Massachusetts contractors can provide the guidance you need to tackle this project.

Home Additions and Improvements that Make a Home Senior Friendly

May 26, 20150

Make your home more accessible with home additions.

Home additions can make a home more accessible.

Many seniors want to remain in their homes for as long as possible. However, the layout and features in their home may not always be the most senior friendly. This can make living in their homes more dangerous unless appropriate changes are made. The following home additions in Needham and the surrounding areas, with the help of a Massachusetts home improvement contractor, can make any home safer for the elderly.

Bathroom Renovations

One of the most important changes you should make to a senior’s home is in the bathroom. Contractors can make recommendations that make the bathroom safer and more accessible. For instance, installing rails in the shower, bath tub and toilet area will ensure seniors don’t slip and fall. Non-slip surfaces and raised toilet seats can also be an advantage for aging individuals who have difficulty getting around.

Make your bathroom safer with custom built home plans.

Custom built home plans can make a bathroom safer.

Pay Attention to Entryways and Hallways

These areas of the home are some of the most difficult areas for seniors to navigate. When creating your Needham custom built floor plans, hallways should be wider to allow for wheelchairs and other accessibility options seniors often use. Entryways are also a hazard for a number of reasons. The threshold is a tripping hazard, especially for seniors who have difficulty walking. When they are carrying bags in from the grocery store or even bringing in the mail, they are at an even greater risk of falling. Keeping thresholds as low as possible will help reduce this risk.

Add Staircase Lifts

Walking up and down the stairs can be dangerous for the elderly. A Massachusetts home improvement contractor can help you pick out the ideal staircase lift and then install it so your senior relatives can safely get up and down the stairs when no one is there to help them. This can give families peace of mind when they can’t be around.

Build a ramp with a home improvement contractor.

A home improvement contractor can build a ramp.

Install Ramps

Whether seniors get around in a wheelchair or scooter or they simply have difficulty with stairs, ramps can be an effective method of getting in and out of the home. These ramps can be included as part of home additions in Needham and the surrounding areas without too much impact on the rest of the home, keeping seniors safer.

When seniors want to stay in their current home, it’s up to their family to make sure the home is safe and accessible for the elderly. Making changes with contractors for home additions in Needham and the surrounding areas will ensure your aging relatives are safe in their homes so you don’t have to worry about an increased risk of falls, allowing seniors to stay in their homes for longer.

If you’re looking for experienced contractors to make an aging loved one’s home safer, contact us. Our Massachusetts contractors can help you find ways to keep your seniors safe.

Adding a Sunroom Addition Is a Great Way to Add Square Footage and ROI

May 21, 20150

Consider a sunroom for a home addition.

If you love to spend time outdoors but don’t want to worry about inclement weather, you can design your own sunroom for your home. This type of home addition in Duxbury can provide many advantages, including adding square footage to your home and increasing its value. It also gives you a great way to spend time outdoors, even if it’s rainy or cool.

Space You Can Use All Year Round

A deck is often the top choice for homeowners who want to spend time outdoors. However, if your room addition floor plans in Duxbury and the surrounding areas include a sunroom instead, you gain additional square footage you can use, regardless of what the weather is like outside. A sunroom has plenty of windows to let in light and fresh air, helping you feel like you’re outdoors while protecting you from the elements. You can even enjoy time in this area of your home during the coldest winter months.

Add a sunroom to your home addition floor plans.

Consider a sunroom for your home addition floor plans.

Increase the Value of Your Home

Homes that include a sunroom often bring in a higher selling price than homes that don’t include this feature. This is because it is an attractive element for prospective homeowners. In fact, some realtors claim adding a sunroom to your home can provide a return on investment of around 60 percent on average. This feature can also add curb appeal to your home, drawing in more prospective home buyers.

Reduce Required Maintenance

When you add a deck to your home, you get many of the same advantages as a sunroom, but when you consider the maintenance requirements of a deck, a sunroom wins hands down. A deck is exposed to the elements and will require more maintenance to ensure it stays in good shape so you can continue to use it. Decks need to be stained and sealed and may need portions replaced as they rot. An enclosed sunroom won’t require any more maintenance than the rest of your home.

Design your own sunroom for your home.

Bring the Outdoors In

The options for outfitting your sunroom are virtually endless. You can bring in the feeling of being outdoors with all the amenities you would typically enjoy indoors. From the lighting and other electrical components to the furniture you choose, you can utilize your indoor living space while allowing the light and fresh air from the outdoors in.

Your home addition in Duxbury and the surrounding areas should include a sunroom if you want to see the most out of your investment. You will be adding a functional room that will also increase the value of your home. This gives you a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors, while being protected like you are in any other room within your home.

If you want to design your own sunroom for your home, contact us. Our Massachusetts contractors can provide the valuable insight you need to get the project done right.

Your Ranch Style House Plan May Need Some Modern Features

May 19, 20150

Check out updated ranch style house plans.

Ranch style house plans can be updated.

While some people are ready to move into a two-story home, you may enjoy the ability to design your own home in order to keep your ranch style house. Updating your ranch style house plans in Dover will help you get the features you want while remaining comfortable in a single-story home. Experienced contractors can help you add more modern features so you can customize your current home.

Stretch Your Home

Some ranch style homes use brick or another material that stands out along the bottom of the home up to the windows. From the windows upward, you are likely to find wood slabs or shingles. This can give your home a stunted look, making it appear smaller than it really is. Instead, you can either install new siding from the top to the bottom of your home or you can use paint to blend the bottom materials into the siding on the top.

Consider a wrap around porch when you design your own home.

Design your own home with a wrap around porch.

Add Gables

Gables, which are peaked additions to the roof, can change the overall look of the exterior of your home without fully adding a second story. Contractors for home additions in Dover can help you identify the appropriate location for adding gables. Above your front door is just one ideal location for this type of addition.

Wrap the Porch

Beautiful wrap porches can be a great feature for a home, giving you a place to enjoy the outdoors. However, they aren’t a common feature in ranch style homes. When you design your own home, you can include features that aren’t typically used in your style home so you can help yours stand apart from the others in your neighborhood. A wrap-around porch adds a country feel to your home and offers a place to rest and relax after a long day.

Your kitchen can be updated by contractors for home additions.

Contractors for home additions can update your kitchen.

Focus on the Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. Contractors for home additions in Dover will tell you this is one of the most common requests they get from all homeowners. If you have an older ranch style home, replacing the laminate countertops with granite, marble or another material can dress up your kitchen. Replacing cabinets can also have a dramatic effect on the look of your kitchen. However, if you can’t afford to replace them entirely, consider giving them an overhaul with a coat of paint.

When you design your own home, you aren’t restricted by the ranch style it was originally built in. With the help of experienced contractors for home additions, you can transform your current one-story ranch house into the one you’ve always dreamed of without making any major changes to the structure of the home. These ideas can help you customize your ranch style home.

If you’re interested in making ranch style house plans in Dover or the surrounding areas, contact us. Our contractors can help you add modern features to change up the look of your home.

How to Determine If Your Custom Siding Needs Replacing

May 14, 20150

Find out if your custom siding needs to be replaced.

Now that spring has finally arrived, it’s time to inspect the exterior of your home for any damages that may have occurred during the winter. The cold weather and massive amounts of snow may have caused damage to your custom siding in Hingham and the surrounding areas. Before you hire a Massachusetts home improvement contractor to help you replace your custom siding, look for evidence it indeed needs replacing.

The Siding Appears Warped

A visual inspection of your siding should indicate whether there is any warping, which may cause your siding to pull away from the house or develop a slight bend. If you notice any areas in which this has occurred, you will need to find contractors for home additions in Hingham who can help you order new siding and replace the areas that are damaged. Remember, warping won’t always happen throughout your home and may only be in certain areas.

Ask your contractors for home additions to check your siding.

Contractors for home additions can help you check your siding.

The Siding Is Cracked or Peeling

Another common type of damage that can occur to your custom siding is cracking and peeling. This is especially true if you have a type of siding that shouldn’t require painting. In these situations, you may be able to replace only the damaged pieces unless your custom siding is no longer available. If your contractor can’t match your siding, it will need to be fully replaced.

Mold Is Present on Your Siding

Custom siding in Hingham could be susceptible to developing mold, especially during the winter months when the weather is damp. As the weather warms up, the mold may become more evident. While you may be able to clean the mold off your home, a serious mold problem may require you to fully replace your siding. Experienced contractors for home additions will be able to help you make the right choice to prevent the spread of mold.

See your home improvement contractor about custom siding.

A home improvement contractor can replace your siding.

Signs of Water Damage Inside

Checking your siding alone isn’t enough to determine if there is a problem. Examining the interior walls of your home for peeling paint or peeling wallpaper could also indicate a serious issue with your siding. However, it could also exhibit trouble with your roof. Therefore, it’s important to contact a Massachusetts home improvement contractor to determine the precise cause so you don’t waste money fixing something that doesn’t require it.

Custom siding can create a beautiful home, but it can also be difficult to replace when it’s damaged. Now that the cold weather is over, it’s time to check out your home and fix any damages that may have occurred over the long winter. If you know what to look for in your siding, you will know when you need to hire contractors to help you replace your siding and restore the exterior of your home.

If you’re looking for contractors in Hingham, MA, or the surrounding areas, contact us. Our experienced contractors can help you repair or replace your damaged siding.

Author: Lenny