Home Improvement Blog

Introduce natural light with a dormer addition.

Southeastern MA Home Improvement Contractors Help You Choose the Best Lighting for a Dormer Addition

March 24, 20160

Is your family outgrowing your home but reluctant to move because you love your home and neighborhood? Are you looking for a way to add some pizzazz to your home with a unique and eye-catching home addition? As many residents of have discovered, a Duxbury dormer addition not only makes a home more spacious and attractive, but it adds significant value you’ll appreciate when you do decide it’s time to sell your home. There is one important caveat to consider before you get started. Make sure the southeastern MA home improvement contractors you get bids from have specific expertise in room addition floor plans in Duxbury and the surrounding areas.

Let There Be Light

Besides creating space, a smartly designed dormer addition will bathe your space in the ideal amount of light. Choosing the right windows is critical to the aesthetic appeal and practicality of your dormer. Lighting is powerful in an understated way. You probably don’t think much about it, but the lighting you choose can affect your mood, productivity and energy level.

A skilled home improvement contractor will consider such factors as what direction your home faces and what the view will be from the dormer windows. The windows that will work best for a dormer that will face the windows of your neighbor’s bedroom, will be different than the windows you’ll choose if your dormer will face your lovingly maintained garden. Your contractor should also discuss how you plan to use the space so he can suggest windows that deliver the right degree of lighting.

Design your dormer addition with the help of home improvement contractors.

Home improvement contractors help you design your dormer.

A Successful Dormer Addition Has Aesthetic Balance

Besides the amount of light dormer windows bring in and what the view from those windows is, an experienced contractor will make sure the new windows are proportional to those in the rest of the house. For a seamless look, the size and shape of the windows for the addition should blend well with the other windows in the home. Additionally, the entire addition should fit in with the look of homes in the rest of the neighborhood. Otherwise, it could actually decrease rather than increase resale value.

A Pro Will Check the Codes

Believe it or not, some inexperienced home improvement contractors fail to check with city officials to make sure there are no historic district restrictions, height restrictions or local building codes. Make certain the contractor you choose is diligent and experienced.

If you’re contemplating a dormer addition or any other home improvement project, contact us at Colony Home Improvement. We provide skilled, professional home improvement in Duxbury and throughout southeastern MA. We’ve helped many local home owners upgrade their spaces beautifully, and we’d love to do the same for you.

A second story addition requires careful planning.

2nd floor addition, home additions

Evaluating Your Ranch-Style Home for a Second Story Addition in Hingham

March 17, 20160

There are several reasons homeowners decide on a second story addition in Hingham. Sometimes it’s about creating additional space, and it can add to the value of your home. Adding a second story is a huge project and deserves plenty of consideration. Here are a few things to think about before you begin your addition.

Consider Your Local Building Codes and Restrictions

Even though you’ve decided you are ready to build a second story addition in Hingham, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the local ordinances and building codes. Building a second story is a major project, and it’s important to know if you are going to face any obstacles before you get started. In some instances, utility companies can have pre-established right-of-ways on your property. This could cause a problem when building a large structure. If a second story addition violates any building regulations, you may end up paying high fines or even need to remove the work you’ve completed. It’s important to know about these and other possible restrictions before starting the project.

Consider a second story in your custom build floor plan.

A custom build floor plan can include a second story.

Consider Your Neighborhood

As much as we hate to compare ourselves with others, in this situation it’s best to see how your Hingham home addition compares to other homes in your neighborhood. Take a look at how your house compares with others size-wise and aesthetically, as well as check out the various features. Will your second story addition in Hingham make your house stand out from the rest of the homes? If it is not complementary of the rest of the area, it can affect its resale value if you decide to sell later on. Check with the tax assessor’s office or website where you’ll find information on property values in the area. This can also give you an indication of how an addition might raise your taxes.

Consider Your House and Property

Take a good look at your home as it is and see if you can identify any barriers like trees or landscape features. How is the Hingham home addition going to affect how people enter or exit the dwelling? How will the new rooms affect the flow of traffic inside the house? When you work with a professional to develop a custom build floor plan in Hingham, MA, these are things you should have already decided. Will you be adding an additional exit and how will it affect outdoor features, such as a patio or deck? Discuss any structural concerns you may have with your contractor.

We are your southeastern MA premier home remodeling and additions contractor. Contact us to help guide you through the process of building an addition on your home.

Create a relaxing space with a bathroom addition.

bathroom addition, home additions

Questions You Should Ask Before Starting Your Needham Bathroom Addition

March 8, 20160

Once you make the decision to add another bathroom to your house, you may think the decision process is over. In reality, it has just begun. Before you call your eastern MA home improvement contractor, there are a lot of questions you should have already asked and answered for yourself. Once you are sure of the details, it will be easier to get the Needham bathroom addition completed just like you want. Ask yourself these questions so you can better explain what you want to the contractor.

What Features Are Needs and Which Ones Are Wants?

Some bathroom items are nonnegotiable, such as the sink, toilet and lighting. You may choose different styles for these items, but they are permanent fixtures. The size of the bathroom will have a lot to do with the things you add above and beyond these features. You will probably want to include cabinets, which can be designed based on the available space. If your Needham bathroom addition is upstairs, you may want more cabinet space, whereas a smaller bathroom for guests may not require as much storage space. Make a list of what you really need in the bathroom, and then make a list of what you want. When it comes down to building the addition, it can be a great help if you know what you really require and what you can do without.

Make sure your custom built floor plan includes a functional bathroom.

A custom built floor plan should include a functional bathroom.

What Is the Primary Function of the New Bathroom?

There is of course, an obvious answer to this question. Bathrooms are unique and can serve a variety of useful purposes. For instance, a centrally located bathroom might be used by family members for quick showers, brushing your teeth and hurrying out the door. Some bathrooms are more secluded and used for long soaking baths with candles and soft music. Another factor can be the age of those using a particular bathroom. Small children will have different needs from teens or the elderly. Considering these factors will help you get the right bathroom design.

Should I Choose Energy Efficient Features?

It’s good to go green for the sake of the environment, but it can also be beneficial for your budget in the long run. Discuss using energy-efficient toilets, shower heads and faucets to save on your water bill. You might even consider using a tankless water heater, which can save on your energy bill as well.

Do I Need to Have Ventilation?

If you want to protect your home and bathroom from mold and mildew, it’s a good idea to include ventilation in your plans. Discuss its installation with your eastern MA home improvement contractor. He will know what size you need, depending on the size and style of bathroom you are adding.

Are you ready to see a Needham custom built floor plan for your bathroom addition? Contact us today to discuss the features you want included in your bathroom addition.

Add functional space to your home when adding a sunroom.

home additions, sunroom addition

What to Consider Before Adding a Sunroom in Eastern MA

March 3, 20160

If you’ve ever wished you could bring the outdoors into your home and enjoy sunlight and the sights of nature year-round, you can! Adding a sunroom in eastern MA allows you to enjoy the serenity of nature, even on days when the mercury dips into the single digits. A bright sunroom can be a cozy spot to curl up with a good book or the ideal spot for an inspiring home office. Before you begin looking for a home improvement contractor to tackle your sunroom addition in Dover, MA, there are a few decisions you should make.

Is It Allowed?

Before proceeding with any construction project, check your plat to see if you are subject to setback or easement restrictions. If you live in a historical district or HOA community, find out if your sunroom design plans need to be approved before you proceed.

Where Should It Be Located?

Living in Massachusetts, we often deal with frigid winter temperatures but rarely experience oppressive, unrelentingly hot summers. A southern exposure makes the most sense for a Massachusetts sunroom. Building your sunroom with southern exposure will maximize the amount of sunlight the room will receive each day and help heat it in winter.

Add value to your home with a sunroom addition.

A sunroom addition can add value to your home.

What Should It be Constructed Of?

It’s not possible to build a room entirely of glass so you will need to decide which material you’d like to use for the sunroom’s supports, which are the components that will connect the windows in your “room of glass.” Vinyl, aluminum and wood are all options. Supports with vinyl exteriors covering internal metal reinforcements are the affordable, lowest-maintenance and strongest option. Vinyl also is a good insulator, which can reduce your utility costs. Wood supports cost the most and requires periodic maintenance, but some people prefer that look. Aluminum costs more and doesn’t insulate as well as vinyl. However, many designers like to combine vinyl vertical supports with aluminum supports for the roof, since aluminum is stronger.

Is Your Contractor Knowledgeable and Qualified to Build a Sunroom?

When looking for a home improvement contractor for Dover and the surrounding area to build your sunroom, make sure they have built sunrooms before. Unlike adding on a regular room, a sunroom requires specialized expertise. Sunroom windows and doors are of paramount importance. A builder with experience with sunrooms will know it’s usually best to choose windows and doors with durable roller wheels on stainless-steel tracks. The last thing you want is for your doors and windows in your door-and-window-filled room to stick. Additionally, contractors knowledgeable about sunrooms will know whether a sunroom’s design will be best served by using surface-mounted electrical boxes and conduits to run wires and mount outlets or by using electrical raceways instead.

Once you’ve done your homework to make sure you’re allowed to build a sunroom and have a general idea of what you want it to look like and where you want it built, it’s time to find a skilled contractor. Colony Home Improvement has extensive expertise building sunrooms, as well as all kinds of beautiful home additions. Contact us! We’d be happy to look at your space and provide you with a free estimate.

Talk to your home improvement contractor about kitchen islands.

home additions, kitchen remodeling

Should Your Eastern MA Home Improvement Contractor Build an Island in Your New Kitchen?

March 1, 20160

Depending on how you use your kitchen, adding an island can offer many advantages. This holds true for both large and small kitchens, something you may want to consider when planning a Westwood, MA, kitchen remodel. An island can add style, functionality and valuable storage space to your kitchen. When you have an expert in kitchen remodeling and room addition in Westwood build an island for your new kitchen, you can design it to meet your specific kitchen needs.

Increase Space in a Small Kitchen

In a small kitchen, the shape of the room makes a major difference in whether an island will work for you. In a narrow kitchen, it may not be your best option. However, having your eastern MA home improvement contractor add an island to a small square or not so narrow, rectangular kitchen can significantly increase the available floor and storage space.

Choose an island that can serve as a streamlined dining area, with stools that tuck under the edge when not in use, and you can eliminate the kitchen table and chairs. An island with custom designed drawers and shelves can expand your available storage space and serve as valuable counter space. Add electric outlets to it so you can use that additional counter space as a work station when running mixers, blenders and other small kitchen appliances.

Consider an island for your kitchen remodel.

A kitchen island is a great kitchen remodel idea.

Reduce Steps in a Large Kitchen

Many of the advantages of a large kitchen lie in space. There’s plenty of space for storage, food preparation, cooking and family dining. In many homes, a large kitchen is often the social center of the home. It’s where the children do their homework and where friends gather to chat over coffee. However, there can be a downside to all that space for a person preparing and cleaning up after family meals on a daily basis. It can take a lot of footsteps to complete those daily tasks.

Talk to your Westwood, MA, kitchen remodel expert about the ways a custom designed kitchen island can help reduce steps in a large kitchen. An island can create that magic kitchen triangle that makes food prep and cooking so much easier by putting everything you need to perform those tasks within a few short steps. For people who use their kitchens for serious, daily cooking, that can make a major difference in their kitchen use experience.

There are numerous options to consider when planning a labor-saving kitchen island. You could add a sink especially for food preparation needs or a stove top. Talk to your contractor and design the specific type of kitchen work station you want according to the way you work, how you’d like to see your kitchen space function and how you’d like the working and social spaces of your kitchen divided.