Home Improvement Blog

Tips for Planning and Budgeting Your Home Addition and Improvement Projects

June 9, 20150

Make sure you budget for your home addition.

Your home is probably the biggest investment you’ll ever make, and the initial purchase is just the beginning. Financial experts say homeowners should plan to spend between one and two percent of their home’s purchase price each year on home improvements and maintenance. More and more homeowners are opting to stay in their homes longer and remodel, rather than sell and purchase an upgraded house. Remodeling and upgrading makes sense from a personal and an investment standpoint. Just make sure to set out with a concrete plan and budget or else you may discover your home improvement and remodeling costs quickly spiral out of control.

Ask Yourself: “Is the Expense of This Project Worth It to Me?”

Before you start a project, determine the cost-benefit ratio. If you plan to sell your home in the short-term, a room addition or new roof may not make sense. Therefore, if you are remodeling with the goal of selling your home, focus on big-impact improvements that will add quick value, such as strategic kitchen or bathroom upgrades. If you plan to stay in your home for a while, it does make sense to add extra living space if it will make life more comfortable. Only you can determine what projects are a wise use of your money.

Decide on the Scope of Your Project

Rather than thinking “I’m going to remodel my kitchen,” create a list of specific improvements you would like to make to the room. A kitchen remodel might include refacing or replacing cabinets, adding granite countertops, upgrading appliances, adding a kitchen island, painting, changing out tile, etc. Prioritize your list accordingly.

Plan your project with home improvement contractors.

Home improvement contractors help you plan your project.

Determine Your Maximum Budget

Armed with your to-do list, create a budget. Make sure to include labor and material costs, equipment and tools, permits and clean up. If the estimated cost exceeds the scope of your project, pare the project down by focusing on the high-priority jobs on your list. Depending on your budget, you may be able to complete a large project all at once or you may find it a wiser move to complete the project in steps, over time.

Get Recommendations for Skilled Home Improvement Contractors in the Massachusetts Area

Simply look in the phone book and you will see there’s no shortage of home improvement contractors in the Massachusetts area. However, not all are experienced, reputable or trustworthy. Before you select a contractor, ask to see before and after photos of their work and customer testimonials, verify their licenses and credentials and find out how long they have been in business. It’s especially important to research your contractor when you’re tackling complex projects that require drawing up home addition floor plans. It’s imperative to choose a contractor committed to delivering projects on time and within budget.

Whether you are in need of extensive home addition floor plans or need help with a simple home improvement project, contact us. Colony Home Improvement is a Westwood home addition and remodeling company that provides outstanding workmanship and customer service. If your home doesn’t feel like your castle, we’ll help you change that and create a comfortable, functional, beautiful living space you will be proud to call home.

Granite Countertops Add Value and Elegance to a Ranch Style Home Plan

June 4, 20150

Granite countertops are great when you design your own home.

Design your own home with beautiful granite countertops.

Ask any realtor and he or she will agree: the kitchen and bathrooms are unquestionable focal points of any home. If you decide to put your home on the market, the quality of your kitchen and bathrooms will play a major role in how much you can expect to sell your home for. If you are working on a ranch style home plan or room addition or have a home you are planning to upgrade, don’t underestimate the importance of making sure these rooms are appointed with elegant touches. Granite countertops provide the biggest bang for your buck.

Why Go Granite?

Granite is naturally beautiful, smooth, durable and available in a vast array of hues. As people have come to appreciate the simplicity of natural materials, granite has skyrocketed in popularity. The wonderful thing about this trend is it’s a timeless style. The avocado green Formica countertops that were all the rage in the 1970s eventually (and thankfully) went out of style. However, granite, a natural material from the earth, will never go out of style. Bringing subtle, subdued, soothing natural elements into a home will always be appealing.

A ranch style home plan can benefit from granite countertops.

Granite countertops work well in a ranch style home plan.

So Many Colors, But How to Choose?

The toughest part of incorporating granite countertops into a ranch style home plan or room addition is choosing your granite slab. Should you go with dark or light countertops? Should you choose a solid color or one with swirls, flecks or veining? When all is said and done, it boils down to personal preference.

Here are some considerations to keep in mind as you’re contemplating granite colors:

Darker countertops look best in rooms with plenty of natural light.

Dirt and water stains are more noticeable on solid colored countertops.
One hot trend right now is incorporating two granite colors in the same room, such as a veined granite on a kitchen island and a solid granite on countertops.

If you want to coordinate the color of your granite countertops with any element in the room, coordinate it with your cabinets. Again, use personal preference as your primary guide, but realize there are color combinations that naturally complement each other – deep brown cabinets with green granite, cherry cabinets with peacock granite and light oak cabinets with tan or pearl granite, for example. When granite shopping, take a sample of your cabinets with you. To do this, you may need to remove a cabinet shelf or door.

An Extra Set of Eyes Never Hurts!

Whether you own a ranch style house that could use updating and aren’t sure where to start or you are drafting a brand new ranch style home plan, contact us. At Colony Home Improvement, not only can we assist as you design your own home in Wellesley and the surrounding areas, we also are standing by to serve as your trusted adviser for home renovations and room additions of all sizes. Got granite? We do, and we’ll be happy to get it into your kitchen or home plan!

Your Home Addition Renovations Should Include Custom Crown Molding

June 2, 20150

Make your home addition better with crown molding.

Crown molding can make your home addition even better.

What can turn a plain room in your house into an outstanding one? Attention to detail. It’s interesting how sometimes the smallest touches can make all the difference in transforming a space into a true showcase. If you are considering a home addition, keep that in mind. Before you sign off on your MA home addition floor plan, study it carefully. Does it include special touches like custom crown molding? You are the king or queen of your castle. If you want your home addition to be stunning, custom crown molding is a must!

Types of Crown Molding

There are several types of crown molding from which to choose, which means there’s a crown to complement any architectural style. Here are some of the most common types:

Federal Crown Molding. Characterized by beading (small indentations) and cavetto (concave profiles), this type of crown can make a room with a low ceiling feel more open and less confined.
Colonial Revival Crown Molding. Crisp, clean lines are the perfect marriage of Greek Revival and Federal architectural styles. This type of molding looks stunning in formal rooms of the house.
Early American Crown Molding. This type of traditional crown molding maintains a concave exterior edge and convex interior edge. It’s useful for making a room appear larger.
Dentil Crown Molding. Characterized by a series of squares or rectangles, boxy dentil molding is often placed on home exteriors.
Chair Rail Crown Molding. This molding gets its name for the fact that historically, architects would place this molding about a third of the way up a wall – to serve as a buffer between chairs and walls. Today, it’s still often applied at that height, even when there’s no risk of chair-to-wall mishaps. Why? It simply looks great!

Your custom built floor plan should include crown molding.

Don’t forget crown molding in your custom built floor plan.

Crown Molding: It’s Not Just for Ceilings

The most common uses for crown molding are to provide a decorative accent between a wall and a ceiling, to create a custom fireplace mantle and to frame in an entire fireplace. However, crown is a great, cost-effective way to dress up a room and even to hide design flaws. As you contemplate your home addition, think of creative ways to incorporate crown molding and add that extra oomph to your project. You can use crown to:

Frame and beautify windows and door frames
Punch up bookshelves
Mask awkward cracks and crevices
Trim stair cases
Frame kitchen and bathroom cabinets
Separate two walls of different colors
Create a clear distinction between areas of a room

When crown molding is in your design arsenal, you’re really only limited by your imagination.

Attention to Detail Is Our Specialty

Before you commit to a custom built floor plan in Scituate and the surrounding areas, make sure you contact us at Colony Home Improvement. We don’t just want our customers to be satisfied with our work; we want our customers to be ecstatic with their addition or remodeling project. We incorporate special touches like custom crown molding that make spaces showstoppers.

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.