Home Improvement Blog

Your Laundry Room Isn’t Just for Clothes Anymore

November 4, 20140

Consider using home improvement to create a functional laundry room.

Home improvement projects can create a functional laundry room.

Despite the fact most of us spend plenty of time in the laundry room, we tend to neglect this space. There’s no reason the laundry room must be dull and uninspiring nor is there any reason it must be used only to wash and dry clothes. Think outside the box! The following home improvement ideas can elevate the laundry room and improve the quality of time you spend there.

Use It to Make and Mend, as Well as Clean, Clothes

Few homes have dedicated sewing rooms. but many homes have at least one occupant who knows how to sew. If you have a sewing machine, consider setting up a sewing station in your laundry room. Building custom cabinets and countertops is ideal, but a simple table will do as well. Choose an area with an electrical outlet and make sure to secure a bright light so you can see your needle and thread.

Use It to Fold, Iron and Hang Clothes

Are you interested in a home remodeling project that will simplify your life and make your home more efficient but won’t break the bank? Using your home remodeling dollars to upgrade your laundry room provides a huge bang for the buck. Are you tired of hauling baskets of clothes from the dryer to your sofa, kitchen table or bed?

With the addition of strategically placed custom cabinets and countertops, a hanging rod and an ironing board, your laundry room becomes your turnkey workstation. You’ll no longer have unsightly piles of clothes scattered throughout the house. Instead, you’ll be able to fold, hang and iron clothes as soon as the dryer buzzes. For added efficiency, make a bin or basket for every member of your household and make it their duty to transport their own clean, ironed and hung up clothes from the laundry room to their closet.

A laundry room is a great place for home improvement ideas.

One of the best home improvement ideas is to create a functional laundry room.

Use It to Store Overflow Food

If your kitchen lacks adequate storage space, you can use your laundry room to store items you may buy in bulk, such as paper towels, pet food, canned goods and cereal. If your laundry room is especially spacious, consider purchasing an extra refrigerator or freezer for this room.

Use It as a Dog-Washing Station

Especially if your laundry room has garage or backyard access, consider setting up a tub for your dog. Locating your pet-washing and grooming area in the laundry room makes sense because this room already has plumbing and is small enough to make clean up easy. When you’re finished, you can throw dirty doggie-drying towels right into the washing machine.

If you’re not using your laundry room to its full potential, contact us. Our Massachusetts contractors will work with you to make your laundry attractive and functional.

Inspiring Ideas to Transform Your Basement Into the Extra Room You’ve Always Wanted

October 30, 20140

If you want to change your basement, hire a licensed general contractor.

A licensed general contractor can help you transform your basement.

If you’re looking to add extra space to your home, you should look no further than your basement. It can be the ideal spot for a variety of uses, such as an entertainment area or providing additional room for guests. With these basement remodeling ideas, you’ll be inspired to transform your space into a comfortable, welcoming spot everyone can enjoy.

Adequate Lighting

The right lighting is a simple way to improve any room. If it’s possible, add windows to your basement for warm, natural light. You can also buy lamps that feature natural light bulbs for a similar effect. Other basement remodeling ideas for lighting include installing French doors, hanging mirrors and painting your walls a lighter color to make the space feel brighter.

Additional Space

Like light, additional space in your room is an important characteristic for transformation. Create an open floor plan with a licensed general contractor to help make your room feel more spacious.

Moving pipes and ducts along the walls or ceilings can greatly improve the space in your room. If you have a ceiling that hangs lower than others in your home, you may want to remove any objects that might make it feel lower than it is.

Change your basement with a general licensed contractor.

A general licensed contractor can help you transform your basement.

Consider the Safety of Your Space

Basement remodeling ideas are a great way to transform your home and give it extra space, but you should also consider safety when creating an open floor plan. Your licensed general contractor will say safety is the most important step in any home improvement project. This includes finding safe materials and features to improve your room.

For example, all rooms should have two methods of exit in case of a fire. Having a second exit will make it easier for firefighters to access the home in an emergency. Bedrooms in basements also require a second form of escape.

Include a Small Kitchen

If you’re creating room in your basement for guests or entertaining, a small kitchen is an excellent feature to include. This will allow your guests to have some extra privacy while staying with you or make hosting get-togethers even easier. A kitchenette is a great option. A typical kitchenette often includes cabinets, a refrigerator, a sink, a microwave, mini appliances and outlets but doesn’t require the space a standard home kitchen does.

When considering this option, be aware stoves are illegal to use in basements. Make sure you follow the coding requirements when including appliances in your kitchenette. Your Massachusetts general contractor can help you with this information.

Add a Bathroom to Your Space

It can be inconvenient for guests to use the upstairs bathroom when they’re staying downstairs, especially during the night. If you plan on using your basement as a space for out of town friends and family, a full or half bathroom can be a valuable addition.

No matter how you plan to use your new basement space, there are factors you should address with a licensed general contractor before you get started on any improvement project. Your contractor will be able to ensure all building codes and regulations are met and your new space is safe, sound and secure.

If you are looking for a Massachusetts home improvement contractor for a basement remodel or other project, contact us. Our experienced team can help you transform your vision into reality.

Designing an Eco-Friendly and Energy-Efficient Kitchen

October 28, 20140

Learn how your kitchen remodeling can be eco-friendly and energy-efficient.

One of the most popular trends when it comes to kitchen remodeling is being eco-friendly and efficient. Creating a green kitchen offers many advantages, including eliminating waste, conserving natural resources, reducing landfill waste and helping you save money. There is no single design choice when it comes to making your kitchen eco-friendly; it’s all about your personal style and taste. Here are some tips for choosing materials, features, fixtures and other kitchen additions that best fit your kitchen remodeling plans.

Countertops

Your kitchen remodeling plans should include sturdy, easy-to-clean countertops. Green and eco-friendly options include IceStone, a combination of concrete and recycled quartz that comes in a variety of colors. You can also use quartz, hemp, recycled paper or other all-natural materials.

Stainless steel is another eco-friendly option for your countertops. It requires little maintenance, is ideal for cooking and lasts for years, making it a durable choice.

Lighting

Reduce your electric bill by adding more windows to your kitchen. This will fill the space with plenty of natural light, while conserving resources. Ensuring your new windows provide adequate ventilation will give your kitchen an improved indoor air quality.

When planning a kitchen remodeling project, you may want to consider investing in high performance replacement windows. This could help you save money on your heating bills by providing increased insulation. These windows can also make your kitchen feel warmer and more inviting, especially on those cold winter mornings.

Kitchen remodeling can help you save energy and the environment.

Your home improvement contractor can help you make the right choices for kitchen remodeling.

Cooktops and Ovens

Consider an electric-induction cooktop for your kitchen upgrade. This kind of stovetop helps heat your food quickly and evenly by transferring the electronic magnetic energy right onto your pans. While shopping for appliances, keep in mind purchasing an oven with the Energy Star label will help you save as much as 80 percent on your energy bills.

Refrigerators

Refrigerators are the second largest energy consumers in a household. If your kitchen additions include a new refrigerator, look for one with an Energy Star label. According to Energy Star, most refrigerators with the label use 10 to 50 percent less energy than regular models. Another tip for conserving energy with your refrigerator is to avoid anything larger than what you truly need.

Flooring

Though perhaps not the first upgrade you think of when it comes to the kitchen, flooring is an important part of kitchen remodeling. You want to choose materials that are safe for the environment and cohesive with the style of the home.

A good choice for eco-friendly flooring is linoleum made from all-natural materials. Wood flooring, or flooring from a renewable resource, such as bamboo, is another green flooring option. Cork and concrete floor tiles are great sources as well because both use natural pigments.

Sinks and Faucets

When upgrading fixtures in your kitchen, consider a sink that uses recycled material, such as stainless steel or copper. Browse salvage yards for used material, which can help you save money on kitchen remodeling plans.

Look for a faucet with an aerator, which will inject oxygen into the water stream. This helps produce less water than traditional faucets, decreasing wasteful overuse and saving you money on your water bills at the same time.

If you are looking for a Massachusetts home improvement contractor for a kitchen remodel or other project, contact us. Our experienced team can help you transform your vision into reality.

Siding Has Evolved: It’s Not Just Vinyl Anymore

October 23, 20140

Stone siding is a great alternative to vinyl siding.

Vinyl siding has quickly been overtaken by stone siding.

As a decorative element, siding makes your home look attractive and gives it character. It also has some functional uses because it provides weatherproofing and protects the inside walls. Vinyl siding is a popular choice among homeowners. It came into play in the 1980s, and while better than previous options like wood and aluminum, it still had issues. Some homeowners are selecting another, newer option: veneer stone siding. Here are some of the most common types of siding.

Wood

Wood has been a popular siding option for hundreds of years, with its heyday going way back to the colonial era up to the 1950s. It was attractive, but it didn’t handle extreme weather like rain and snow well and could rot over time. It also needed to be painted, cleaned and maintained, which could eat up a homeowner’s time and money.

Modern wood siding, such as cedar, is strong enough to withstand harsh weather. It is low-maintenance because it does not require painting or staining, though you can do so if you want. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly option, wood is a good choice because it is a natural insulator. This means it blocks the cold and keeps in warmth, resulting in lower utility bills.

Wood siding is an excellent alternative to vinyl siding.

Instead of vinyl siding, consider wood siding instead.

Aluminum

Later in the 20th century, aluminum siding became popular. Homeowners liked that it didn’t rot or crack. It was also more airtight and had strong wind resistance. It did not need to be painted. Problems with aluminum siding include it can easily dent, the paint fades and it is difficult to clean without taking off some of the paint. Another big issue in today’s eco-friendly society is this type of siding makes homes less energy efficient since aluminum conducts heat.

Vinyl

Vinyl siding, still a popular option today, was originally seen as better than aluminum because it had many of the same benefits and came in a variety of colors for personalizing. In addition, the color didn’t wash off like it did with aluminum siding.

In its early days, vinyl was prone to buckling because it would expand and contract when the temperature changed. Manufacturers improved upon the siding’s design to fix this problem and also added chemicals to protect the siding from sun damage and color fading. Today’s vinyl siding is considered maintenance free because it does not need painting, there is little fade and the panel floats.

Veneer Stone Siding

Thin stone veneer is a newer option some homeowners are choosing. It is aesthetically appealing, as well as permanent and maintenance free. Many styles and shapes are available. Options include real stone veneers cut from quarried building and manufactured stones.

Siding has continued to evolve over the years. Early varieties of siding were prone to rotting and drafts and needed time-consuming maintenance. Now there are energy-efficient options that need little to no maintenance.

If you are thinking about vinyl siding or looking for wood siding in MA, contact us. Our contractors can install your beautiful new siding.

The Advantages of Adding Custom Millwork to Your Home

October 21, 20140

Your home can benefit from beautiful custom millwork.

Custom millwork can create a new look for your home.

If you want to increase the value of your home, consider a home improvementproject using custom millwork building materials. One popular use of millwork is to create custom stairs and trim. While commodity millwork manufacturersoffer mass-produced lineal material for lower prices, a custom shop will make each product unique for the specific customer. Consider the following benefits when deciding whether to add custom millwork to your home:

High Quality Pieces

A custom millwork shop will ensure every one of your pieces is of the highest quality. With a commodity manufacturer’s mass-produced pieces, discerning homeowners may not be satisfied with the material quality, workmanship, profile and species choices. In order for a commodity producer to keep prices low, the high-speed machines must churn out large quantities of product. When this happens, quality is reduced because there isn’t enough time to visually inspect all lengths for defects.

Custom millwork shops will visually inspect all of your pieces and will replace any defective items. These shops will notice and replace small imperfections like milling marks and machining variability patterns.

Consider the beauty of custom millwork for your home.

Add Beauty to Your Home

Unlike lineal millwork, custom millwork will add individualized beauty to your home. Beautiful custom stairs and trim can help the interior of your home stand out to visitors. Ceiling molding and some decorative millwork in other areas of the home will make it memorable and increase the value of your residence.

Personal Attention

Products from commodity millwork producers are generally available through wholesale distributors, building centers, lumberyards and home improvement centers. It is unlikely you will receive personal attention and advice tailored to your needs from your local big box store.

Your custom millwork producer will make a personal connection with you, just as he does with every customer. No detail is too small to discuss or modify. The producer will assist you through the steps so the result is a product made to your specifications. Aspects, such as color, doors, type of materials, finish, depth or height, can be adjusted. Custom millwork producers care about customer satisfaction. They want to be sure the finished product meets your needs and wishes.

Increased Home Value

Though a custom producer is more expensive than a commodity producer, theincreased value added to your home is worth it. In addition, the custom producer can work with you to determine an appropriate level of products and services for your budget. For a new house, quality custom millwork generally costs less than 5 percent of the total house project. The resulting value of the finished project will usually be greater than your initial purchase price.

If you are thinking about a custom millwork home improvement project, contact us. Our contractors in Massachusetts can help you transform your vision into reality.