Home Improvement Blog

Your Family Is Growing and You Need More Space: Should You Build Up, Out or Down?

February 17, 20150

Increase living space with a second story addition.

A second story addition can provide lots of new space.

Not everyone can afford to buy a large enough home to allow them to grow as a family. This leaves families with two options: buy a new home and move or remodel their existing home to better meet their needs. If you find you need more space to accommodate your growing family, an experienced home remodeling company can help you decide if a second story addition, dormer addition or basement remodeling project is the right choice.

Second Story Addition

For families who live in a one-story home, a second story addition can be an option to double the living space in the home. First, the contractor must evaluate your existing foundation to determine if it can accommodate the extra weight. Once the foundation is prepped, they will remove the roof and begin constructing the second floor. However, you may lose the use of your home during the project and it can affect the overall layout of your home. Not all homes can accept a second story.

Choose the home addition that fits your budget.

Compare the costs before deciding on a home additions option.

Dormer Addition

If your home already has an existing second floor, you can still make more room in your home by building out. While some individuals choose to build a new room onto their ground floor, you need plenty of extra space without getting too close to the lot line. A dormer addition can create extra space in an area where a sloping roof made it difficult. Dormers can be added in just about any home without negatively impacting the structure of the home.

Basement Remodeling

Another option your home improvement company can discuss with you is basement remodeling. There are strict laws in place regarding sleeping spaces in the basement. However, experienced contractors are aware of these restrictions and can perform the necessary changes to provide a safe, livable space beneath the ground. In addition to creating a new sleeping space or even a bathroom in your basement, the contractors can create any other area beneath your main floor, including a home office, a playroom or a rec room. The options are endless.

When your family is growing and you feel like there is no more room in your existing home, you may think buying a new, larger home is your only solution. However, you can hire experienced home improvement contractors to help you find the best way to increase the amount of space in your existing home so you don’t have to move. Whether you choose to build up with a second story addition, out with a dormer addition or down with basement remodeling, they will provide a reliable estimate and work hard to make sure your needs are met.

If you are interested in adding on to your existing home in Massachusetts, contact us. We can help you decide which option will best suit your needs.

How Can You Make Your Remodel More Energy Efficient?

February 12, 20150

If you want to save energy, consider local home improvements.

Local home improvements can help you save energy.

One of the biggest goals of home improvements is to increase the energy efficiency of the home. When you work with local home improvements contractors in MA, they will be able to guide you through making the best decisions to help you reduce your energy bills and your impact on the environment. However, before you hire anyone to perform the work, it’s important to know what options you may encounter so you are fully prepared to make the best decision.

Dual Pane Windows

Replacement windows can go a long way toward improving the energy efficiency of a home, even when no other changes are made. A design build contractor can help you determine which types of windows will work best to enhance the look of your home. When you choose dual pane windows in any size or shape, the heat and cool air will remain in your home the way it was intended.

Insulation

Regardless of the home improvements you decide to make, proper insulation should always be a top priority. For instance, if your local home improvements contractors in MA are installing recessed lighting, it’s important to make sure they are also installing appropriate insulation around the new installation to protect your home from losing heated or cooled air. The same is true for any project they may undertake in your home.

Improve the energy efficiency of your home with home improvements.

The right home improvements improve energy efficiency.

Low Water Consumption

If you are completing a kitchen or bathroom remodeling job, the fixtures are likely one of most important choices you have to make. Work with your design build contractor to discuss what types of fixtures are available and which ones will reduce your water consumption. For instance, a common bathroom trend is to install multiple or large showerheads. Instead, it’s best to consider a low-flow option that will provide the water pressure you need without increasing your water bill.

Framing

Another area where your local home improvements contractors in MA can help you save money and energy is in the framing of new walls. While it may seem like more studs is important to keep a wall stable, it is best to use as few as possible. This allows your contractor to use more insulation between the walls to keep your heat or cool air inside your home, instead of wasting energy.

Completing home improvements projects are about more than making your home look great and improving functionality; they should also improve the energy efficiency of your home. Today’s society focuses on decreasing your impact on the environment and finding ways to save money. With the help of your design build contractor, you can create the home of your dreams while saving energy.

If you’re looking for an experienced home improvements contractor in Massachusetts to help you improve the efficiency of your home, contact us. We can provide the services you need to save money and energy.

How to Break Up a Large Room

February 10, 20150

Plan your rooms with the help of general contractors.

General contractors can help you plan your rooms.

Sometimes a lot of space can open up a many options for your home plans, allowing you to choose just about anything you want without worrying about whether it will fit. However, it can also be a challenge to get everything the way you would like without your room feeling like a gigantic open space. While home remodeling by general contractors can be a method of breaking up the space, there are other options you can try as well.

Use Furniture to Designate Zones

Just because you have one large room doesn’t mean it has to serve all one purpose. In fact, depending on the overall size of the room, this can be a major mistake. To help you designate various areas for different purposes, you can use furniture. For instance, an L-shaped couch can help section off a seating area from other areas of the room. Another option is to place end tables or extra chairs in a position that clearly separates one area from another. Plants also make great dividers.

Consider Anchor Pieces

It may seem like a good idea to fill up the space with a large number of smaller pieces to help break it up and create different uses for various areas. However, this can create a cluttered feel, which isn’t something most homeowners envision when making their home plans. Instead, choose a few larger pieces of furniture that will serve to anchor the room and create an organized look and feel for the room.

Your home plans may include larger rooms.

If your home plans involve a large room, break it up with furniture.

Get Creative with Your Lighting

The lighting you use in a larger room can have a dramatic effect on how people perceive the room. If your home remodeling project included adding many large windows to enhance the natural lighting in the room, you can use this to your advantage. Using lamps in dark or shadowy corners is a great way to help keep the room bright and cheery; however, you don’t want to overdo the lamps.

Select the Right Paint

You don’t have to paint all the walls the same color just because they are in the same room. In fact, many general contractors recommend painting larger rooms in two-tone schemes to help break up the space. This can be done by installing a chair rail with different colors above and below the rail. Another option is to choose an accent wall in one area of the room and paint it a different color than the rest of the room.

Larger rooms can often be just as much of a challenge as arranging a smaller room. Whether the larger room is the product of recent home remodeling or it’s always been a part of the home plans, it’s important to find ways to break up the room. This will give your space a better sense of purpose and eliminate the cluttered feel many larger rooms often create.

If you’re looking for general contractors to help you manage your home remodeling projects, contact us. Our Connecticut team can help you design the right home plans to meet your needs.

Keeping Your Pets Safe During Your Interior Renovation

February 5, 20150

Keep your pets safe during home additions.

Home additions aren’t the place for pets.

Remodeling your home can be the dream of a lifetime. Whether you are interested in home additions to make your home larger or you need help with other smaller home construction projects, it can be difficult to get the work done when you have pets underfoot. A professional remodeling company in Brookline, MA, doesn’t want to worry about harming your pets while they are working so it’s important to take the proper precautions to ensure everyone’s safety.

Another Area of the Home

Instead of allowing your pets free roam of the house during home construction, it’s best to secure your pet in an unaffected area of the home. Make sure the area is as comfortable as possible for your pet. Give your pet an ample supply of food and water, a litter box, toys and any special bedding. Let the home remodeling team know where your pets are to ensure no one opens the door accidentally and lets your pets free. This is the ideal option if you have nowhere else to take your pets and it’s too cold to leave them outdoors for an extended period of time.

Consider a Kennel

Some kennels will offer short-term care. While this is designed for those who want their pets to get interaction while they are at work, it can be the ideal option for keeping pets out of the way during home additions. If you will be able to keep your pet out of the areas that are being worked in during the evenings, you can bring your pet home from the kennel. However, some home construction may require overnight stays to keep your pet as safe as possible.

Don't let your pets wander during a home construction project.

Keep your pets safe during your home construction project.

Ask Someone You Know

Housing your pet in a kennel for even a day can be costly. Some kennels won’t even accept smaller pets, such as birds, rodents or fish. However, home additions and other remodeling projects can often be dangerous for all types of pets. In these situations, asking someone you know to watch your pets for the duration of the project can be the ideal option. A friend, family member or even a neighbor may be willing to make some extra room in their homes to provide your pets with the care they need while you renovate your home.

A professional remodeling company in Brookline, MA, will recommend finding ways to keep your pets safe. Their contractors expect to work in a safe, distraction-free environment and your pets deserve safety during these projects. The best ways to ensure your pets are as safe as possible is to secure them in another area of the home with all the comforts they need, house them in a kennel for the duration of the project or to find someone close to you to take over their care. Regardless of which option you choose, you will enjoy a beautiful home construction project, while keeping your pets safe and healthy.

If you are looking for a professional remodeling company in Brookline, MA, or the surrounding area to complete your next project, contact us. We can help you create the home of your dreams.

Painting the Basement Adds Value to Your Home (You Can Even Paint the Floors)

February 3, 20150

Have you considered painting in your basement finishing project.

Painting is beneficial as part of you basement finishing project.

When most people think of using paint in their home remodeling project, they think of the exterior of their home or their primary rooms on the main floors. However, painting can be an effective tool in basement finishing as well. When you use paint as part of your basement remodeling in Brookline, you can increase the value of your home.

Create a Finished Look

It can be difficult to spend time in your basement when it’s cold, dark and damp. This is what you can expect to experience in an unfinished basement, leaving you to wonder what use this space can really be. One of the most popular home remodeling projects many homeowners choose is basement finishing for this reason. When you apply some paint to the walls and maybe even the floor, you will create a finished look that exudes a warmer feel and makes you feel like you are in any other room inside your home.

A Variety of Unique Options

Many people like to give their basement a different feel than other areas of their home. When it comes to painting, there are a vast number of options from which you can choose to create the exact look you want. For instance, you can use various textured techniques to create the look of a stone wall or any other unique features. Talk to your painting contractor about your choices so you can create the right illusion for your basement rooms.

Have you considered basement finishing for home remodeling?

Finishing the basement is a valuable home remodeling project.

Special Preparation

The only difference in using paint in your basement versus other areas of your home is the techniques used in applying the paint. Basements are naturally damp areas that require mold-resistant paint to keep issues at a minimum. This is especially true if you intend to paint the floor. Painting the floor of your basement can be useful in opening up the space and adding a brighter tone.

Add the Finishing Touches

Basement remodeling in Brookline is about more than the paint you use. There are other finishing touches that can provide the look you want and add value to your home. For instance, crown molding can be the ultimate finishing touch to complete any project, giving the room depth and making it more livable.

Basement remodeling can be an ideal way to increase the amount of living space in your home and provide a fun new area of your home. Many people choose to transform their basement into a playroom for the kids, a recreation room for relaxation or a den or TV room. Regardless of the purpose you envision for your basement, the use of paint on the walls and the floor can not only create a new look, but offer greater value in your home.

If you want to complete basement remodeling in Brookline or the surrounding area, contact us. Our contractors can help you choose the right paints and complete your remodeling project.