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Tag: hingham home addition

Colony Home Improvement > hingham home addition
basement remodeling, home additions

Five Critical Basement Renovation Mistakes You Want to Avoid

November 24, 20160

If you were to ask anyHingham home improvement contractor to name the top three hottest Massachusetts home improvement projects, most would probably include basement renovations on that list. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense to incorporate a basement renovation into your Hingham home addition.  Most basements are dreary and unfinished, yet quite large. Skilled home addition contractors in MA can transform an unused space into a new living space. The caveat? Make sure you avoid the following common basement renovation mistakes.

Mistake 1: Creating Too Many Rooms

In many homes, the square footage of the basement is similar to the square footage of the living space above. Do not try to duplicate what you have above ground down below. The best way to make a basement inviting is to pursue an open concept. Chopping up the space with too many walls has the opposite effect. A couple of rooms is fine, but don’t go beyond that.

Mistake 2: Failing to Soundproof

Most of your home’s critical mechanical systems are located in the basement. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Make sure your contractor pays special attention to soundproofing. Otherwise, your new basement sanctuary may not be peaceful at all.

Finish your basement in place of a home addition.

Instead of a home addition, consider a basement finishing project.

Mistake 3: Failing to Plan for an Emergency

The fact basements exist partially or completely underground means if a fire breaks out down there, you need to have a clear and easy way to escape. All home additions in MA need to be conducted with a focus on safety. Make certain your basement remodel has an egress route. Typically, this involves adding one or more windows in the early stage of construction. It may be expensive, but it could save your life or the lives of your loved ones.

Mistake 4: Not Addressing Moisture Issues

One reason so many people don’t bother finishing their basement is because basements are damp spaces since they are underground. They don’t have to be. To keep moisture at bay, make sure any cracks and crevices are patched with a heavy-duty compound, concrete surfaces are sealed, a dehumidifier is in use at all times and waterproof paint is used. It is uncomfortable to hang out in a moist, humid environment. Humidity also causes rust, stains and degradation.

Mistake 5: Using the Wrong Type of Flooring

Yes, hardwood floors are beautiful. They are also prone to warping and buckling when exposed to moisture. Despite taking steps to remove moisture from your updated basement, you will never succeed 100 percent. Laminate, tile and stained concrete are the best flooring options. Even carpet can mold or mildew over time so avoid that flooring option too.

If you are interested in adding living space to your home, a basement remodel can be a smart way to achieve that. Due to the fact a basement is underground, it’s critical to choose a skilled contractor with the expertise to know the pitfalls to avoid. Colony Home Improvement has remodeled many local basements with beautiful results. We would love to prove to you why we should be your Hingham home improvement contractor. Contact us for a consultation!

Consider windows in your home additions.
home additions

Planning on a Home Addition? Let the Light Shine In!

September 15, 20160

One of the most exciting things for homeowners planning home additions in MA is they’re able to embrace their creativity and work with a skilled Hingham home improvement contractor to bring their ideas to life. On the top of many homeowners’ wish lists? Brightening up a dark and sometimes depressing home. Here are some great ways to accomplish that.

Add Windows and Skylights

The most obvious way to brighten up your home is to incorporate more or larger windows and/or skylights into your Hingham home addition. Brightening up your home by letting the sun shine in not only will boost your mood, but it may also save you money by cutting down on the need to turn on the lights. Just be aware not all windows are created equally. There are many options from which to choose, including single- or double-pane windows, bay windows, awning windows, casement windows, double-hung windows and more. Home addition contractors in MA who have expertise in home additions will be able to recommend windows and skylights that will work best with the design of your home.

Walk to your home improvement contractor about adding windows.

A home improvement contractor can help you choose the right windows.

Incorporate a Sun Room into Your Home Addition

If adding windows will brighten up your home, just imagine what adding a room of windows will do! A sun room will add valuable lighting and square footage to your home. When the time comes to sell, every square foot equates to a higher asking price! You can use it as a sitting area, a kid’s room, a dining area, a music room; you’re limited only by your imagination. Your contractor will be able to provide guidance on where best to situate a sun room so you’ll be able to use it comfortably during all four seasons.

Carefully Consider Your Choice of Flooring

When you’re considering flooring for your home addition and your goal is to make your home feel brighter, consider skipping the carpet and choosing a light, shiny tile or even a warm wood or faux wood. These materials reflect light and will make your home feel cheerier. They’re also much easier to clean than carpeting. If you do insist on carpeting, choose a light color and the most durable, stain-resistant style you can find. There is nothing bright and cheerful about dingy, stained carpeting!

The Right Paint Colors Will Brighten Up a Space

One of the last phases of your home addition will be painting the walls and trim. You may be enamored by magazine photo shoots featuring navy blue or charcoal gray walls, but if your goal is to brighten up your space, opt for soft whites, yellows or grays. Lighter colors will also make a room appear larger, whereas dark colors make it feel smaller. You can always bring in your favorite bold colors through your artwork and accessories.

If you’re ready to remodel or add on to your home, make sure to partner with a skilled, reliable contractor who can bring your ideas to life. Contact us at Colony Home Improvement today! We would love to work with you to create your dream home!

Improve its function with bathroom remodeling.
bathroom addition, bathroom remodeling, home additions

Five Reasons Your Hingham Home Addition Should Include a Bathroom Remodel

July 7, 20160

If you have outgrown your home and want to add square footage, your Hingham home improvement contractor will probably amaze you by explaining all the options you have. You can:

  • Build up, build out or even tunnel down
  • Incorporate a sun room and/or a dormer addition
  • Spruce up your kitchen
  • Enlarge your master bedroom
  • Build a dedicated playroom for your kids

Regardless of the direction your Hingham home addition takes, here are five compelling reasons you should also have your contractor remodel your bathrooms as part of the project.

1. Add Stylistic Updates to Modernize Your Bathroom

Did you inherit a bathroom with dirt-brown tile you can’t stand? Worse yet, is your bathroom carpeted? Are you tired of your Formica counter tops or avocado-green toilet? If you’re undergoing a home addition, that’s the ideal time to remedy an ugly bathroom. You will have contractors working in your home anyway so why not banish the ugly bathroom?

2. Make the Layout of Your Bathroom More Functional

If you’re adding on to your home, you’re taking a major step toward making your home work better for you and your family. Do the same with your bathrooms. If multiple people use one bathroom, consider walling in the toilet so one person can use it and close the door while others bathe, dress or use the sink.

Remodeling your bathroom? Talk to a home improvement contractor.

A home improvement contractor can help with your bathroom remodel.

3. Install a Spa-Like Walk-in Shower

If one or more of your home’s bathrooms include bathtubs that are never used, a knowledgeable contractor for bathroom remodeling in MA will be able to replace an unused tub with a nice walk-in shower. Most people shower daily or every other day (many people shower twice a day). If you use your shower often, why not make it larger, more functional and more enjoyable? From incorporating bench seats to multiple shower heads to beautiful fixtures and back splash and more, you can design the shower of your dreams!

4. Add a Soaking Tub

If your idea of relaxation is luxuriating in a scented bubble bath, but your tub is old, discolored and uninviting, a bathroom remodel is an ideal time to upgrade your tub. Many home addition contractors in MA report an increased demand for tubs that are positioned in the center of the bathroom and surrounded by intricate tile or beautiful marble or granite. This approach elevates the tub from a utilitarian object to a focal point of the room.

5. Make Your Bathroom High Tech

Bathrooms and gadgets don’t sound like a match made in heaven. That’s changing. Now you can purchase things like these:

  • Water-resistant sound systems
  • Electronic shower systems that allow you to change water temperature and pressure with a touch of a button
  • Gadgets to alert you of a leaky toilet or faucet

If you are interested in a home addition and/or bathroom remodeling project, choosing the right contractor is critical to your project’s success! At Colony Home Improvement, we have decades of experience completing beautiful additions and remodels for homeowners in Hingham and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to discuss your project!

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.

Should You Build Your Hingham Home Addition on the First or Second Story?

November 19, 20150
Make the right choices with the help of your home improvement contractor.

A home improvement contractor can help you make the right choices.

The decision of whether to push out or go up for your home addition is based on two assumptions: your lot size will accommodate building out and your city building code will allow a second story or a larger footprint on your lot. Assuming both statements are correct, your decision depends upon your specific needs. What are you hoping to gain, besides square footage? How will your addition affect the resale value of your home? An eastern MA home improvement contractor can guide you in these decisions. In the meantime, here are some factors to consider as you decide whether to go up or out.

Single Story Homes / First Floor Additions

For first floor additions, consider the following advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

  • Additional bathrooms may not be needed.
  • There is no noise from upstairs foot traffic.
  • Building out is the least disruptive to your household.

Disadvantages

  • You give up some of your outdoor space.

Two Story Homes / Second Floor Additions

On the other hand, if you’re considering building up, weigh the pros and cons that often come along with this choice.

Advantages

  • Some parents want their kids’ bedrooms upstairs to give them more privacy.
  • Building your addition upstairs allows for more outdoor space.
  • Most two-story homes are more fuel efficient since there is less exposure to weather through the exterior walls and roof area.
  • Many homeowners believe two-story homes are easier to keep secure.
  • Staircases are good exercise!

Disadvantages

  • No matter which floor you’re on, something you need is always on the wrong floor.
  • You’re forever hauling laundry baskets up and down the stairs.
  • Your mobility may be compromised as you age.
  • With small children, child gates must be continually opened and closed at the top and bottom of staircases.
  • Staircases take up between 80 and 120 sq. ft. of space, depending on the design.
  • Ceiling heights of an upstairs addition may be restricted.
  • First floor walls must be torn apart to connect heating, plumbing and electrical lines and to add structural support.
  • Additional work may be required to support the added weight of an upstairs room.
  • Sound travels between floors.
Consider your options for your next home addition.

Your home addition can add plenty of space.

Other Considerations

  • The difference in costs between building up or out is negligible and should not weigh heavily on your decision.
  • Be aware of building codes, zoning variances and any HOA restrictions when planning your Hingham home addition.
  • What else can you accomplish with your design? Would a second story family room provide more natural light? A spectacular view?
  • A wall of windows can open up an enjoyable view of your landscaping and enables you to watch your kids play.
  • Adding a game room or home theater over the garage is great, but not practical over a bedroom.
  • Homeowners who add a room in the basement can save anywhere from 25 to 50 percent of the cost of adding a room to the first or second floor of a home.
  • A stand-alone addition, if you have the space, may be the perfect solution for your new office, a home theater, or a game room for the teenagers in your home.

There are many caveats and varying opinions about building your addition up or out. When meeting with architects and home builders, let them provide you with their ideas. In the end, it all comes down to a decision based on your family’s needs, preferences and lifestyle requirements.

Colony Home Improvement has built home additions in Hingham and the surrounding areas for 40 years. Our experts will provide you with your best options for adding space to your home. Call us at 781-453-9977 for a free quote.

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