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!

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!

Your Hingham Home Improvement Contractor Can Help You Design the Perfect Front Door

February 11, 20160

Choose the right front door with the help of a home improvement contractor.

Your home improvement contractor can help you choose the right front door.

Curb appeal matters, impacting the overall attractiveness and even value of your home, making your choice in a front door an important one. However, security and function are also important considerations when choosing this door. If you are adding or remodeling a porch, updating an entryway or simply replacing a door that has seen better days, talk to your Hingham home improvement contractor about the best front door options for your home. That way, you’ll have a better chance of finding a door that is a great fit for you and your home.

Define Your Perfect

Some people find front doors with lots of glass attractive, perhaps having their eastern MA premier home remodeling team frame the front door with additional decorative glass panels set into the wall above and to either side of the door. They may use stained or frosted glass for both style and privacy or may just let the sun shine through. Others may frame the door with decorative glass, but prefer a solid wood or metal door without windows. Some use no glass at all, relying instead on decorative molding, stylish hardware and other accents or a distinctive door shape in a fine hard wood or use rich or vibrant colors to create visual appeal.

Style isn’t always the highest priority. Many people take a more utilitarian view of their front door, and consider strength and security to be the most important factors. They look at a glass door and see a security risk, the possibility of broken glass and unauthorized entry. For them, the perfect front door is heavy and strong, features top-quality locking mechanisms and is resistant to tampering. They may look toward reinforced steel cores and have less concern about color and style.

For others, the perfect front door is one that prioritizes function over fashion. They want a door that is well insulated and draft-free, helping to keep heating and cooling costs down. They may talk to their home improvement contractor in Hingham about adding a practical storm door to their front door for added protection against drafts in the winter with sturdy screens to let in cooling summer breezes. Their perfect front door is low maintenance, retaining its good looks without repainting every few years and resists stains, scratches and scuffs. A fiberglass door with a insulating foam core may best meet their front door priorities.

Choose a new front door for premier home remodeling.

Your front door is an important part of premier home remodeling.

Front Door Priorities

Decide what your top front door priorities are and ask your contractor for suggestions. Your contractor may be able to suggest a highly secure steel door that also offers an attractive style or recommend a door that offers red hot curb appeal but is also designed to provide a higher degree of security. You might just find the trendy, stylish front door you fell in love with is also designed with tight weatherization in mind.

Contact us to learn more about the different types of doors on the market and how to choose the front door that best meets your style, security and function priorities.

Tag: hingham home improvement contractor