Home Improvement, Contractors & Remodeling

Hardwood are Here to Stay

At one point, carpeting was considered the ultimate luxury. Today, more and more people are ripping up their carpeting to uncover the beautiful hardwood floors underneath. If you aren’t lucky enough to have hardwood floors in good enough shape or if you are building a new home, you still have plenty of options. Hardwood floors can be wide plank or more narrow, use new wood or reclaimed, come in a variety of colors, and be made of several species, including ash, cherry, and oak.

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Water filtration

Tired of constantly buying bottled water? You probably already know you can have a filter placed on your kitchen faucet, but have you ever considered a whole-house water filtration system? Basically it involves putting a filter where your main water line comes into the house. So every sink, shower, washing machine, and basically anything other plumbing fixture will have filtered water. You’ll not only be helping save the environment by not using plastic bottles, but you’ll definitely see financial savings as well. Did you know that even with today’s high gas prices, the price of a gallon of bottled water is higher than that of gasoline? A filter can be added to new construction or during a remodel.

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Eat Outside the Box in an Outdoor Kitchen

If you are a grilling fanatic or you just love those long and hazy summer days, why not look into an outdoor kitchen? They are incredibly popular now, and there are many new products out there made especially for outdoor use, including sinks, refrigerators, wine coolers, steak broilers, ice makers, and more. The sky’s the limit. For cooking, most people use a traditional gas or electric grill, but you can also try a Hibachi.

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Make Mom’s Day

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and I’m sure mom has more than a few things on her home improvement wish list that you’ve been meaning to get around to. If the DIY approach just isn’t happening, try hiring a handyman, who can help with various jobs, such as small repairs, painting, switching outlets, light fixtures, replacing doors and windows, constructing outdoor benches, hanging large mirrors or paintings, and building shelves, basically anything that doesn’t require a license. Once all those projects are done, mom will have a very happy day indeed.

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You’re In Hot Water

Instant hot water heaters are widely used in Europe and slowly making their way to the States. So what are they? Basically, they flash heat water exactly at the time it is needed, meaning you’ll save on energy bills and, if you get a heater big enough, will never have a cold shower again. If you are doing a bathroom remodel, be sure to ask your contractor about installing one.

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Plan Your Deck

With summer just a few short weeks away, you might be thinking of adding a deck. If you are unsure about placement, always speak to your contractor first. Based on his or her suggestions and your own ideas, use your garden hose to map out the basic outlines of where the deck will go and leave it for a few days. This will help you know if you are choosing the correct size and shape and will save you money because you won’t have to make costly changes later.

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Ask an Expert: What is a Tudor House?

You may have heard of the term Tudor house, but what is that architectural style exactly? Here in the United States, Tudors are inspired by the homes of Elizabethan England. They typically have a false thatched roof, decorative exterior timbers, and patterned brick or stone work. On the inside, expect many Victorian and Craftsman touches, such as decorative woodwork. The style was especially popular in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

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Is Your Pro Legit?

With warm weather comes the flurry of offers each day in your mailbox from contractors offering their services. Because fewer new houses are being built, you’re probably getting more unsolicited offers than ever. Don’t be fooled. It’s impossible to know the background of many of these businesses. Though some are undoubtedly legitimate, others are just out for a quick buck. So what should you do if you want to pursue a home improvement project? Contact Contactorus.com. We screen each contractor we work with, so you know you are working with a qualified professional.

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Recycle Your Appliances

Yesterday was Earth Day, and in celebration, you may want to have a second look at that appliance. New Energy Star-rated models can be up to 10 to 15 percent less energy. You may also qualify for special rebates. For example, the state of California has several offers for people buying efficient appliances. Of course, you don’t want to just throw away your old fridge or dishwasher. 

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Spring into Spring

Now that the cold weather is finally behind us, it’s a good idea to do some routine maintenance around your home. With the help of a good handyman, you can complete a few chores outside this spring that will keep your home in tip top shape for the rest of the year. First, you may want to consider an exterior paint job, especially if it’s been awhile. Next, check all concrete surfaces, such as driveways and sidewalks. Are there small cracks? Those can be easily repaired with cement resurfacers. While you are at it, wash all windows, powerwash the walkway, and shape up any plantings. It may take a few weekends, but it will be worth it!

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Ready… Set… Add!

Addition also referred as extension of existing structure is categorized in a few major titles: room addition, bathroom addition, kitchen addition, or just general living space addition, attic conversions are to be included with that group even though there isn’t any additional SQF added to the house but merely converting an un-usable space to one that can be utilized for living or storage room.

In order to move forward on such a large scale project - Some preliminary steps are needed. First step is to have an idea on were you want the addition to take place – following with rough sketches or a set of floor plan from an architect or professional draftsman for the new addition area.
Following that you will need to convey your plan into architectural plans – also known as blue prints, the blue prints will have all the information needed to perform the proposed project from foundation plan to framing & even type of doors & windows used to construct the new structure.

**Make sure the service provider for the plans will know the approximate budget for your remodeling project and will tailor the type of construction and material used to your expected project spending .

Let’s not forget the permits followed to the architectural plan, make sure it is the contractor whom is pulling the permit under his name - unless you would want to have the responsibility for the project.

Third step: choosing the contractor to perform the project will vary upon your request or needs of a full service contractor with all the amenities followed to your type of addition, or a number of trade professionals to perform the remodeling at all different stages.

An addition to your home is somewhat like adding another member to the existing family; you would want to take the right steps needed to have a better experience while preparing to this new exciting change in your home living life.

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Granite Countertops On a Budget

Want the look of granite but don’t think you can afford it? Well many companies now offer granite tiles, which are much cheaper than buying a slab. You will have to deal with seams, which can sometimes be a bit hard to clean, but if you want the durability and beauty of granite in your kitchen, it may be worth it.

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So You Think You Can Do It Yourself

DIY can be great, but most times hiring a pro is the way to go. The reality is, you’ll not only save time, but also money. For example, you may do all your research when you before a kitchen remodel as you should. However that wonderful professional range all your friends rave about isn’t going to be so fun to use if it doesn’t have proper ventilation. A good contractor, working in conjunction with a kitchen designer, can help you with this problem and more. Something as simple as painting may seem like something a lay person can handle, but the reality is even a small room can take hours or possibly days. There are many tutorials out there for doing things like building a deck, installing drywall, and building fences, but one small mistake can get costly. Why take a chance?

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Cut Down the Clutter

Do you own your things or do they own you? Without proper storage solutions, the answer to that question may not be so pleasant. The good news is, with the help of a carpenter, you can find space in places you have probably never thought of. For example, bare walls are an ideal place for built-in shelves; the space beneath your kitchen cabinets can be turned into a toe-kick drawer, and hooks in the mud room can keep coats, bags, and other accessories in order. Even existing storage spaces can improved upon. Putting pull-out drawers in cabinets can dramatically increase their storage capacity, and well-organized closets with a mixture of shelving, wire drawers, clothes rods, and more can make a huge difference!

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Feel the Heat with Towel Warmers

It is the coldest month of the year throughout most of the country so most people are looking for warmth wherever they can find it. Once mostly found only at spas and other luxury hospitality settings, towel warmers are starting to make an appearance in residential bathrooms. All sorts of style options are available from ultra minimalist to more traditional. Some warmers are panels that hang from the wall (towels can be draped over them), while others are drawers. One model even has a built-in TV! This might seem like an indulgence, but when you grab that fresh, warm towel, you may change your mind!

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