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Keeping things clean under Coronavirus

Chances are you are spending a lot of time at home right now. And chances are you will be doing some major cleaning. 

Well, you are in luck because our friends at Granite Gold have put together the best guide for cleaning all of your different surfaces.

The biggest thing to remember, not all surfaces are created equally, so make sure you treating them as such. That means standard cleaning materials are not what’s best for your granite or natural stone countertops!

Take a look at this informative video about cleaning, sealing and polishing:

Also, check out these two blogs for a list of what to use for your quartz or natural stone countertop.

And here’s a friendly reminder that Granite Gold products are the way to go for all your natural stone needs. 

In addition to cleaning, you are probably spending a little more time evaluating your house. Maybe you have also thought about changes to your shower.

Well, look no further than this article from the Motley Fool, which goes over four new ideas for 2020

The article suggests you take a look at color, tile, shower doors, and finishing, so you can successfully marry a classic look with current trends.

And another friendly reminder: MK Remodeling & Design is an essential business, so we are just a quick call or email away.Have a good week and stay safe!

Guest Post: The Do’s & Don’ts of Home Renovation that You Need to Read

We all know that transforming your old, bland-looking house into your dream house with full home remodeling is one of the most exciting yet time-consuming times. If you are planning to remodel your house, there is a high chance that you are working ahead of time to get it quickly completed. However, rushing the whole process without carefully planning the home renovation can cost you more money and time.

If you have already planned on remodeling your full house, you need to have a read through our do’s and don’ts of home renovation. These tips will help you a lot before you finally take a sledgehammer and attempt to knock the walls down. 

Let’s first have a look at the Don’ts of home renovation. 

Don’t Go For The Cheapest Remodeling Contractor

Remodeling the whole house can be a quite expensive undertaking. You always want to try and cut down the cost as much as possible. But keep in mind that hiring one of the cheapest contractors is not recommended. You’ll have to go down the line again and hire a reliable remodeling contractor because of the shoddy job that the cheaply priced remodeling contractor provided you with.

When you plan on hiring a remodeling contractor, you should shop around a bit. Always make sure that you properly vet your remodeling services company by asking around or reading online reviews. 

All in all, you might end up paying a little more when you hire a good remodeler. But look at the bright side, you will not be hiring anyone else for getting the work re-done.  

Don’t Neglect Your Vision For The Design

People who remodel houses are experts when it comes to re-building homes. But this does not mean that they know how to work around on non-existing design. If you do not have a proper plan laid out or do not have a vision as to how the final product ought to look, there is a high chance that you will not be satisfied when the home remodelers are done with the project.

You need to make sure that you have a strong vision for the final design so that you can deeply discuss it with your contractor. 

Don’t Renovate Every Room At Once

Let’s suppose that you are planning on renovating your whole house. Try renovating one room at a time. Trying to do everything all at once will not only turn out to be expensive, but it will be upright inconvenient to you and your family as well. This is because all of your rooms will begin to look like a construction site.

Always choose to take one or two rooms at a time, so that you still have a place to live in your house whilst the renovation is taking place. 

Don’t Keep An Unrealistic Date For Completion: 

What most people fail to understand is that there are a lot of factors that can delay the completion of the renovation project. This is why it is important to keep a flexible completion date. Just keep in mind that a good remodeling job takes time, so be patient.

Do Set A Budget 

The key to a successful home remodeling project is knowing how much you can realistically afford to spend to get the results that you desire. One of the first things that you need to do is discuss your home remodeling plan with your builder or remodeler.

Do not try to go over the allocated budget as much as possible. But always keep a contingent budget. In case something unexpected thing creeps up; you should be prepared beforehand. 

Do Know When To Call A Professional Remodeler

A little DIY is great, for example, when it comes to stripping that wallpaper, giving your walls a fresh coat of paint, or putting a varnish on the decking. However, when it comes to remodeling the bigger parts of the house in which you don’t have much experience or the right skill set, hiring a professional is your best bet.

No matter how many online videos you’ve watched related to home remodeling, such projects are best suited for professionals only. This is why you should always hire a professional for bigger jobs.

Do Invest In A Quality Appliance

Things like electrical appliances, washer and dryer, and HVAC systems are investments that make a lot of difference in your day-to-day life. So, always go for quality over the cost.

Do some research and invest in buying the best appliances that best suit your needs and requirements. Read the reviews and ratings, and gain an understanding of their warranties. Keep in mind that buying from renowned brands will last longer.

Do Keep Your Belongings Safe 

When remodeling the house, dust and dirt can be difficult to control. Most home renovation contractors will use plastic sheets to protect your household items. But all in all, these things will get in the way of workers. This is why they need to be moved to a secure location where they will remain safe. If you have some fragile items, you need to carefully pack and store them until the house has been renovated.

About the author: When you talk about remodeling ideas, no one can help you better than Sarah. With ample experience in the field, she has been a pro in increasing the aesthetic value of places. To stay updated with the ins and outs of remodeling, her articles are a must read.  

Keeping remodeling costs and headaches at a minimum

We’ve all seen the home improvement TV shows that follow a project from start to finish. 

Usually, there’s a hiccup, but either the owners secure a last-minute funding boost or the contractor finds a work-around to keep things under budget. That’s the magic of TV!

Life works differently. 

All parties, homeowners and contractors alike, have a role to play in keeping costs and frustrations to a minimum, as this Daily Herald article says. 

Like the article notes, homeowners can save themselves some headaches by remembering  that remodeling the kitchen is no small endeavor. Working within the existing plumbing structure will cut down on costs, while making big changes to the kitchen’s footprint will lead you to blow the budget. 

Also, enlisting the help of a designer and sticking to the plan once construction begins will keep you on your timeline and budget. 

If fixer-uppers are more your jam, here are some lessons one interior designer learned while fixing up her house. 

Monitoring progress, checking shipments, paying attention to details, hiring and firing folks, and working around holidays turned everything into a full-time job for the writer. 

And her partner is a carpenter!

Have a great week!