Universal design

How to take the pain out of remodeling

If you are like me, you are nursing a serious Halloween hangover. 

Maybe you took too many sips from the witch’s cauldron or, in my case, ate all of your kids’ candy after they went to sleep? 

While we can’t help with that, we can help take some of the pain out of remodeling your home. 

CNBC has a great article outlining four steps that will make your home renovation a little less painful.

The article reminds everyone to perform due diligence on the contractors, review your contract, ensure permits are obtained, and pay bills on time. 

It may sound straightforward, but you would be surprised how many people don’t honor each step. 

As far as what projects you should undertake, Reader’s Digest has you covered with its article on the best projects to get done before winter

Granted the Valley doesn’t get a true winter, but all of the projects in the article are great places to start. 

Some of the best projects mentioned in the article include master suite upgrades, HVAC replacement, new flooring, or a closet renovation. 

If kitchens are more your thing, then check out these seven kitchen remodeling ideas from AZ Big Media.

Have a good week!

Looking for remodeling inspiration? Start with your floors

We’ve talked before about remodeling inspiration, and how to search far and wide for new ideas. But not many people think of starting from the floor up.

Flooring is the subject of this article from a Corpus Christi television station website.

The article lists five major reasons for upgrading your flooring, including adding luxurious heated floors, repairing damaged or worn carpet, modernizing the look, cutting down on allergens and molds by switching from carpet to flooring, and remodeling for resale.

Speaking of remodeling, there is a discussion about the difference between remodeling and renovating. (For our purposes, we use them interchangeably.)

None other than Bob Vila, the man himself, offers that “remodeling” should be reserved for extensive work that includes changing structures and designs, while “renovating” means making updates that do not change the intended purpose of the room. But you do you, boo.

An extensive and expensive mistake was made by a remodeling company in Kansas City when they tore the roof off the wrong house

According to the Fox TV affiliate there, a remodeling company was sent to the wrong house by the contractor. Once they realized their mistake, the remodeler left, promising it would be fixed.

But now the remodeler and the contractor are fighting over who should be at fault for the mixup, and the poor couple still doesn’t have a roof over their vacant house after two months. 

Just another reason you should be grateful to have a roof over your head. 

Have a great week!

Guest post: Your guide to starting a kitchen remodel on a budget

This year, many American homeowners will finally start on a long-awaited kitchen remodeling project. Some may want to design their dream kitchen, while others just want to re-invest in their home and add value. In either case, you’ll need to start by establishing a budget and then prioritizing what you spend that budget on. In this article, we’ll review how to go about planning your kitchen remodel and the best ways you can get a great kitchen out of a tight budget.

Budgeting for your remodel

One of the most difficult parts of a kitchen remodeling project is knowing where to start. We recommend that you begin by setting a total budget for the project. On average, the American homeowner spends about $23,000 remodeling their kitchen. However, if this is far above the number you had in your head, don’t panic: by prioritizing the most important aspects of a kitchen remodel, you can complete your remodel for far less than that figure.

Completing a kitchen remodel on a tighter budget may require making some tough choices. For example, you may be dreaming of transforming the space into an “open kitchen” concept. But, doing so may involve extensive remodeling, plumbing, electrical, and flooring work. All of this adds up and may balloon your costs, lowering your return-on-investment (ROI).

It all comes down to what you want to get out of the project. If the open kitchen is key to your vision for the space, then you may need to wait to save more for the remodel. However, if you’re just looking to add value to your kitchen, keep in mind that an open kitchen concept is not always treated as a necessary upgrade by many prospective buyers.

Build your budget around new countertops and cabinets

The two most essential pieces of any kitchen remodel are the new countertops and cabinets. For many homeowners (and prospective buyers!), these two elements define the kitchen. They are also typically the most expensive components of the project: on average, American homeowners spend about 39-56% of their total kitchen remodeling budget on cabinets and countertops alone.

However, the end results often justify this upfront expense. Beautiful counters and high-quality cabinets can maximize your kitchen’s ROI and boost the overall curb appeal of your home. Our recommendation is that you factor in the cost for both into your initial budget and then work backwards from there, fitting the rest of the upgrades and changes that need to be made to the kitchen into your remaining budget. No single upgrade to the rest of the kitchen will be as consequential to your overall ROI as counters and cabinets.

Stretch your remodeling dollar further with small upgrades

Once you’ve dealt with the essentials of the remodeling project, your focus should shift to finding ways to maximize every dollar of your remaining project budget. Here are a few items that can add value to your kitchen without a major upfront cost:

  • New Lighting: You’d be amazed what light can do. The best kitchens feature natural light, but adding or updating light fixtures are the next best thing. Move away from harsh fluorescent lights to softer lighting that illuminates counters and highlights your new countertops. Pendant lighting is also highly effective and stylish. 
  • Painting: New paint is one of the least expensive things you can add to your kitchen. Depending on your design choices elsewhere in the kitchen, your walls may benefit from a splash of color, or may be best served with a neutral choice, such as a white, off-white, or light gray paint.
  • Backsplash: Typically, backsplash tile is not expensive, especially in the quantity needed for most kitchens. The right backsplash that complements your cabinet and countertop color choices—either by matching them or providing a splash of color or design to white or neutral cabinets—can add value and bring the entire kitchen together, from top to bottom.

For a full breakdown of average kitchen remodeling costs and even more tips for saving money on your project, be sure to look at this new infographic from the team at Superior Stone & Cabinet in Phoenix, AZ: