Planning for Renovation
There are many guidelines that one should follow when planning a renovation or remodeling project.
We would very much appreciate your business, but regardless, we want to steer you in the right direction in the process of choosing a builder for your project. Here are some topics you may find helpful in planning your project and choosing your contractor.
Government Resources
The State of Arizona provides a good set of guidelines when choosing a contractor or builder... click here to see what Arizona Registrar of Contractors recommends.
Remodeling Tips
No one likes to cut a budget, especially when it's their own. But when it comes to planning a remodeling project, homeowners must establish a realistic budget . . . and actively manage it. Preparing for a remodeling project is a lot like preparing to buy a car. You may know the room and style you want, but the options you choose may drive the price higher than you can reasonably afford. But there are ways to stretch the remodeling budget and end up with stylish results within budget.
Getting Started
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Hire a professional contractor who is familiar
with the building codes in your area. Updating work that does not meet
code can be extremely expensive.
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A well–written contract can prevent costly
mistakes or additions to the scope of your project. It is a critical
step in maintaining your budget.
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Save money by planning ahead. Go through the
design process first and choose everything you want to include in the
new room(s), from appliances to light fixtures, etc. This will define
your budget and prevent hasty (and costly) decisions later in the
project. Be sure to include all your product and material selections in
the contract to avoid confusion and unnecessary change orders. Include
the model, size, color, and other specifications. It is also wise to
save 10–20 percent of your budget to allow for items added to the scope
of work.
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The number one way to decrease the cost of
your remodeling project is product choices. Look around to determine
whether you can achieve a similar look with a less expensive product.
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In addition, pay attention to how labor
intensive some design features may be, for example laying ceramic tile
on kitchen countertops and the backsplash.
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Compare products and their prices carefully
before you make final decisions. And keep an open mind when you discuss
product and design ideas with your contractor.
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Make decisions based on value and quality, not
just price.
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Think about staging the work being done to
minimize the initial financial impact. It is often easier to create a
more manageable budget by starting small and adding to the project at a
later date. This will break the work into several jobs instead of one
large project. The down side of staging a remodel is that you may end up
paying more in the long run.
General Remodeling Tips
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Be creative. There are often multiple
solutions to accomplish a design objective, some more expensive than
others. Discuss various options with your contractor.
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If all the room really needs is a facelift,
make the most of changes with paint, as opposed to structural changes.
Changing the color of a room can revitalize it. This is the easiest way
to bring life to a room on a budget.
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Heavy or textured wallpaper can work wonders
as well. You can save money by wallpapering a slightly damaged wall
rather than replacing it. If the wall has grass cloth wallpaper on it,
consider whitewashing it for a totally new look. Several layers of
whitewash (in various shades of white) produce a clean, sophisticated
look in any room.
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Faux finish painting or other textured
decorative painting techniques also can hide minor damage or
irregularities that flat paint won't.
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Attempt to keep windows in their existing
places during a remodeling project. Moving windows is not a cost–saving
endeavor.
Finding Space
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Creating more space can be a big budget
buster. Once you add square footage to a home, the price increases
significantly. One alternative is to borrow space from a neighboring
room (called space reconfiguration). A great place to steal space for a
bathroom expansion is from the linen closet. You can make up some of the
lost storage by finding small spaces in between wall studs for small
niches or built–in shelves.
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You can also try borrowing space with optical
illusions. There are many ways to make a small room appear larger. To
transform a small bath, install a bow window or a skylight. Vaulted
ceilings can be a nice touch, too.
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If you are going to expand outside the
existing home, consider a small bump out of two to four feet. This may
allow you to cantilever the floor joists and eliminate the need for
excavation and foundation. If possible, be careful not to extend beyond
the roofline, which might require a new roofline to your job.
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Whenever you are adding on new space to a
home, have a heating/cooling contractor determine whether your existing
heating/air conditioning system can accommodate and heat/cool the extra
space. If the heating/cooling system is damaged, you will be forced to
replace the existing units.
In the
Kitchen
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If at all possible, reuse existing appliances,
and build your new cabinets around them. This could easily save you anywhere
from $1,500 – $5,000. However, be aware that appliances, like
anything electrical, are sensitive to change and may develop problems if
they are moved. Should you decide to avoid potential appliance
"burn–out" and purchase new appliances, choose energy conscious models
for a reduction in your utility bills.
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Maintain present location of major fixtures,
appliances and utilities relative to the plumbing, gas and electrical
outlets. This could even apply to the location of the telephone. Moving
plumbing, wiring and jacks can be extremely expensive.
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The faucet can be a costly item. The least
expensive selection is chrome. Even a high-end chrome faucet is
considerably less than a mid-range brass or porcelain version. A
standard two-handle faucet generally costs less than single handle.
Faucets and handles are sold separately, so you may want to choose a
chrome faucet with brass or porcelain handles for a different look.
Faucet caution: The price variances in faucets reflect the various
internal and external features. Always choose a faucet with replaceable
internal parts. You won't want to have to replace the entire faucet if
it breaks – it's simply not cost-effective.
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Choose neutral colors in fixtures, appliances
and laminates. They are less expensive initially and wont look dated
when the color trends change. White and almond sinks are much cheaper
than color varieties. And neutral laminate colors for countertops are
less than custom colors or textures.
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Good floor covering is important. It ties one
room to another and provides visual consistency. Familiarize yourself
with the prices of the various flooring materials to make the best
decision for your home. To get you started, vinyl or laminate flooring
is less expensive than wood, tile or slate.
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Use the existing floor covering if it is still
in good condition. If the kitchen has old vinyl flooring, there may be a
hardwood floor underneath that could be sanded and refinished, avoiding
the need for a new floor entirely.
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If you currently have a vinyl floor covering
and wish to update with a newer version, you can install synthetic floor
leveler material over the existing vinyl floor and lay the new vinyl
flooring on top, rather than tearing the old flooring off to install the
new.
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Consider your cabinet options carefully. Those
choices will drive the overall price. You can add some options at a
later date to defray some of the initial cost. Some that are easy to add
include tilt front doors, spice racks and slide out wire baskets.
However, if you decide to wait, make certain that the option you want
will be available and can be added after installation. Note of caution:
Waiting will cost you more in the long run. Adding new cabinets often
requires installing a new floor. Refacing existing cabinets not only
eliminates the need for new flooring, countertops and appliances
altogether, it is a major savings in any kitchen remodel.
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Go with a simple design in the kitchen
employing single height wall cabinets, blind corner cabinets rather than
those with Lazy Susans, and other standard options. Watch your upgrades.
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Use standard cabinetry instead of custom
cabinets, or use a combination of the two if they are compatible.
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Choose cabinets that can be operated without
the addition of hardware (those that are finger–pulled).
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Install cabinets without soffits to decrease
the labor cost. Also consider cabinets without trim moldings or with
simple trim.
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If you are going to put in new wood trim (in
your crown molding, trims, and door casings) to match the new cabinets,
order pre–finished trim instead of having the painting or staining done
on–site. This will decrease labor cost. Ordering finger–jointed vs.
clear vertical grain also will save you money.
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Consider stenciling on the backsplash instead
of using tile.
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Laminate countertops are the least expensive
choice among solid surfacing, tile and granite. You can dress it up with
wood or tile trim for a more innovative look.
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Connect fluorescent light fixtures to the
existing ceiling fixture box instead of installing new recessed
lighting, which may require a new ceiling because of the recessed
features.
In the Bathroom
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Consider reglazing a tub instead of replacing
it, especially if it is still in relatively good condition. This can
save you more than half the cost of a tub replacement and minimize the
dust at the same time.
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Cultured marble sheets are a good choice for
tub surrounds, instead of ceramic tile. You will save considerably on
labor costs and the marble sheets are much easier to clean.
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Fiberglass surrounds are also less costly than
tile.
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Examine how you are utilizing space. You may
be able to steal some space from a neighboring room or closet. If your
overall space is limited, purchase a jetted tub and shower combination
or install a pedestal lavatory instead of a vanity cabinet with a sink.
Understand that while pedestal lavatories do eliminate the need for
vanities and save space, some models may cost more than a separate
vanity cabinet and sink.
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Cultured marble lavatories can be a great
budget choice since it is an integrated sink bowl and countertop sold in
one easily installed unit.
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Define what is truly needed in the bathroom.
Sometimes an extra bath is planned when installing a double sink in an
existing bath would meet the need.
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If you are going to add a large jetted tub to
your project, consider adding a water heater dedicated to that tub. A
large jetted tub can hold up to an average of 75 gallons or more, which
can easily overextend your existing water heater and cause problems in
the future.
