Archive for the ‘Home Remodeling’ Category

One of the most important – if not THE most important – step to complete when initiating a bathroom renovation project is planning. Whether it is a simple remodeling or a thorough renovation, planning every step that needs to be completed properly can help make the project much more effective and efficient. Of course, there are a number of elements that must be included in your plan for a bathroom remodeling project.

First, you need to decide the extensiveness of a bathroom renovation project. The decision can be made based on the existing budget you can afford to set aside for the remodeling or simply based on your preferences.

Review some of the best catalogues and find inspiration for your own remodeling project. This way, you can have a clear picture of what you expect the bathroom will look like after the project is completed. Translate the inspiration you have captured into a clear, concise set of goals to achieve.

Be sure to also pay close attention to functionality. Although the bathroom needs to be beautiful, it will not be pleasant to use when all the appliances and items in it are not designed for practicality as well. Concealed cabinets and other common items are generally famous for offering a balanced mix between aesthetic and functionality.

You also need to include the suitable products and items have found earlier so that the contractor working on the project can also get a clearer picture of what you are expecting. Find a local supplier and browse through their catalogues of products; if you live in Florida, for instance, you can review Florida suppliers for bathroom remodeling items and products accordingly.

Once these elements are considered, your bathroom-remodeling plan will be perfect. The project can be started almost immediately and you will have the dream bathroom finished before you know it.

When starting out on a project of attic remodeling, certain factors need to be kept in mind. First and foremost, it should be noted that the attic is a limited space with low walls that are mostly crammed with all the wiring and insulation that a house might need. In order to think of making an additional living space out of that attic room, the trick is to optimize space and minimize furniture. It is a good idea to have built-in cupboards and shelves that can be filled with all the junk that the homeowner just cannot discard.

By eliminating the space crunch that is brought about by free-standing cupboards and dressers, the attic can be made more airy than it would have otherwise been. The furniture positioning is of equal importance. When faced with low ceilings, it is a successful strategy to place furniture below them, such as the head of the bed towards the low part of the ceiling. In this way, people will not run into spaces where they have to bend in order to avoid getting hit on the head. Having attic dormers fitted into the roof is another important strategy by which natural light can be allowed in and space can be increased.

In fact, skylights are more effective for small closed spaces. Where lighting is an issue, it is wise to use light colors on walls which would give the sense of increased space. Walls and other objects in the room can work wonderfully in either reflecting or absorbing light. With a little intelligence, they can be put to good use in a place like the attic room. It is equally important to keep the centre of the room clear since that would enhance free mobility. Finally, to finish off the remodeling act, installing a bathroom might just work, provided that the drainage system is taken proper care of.

by wallyg

Article by Sears Home Pro

Welcome home. These two little words hold so much more meaning than a mere mat on a front stoop and yet they often adorn this area to serve as an extended visual reminder of that ultimate accomplishment…home ownership. Buying your first home is an important step and a goal for most along their path of life. Once it has been obtained, we feel a sense of pride and joy but the journey is not end there.

After any amount of time in a home whether it be a brand new just built addition to the neighborhood or simply new to you and your family, there comes a time of change. Just as people grow up and out, so must the places we call home; they just need a little help along the way. Time for a little home remodeling. A tweak there a nip here. Perhaps a new addition to the house n say the form of a nursery for the new baby on the way; on the other hand, a smaller project might be best for a first venture. Giving the kitchen a face lift would certainly be helpful to the cook of the house but that guest bathroom has also been irking you for some time. But wait, hold the phone…what of the cost?

Worry about home remodeling cost is the number one reason why people put it off. While it is true, they can easily get out of hand if ones wishes and realities are not in line with one another, there is a way to make the process that much more enjoyable. The first step in keeping these costs in line is by setting a budget. Look at your financial situation in earnest. See what you are comfortable spending in the long run.

Now, once you have this figure, it is time to consider the areas you wish to focus on first; make the selections so you can make the most of both your time and money. Speaking of money saving ideas, many times throughout the year, specials are offered in regards to materials, contractor services, and financing. Be sure to check out and put to good use these dollar stretching opportunites to help you in keeping your home remodeling cost within the range you previously set.

In the end, it is your home to mold into the dream you see in your mind’s eye. Home remodeling cost can be fit into any size budget affording you the opportunity to make these dreams a reality, so long as you utilize the resources available to you. Remember, budget first, select the areas in need of the most attention to direct your focus and consider the timing of putting your plan into action to coincide with the best deals. Keep your home remodeling cost low and results high to achieve an end product that you will be proud of for years to come.

About the Author

Shawn Hickman is the Search Marketing Manager for Sears Home Improvements. If you would like more information on Home Remodeling Cost , visit the Home Improvement section of Sears Home Services website or call us at 1-877-780-2214.

Article by Dan Fritschen

The most popular Split Level house renovations are projects to finish unfinished or partly finished areas, opening up the main floor, updating the kitchen, adding bathrooms to the main (formal living area) floor and to the upper level (bedrooms area).

Many people want to create more openness in the main floor of a split level, which usually consists of living room, dining room, kitchen and possibly a bedroom. Openness can certainly be achieved by removing some of the walls between rooms. You will need to be sure you know which walls are load-bearing walls. For example, you might want more openness between the kitchen and the dining room. Either removing the wall or replacing the wall with a counter will open up the area and feel more spacious. Removing the wall between the living room and dining room can also open up the area and make it more conducive to entertaining.

It is not uncommon for split level homes with four levels to have an unfinished bottom level. Finishing this area is really no different from finishing any basement. It will be important, however, to check on ceiling height early in the planning stages of the project. A number of split level homes have lower ceilings on the bottom floor.

The desire to add a bathroom to any home is quite common. Split levels often offer two important opportunities for bathroom additions. First, most split level homes were not built with a bathroom on the main (formal living area) floor. Many homeowners would like to add at least a half-bath or powder room on the main floor for the comfort and convenience of guests or for elderly or disabled family members. Determining the location of the new bathroom is a challenge in most split levels. Logic and cost-consciousness would suggest locating the new bathroom near (next to, above or below) existing plumbing. This allows you to use existing supply and removal pipes. Depending on the floor plan, however, this might not be workable. Location of pipes to a new bathroom on the main floor will also require some attention to the ceiling height of the floor below (if there is one). If the lower level has typically lower ceilings, placement of plumbing might depend upon where you can run pipes without making the lower level unusable. You can get a quick estimate of the cost to finish a split-level homes basement at http://www.remodelestimates.com.

Adding a bathroom on the bedroom level is also a very popular renovation to a split level. Many split level homes have only a shared bathroom on this floor. Other designs include a very small master bathroom. Whether your remodeling plan involves adding a second bathroom or enlarging a master bathroom, it will be necessary to sacrifice space somewhere on that floor. Again, you will probably want to try to build the new bathroom close to existing plumbing, if possible to reduce the amount of work required and to control the cost of your renovation. Enlarging a master bathroom in a split level will almost certainly require taking space from the bedroom. One solution might be a bump out or add an addition that spans both the bathroom and the master bedroom. The key to success for remodeling projects is to be organized — try getting an organizer like the one at http://www.remodelingorganizer.com.

Although split level home designs present some unique challenges to remodelers, with a creative eye to design, careful planning, and attention to detail, most of the changes you might want to make are possible.

Copyright 2007 by ABCD Publishing

About the Author

Dan Fritschen, the remodel-or-move guru is President and Publisher at ABCD Publishing and operates three very popular websites — http://www.remodelormove.com, which helps homeowners make this important decision on the basis of knowledge and reliable cost estimates, and http://www.remodelestimates, which offers a variety of articles on various aspects of remodeling and remodeling cost estimate calculators, as well as referrals to great contractors throughout t

Find More Split Level Home Remodeling Articles