Television shows such as “This Old House” and “Home Improvement” have inspired many of us to pick up a hammer for the very first time. While home remodeling takes many forms, some projects are more suited for the do-it-yourself set, while others require professional expertise.
Who is nest qualified to plan and execute a remodeling project -an architect, a remodeling contractor, an interior designer or your Uncle Jerry? How do you go about it? What are the best materials to use when redoing floors, kitchen cabinets and bathrooms?
Although the answers are not always clear-cut, here are some guidelines that may help you through the ’makeover maze.”
CHOOSING MATERIALS
Before you embark on a remodeling project, it’s good to first nail down the basics and decide which materials will best fit your family’s lifestyle and budget.
Many remodels involve a redo of the existing floor, and today, there are numerous options to choose from.
Carpet still ranks as one of the top choices in floor coverings because it is easy to maintain and affordable. Natural fiber carpets, such as wool, are available, hut most people are choosing synluetics instead – they’re cheaper and easier to clean. Nothing will absorb into a carpet made from the plastic fiber olaphin, which many of today’s trendy Berber-style carpets are made of. There are also synthetic “trackless” carpets that don’t show footprints because of their unique fabric weave. A good rule of thumb when choosing any carpet is to remember that it’s similar to buying bedsheets or goose-down comforters – the higher the density per square inch, the better grade of carpet.
Ceramic tile is also popular and easy to maintain, but experts warn that it’s probably not the best choice for families with children, due to the hardness of the surface. However, makers of vinyl floor coverings are now borrowing the look of tile, allowing homeowners to achieve a rich, tiled effect, with a softer surface. Wooden floors, whether bleached or stained, offer unparalleled ambiance, yet can be expensive to install and maintain.
In bathrooms, interior designers suggest
sticking with tile floors; however, kitchens, once stereotyped as the land of linoleum, are often floored in the same surface as the rest of the home.
Kitchen countertops have also undergone a metamorphosis – laminates, such as Formica, have stepped into the 90s with a variety of solid colors, granite and marble looks, and many more new styles. A combination of a laminate countertop with a tile backsplash is one of the most popular and affordable ways to go in updating a kitchen. Other options available in countertop materials are tile, granite, marble and Corian.
Laminate kitchen cabinets are trendy, along with either pickled, medium-toned or dark wooden cabinets with paned, glass-front windows.
Along with the kitchen, the other most frequently remodeled room in the house is the bathroom. Bathrooms used to be built with a sole emphasis on function, not aesthetics. Today, the master bathroom is a bona fide room, often serving as an exercise room, too. Many master bathrooms now feature dual sinks, a whirlpool bath, a separate shower and toilet, walk-in his and her closets and skylights.
When remodeling any room of the house, what is most often requested, says Dallas interior designer Lexon Cole, is more natural light.
“People want to return to nature, to bring the outdoors in with large and open windows, French doors, sunrooms and gardens,” says Cole. Because the weather here permits outdoor entertaining most of the year, decks and patios have become just as important as a room inside, covered with a rod, she says.
CAN YOU DO IT YOURSELF?
If you’re just thinking about painting the kitchen white or installing a new toilet in the bathroom, you probably can do the job yourself. Replacing plumbing and lighting fixtures, or changing drawer handles requires little cash, but can have a big impact. Most of these jobs can be done easily, with a trip to the neighborhood hardware store. But if you’re thinking about redesigning the layout of the kitchen, knocking out a tew walls and installing new plumbing and appliances, then some help from the pros is needed before you proceed.
But before you begin, have a clear idea in mind about the purpose of the remodel – if you are planning to redo your kitchen, for instance, ask yourself what you hope to accomplish. Are you looking for a kitchen with enough room for two people Id cook in? Do you need space for recycling bins? Do you entertain frequently? It so, does there need to be enough room in the kitchen for guests to mingle? Is there enough light and cabinet space?
Make a wish list of everything you don’t like about your current kitchen (or bathroom, or whatever you’re planning to remodel). Now, list what you’d want in your “dream kitchen.” This will get the ideas flawing and help you focus on what’s most important.
DO I NEED AN ARCHITECT?
Perhaps. Any major remodel, especially one that requires tearing down or adding to any part of the existing structure, should be handled by an architect. An architect provides both aesthetic and structural advice, along with a keen eye for the unseen “sweet spots” in your home, which may not have been discovered yet.
Many people only think of hiring an architect for the construction of a new home, but it may be even more important for an architect to be involved in remodeling projects. Numerous unforseen problems can arise once the walls begin to come down, and an architect can be on-site to handle them immediately, in a creative way.
Architects draw up precisely detailed plans and specifications for bids and ensure that all local codes and ordinances are followed. An architect can assist in the hiring of the contractor and often makes recommendations, depending on the type of job, and supervises the work, schedules, grades of materials and makes final inspections.
WHAT’S A “REMODELING CONTRACTOR”?
Unlike architects, who design and oversee the remodeling job, a “remodeling contractor” actually does the work on the house, and if drawings are needed, they bring in an outside consultant.
Sometimes a remodeling contractor is a general contractor who specializes in remodeling, but it could also be a one-man operation or a large firm with a stiff of employees. In the city of Dallas, all that is required for a “remodeling contractor” license is $175.
While there may be some illegitimate businesses that operate under the guise of ’remodeling contractor,” says Randall Hall, Dallas chapter president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, there are many good contractors in the Dallas area. Here are some tips on how to choose the right one.
Check references and ask homeowners who’ve used the contractors in the past if the job was done on time, on budget and if they’d hire them again. Find out how long the business has been in operation, get a list of suppliers and call and ask them about the firm’s credit history. Also, phone the Better Business Bureau regarding any complaints filed against the business. If possible, try to visit a couple of the contractor’s former jobs to get a better picture of the quality of the work.
Get at least three different bids, and remember, the lowest bid is not always the best. A proposal with numbers that seem too good to be true
just might be.
Ask about types of payment, and be wary of firms that request a large amount up front. A down payment of 10 percent is generally required, with progressive payments based on completion paints of the jobs.
Three of the most common payment types are: the cost plus a percentage, in which the cost of materials is marker] up by the remodeling contractor; cost plus a fee, in which a flat fee is tacked on top of the cost of materials;; and a fixed contract, where all costs are negotiated beforehand. In both cost-plus arrangements, payments may be required as often as weekly, depending on which portion of the job is completed. The fixed contract usually requires fewer payments.
Have a written contract with the contractor, that states the scope of the job, lists specific target dates for completion of each phase, and gives a detailed list of the materials which will be used. And, make sure all work that is done is warrantied; a five-year homeowner’s warranty is standard.
HIRING AN INTERIOR DESIGNER
It you don’t plan on building a new addition, but would like a fresh, new look, an interior designer, or space planner, might be best suited for your needs.
Besides creating new color schemes and room decors, interior designers can redesign an entire space through detailed plans and drawings. They can also assist in the selection of new furnishings, fabrics and surface materials.
a final WORD
To reduce the stress that accompanies any remodeling project, don’t try to do everything at once, unless moving out while the job is in progress is an option.
Remember, remodeling is a messy business in the best of circumstances. While there may be some upheaval in your day-to-day life, the rewards are well worth it.
Related Articles
Commercial Real Estate
What’s Behind DFW’s Outpatient Building Squeeze?
High costs and high demand have tenants looking in increasingly creative places.
