Getting the Best Value for Your Remodel: Key Tips to hiring a Quality Remodeler

Whether you’re remodeling your home for comfort or to increase the value, homeowners know that a well-done remodel can bring both pleasure and a good return on investment.

Remodeling is, however, a big step for many homeowners. Getting the best value for your remodel shouldn’t come from guesswork; instead, knowing how to find a remodeling company with a solid reputation and one that delivers quality work throughout the entire remodeling process requires research.

How to get the best remodel for your dollar? Make sure the company that is doing the remodel asks the right questions, does its homework, and offers full-service design and remodeling under one roof.

Does the remodeling company offer a written contract based on your remodeling needs?
Steve Walton, Senior Design Consultant for Marrokal Design and Remodeling, San Diego, California helps clients sort through what can be a complicated process to get the best value remodel that meets all his clients’ needs.

“When I meet with clients, I have them describe their ideas for the remodeling project. I take a lot of notes,” says Walton. The design consultant then sets another meeting at Marrokal’s Design and Remodeling center. Prior to this meeting Walton has already done his homework and researched any likely obstacles for the remodel. Some companies take on a project and later discover remodeling barriers.

“I get your set-backs, zoning conditions, and height conditions and try to see if there are any issues. That way when we meet at our design center we can start looking at the architectural process,” says Walton.

Tips for a Successful Remodel!

• Solid reputation. “There are lots of companies that are going out of business these days,” says Steve Walton, Senior Design Consultant for Marrokal Design and Remodeling.  Make sure you check to see how long the home remodeling company has been in business.

• Company awards and other noteworthy publicity. Successful design and remodeling companies have received awards to show off some of their top-quality work; ask the company about what awards it has received. For instance, Marrokal Design and Remodeling has won national awards including the 2008 Western Remodeler of the Year. The company also received the Better Business Bureau’s 2008 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. The award is designed to promote the importance of ethical business practices as well as the willingness and efforts made by businesses to ensure that the marketplace remains fair and honorable.

• Referrals. Make sure the company can provide plenty of past clients for you to speak to about their remodeling project. “In our case, Marrokal Design and Remodeling has more than 2,000 past client references for potential clients to review,” says Walton.

• Make sure the architectural drawings provide an accurate picture of your remodel. “We provide interior and exterior perspective color renderings as well as mechanical three-dimensional computer modeling. The renderings are more of a finished look and the mechanical drawings are used in the early design process to get a sense of the space,” says Walton. Both methods are extremely helpful in aiding clients to understand how their remodel will look before and after. Walton adds, “A sophisticated design phase helps homeowners understand what they’re getting so that when the clients are in the construction phase they don’t have many, if any, changes.”

The Design-Build Steps to Success

Marrokal Design and Remodeling uses a six-step design-build process to carefully assess the client’s needs and ensure that the project is run smoothly so that the end result exceeds their expectations. It’s this unique strategy that puts Marrokal Design and Remodeling ahead of the competition.

Here are the steps: 1. Project Programming/Budget Development, 2. Field Measure/Inspection of Existing Conditions, 3. Preliminary Design Meetings, 4. Construction Agreement/Building Specifications, 5. Product Selection/Design of Finish Materials, 6. Building Permit Phase. For a detailed look at these six steps click here.

An excellent indicator that the design-build process is working comes from clients who’ve experienced it. “This is our second major remodel in 20 years with many smaller remodeling jobs in between. We have followed the history of the other major contractors in San Diego and interviewed many over the past years and no one even comes close to what Marrokal can design and deliver... no one!,” write La Mesa clients, Mike and Mary Marmolejo, in a letter expressing their thanks to the company.

Notes like that one are not the exception but rather the rule. It seems this nationally recognized and award-winning company is constantly receiving praise for its work.

“Our sincere gratitude to Senior Design Consultant, Jim Dyjak, and his design team, Project Designer, Scott Hall, and Interior Designer, April Worrell, who came up with ideas we never thought of. Jim even managed to get us back some of our lost view by moving our kitchen, rearranging windows, enlarging sliding doors, and repairing the adjoining sun deck. The new kitchen is our absolute favorite with its nine-foot island (aka: the sushi bar). We look forward to many get-togethers with family and friends—they'll see firsthand what high-quality work Marrokal Design and Remodeling does,” writes homeowner, Marilou Seki from Point Loma.

What Should a Design and Remodeling Company Offer Me?

If a company offers free design, you’ll likely get what you pay for.  If a company is offering “free design” it’s likely that the design fees are somewhere hidden in the overall cost.

“The design can make or break the project,” says Steve Walton, Senior Design Consultant for Marrokal Design and Remodeling. It’s the least amount of the cost of the overall project but it’s highly critical to the success of your remodel. “With our process we’re going to talk to homeowners about what furniture is sentimental and how it will fit in the remodel, sun orientation, views, traffic patterns and flow, and our clients’ lifestyle—this is how we build the project. We don’t build it from a, ‘Oh, I want to add an 8 x 10 room.’ Instead I find out how my clients live and what they’re all about and then the project is designed based on those answers.”

Does the remodeling company offer several design options to help you stay within your budget?

“You have to be open to a certain budget range that you’re comfortable in and then you should really spend time up front reviewing a lot of different designs so that you don’t get locked into one design at one price point. That happens a lot. People will hire an architectural firm and they’ll end up going through weeks and weeks of planning or drawing. They’ll get a set of plans down to the point where they can then send it out for bids and then usually they find out that they’re over budget.”

Marrokal Design and Remodeling creates options that are best suited to its clients based on customers’ desired remodeling needs.

“The first meeting we have with the clients gives them specific costs for, say, six different concepts. That gives homeowners the freedom to choose based on their financial comfort level and design needs. It’s a huge difference from the architect drawing the plans, then the homeowner having to get bids on the project. This is why we’re so successful because we give clients the flexibility to choose the design and project that creates the best value remodel,” says Walton.

A Home Remodeling Story!

Americans spent an estimated $225 billion on home remodeling in 2008, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Remodeling represents approximately 2 percent of the United States economy and 40 percent of all residential construction. In the next decade, NAHB expects remodeling to overtake new home construction by dollar volume.

If you’re a homeowner interested in remodeling, what does this mean to you? It means that there are lots of companies to choose from so selecting the best company to get your remodeling project completed can be challenging. But if you understand what to look for in a home remodeler, you’ll be able to select the best one for your project.

Understanding the design-build company

Not all remodeling companies are created equal. In fact, not all remodeling companies offer the same services. A full-service, design-build remodeling company offers homeowners the ability to get all of their remodeling needs from the architectural design to the construction of their remodel met through one company that will oversee the entire project—from start to finish and even service beyond completion.

Marrokal Design and Remodeling is an industry leader based in San Diego, California since 1981. For over a quarter of a century, Marrokal’s design/build professionals have impressed homeowners with their attention to detail and unparalleled customer service. “We have a great core group of people who really work hard for our clients. About 75 percent of our business is from referrals,” says Bruce Howard, Director of Production at Marrokal Design and Remodeling.

Don't Let Your Kitchen Remodel Cause You Stress! Choose Marrokal!

Kitchen remodeling can be costly and inconvenient process. However, you can avoid them by seeking the services of a professional kitchen remodeling contractor. Not only will you be able to remodel your kitchen in a cost-effective manner, you can also look forward to a beautiful and functional kitchen after the job is complete.

Kitchen remodeling contractors are vital to the success of your remodeling project within the budget, especially contractors from Marrokal. The best contractors can guide you during the remodeling job by collaborating with you about ideas and other concepts that can help with the completion of a functional kitchen. They can also provide professional advice so that you will make informed decisions during the remodeling project. Thus, before embarking on a kitchen remodeling project, take your time in seeking the best contractors. They can ease your worries and even make your remodeling project enjoyable.

Marrokal's Custom Fire Fountain Wins the Contractor of the Year Award (CotY) from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry!

This design feature is the central focus in an entry sequence for an urban modernist bungalow sited on an extremely restrictive lot. The distance from the side walk to the front door is scarcely 16 feet. There is a custom steel and reeded poly carbon panel fence and gate one enters through, crossing several poured-in-place concrete slab steps to reach this fire-fountain feature. This feature acts to redirect the user 90 degrees to climb the seven stone steps of the front porch. In crossing the fountain you continue to walk on pored-in-place concrete steps of the same dimension that now “float” in the shallow pool. Water circulates around the concrete pads creating a modern moat.

The fire-fountain itself is formed, poured-in-place high compression, steel reinforced concrete that was subsequently acid washed to achieve the desired finish. In modernist form, no decorative tiles or stones were added to the simple, straight-forward composition. A central stainless steel cascade shelf directs the water fall to the pool below as one singular sheet of water. On either side of the water cascade are dual fire features which sit slightly below the level of the water fall and when lit create dancing flames which reach over a foot tall. Flames rise up through teal and coke-bottle green glass, a color selected to mimic the color the water casts in sunlight. When lit, the natural gas flames create an effect of light dancing about behind the poly carbon fence panels from the exterior of the property. The pool is lit by four stainless steel LED bullets below the water line which are not only decorative but serve to illuminate the “floating” steps a pedestrian would cross to enter the house.

Black lava rock and drought resistant succulents surround the concrete fire fountain. The design of the concrete pool, with the steps floating in the pool, ties in with the home having some mid-century design elements. This style of landscape pool was utilized in many mid-century modern designs, in both residential and public structures.

The Contractor of the Year (CotY) awards are given each year by NARI Headquarters to members who have demonstrated outstanding work through their remodeling projects.  NARI Contractor Members are invited each year to compete for the prestigious Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award.  CotY Award Winners report that winning this award is a major factor in enhancing their image within the industry and with prospective clients, and is a major morale-booster for their employees.

Marrokal Wins Remodeler of the Year!

Marrokal Wins Remodeler of the Year!  Here is a short excerpt from our success story:

No one has been immune to the challenges of the remodeling market the last several years, but Marrokal Design & Remodeling has weathered the storm better than most other firms.  With a strong focus on marketing and sales combined with smart management, San Diego-based Marrokal has maintained profitability even as revenues dipped in 2009 before rebounding this year. Because of that success and the way the management team has positioned the company for the next generation of leadership, Marrokal is our  Remodeler of the Year

To see the entire story go here: http://www.housingzone.com/pr/article/2010-remodeler-year-marrokal-design-remodeling









 

A Kitchen Remodel Can Renew the Life of Your Home!

Sometimes your home may start to seem boring, lifeless, even unbearable.  The easiest way to renew the life of your home and make you enjoy being there again is to remodel the kitchen.  You would be amazed at how much life can be added to you home simply by remodeling the kitchen!

One of the best strategies of increasing a home’s value is by remodeling its kitchen. The cost of kitchen remodeling however, can cause a glitch in your plans. But, before going through with those plans, what are your reasons remodeling your kitchen? To increase your home’s value for resale or for efficiency in the kitchen? No matter your purpose, kitchen remodeling can increase the value of your home.

There are many factors that can affect your planned kitchen remodeling. They all depend on your needs. But, in order to get the best results especially if you are on a budget, it is always advisable to seek professional contractors to do the job for you. Not all contractors are expensive; some if not most of them can work with your budget. Working with a professional contractor can even make kitchen remodeling fun and cost-effective.

When remodeling your kitchen, you need to determine certain things that can improve the value of your home based on your purpose. If you plan on getting a much higher price when selling the house, you should make sure that the design and color will fit the taste of most home buyers. But, if you are remodeling with the thought of using your kitchen for many years to come, you can choose any design or color that you want.

Thinking About the Color Scheme of Your New Kitchen?

Color selection and color schemes are important aspects of kitchen remodeling or any home improvement project for that matter. But your planning your kitchen's color motif is an inexpensive yet effective way of changing the mood of the area. Home improvement stores in Tampa have so many selections of kitchen remodeling essentials to choose from, which makes your task a lot easier. The only thing to remember is to choose according to what you have.

Colors have their own meanings and can elicit feelings and emotions without you being aware of it. This is why when you're remodeling your kitchen, know which shades to use and avoid in order to have a kitchen that embraces you whenever you're in it.

Small kitchens should generally stay away from dark colors because they tend to make the room look even smaller. If you need to put in a dark shade, best to use them on your kitchen cabinets (brown/wood, deep red, dark blue, charcoal gray) or the flooring (wood floors, maroon ceramic tile, etc.) Also, go for simple, unadorned cabinets to steer clear of a cluttered look.

Standard-sized kitchens can basically choose any color they want for their cabinets, floorings, counters, and equipments. One way of stepping it up a notch is by adjusting your lighting. If natural light has access to your kitchen, you can compliment this by choosing bright colors like yellow and whites. However, if you get limited natural light, best steer away from dark colored walls to keep that light ambiance. But here is one remodeling warning from a Tampa interior decorator: stay away from stark white colors on everything (kitchen cabinets, counters, tiles, frig, everything!). White on everything can be associated to hospitals which is a very unpleasant for some. If you must, choose off-white shades.

Kitchen Remodeling to Accomodate Every Age!

Most of the design for aging in place for the kitchen is very beneficial for any age. That’s why homeowners will often look to make kitchen remodels their first priority. Ease of access and a clean, stylish look is a high priority and a good addition for potential resale value.  “Our clients don’t want to have to bend down so they request more drawers and pullouts in their cabinetry. They also want their cabinets to be shallower so that they can easily see and reach their kitchenware,” says Walton.

Renovating rooms for future caretakers

Walton says Marrokal Design & Remodeling clients are interested in whole room renovations— another preparation for the future. “People are creating space for a caretaker. They will have a room remodeled into a suite with a bathroom, a small living space, and kitchenette, so that in later years a caretaker can live there and assist them,” says Walton. He says these additions are becoming more popular especially as extended families are coming together and living under one roof.

When it comes to remodeling your home for aging in place or simply for added space and comfort, Marrokal Design & Remodeling is the company that clients trust their homes to. The staff understands that every remodeling project is a precious development in their clients’ future.

Spacious Bathrooms and Walk-In Showers

The next tier of remodeling is to look at improving areas that have limited access for those who are using wheelchairs or walkers. For those homeowners wanting to age in place, the bathroom almost always needs to be adjusted to accommodate wheeled assistance.

Walton says this requires widening doors and re-designing the bathroom so that a wheelchair can freely maneuver not only around the bathroom but also through the doorway to reach the bathroom.
“Hallways are generally three feet which is wide enough to get a wheelchair through, but the door openings in a standard home are about two-foot-six or 30 inches wide. So those need to be widened to a minimum of two-foot-ten or three foot which is a standard width,” says Walton.

“The next step would be to make the shower more user-friendly. The universal design of a walk-in shower has mass appeal because of its convenience and easy access for all. “If you have the space, that’s best; if not, then the shower has to be remodeled so that the doors are frameless. That way, there’s no frame or track that sticks up and prevents the wheelchair from rolling over it,” says Walton.

Home Remodeling for Seniors: Safety and Ease of Mobility

If you are aging gracefully, securing your home as a safe and mobile area is key to long-term home living. At Marrokal Design & Remodeling we can remodel your home to include:





• Creating ramps or slopes instead of steps for easier and faster access to the home.

• Decreasing the height of steps.

• Using materials for flooring that grip or are skid proof to reduce falls.

• Adding lighting at the bottom of the stairwell: reduced lighting, especially at the foot of the stairs, can cause accidents and injuries for seniors.

• Adding grip bars in bathrooms and railings in hallways: signs of fingerprints on walls in hallways often indicate that someone living in the home may need assistance with balance in those areas.

• Filling sunken living rooms: “A lot of people who have homes with sunken living rooms are asking to fill up their living room to make it so that it is on the same level as the next room,” says Walton.

• Changing doorknobs to handle levers so that they are easier to open whether someone is elderly or has an injury such as a broken arm.

• Adding walk-in showers that are convenient for both showering the dog and rolling in a wheelchair or walker.

Baby Boomers Seek Comfort and Safety for Permanent Living!

Aging gracefully is a multi-billion dollar business. Americans are continuously seeking anti-aging remedies to preserve their external and internal youth. As the baby boomer generation ages, spending to preserve their accustomed style of living is transferring to their homes as well.

Homeowners want to stay put. They have invested lots of money in their homes which have become a sanctuary in these times when vacations to high-end resorts are being postponed to a time of better economic conditions. Instead, many are choosing to make their homes more comfortable right now and for their future long-term stay. In the home remodeling industry it’s known as aging in place and it is becoming a significant source of work for some remodelers.

“The baby boomer generation elected to make themselves as comfortable as possible. So they put money into their homes,” says Steve Walton, Senior Design Consultant with Marrokal Design & Remodeling. “They have invested a lot of money into their homes and they don’t want to leave them—their home is their castle.”
Staying in their homes as long as possible is the goal, but as wheelchairs, walkers, and other signs of aging are needed, a transformation is required to keep modern comforts and allow for successful and safe mobility.

At Marrokal Design & Remodeling, Walton says it all begins with looking at the picture of the lifestyle that their clients want both now and in the future. “People who are middle-aged and younger are also opting to use products that are safer because they see the benefits. They are choosing to use tiles that have textures that prevent slippage. They’re looking for ways to make the home look aesthetically pleasing and assist them with moving comfortably into their later years,” says Walton.

Company’s Design-Build Process Ensures Success in Home Remodeling

Americans spent an estimated $225 billion on home remodeling in 2008, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Remodeling represents approximately 2 percent of the United States economy and 40 percent of all residential construction. In the next decade, NAHB expects remodeling to overtake new home construction by dollar volume.

If you’re a homeowner interested in remodeling, what does this mean to you? It means that there are lots of companies to choose from so selecting the best company to get your remodeling project completed can be challenging. But if you understand what to look for in a home remodeler, you’ll be able to select the best one for your project.

Understanding the design-build company

Not all remodeling companies are created equal. In fact, not all remodeling companies offer the same services. A full-service, design-build remodeling company offers homeowners the ability to get all of their remodeling needs from the architectural design to the construction of their remodel met through one company that will oversee the entire project—from start to finish and even service beyond completion.

Marrokal Design and Remodeling is an industry leader based in San Diego, California since 1981. For over a quarter of a century, Marrokal’s design/build professionals have impressed homeowners with their attention to detail and unparalleled customer service.

“We have a great core group of people who really work hard for our clients. About 75 percent of our business is from referrals,” says Bruce Howard, Director of Production at Marrokal Design and Remodeling.
Howard started with the company 21-years ago. He says Marrokal Design and Remodeling plays an integral role in helping homeowners navigate their way through a highly confusing industry. “There are a lot of choices just in products, alone, such as tile. It makes it difficult for homeowners to figure out where to go to select a product and then even more difficult to choose which one is right for their home,” says Howard.

Green Building Also Saves You Money!

Of course, simple things like changing your light bulbs to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can help you cut costs; lighting can contribute anywhere from 10 percent to 20 percent of your electrical usage. LEDs will cost a little more upfront but they last more than 11 years and they don’t contain the toxic element, mercury, as the less expensive Compact Fluorescent Lights do.

Centrullo says during the design phase of the remodel, environmental factors such as the sun, wind, and shade, are given special consideration because they will later affect the need for heating and air conditioning of the home. “We’re taking advantage of Mother Nature,” says Centrullo. This creates an economic benefit later for the homeowner.

You can also invest in better insulation for your remodel. “Marrokal Design & Remodeling uses an upgraded insulation which makes a difference. The less heat exchange from inside to outside the home, the more money you will save,” he says.

Centrullo says that another big cost-saving benefit for Green Building is to use re-circulating pumps to help you save water. “Most of the time when the water is turned on, it’s not hot right away, so people just let it run until the water heats up,” says Centrullo. The average American family can waste 10,000 gallons of water each year just waiting for it to get hot, according to Home Builders Association of Metro Denver.

Re-circulating pumps are devices that push the water through the pipes and re-circulate it back to the water heater instead of pushing it down the drain. That process can amount to a couple hundred dollars of savings in your water and utility bills. “These are simple devices that we can install. They can be left on all the time or set to come on at certain times throughout the day,” says Centrullo.

Imagine never having to pay another utility bill? That is becoming a reality rather than just a thought for many homeowners. In fact, news reports reveal that some families, thanks to solar thermal (for heating water) and solar photovoltaic (PV) (for producing electricity) are generating even more power than they use. These days, homeowners are considering solar panels to supply electricity to warm their pools, generate home electrical needs, and even supply power for a plug-in electric vehicle.

Preserve the Environment With Green Remodeling with Marrokal!

Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels is becoming a greater concern to Americans. Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are used to produce energy but green remodeling can reduce energy use by 50 percent in a home without costing a fortune.

According to reports, half of the known oil reserves on our planet have already been used. The rest is more difficult to reach—further out to sea, deeper underground, or more chemically complex—causing it to be even more expensive.

In remodeling, Centrullo says that preserving the environment starts by making sure that the materials that are collected during the demolition phase of the remodel are properly recycled. Marrokal Design & Remodeling makes sure that these materials are saved for recycling centers. “Rather than filling up landfills, our waste haulers deliver the materials from the demolition phase to recycle centers. They sort the materials into glass, paper, wood, steel, and other materials that then get recycled or reused.”

Centrullo says the demolition materials often can have a second life, “If we save reusable items such as doors, windows, or even appliances, we can then take them to organizations that can reuse the materials which are still in pretty good shape.”

During clean up, Marrokal Design & Remodeling uses best management practices to make sure that run-off from products don’t flow into storm drains.

Marrokal Green Building is for a Healthy Lifestyle

Many homeowners aren’t aware of the dangers that are linked to numerous building products that are commonly used in American homes. “A lot of these products continue to give off harmful gas vapors,” says Certified Green Building Professional, Mike Centrullo, who is a Design Consultant at Marrokal Design & Remodeling. The non-green products can cause health problems such as headaches, eye irritation, asthma, nervous system disorders, and even cancer.

Green remodeling uses healthy building materials and therefore helps to eliminate potential health risks. One of the biggest areas of concern in green remodeling is ensuring proper indoor air quality.

That process begins in the design phase. Centrullo says making sure that a home is well ventilated creates a healthier living environment. For example, he says, “If there is a breeze corridor that runs parallel with the side of the home that we’re working on, we might consider installing a casement style window that opens out and allows the air to funnel into the home, which creates better ventilation.”

“Using low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) finishes, cleaners and adhesives can also make a huge difference in indoor air quality,” says Centrullo. And when it comes to flooring, using the proper types of materials such as carpet that has low VOCs or even using pre-finished wood floors instead of finishing them on site will reduce the amount of harmful exposure to product fumes.

Green Remodeling: Healthy, Saves Money and Resources

If you’re considering a remodel for your home, you’ve likely heard that going “green” can make a difference in your pocketbook, the world, and your lifestyle. But you may not completely understand how or why green remodeling is becoming the leading choice for savvy and eco-friendly homeowners.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, green building (also known as sustainable or high performance building) “is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, and deconstruction.”

Marrokal Design & Remodeling has an award-winning Green Certified Design Team that focuses on understanding homeowners’ lives and then building the most energy-efficient green-type homes to match their clients’ needs. The result is a whole-systems approach to remodeling projects that ultimately saves you money, makes the home more comfortable, increases healthy air quality, requires less maintenance and provides higher and sustained durability. The final outcome positively affects your lifestyle, the environment, and your bank account.

See What Our Customers Are Saying About Us!

Notes like this are not the exception but rather the rule. It seems this nationally recognized and award-winning company is constantly receiving praise for its work.  “Our sincere gratitude to Senior Design Consultant, Jim Dyjak, and his design team, Project Designer, Scott Hall, and Interior Designer, April Worrell, who came up with ideas we never thought of. Jim even managed to get us back some of our lost view by moving our kitchen, rearranging windows, enlarging sliding doors, and repairing the adjoining sun deck. The new kitchen is our absolute favorite with its nine-foot island (aka: the sushi bar). We look forward to many get-togethers with family and friends—they'll see firsthand what high-quality work Marrokal Design and Remodeling does,” writes homeowner, Marilou Seki from Point Loma.

And think about this, when is the last time you hired someone to work on your home and you wound up giving them an endearing nickname? You’ll probably have to think for a long while about that. That’s because the home improvement industry ranks high in consumer complaints but Seki had such an exceptional experience that she wrote this.  “Last, but not least, a special thank you to our Project Manager, Pete Hoffman. Frankly, we don't think we could have survived our home remodel without him. His availability for countless calls and questions, his professionalism, unflappable personality and quiet humor had my daughter calling him "Sunshine". Pete single-handedly kept us from panicking over unexpected problems with his calm presence and knowing where to find sensible solutions,” writes Mrs. Seki.

From Lakeside, the Chavarrias write, “It has been a few months since our remodel has been completed. The project was completed on time, no surprises, no flaws, and it absolutely looks great! We are still receiving compliments about how nice it looks.”

President of the company, Gary Marrokal, knows you simply can’t buy this kind of advertising. But he knows that you can earn the praise by doing extraordinary work and running an exemplary company. And, while his company has received many awards for its high industry standards, perhaps the most satisfying indicator of success comes from comments like this one from the Marmalejos.  “Businesses of every sort should use Marrokal as the model for recruiting only the best, retaining a highly professional staff, contracting and outsourcing with the best tradesmen, and setting the standard for customer service.”

So when you’re researching home remodelers, remember to look for an ethical company that makes you their top priority, offers full design/build services, and has a staff that is experienced and responsive. When you search for those criteria you will find Marrokal Design & Remodeling. Count on Marrokal to enhance your home, suit your needs, and exceed your expectations.

Outdoor Living Rooms Are In!

Extending your living space to the Great Outdoors, creating a cushy relaxation and entertainment space on your new patio deck is what the new generation of outdoor living rooms offer. Affordable, casual living with outdoor room ideas perfect for entertaining, cook-outs, sun tanning, lounging listening to music or even watching widescreen TV.

Yes ... but ... a great chair, a new barbecue, a set of speakers also looks inviting to birds, mice, spiders and even snakes. Result? Outdoor room designs are becoming more comfort-focused, more pragmatic, even more "defensive" as families leave behind close door air conditioned living for the Great Open Spaces.

Outdoor Dining Room. Think food ... ants ... other bugs. No amount of comfy outdoor living room furniture can overcome a deluge of crawlies. Solution? Tight construction, from your patio paver stones or brick patio design up to your deck railings or your outdoor screen room, you'll need to think "defensively" in order to get the sort of peace and enjoyment you're looking for.

Outdoor Bedrooms. Night sounds ... crickets ... possums ... fireflies ... coyotes barking ... V-formation geese winging by in moonlight. All this and more will be possible if you're bold enough to venture beyond Appalachian Trail tents into a patio or lawn centered outdoor bedroom.

Outdoor Living Rooms, What Do You Think?

Your backyard living room design should be just as useful and enjoyable as the inside of your home. Depending on the size of your yard and the needs of your family, there are a variety of outdoor living areas that can be integrated into your design plan to create dedicated space for entertaining, playing, and relaxing.

Outdoor dining rooms are quite common and often connect to the inside dining area of the home for convenience and flexibility. Your dining area may feature a rustic family picnic table, a quaint, intimate patio table, or an elegant wrought iron dining set for eight, depending on the overall style of your home and your needs.

An outdoor kitchen can be a great convenience if you plan on entertaining in your backyard regularly. From a simple gas grill to a custom design with fine outdoor appliances and counter space, there are many possibilities to make your outdoor cooking area practical and beautiful.

Outdoor Living rooms are also integral parts of many backyard designs. Before selecting the best location for your outdoor living room, consider:

* The time of day it will be used most.
* The activities the space will be used for primarily.
* The effect sunlight will have on the location.

Decks, terraces, and fine outdoor furniture and accessories can make your outdoor living room a favorite spot all year round.

Recreation areas are equally important parts of a functional and pleasant backyard. Tennis courts, play areas for pets and children, hobby workstations, and custom swimming pools can add personality to your outdoor space and provide years of enjoyment for your family.

A Room Addition Plan of Action

Building a Room Addition can be one of the best investments you can make in your home. Building a room addition, such as a family room addition, or bonus room can add wonderful new living space to your home. However, prior to starting a room addition, a homeowner should first formulate a room addition plan. There are several key factors that should be considered prior to breaking ground.

Developing a room addition plan should include both interior and exterior considerations. With many room addition projects a homeowner can draw up the basic room addition plans, including the floor layout and the physical exterior shape and size of the addition. However, if the roof lines and/or foundation footprints on the existing home or the new room addition are complex, an architect may be required. An architect may also be required to ensure that the finished room addition aesthetically melds well into the existing home. This is a key factor for resale value. If a room addition appears as an afterthought to the home it will be aesthetically unappealing to the neighborhood and to someday prospective home buyers.

When planning a room addition, the permit / inspection process will typically include an overall building permit, as well as electric, plumbing, and insulation permits. In order to complete the building permit process you will need drawings or sketches of the room addition. Besides overall sketches of the room addition with overall dimensions, the drawings will also need to include cross-sectional views showing the framing type and physical sizes of floor joists, roof rafters, and wall framing construction. You will also need a bill of materials and a cost estimate for the construction. The building inspector will use this information to determine if the construction will meet all construction and safety codes. The building inspector also uses the Bill of Material and cost information to assess the amount of the permit cost.

Room Additions Are Rewarding but Also Tedious

With the economy today the homeowner should think of adding a room rather than go through the process of buying a new home when the need arises. Especially if your home has the floor plan you like and it is already decorated to your tastes. It would actually be cheaper to add a room than buying a new home. And you could make the room the size you want instead of having to accept a home that has rooms either bigger or smaller than you like.

When building room additions the first thing you need to do is buy a building permit. All states and most all municipalities require building permits when adding a room or doing any carpentry work on your existing home. You will also need to know how deep the frost line is because you'll have to pour a concrete footer for the foundation to sit on, and it has to be below the frost line. The person you purchase the permit from should tell you how deep to pour the footer. That too will need to be inspected. You can pour the concrete up to the floor level for the foundation or use blocks on top of the footer. Your choice.

Building room additions is not an easy job. There are many aspects of adding a room, or rooms, that must be considered and planned for. For the person who is comfortable performing carpentry work, you can build your own room. But there are a few things to consider when building an extra room.

The Magic of Room Additions

There is a growing quest for most homeowners and their families who have outgrown their homes to simply have a room addition done rather than sell their homes and buy a bigger one. The hassles of going through a house sale and packing half-a- lifetime worth of treasures and junk is simply too much to handle. It goes without saying that selling an old house and buying a "new" house would most likely mean relocating to a new neighborhood or a new town. Most homeowners would prefer to just add rooms or spaces that they need.

A family of 5 living in a house built for three would definitely find the small house cramped and stifling. If this is the case then you need an additional bedroom or two for your growing family. You might also find the need to provide an extra guest room as preparation for those unexpected overnight guests say, your mother-in-law (?)

There is just not enough space for all the extra stuff that you and your family have acquired over the years. The attic or the basement is brimming with boxes of old things and memorabilia that you just cannot part with. If only you have an extra storage room in the house then you could convert the attic into an extra bedroom or your home office. If only you can extend the utility room for bigger storage then you can convert the basement into your dream entertainment or media room.

The Cost of a Room Addition

Most customers have a pre-conceived idea of how much their room addition will cost. The truth is that most customers guess the price of their addition to be 50% to 80% of the actual cost. A standard room addition will initially run 100.00 per square foot up to 150.00 per square foot with the size and design being the variable. There have been quite a few additions be in the 200.00 plus per square foot range.

The bases for the difference in square foot price has many variables, being existing home structure and design for tying in the new addition, complexity of the roof design, what the exterior of the existing home is made of and finally what the interior of the addition will have in it. There have been customers that decrease the size of the addition to bring the price down but when the project is so small, there is a point at which decreasing the size makes no difference.

It takes a certain amount of effort to start and run a project and also to meet minimums for subcontractors and suppliers. The plus for small additions is to increase its size will have a very small effect on the price. Typically we refer to a small size being 150 square feet or less with these being in the 200.00 per square foot price range. The 100.00 to 150.00 dollar price range usually works in the 300 square foot and above in size. The price also increases with the square footage price with the adding of exterior projects such as porches, decks and landscaping packages. This of course does not add to the square footage of the project but does drive up the square footage price. This pricing does not include any bathrooms or kitchens with it, as this is its own project inside the addition.

Go Outside With Outdoor Living Rooms!

If your looking for a great way to add square footage to your house - bring it outside! Add an outdoor room to your home and have a unique fun setting to entertain your friends and family. Our clients are bringing everything outdoors - fireplaces, gourmet kitchens, living rooms, fountains - even decorating with plush furnishings and lighting!

When designing your outdoor room, start by defining the function you want your room to serve and the foundation for your room. Do you just want to add square footage to your current living space? Do you want a pool as your focal point with separate living spaces around it, a separate kitchen space and living room and fireplace space? Do you want to create a private covered courtyard space complete with walls and a roof? Or the ultimate MAN room with built-in grill and kegorator, plush reclining chairs and outdoor big screen television!

Once you have decided how you want to use your room, start thinking about the foundation. Many rooms start with a patio - brick, paver, blue stone, travertine, or concrete. Once you have your foundation think about if you want walls - paver columns, brick walls, or wood fence - and a roof - trellis with vines, pavilion roof, pergola or just wide open sky.

Now that you have the structural details in place you can really get creative with all the other features you want to include in your outdoor room. Below is just a small list of what you can do. Use your imagination to create the perfect space for you!

Making the Most Out of Adding a Room

There will more than likely come a time in a persons life that they will need to consider the possibility of adding room additions to their home, this will more times than not allow a person to expand and gain a little extra room in their home. These can be on a small scale, or can be on a much grander scale depending on persons particular needs.

There are also dozens of reasons why a person will consider this type of expansion, the most likely option, is that they are looking to add a room for a home theater or expand a current room to make it larger. The most common type of expansion involves the living room; there will either be an additional one built or the current one expanded.

Before you leap and make this decision, you need to first make sure that you are prepared for this type of remodeling to be done to your home; this will involve a lot of time and expense to be invested in this and will also involve you having to rearrange your life to accommodate the expansion.

There needs to be a clear plan that you will need to make sure that you have in place, this will as a result allow a person the chance to consider carefully the changes that they are looking to make. Get a program that will allow you to draw out what a particular change will look like when applied to your home; this will let you be sure before work begins.

Room Addition Trends!

Many people have the tendency or trend of improving their homes by remodeling them by adding rooms such as family rooms, so that their houses can accommodate more guests. This remodeling company offers designs and construction services for addition of rooms to your house. Many people find it ideal to find the space to locate additional family rooms near the bedroom of their children. Once they do this, the children can use the space left for study and other activities. These room additions prove to be very useful in the future.

The other top trend when it comes to room additions to a house is the addition of an additional place where guests can sleep if they will not fit in the spare bedrooms. This is possible if you place the right type of furniture into the family room. You can get a sleeper sofa that two people can sleep in comfortably. The other type of furniture that you can look for is ottomans or chairs, which fold out to become single beds.

You may also find it necessary to add more space to your family room to accommodate a larger dinning area. This is possible if you design the living room to have enough space for a large table. The table is useful for dining especially when you have many guests and will be useful as a study area for children. In order to use the space occupied by such a table efficiently, you can place it against the surface of a wall where you can pull it out when you need additional space.

The other top trend when it comes to room additions is the expansion of the family room to the outside. You can accomplish this through the addition or sliding or French doors. The patio or deck outside the family room will make the room look and feel larger.

Do You Want to Add a Room to Your Home?

There are a lot of people that are at their wits end when it comes to the amount of space that they have in their home, they always seem cramped and often times are desperate for a solution. Instead of selling your current home, why not consider the benefits of room additions. This can often time be a useful concept that will allow a person to get the answer that they are seeking.

The first thing that you need to consider is the type of room that you are looking to adding. There are several different types that a person is able to use in order to get effective results from their efforts. These can provide a person with multiple options for their home.

One popular type of these additions is a living room, this is considered to be the premiere type of adding to a home, even if it is turned into an additional bedroom, there is a lot of advantages that are able to be experienced.

When you are ready to make this step in the building of your home, make sure that you plan things out the correct way, this will help to ensure that your plans will go off without a hitch, if you fail to plan properly, then there is a good chance that you will have problems later down the road.

The actual use of this room may be for a family theater that you have always wanted, or maybe to extend your current living room to allow for more space, regardless of the reasons, there are several different types of plans that will allow you to do a wide range of things in the building of your additional room. This as a result will lead a person to make a decision that they feel is right for their home and for their needs.

These are a few of the things that needs to be kept in mind when you are making the decision to invest in room additions to your home, if done properly, this will be a wise investment that will pay you back for years

There are many great benefits that are able to be enjoyed when a person makes the decision to pursue the use of an addition for their home in order to relieve a little of the congestion that tends to accumulate around the home. Especially if there are kids involved, kids almost need a room of the house just for them these days.

More Kitchen Layout Options

U Shaped Kitchen
A U shaped kitchen requires plenty of space 8 feet by 8 feet at the bare minimum. This layout is only feasible where there are unbroken stretches of wall on three sides of the room, with no door interrupting the U. Units run along the three walls, providing maximum storage and working space. This kitchen offers a great amount of counter space and one area of the "U" may be used to separate the kitchen from the dining area. In a U shaped kitchen, the major appliances (sink, fridge, stove) should each be placed each on one leg of the U.

Islands
The work triangle is created either by you facing a run of sink, cooker and fridge along one wall, or by fitting the sink or cooker into the island.. An island can be incorporated into any of the kitchen floor plans and can add to the ease of cooking in kitchens that are rather large as you can locate a sink or stove on the island and have it near the other appliances for ease of use in cooking and preparing food. Appliances should be at least 48" apart (measure from center to center of the appliances). If your kitchen is too small to allow for this, try a portable island that you can move in and out as needed. Islands are great places to have an extra appliance or add an eating counter.

Cabinets along One Wall
Using wall cabinets on both sides can make the room feel cramped, so consider replacing with open shelving. This could be practical if you have a long narrow kitchen. This is the least functional type of kitchen. If you have to have this type of plan, make sure the sink is in the center with the oven and fridge close by so the cook can easily prepare the food. Also make sure you have enough counter space between appliances a common mistake is to put only 8" to a foot between appliances and layout is not conducive to family gatherings in the kitchen unless you have a larger area where you can put a table and chairs.

Kitchen Remodels Made Easy

Probably the most important aspect of a kitchen remodel is choosing the floor plan. Kitchen remodeling is one of the most desirable home improvement projects for many homeowners. A new kitchen increases the value of your home and makes your life easier. The first step to your new kitchen is to set a budget.

Cabinets along One Wall
Using wall cabinets on both sides can make the room feel cramped, so consider replacing with open shelving. This could be practical if you have a long narrow kitchen. This is the least functional type of kitchen. If you have to have this type of plan, make sure the sink is in the center with the oven and fridge close by so the cook can easily prepare the food. Also make sure you have enough counter space between appliances a common mistake is to put only 8" to a foot between appliances and layout is not conducive to family gatherings in the kitchen unless you have a larger area where you can put a table and chairs.

Galley Kitchen
This style of kitchen is often seen in apartments and smaller homes and offers an efficient use of space, making it the choice of many professional chefs. A layout with two rows of units allows room for lots of preparation space, and moving between activities areas can be as easy as simply turning around and consists of a somewhat narrow kitchen with cabinets along 2 opposing walls. The most efficient use of small space, the Corridor Kitchen allows for convenient access to the cabinets and appliances on both walls. Allow for the corridor to be at least 48" wide. Closing one end off will cut down on traffic, but it does not leave any room for family or friends to join in the fun.

L Shaped Kitchen
An L shaped cabinet arrangement can make good use of space and be a lot easier to work in. The work triangle joins two key areas on one side of the L, with the third on the other side. The sink, cooker and fridge can be in any order, although putting the sink and cooker on opposite sides of the L works well, as you’ll have worktop space around them. The L-Shaped kitchen provides a work area largely unbroken by traffic. One of the most common kitchen designs, it provides excellent flexibility in the placement of major appliances.

Decorating Your Bathroom With Your Style

There are numerous approaches to treating your bathroom wall. You can combine several types to decorate your bathroom:

Waterproof bathroom cladding - is constructed from uPVC honeycomb section panels that slot into each other using a tongue and groove system. The face of the panel has a vinyl layer, which is available in a number of different: wood grain; marble effect; tile effect or solid color.


Ceramic wall tiles - Ceramic tiles are still the best selling selection of bathroom wall treatment and are available today at very inexpensive prices. By using different sizes ceramic tiles and combining them with other tiles for a border, you can achieve an unusual design.

Custom Waterfall - Installing a custom waterfall in your bathroom is another modern design that is gaining wide acceptance. A waterfall mounted on the wall or set on any surface in the bathroom is a great way to transform your bathroom into a place that is refreshing and calming. A waterfall design in your bathroom is a guaranteed attraction and provide relaxation for the mind, body and spirit.

Bathroom paint or wallpaper - you can easily combine paint and wallpaper to cover your bathroom wall. For example, you may need to use tile inside the shower cubicle but paint or apply wallpaper to the rest of the bathroom, but try not to use lots of different products as your bathroom design might start to look cluttered. It is important is to use colors, textures, and patterns that complement each other.

What to Remember When Renovating Your Bathroom

The method of bathroom renovation should include redoing the structural elements along with surface alterations. You can change the layout of your bathroom. You might even consider a complete remodeling or tear out for totally revamping the moisture patches that have marked the joists and walls.

The basic thing is to have the bathroom renovation well financed. Bathroom remodeling is an expensive affair and this is why you need to specifically understand the requirements of the project. The reason for the high costs is the intensive sub contracting work that might be required. You may require plumbers, electricians and floor tiling experts to handle the job. Expenditure also rolls out from elements like cabinetry and bathroom fixtures. The most common way to get started is with the home equity loan.

Take a good look at the bathroom remodeling project and decide whether you need a contractor for the job. Simple tasks like toilet installations may be handled by yourself, but then for creating a tiled shower, you need the help of a pro. In case you go for hiring a handyman, you need to know about their skills. The contractor should be a licensed provider, although the license does not mean that he does quality work. It is an indication of the fact that the person has fulfilled the basic requirement of the licensing agency. Bathroom remodeling jobs may require building and electric permits. So it is advised that you apply for them early.

Kitchen Remodeling Rules

When you begin to think about remodeling your home, it's easy to go overboard, tackle too much, or overspend. By following a few simple rules, you can avoid those difficulties. Here are some things to think about--even before you begin your remodeling project.

1) Anticipate Your Budget Going Over- 9 times out of 10, your remodeling project is going to go over budget because of unexpected expenses. Especially when you are working on your kitchen, you will typically find your ultimate cost to be about 25 percent higher than your original estimate. The same 25 percent figure also applies to the amount of time it will take to complete the project.

For example, if you have decided to spend $10,000 to remodel your kitchen and give yourself five weeks to finish the job, you can generally expect to end up spending about $12,500 and seven weeks on the project. There are no hard-and-fast rules, but one thing experienced remodeling professionals have learned--always expect the unexpected.

2) Research Everything- Do lots of research concerning the materials you will be using and the specifications of each product. Go to your home improvement store to get test paint color samples. They should be knowledgable about current trends and the latest products on the market. Don't assume that the big box stores are going to have the best prices. Even though they have the buying power, you can find the same extra products online for a lot less because they don't have the overhead of the retail stores.

3) Don't Put Off The Small Items- Once you've decided on your main components, don't forget to spend time on the small things, as well. It's easy to get caught up focusing on the big ticket items, but it's often the interior design details, like trim, accent colors, and hardware that really make a remodeling project come to life.

Designing the Bathroom of Your Dreams

A lot of people are often apprehensive and perhaps a little overwhelmed when it comes to remodeling the bathroom because of the the dizzying details involved in the selection of the color, materials and other accessories.

The bathroom is one room that takes a small amount of effort to design or decorate. Unlike other areas in your home, the bathroom just needs some paint or wall covering and replacement of the fixtures to give it a different look. The first step to a successful design is choosing the right kinds of materials. Whether it is a complete bathroom remodeling or just adding accessories to existing fixtures, your options are endless and fortunately - the marketplace is well-stock with paint in every tints, tones and shades and accessories for your bathroom at bargain prices.

Selecting the Right Tile and Wall Covering

The floors and walls set the atmosphere for the entire bathroom space. Choose an interesting floor pattern and wall color to create a unique bathroom design. Select a tile that has great pattern or color and coordinate a wall paint or covering that complements with the rest of the bathroom. Combining different tile sizes and patterns adds visual interest to any bathroom design.

Beautiful Bathrooms

It's not a great time to sell your home. We all know that. But some of us don't have much choice, and need to sell our homes now anyway. But how do you improve the value and appearance of your home on such a shoddy market? Perhaps the single most effective way of marking up your home's market value is to renovate or remodel your bathroom, especially with the installation of bathroom vanities.

When you really look at it, your home is a financial investment as well as an investment in your security. When you have lived out your time there, you're going to want a good return on the home you invested so much time and money in. Generally speaking, statistical evidence suggests that the kitchen and the bathroom are responsible for the largest returns on your investment, more-so than any other room on your property. A clean and well-kept but ordinary house won't exactly sell prospective buyers, but an aesthetically stunning kitchen and comfortable, attractive bathroom definitely will. To put it a bit frankly, buyers won't even notice if most of the rooms in your home are "ordinary," so long as your kitchen and/or bathroom stand out; attractive bathrooms, therefore, increase the probability of a purchase.