Maintenance Requirements and Long-Term Care for a Home Remodel

Maintenance, such as painting, cleaning, manufacturer required maintenance, routine repairs, and even future replacement can become burdensome - particularly with poor product choices.  The associated costs can exceed the original installed cost of the products, sometimes maintenance requirements (and costs) will vary based on products, the manufacturing processes and even the installations. For example, wood windows will require regular painting, typically every three to five years. Steel windows also may require regular painting, typically every five to seven years. As temperatures fluctuate vinyl window frames expand and contract very differently than glass panes which can result in stresses that can affect long term performance. Painting costs can be eliminated by the use of fiberglass, vinyl and some clad wood windows. However, the performance of fiberglass window frames over a wide range of temperature fluctuations is far superior to other materials. And lastly, the installation of the products: with almost any of the materials you choose installation in accordance with the manufacturers specifications is an important consideration - not only for long term performance but peace of mind warranty validation.

Further on the windows example, they may require some preventive and corrective maintenance to keep them in good operating condition and weather-tight. Each manufacturer has suggested or required maintenance that needs to be performed to maintain warranty validation. This should not be ignored as it can significantly add to the life cycle cost of the products you select.

Wood entry doors can warp in time and will also require regular painting (three to five year intervals). Maintenance requirements of fiberglass doors are considerably lower and have the same performance features of fiberglass windows.

Fiber-cement siding is known for long lasting beauty and minimal maintenance requirements. It is resistant to mold and, because of inherent stability, paint adheres very well over time. Its' fire resistance is legendary. Vinyl siding on the other hand requires regular power washing particularly if mold persists and it has practically no fire resistance (toxic fumes when heated).

This kind of home remodeling analysis should be performed (in greater detail) on every major component of your home remodeling project.

Marrokal Design & Remodeling in San Elijo Hills

Finding Your Remodeling Budget

5 Tips for Choosing a Remodeling Budget

1. Know your current bills. It is very important that you know what you spend each month prior to adding a remodeling bill. If you are not already certain of what amount of your income you spend each month you should come up with a budget and figure out exactly how much more money you can afford to spend each month. This amount is how much you have to put towards a home remodel.

2. Determine what you want done. If you don’t know what you want to accomplish with this remodel you will have trouble determining how much you are going to need to spend. A lot of times doing a full home remodel is not feasible all at once. It is important that you are able to break it down to exactly what you want done, and the level of importance in completing the different aspects of the project. You may want new windows before new flooring for example.

3. Hire a professional. Often times you can set a budget but still have no idea what it will cost to actually complete what you want done. This is where a professional comes into play. There are several companies in the south sound area of Seattle, Renewal Remodels & Additions is one of the best. By hiring a company such as this one you will be able to get an estimate of not only what the project will cost but also how long it will take.

4. Be honest about your budget. Once you have chosen and hired a company to help you with the remodel you need to be honest about your budget. If the contractor thinks you have $20,000 for your bathroom remodel and you can really only afford $10,000, this is going to be a problem.

5. Be realistic! Once your budget has been planned and you have looked into different companies to hire it is crucial to take a step back and say “can we really afford this right now?”. If the answer is no, put off the remodel until you can save up some money and have a larger budget to make your dream remodel possible.

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Having a Healthy Relationship With Your Contractor

This is a different relationship than most people have with a contractor. The home design contractor is a trusted member of the team. He gives his input during the design process and based on his knowledge of construction and what really happens on construction sites he contributes valuable information to tweak the design in order to maintain the budget. It is a powerful collaborative effort.

During this process you will become more educated about the impact of each decision you make and how they affect the overall cost of the project. You will be pushed to think through details and make decisions early in the process. This is one of the best ways to control the dreaded "budget creep"!

Additionally the home remodeling contractor will be able to let you know what alternatives are available and how they can affect both cost and design. As an example, suppose you are adding a deck outside your kitchen and also want French doors that will open onto the deck. The initial design idea shows a door which will have to be custom made, with transom windows above. The contractor's preliminary estimate on the deck and door work is more than your budget. However, by collaborating with the contractor it is determined that a simpler stock French door unit will significantly lower costs. As you can see, the contractor is working with you to create a project that call be built within your budget but still satisfy your desires.


Another significant point to consider is that you and the contractor will have developed a good working relationship. All too often in a competitive bid environment the potential exists for a design professional to be aligned with the owner against the contractor in an adversarial relationship. When all parties involved work together on the project from the start this is much less likely to happen.

Learning to Negotiate a Bid

The general advice people receive when they are considering a home remodeling project is to solicit bids from at least three home design contractors. This is called competitive bidding. This is a way to "comparison shop" just as you would when buying a television or appliance, the only factor you're using in making your purchase decision is price. It's a good way to shop for a product, but might not work well when buying a service, which is what general contractors provide.

Let's introduce you to an alternative to competitive bidding which you may not be aware of, a negotiated bid. This is not a situation where you haggle the price with the contractor. Rather, you and the contractor become allies in making your project a reality.

The procedure for negotiating a bid goes usually goes something like this: First, you pick a contractor you like and trust before the design process has begun or is in its early stages (there are many ways to find a good contractor; referrals from friends, NARI.org or NKBA.com). You and the contractor work together as a team to develop a project which fits your needs as well as your budget. This is a simple explanation of the negotiated bid process. You'll probably require a bit more information before being sold on the concept but before we move on let me draw your attention to a few key words which need to be understood in context: trust and team.

Remodel or Move?

There are various choices you can make when you deal with investments in the real estate industry. In the midst of the overwhelming possibilities, make sure that you are always making options that are geared towards profitability and the productiveness of your ventures. For instance, if you are torn between a salient decision of buying a new house or remodeling your old one, carefully assess the two alternatives and consider the pros and cons that you are bound to encounter in the process. This always helps as to whether your investment is truly in the right track.

A sound venture is something that is carefully and comprehensively studied and assessed based on all aspects of their prospective options. For instance, if you are going to buy a house or renovate your old residence, then you need to consider some of the basic resources you have specifically funds and budget. Do you have sufficient money to spend on your home project? If you are seriously considering purchasing a new house, you need to secure a home equity loan in order to finance your venture. Getting a mortgage is not a simple task to start with. A hefty amount is primarily needed to comply with the different payment obligations incurred in the process of closing your transaction. Closing costs include the fees for the provision of the title insurance and the credit report for your qualification and approval of the loan. You also need to pay for the home appraisal, real estate commission and that of the seller's cost.

Remodeling your house on the other hand only needs a smaller amount of money especially if you intend to do cosmetic and minimal renovations around the house. If you deem it necessary to make some major structural upgrade, then you need to exert more effort, time and money as well. Make sure that your home project is in line with the zoning requirement, have proper building permits to avoid code violations and the like. Heeding the rules and regulations of the homeowners association especially if your renovation is potentially affecting your other neighbors is also very important before your jumpstart your ventures.

Choosing the Right Paint Colors for Your Remodel

When you're planning a home remodeling project, you should have a color scheme in mind for every room, but choosing the actual paint shade usually comes at the end of the home renovation process.  Because looking at all the choices in the paint store can be overwhelming, here are some considerations to keep in mind:

1. Hold off on choosing a precise shade until you have rugs and furniture selected. That way you can be sure to create a unified look. Take samples of your carpet, upholstery, and tile to the paint store with you.

2. Glossier finishes reflect light and are easy to clean, making them a good choice for trim or kitchen and bathroom walls that need to be cleaned more frequently. A matte finish is better at hiding flaws in the walls and creates a softer look by absorbing more light.

3. What kind of mood do you want to create with your room? If you want a cozy feeling, darker colors might be the way to go since they can make the room feel smaller. If you want the room to feel larger and more expansive, lighter colors on the walls will help.

4. A very bright color on walls can feel overwhelming and frenetic. Sometimes it's best to pick the most neutral version of your desired color and use the brighter shades for accents.

5. Most people prefer white or off-white for trim around windows and doors to draw attention to them, but you don't have to follow suit. A lighter shade of your wall color can be lovely while still drawing the eye. Dark trim and light walls can be striking but sometimes hard to pull off well.

6. Don't choose a paint color right away; take those samples home with you and think about them. Although paint is relatively easy to change, repainting a room can be an annoyance. Be sure you're happy with the paint before you begin.