Posts made in July 2014

Choosing the Right Remodeling Contractor

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Home renovations can be long and painstaking. However, with the right contractor, many of the problems associated with home remodeling can be avoided. Here are a few tips on how to find the right contractor for the job.

  • Consult with friends and family. The best way to start is to ask your friends and family about their own home remodeling experience. If there’s anyone you can trust to give you a straight answer it’s your relations. They’ll be able to steer you to those who manage to give good work.
  • Credentials are important. Check out if the contractors you’re looking at are qualified to do the sort of work you want for your home. There are several national organizations like the National Kitchen & Bath Association, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the National Association of Homebuilders who can verify the membership of contractors with the experience to perform certain renovations or constructions.
  • Talk with your potential candidates. It’s not enough to know about your contractor’s capabilities. A phone or face-to-face interview should be part of your vetting process. You’ll be working with this person for the entire project and you’ll need to decide if you feel comfortable with him and his team. You’ll have to decide also how comfortable you feel about the company’s rates and schedule.
  • Get bids. You’ll have a short list of candidates by now. Show them your remodeling plans, ask them their rates and compare prices. This helps in planning your budget and making your final choice.

Good Bathroom Remodel Ideas and Habits

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In a home remodeling project, it’s wise to keep in mind that the results shouldn’t only be pleasing to the eye and kinder to your energy budget, but should also have added value to your home at resale. Here are several bathroom remodeling ideas (and habits) that will help through the process without having to regret a thing.

Setting up a contingency

Hidden water damage is a common problem in bathrooms—whether from a running toilet or leaking shower pipe. Visible leaks are fairly easy to fix; hidden problems are more troublesome as they often require reserve funds, given that such problems have already gotten worse over time.

Hiding the toilet

A truly stylish master bath can also be discreet. It’s still much nicer to hide this fixture away; say, behind a half wall or in its own “room-within-the-room” space. Pieces of furniture like armoires or dressers can also do the trick.

Being precise with dimension measurements

Never just estimate the measurements of the fixtures you need to replace, especially when it comes to sections that involve plumbing. There’s nothing worse than pre-buying all the pieces for your bathroom renovation project only to find out that the pieces don’t fit. Even a few centimeters can spell the difference between the right and wrong fit.

Creating and sticking to a plan

Making up your design as you go will likely get you ending up with something like the Winchester Mystery House—full of pseudo-rooms, staircases, and doors which are merely aesthetic, and not functional at all.

Adding Up Tips: Remodeling Your Chicago Homes for Higher Resale Value

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If you’re thinking of doing some remodeling for this reason, it is best to consult first with remodeling contractors in Chicago, such as DAL Builders. These established contractors have the experience to suggest ideas and options to provide what you want for your home, and give you an estimate on renovation costs. Here are some general improvements that can raise the value of your home.
https://dalbuilders.net/adding-tips-remodeling-chicago-homes-higher-resale-value/

Homeowners Opt for Low-Cost Options for Bathroom Remodeling in Chicago

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Going in and out of your bathroom, day after day, can make you feel quite bored with it after a while, especially when there’s nothing visually appealing in it. The answer to get the love back is to remodel. For those looking to do bathroom remodeling in Chicago homes, there are dependable contractors, such as DAL Builders that can design and build for you what you want and help you get the most out of your investment.
https://dalbuilders.net/homeowners-opt-low-cost-options-bathroom-remodeling-chicago/

Work with Porch Builders from Chicago to Design your Deck for Summer

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In a major city of nearly 2.7 million, your home can still stand out amongst all the rest, thanks to an inviting front porch or deck all set and prepped up for the summer. Consulting with reliable Chicago porch builders will not only get you a new porch, but a good design and construction will also add to your home’s curb appeal and value. Priceless, of course, are the hours you and your family will enjoy outdoors. Here are some good tips to try out when you’re thinking of sprucing up your outdoor living space.
https://dalbuilders.net/work-porch-builders-chicago-design-deck-summer/

Basic Troubleshooting for a Concrete Porch

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Concrete is one of the sturdiest materials for your porch or deck, but this doesn’t mean that it’s impervious to wear and damage. Concrete commonly cracks, chips, and splits because of weathering or because of overbearing weight and pressure on it over time. If you’re looking to repair simple cracks on your porch, look to these following tips.

Cleaning

Before any repair job, the first step is always to clean up the work surface. Run a vacuum through your porch, especially around the spots with the cracks. Patching up chips or cracks without getting rid of debris first won’t yield as good a result.

Patching

Small cracks about three-eighths of an inch wide should be quite simple to patch up; all you’ll need is a tube of commercial vinyl patching material, a wet rag, and a soft bristled brush. Brush off any remaining debris inside the cracks and apply the patching material, making sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Edge Repair

Sometimes, the edges of your concrete porch might also get chipped or break off. If you can still retrieve the separated portion, apply some epoxy which is formulated for bonding cement (again, following the manufacturer’s instructions). Press it into place and allow to dry before releasing.

Chicago Basement Remodeling Ideas: Turn a Dusty Space to a Game Room

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For the most part, life in The Windy City is rarely dull, but when you’re in a dull basement festooned with cobwebs, and alone with the whirring furnace for your music, it probably won’t make a difference if the rest of the world is colorful around you. Start with what’s inside, as they say, so how do you transform your home’s barren space into something vibrant that the whole family can be inspired by? For one, with the help of Chicago basement remodeling contractors, you can turn the space into a game room instead.
https://dalbuilders.net/chicago-basement-remodeling-ideas-turn-dusty-space-game-room/

Perks of Finishing Your Basement

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When people think about their basements, the word “storage” usually isn’t far off—especially if the basement is unfinished. Indeed, many basements become nothing more than oversized storage areas for old and forgotten possessions.

However, basements are actually one of the most versatile spaces in your home. If you’re willing to remodel it, you can use a basement for both functional or recreation purposes—like a spacious laundry room or maybe a high-tech home theater, for example. Aside from adding more usable space to your home, finishing your basement also offers many other benefits, such as:

Increased Home Value

When it comes to home improvement, people often have kitchen remodeling or landscaping at the top of their list. With regard to return of investment though, few projects are as rewarding as basement remodeling, which provides up to a 150% return on your expenditure.

Additional Income

Want an extra source of income? Then you might want to convert your basement into a rental property. Most basement apartments rent at 75% of your monthly mortgage payment, which means it’ll pay for itself soon enough and help you pay off your house quicker.

Protect Your Health

An unfinished basement is often infested with mold and mildew, both of which can trigger allergic reactions and other health issues. When you finish your basement, you also eliminate the moisture problems that encourage the growth of these intruders.