Don't let remodeling disrupt your life. Even a novice can plan so it goes smoother.
Additions and general stores go together for me like a hand and glove. When I was a five year old my dad started to add a new kitchen. This set in action numerous trips to the local lumberyard, which was also the local mill and definitely had the feel of an old general store. Not everything was purchased close at hand, for items like faucets, shovels and other supplies I remember driving down to Maumee, OH to shop at Anderson's General Store. More recently obtaining supplies has involved trips to a local home center. My preferred method though has been to have as much as possible shipped to my shop or the job site. When done right I can manage to eliminate most trips to an actual store.
Tearing up the outside after the inside is done, can wreck havoc on a new floor. Letting the kids help may create unexpected pleasures. Eddy staring at his neighbors potential loft, is probably thankful that he started working on his own before it had seen this much water damage. When I realized I could not afford to tackle these buildings the new owners, of one building, quickly converted about 600 square feet into a nice livable apartment. Fifteen years after designing Eddy and his wife's adjacent 6000 square foot building I have yet to see it. When I ask how it came out he responds "It's getting there". Frank and his wife who own the space Eddy is looking at had me draw up plans over a year ago but all that's been done are new windows and a roof. Oh yea, Frank did create one room to use as a living room away from home while his wife makes up her mind on the final design for the rest of the space. We still exchange emails with ideas and next time I visit I'll get a shot of Franks space. What's done is nice. There are a ton of things to consider when approaching a remodeling project. I can't begin to cover them all so I'll focus on the areas I have the most experience in. Primarily I have done interiors, My custom cabinet, furniture and store fixture businesses had me involved with moving walls, plumbing and electrical in a lot of commercial spaces and homes. Other than small exterior additions and sunrooms I have not done much exterior construction. I have provided plans and products for home additions and exterior projects.
Twenty years ago the homeowner turned a porch into a dining room with the idea of adding a bar unit in this corner. What he did right was to plumb for the bar sink. We still had to move electrical but it wasn't nearly as bad as tearing out the wall to get plumbing in. But still it was a classic case of six or more trips to the hardware and home centers to actually install the sink. In today's housing market, remember that, remodeling is done for the benefits you and your family will get out of the results. Although kitchens and bathrooms have traditionally provided an increase in a home's value, don't count on it!
When time is money, as it is in most commercial remodeling projects, things tend to move along quickly. Remember they have hired architects, designers, project supervisors and contractors well before they begin tearing out a wall. A DIY project is probably being entered into in order to save much of the expense that these sources can add to remodeling. Should you reach a point where you pull one of them in at some point beware that it will most likely cost you the amount that they figure it would have cost if they were brought in at the beginning. Early in my career I was taught to charge this way and I have found it most often to be the case, although most do it yourself'rs are shocked when they find this out. The case of my three loft conversions presents three quite different planning strategies. In the first unit to be done Greg had a pocket full of money available and some basic building skills himself. After replacing the roof he picked a logical second floor balcony to remodel. The plan he decided on allowed him to complete it in about two months. It does not utilize the entire building but it's been livable and has not required any changes in fifteen years. Eddy on the other hand knew that he wanted to use the whole space and wanted a logical plan to follow as he built it out. We positioned the master bedroom and bath near a staircase. From what I understand those were the first two rooms to be done. As I've said he's still working on the space but he has had a finished area to work from that does not have to be gone through as the rest of the work is being completed. Frank and his wife Arleen have still have not decided if they have enough funds to keep their house while they spend a few more years building out the loft space. They will most likely wait until they do before they start the major build out. Frank would like to get going on it but short of removing the water damage he realizes that piecing it together while the two of them lived there would be a mistake. Living through a remodel can be a challenge to say the least. I've been asked by service people during my own remodels "when do you plan to move in?", when I'm already living there. And then "What's your wife think of it?". When I responded that I'm not married, I get "That explains it". I'm still not certain that it is anything I would put a six year old through again, like my son who was living with me at the time. Yes, there are a lot of things to consider when remodeling.
Once the bug to remodel has gotten ahold on you it's likely to lead you to a grand master plan. That's actually good. What may not be so doable is to get it done all at once. After you have looked at enough magazines, web sites and talked to a few contractors and designers you should determine what you can do and when. Regardless of whether you plan on doing all or some of the work yourself, or having a contractor do the work, minimize the disruption to your life. Plan what areas to work on, when to work on them and where they fit into the overall remodeling project. If you plan on doing some of the work yourself there are several things to keep in mind. First tell the contractors, that you request quotes from, what you expect to be doing yourself. Second make sure that you are available to do them, when and in the time frame they are scheduled. If you don't, then don't be surprised when the contractor is off on another job and your job gets delayed. A source for appliances and more:
I'm reminded of a story a friend told me about recently. I had asked how a kitchen install had gone. The response started out "Oh that stupid fool...". The gist of the story was that the homeowner had paint splatters all over his new $80,000 kitchen. What I'm showing in the photos above is that the kitchen is painted before the cabinets go in. We did not bother striping the old paper where the cabinets cover it. You'll also notice that the custom cabinets are white melamine except for the faces that show. Simple details can make a substantial difference in project costs. When a remodeling project involves more than one room, organize the project so that you are not carting materials through a finished area. You may have to wait longer to get to the area that you really wanted to do, but in the long run you'll be happier.
It's fun to research current trends and delve into styles that excite you. One of the things noticeable in kitchen design recently is the trend towards stand alone work areas and kitchen furniture. In this kitchen a similar look is achieved by highlighting areas as separate but that are actually built in and in some cases flow into the main countertop. The customer had some existing brushed cabinets that were incorporated to provide a distinctive look. Initially oak barstools were selected but changed latter. Not so exiting can be the wires and pipes involved in a remodeling project. As an owner builder in most areas you can do the work of a licensed contractor on your own home. To do this requires a lot of research and a few good reference manuals. If you intend to do much of the work yourself, talk to your building inspectors as you're planning the project. Even the best reference material may refer to specifics that can be different in your town. Sometimes there is no better way to research than opening up a wall. (one of the many drawbacks of remodeling) One of the 3" stack pipes is a drain the other is a vent. Initially I had located the vent from the floor below. Something did not look right and when I opened up the wall I was glad to find the drain. Draining into the vent would have been a big mistake. I recommend taking lots of pictures as you work your way through a project. I've never had an inspector question my work but I always feel better if I have pictures to support what I have done. One final caution in this installment of my remodeling page. Be careful that your ideas correspond with the work you have done so far. In the case of the open wall the client added, against my advise, an instant hot water dispenser after the cabinets were in place. Such a unit is specified to have a separate electrical circuit and also required additional sweating on the plumbing inside the cabinet. I really do wish you well in your remodeling endeavour. Be prepared for the unexpected and continue to gather as much useful advise as you can from those of us who have been there. Check back or sign up for a newsletter so that I can keep you informed one new articles, book lists and supplies for successful remodeling. Return to top of page
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