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As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, some homeowners are making eco-friendly upgrades to their property. If you’ve recently started searching for design-build services, then you may be wondering if going green is a cost-effective and smart move. Perhaps, you have some false assumptions about green remodeling that are holding you back. In that case, here are some common assumptions about eco-homes that are complete myths.

Green Remodeling Is Way More Expensive

This is only true if you look at the smaller picture because having a green home will save you lots of money in the long run. That’s because after a green remodel, your home will be more efficient than ever, which results in a significant reduction in your utility bills. Besides that, green homes reduce your carbon footprint and are kinder on the planet. That’s why there are many grants and tax incentives from local, state, and federal agencies. If you’re financing the project, some institutions even offer significant discounts if you’re using the funds to purchase green products.

There Are No Quality Green Products

This myth might have been supported by the fact that there are many unregulated products on the market. Some companies simply attach the “green” and “eco-friendly” labels to their products without qualifying their claim. Therefore, when buying green products, it’s important to check their features to see what exactly makes them green or eco-friendly. Once you do, you’ll find that green products are not only effective but durable and high-quality.

Contractors Don’t Understand Green Remodeling

This entirely depends on where you’re looking. Often, it’s best to seek design-build services since this eliminates the need to find several contractors. So, instead of trying to find several contractors that are all familiar with green remodeling, all you have to do is find a single design-build firm with intimate knowledge of eco-homes. Typically, design-build services include all aspects of the project — from project design and product selection to construction.

Green Remodeling Is Just a Passing Trend

This is not the case at all. Considering that 80% of houses in the U.S. are more than 20 years old, not only are remodels popular, but as mentioned earlier, the world is becoming more green-conscious. Plus, energy-efficient homes have higher resale value, which is why the number of eco-homes keeps growing and growing.

Despite the large-scale investment in real estate property, many homeowners still live in older homes. Statistics show 80% of the houses in the United States are older than 20 years old. This means many houses may need remodeling after some time.

Remodeling projects often seem simple, but the truth is they can be very taxing if planning to hire and coordinate architects, contractors, suppliers, and tradespeople. Coordinating their responsibilities is quite a feat, hence the need to enlist the help of a design-build remodeling company. The company combines experts in project design, construction, product selection, and coordinates the work on the project, taking a huge load off your shoulders. Here’s a step-by-step guide explaining what design-build remodeling entails.

Step1: Schedule a Meeting with the Company

The first step is to schedule a meeting with the design-build contractor to discuss the type of remodeling project you want, provide important information about your home and the location of your property. This meeting also helps contractors define and set expectations about the project.

Step 2: Discuss the Scope of the Project

The contractor then explains the project’s scope, budget requirements, and challenges for remodeling the existing space. Next, the company develops plans, specifications, pricing and sets a design-build remodeling schedule.

Step 3: Make Design Selections

During this stage, the design team prepares design concepts to show the room arrangement at the site. Some companies prepare 3D models to help customers visualize the final product. In case the project cost exceeds your budget, the contractor may suggest a few changes. The expert works closely with the customer to ensure their wishes are met even after making the changes.

Step 4: Refining the Design

This step involves the preparation of detailed drawings to illustrate other aspects of the proposed design. If remodeling the entire house, the team presents a floor plan displaying all the rooms along with their sizes. Other consultants may also be called upon to provide critical information to avoid surprises during construction. Also, the project is reviewed again to determine if its duration should be extended. The team references the cost and budget when making this decision to avoid deviating.

Step 5: Signing the Construction Contract

The contractor signs a contract showing the start and the completion date and directs the project manager to ensure the work flows according to plan.

Step 6: Regular Communication

The design-build contractor, project manager, or production manager must provide updates about the project’s progress. They are also required to perform quality control walks to ensure your expectations are fully met. In fact, some companies have online systems that allow customers to track the project online.

Step 7: Completing the Project

At the end of the project, the design-build team schedules a meeting with the customer to explain the project’s construction process in detail. The team also provides pricing details, selected materials, lien releases, and warranty information to finalize the project.

This seven-step process should give you an idea of how design-build remodeling projects are executed. Keep in mind project completion isn’t always the end of the project. The team reviews the structure periodically to ensure your home remains in top-notch shape.

There are several renovation and improvement jobs that you can do in your home. This depends on your knowledge of home improvement techniques, your target areas, and the time for the project. The kitchen is among the many areas in your home that you can consider for renovation. It is a commonly used space in a home that needs constant and effective remodeling and improvement. But when is the best time for kitchen remodeling?

When the Appliances Need Replacing

How old is the house? The answer to this question will help you understand the need for effective home improvement, including the kitchen. Eight out of 10 houses in the United States are more than 20 years old, and after two decades, your home and appliances will typically endure some wear and tear. It is time for kitchen remodeling when the appliances are not functional and need repair or replacement.

If You Plan on Staying in the House

When you decide to stay in a house with your family and loved ones for a long time, you should be ready to implement major home improvement projects. You want to have the right living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, backyard, and most importantly, the kitchen. It is easier to conduct an effective kitchen remodeling project when you are sure that the home will serve you and your family for a longer time to come.

When You Lack Space

As a common area, your kitchen should have enough space. You need storage space to keep your food and enough space to move around when preparing meals. For an effective remodeling project that will allow you to have enough space, consider new kitchen counters and cabinet installation. Work with a kitchen remodeling expert to help update your kitchen and create ample space.

When It Is Hard to Clean

The functionality of your kitchen depends on the level of cleanliness and hygiene. This means you should have a routine that makes it easier to clean and maintain your kitchen. However, when it becomes hard to clean and organize your space, it is time to consider kitchen remodeling. An effective facelift makes it easier to clean and maintain sanitation in your kitchen.

When Your Kitchen Needs a Change

The need for kitchen remodeling arises when there is the addition of kids to the family. As a parent, the responsibilities increase, which makes it prudent to update and remodel your kitchen. Taking care of your family becomes easier when the kitchen is functional.

With the many improvement projects you can have in your home, kitchen remodeling should be a priority. Having a functional kitchen is beneficial to you and your family, and conducting home improvement projects becomes easier when you understand the above instances.

A growing family needs more room in their home. The adults require space without clutter to work and live, and the children need areas to play or study. You may have found the perfect home for you and your family, with one shortcoming — it doesn’t suit your needs as a growing family. You should consider hiring design-build contractors to help with home improvements. Here are some home remodeling tips that can help you make use of the existing space and even add some more.

Renovate the Attic or Basement

Most people use the basement and attic as storage. However, there are ways you can declutter and transform those spaces into more functional rooms. With the help of design-build contractors, you can turn these areas into home offices, extra bedrooms, or living areas. The key is to properly design the rooms to suit whichever need you want to address.

Switch to an Open Floor Plan

Consider knocking down some walls to create an open floor plan. Most homeowners knock down the walls for an unobstructed view of the dining area, living room, and kitchen. It instantly opens up space and brings in more natural light. Your growing family can enjoy using these rooms without feeling overcrowded.

Build an Addition

You can opt to build up or out. When building out to create extra space, you will need additional square footage. When building up, adding square footage is not necessary. Before building an addition, hire design-built contractors and discuss the feasibility of the project.

Add or Expand a Bathroom

If there are not enough bathrooms in the house to suit everyone’s needs, then consider expanding or adding one. It can be hectic when everyone is trying to get ready in the morning but you have to wait on each other, which takes time. Add a half bath or full bath and see the difference it makes. You could consider converting the food pantry or closet into a bathroom, especially for guests.

Add Creative Storage

Installing storage facilities wisely in your home can help get additional space. Talk to design-build contractors about how you can integrate storage into newly created spaces. Think of built-in bookcases, double-duty desks, or any other storage options that reduce clutter.

Many homeowners are opting for renovation projects rather than moving, which has seen the home improvement industry growing twice the rate of every other retail category. Therefore, do not shy away from your dream home because it does not perfectly address the needs of your growing family. Get design-build contractors to help you see how you can make use of the space you have.

Home improvement is a favorite pastime for many Americans. While there are plenty of DIY projects to keep you busy, kitchen remodeling services should be left to the pros. Expert kitchen remodeling services give you the professional results you want for your kitchen, minus the headaches of a DIY project.

There are many benefits to kitchen remodeling. Many homeowners report that kitchen remodeling has not only improved their home but actually has improved how they eat. Undoubtedly the kitchen in the heart of the home. The right kitchen remodeling company can help you to ensure your kitchen is a favorite gathering space.

Why Go Pro?

There is a lot of pressure out there to DIY just about everything, but the fact is, some spaces need professional help. Experienced kitchen remodeling contractors make it look easy to transform your kitchen, but the fact is, kitchen remodeling is a difficult job to do right.

There are a lot of working parts that go into a remodel that requires a lot of expertise. Electrical work, plumbing work, tile work, and more are all specialty fields that take years of education and on-the-job training to become an expert at. The right kitchen remodeling services company has the expertise to handle all the working parts of a kitchen remodel, and do it correctly.

One False Move and You Have a Big Problem

One of the best ways to add value to your home is with a kitchen remodel. Of course, that is a double-edged sword. One of the easiest ways to reduce the value of your home is to mess up the remodel. DIY kitchen remodeling is stressful. Learning as you go can result in making costly errors. Ultimately one mistake can turn into thousands of dollars of corrections.

Whole home remodeling, kitchen remodeling, and bathroom remodeling all deserve the attention of a professional team that can deliver professional results. Getting the return on investment that you want for your projects is a lot easier when you hand the project off to a kitchen remodeling company that is focused on delivering ROI.

You Will Love Your New Kitchen

Kitchen remodeling is exciting, especially when you get the results that you want. Call on the professional team that can get the job done right and get it done quickly, and fall back in love with your home thanks to your new kitchen.

The Wall Street Journal recently posted its top home trends for 2021, outlining what is in and what is out in the world of home design. While most of the Journal’s trendspotting is true for our area, there is one statement we respectfully disagree:

“OUT: Chaos-Courting Open Shelving”

True, a kitchen with no upper cabinets and only open shelves could be your nightmare, but a few carefully placed shelves give many spaces an open, airy feel. It can provide a place for plants, display items, or other things that bring joy. You can also place often-used items within easy reach.

In addition, painted cabinets, especially white, are still trending. The clean look appeals to many and is timeless. We sometimes bring in stained open shelves to give a kitchen some warmth and to celebrate wood and craftsmanship.

Most of our shelves are built by local cabinet makers. They use a hidden cleat system that is strong and really has no limit to what, or how much, you can put on them. We have also used live edge lumber from Angel City Lumber for shelves and mantels. They mill fallen trees from around the Los Angeles area. This installation is trickier in that we must core a hole in the shelves and epoxy a dowel or rebar. We add blocking in the wall during rough carpentry and epoxy the rods to the blocking through the drywall.

Take a close look at the following picture. Do you see any tile cuts? Are we that good? Yes, but this job required a lot of planning and precise execution. The tile backsplash not only went up to the ceiling but was on both walls. The tile has a soft undulating edge that resembles hand-made tile, so we did not want to cut them horizontally — especially with a darker grout on a very light tile. We had our cabinet maker make the shelves exactly the same height as the tiles. They were fit into the space, but then removed. We then stained the shelves and had them ready onsite. Our tile setter ran the first section of backsplash and then took a break while we installed the first shelf. This process continued for the next two shelves. It’s a small detail that many would not see but makes all the difference.

As you can see by these pictures, we have added shelves in many rooms — not just kitchens. Even our design studio has them!

So, with respect to our friends at the Wall Street Journal, we will continue to suggest some floating shelves to meet our customers’ needs.

Wondering how the latest trends would work in your space? Contact us today to learn more about updating and upgrading your home.

When you pursue first-floor remodeling with gusto, you’ll be able to walk through your house in a way that you may never have before.

When you’re ready to transform your home, contact the design-build contractors you can trust.