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The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen is one of the most popular rooms of any home. Kitchen remodel is a big job. It requires money and time to complete. But, before you hire a remodeling contractor or start bashing down kitchen walls, there are things that you need to do. Here are tips to help you plan a kitchen remodel.

Set a Budget for Your Kitchen Remodel

Be realistic when it comes to the cost of your kitchen remodel project. Conduct some research to know the cost of the items that your project will need. Know what you can afford and factor in the unexpected. Include hidden costs in your budget. Also know your needs and wants. But, in everything you buy, keep quality first.

Consider the Layout

Your kitchen should be functional and practical. Consider how you use the kitchen and come up with a plan that suits your specific needs. Think about the layout carefully and assess what works best for you. Arrange the refrigerator, stove, and sink. You can work with an interior designer or your remodeler.

Plan Your Kitchen Space

A good kitchen remodeling contractor will ensure that things are set up in a way that enhances safety in your kitchen. They will focus on ensuring your safety and convenience in the kitchen. For instance, they will guide you in deciding where to have counters, appliances, and walkways. These are important kitchen layout aspects that should be considered when planning the kitchen space. Therefore, discuss them with your architect and contractor carefully to ensure that you have a properly planned kitchen space.

Once you know how you want your kitchen to look and items that you can afford, hire a contractor then get started. Stick to your kitchen remodel plan and things that you need or want. Always remember that knowledge is important in kitchen remodeling projects.

Tips for Planning a Construction Project Successfully

It feels exciting to embark on a construction project no matter how small or big it is. In some cases, you may want to complete the project as fast as possible and move on with your life. But, that’s not how it works. You should plan for your construction project carefully to ensure that you work on it seamlessly.

Here are tips to guide you when planning a construction project:

Pick a Design Professional

To come up with a plan that indicates the scope of the work to be done, hire an interior designer or an architect. You may also engage services of both. A design professional can help you with additions and structural work. They can also help with color and materials selections. A professional architect can also take on different types of work including floor plans and permits. However, they may leave details of the kitchen, bathroom and electrical plan to other designers. Choose a design professional that understands your needs and the best way to work on your project.

Once you chose a designer, work on the plan together. There are two or three ways via which you may reach your set design goals. Plans are known as schematic designs. These involve a rough floor plan layout and simple exterior views of a home especially if it has additions. The design professional will need time to work out these and a week for a homeowner to have a look at them and make a decision. The construction project owner may request the designer to make changes though the initial phase of the design may take months.

Hire a Contractor

This is a process that comes after selecting a schematic design. Let the architect know how you want the final building to look. The contractor will estimate your schematic design during the interview session. You might take weeks setting up interviews with the architect to get estimates. If you decide to interview several architects, you might go for about six weeks before you get estimates.

Shop for Materials

Shopping for construction materials will be easy if the designer helps you get the right materials. An ideal designer will help you get quality materials that will enable you to get the results that you desire. These include doorknobs, windows, countertops, light fixtures, tiles, hardwood floors, and roofing materials among others.

Get Permits

The time you will take to get permits will depend on the location and scope of your project. Nevertheless, make sure that you have an idea before you file for permits. Know the date you intend to start the construction project and how long it will take.

Once you submit your plan for permits and select materials, the contractor will be ready to finish with pricing. They will come up with a contract for your construction project. And once you agree and sign the contract, the project will start.

A Guide for Home Design and Construction

Home design and construction are major processes that lead to the creation of great living spaces. Although you need experienced professionals to build your house, it’s important to know what exactly they do. Knowing how a home is designed and built will enable you to know what to ask for. You will also know whether what an architect, designer or builder gives you is the best option possible.

Here are the major tasks that go into design and construction of a home:

Planning

Planning is the first step in the design and construction of a home. Once you decide to build a home, it’s important that you talk to experts about its plan. Experienced professionals will show you how to plan your dream home. They will also explain what will be required to build your home.

The time that you spend in planning your home, research, generating ideals, and deciding on the construction materials to use will save you money and time later. In fact, it’s better to spend more time planning and build your home right rather than plan hurriedly and regret later. Therefore, talk to experienced home planners to ensure that you have a home plan that suits your needs.

Design

Designing a home is more fun than planning. In fact, it’s exciting because it entails conceptualizing your ideas. It’s about creating the home that you have always imagined. You bring your imagination to live. This is the point where your dream starts becoming a reality. A good home design is crucial for the success of your construction project. It’s however important to note that your home design can evolve over time.

Construction

After planning and designing, the hammer now hits the nails. This is when actual construction starts. You watch the new home rise from ground up. During construction, monitor what happens to ensure that your home is being built right. If you notice anything that didn’t feature in the plan or design, ask the contractor. And, the process of building a new home might even take shorter time than you may have imagined.

Simply work with the right professionals and your home design and construction process will be easier, faster, and successful than you think.

Things to Discuss During the First Meeting of a Construction Project

Things to Discuss During the First Meeting of a Construction Project

Without proper planning, your construction project will be stressful and frustrating. In fact, it can be your worst nightmare. However, you don’t have to let it turn out this way. Communicating with the involved stakeholders clearly and continuously will eliminate hiccups and headaches that may characterize your construction project. Here are things that you should review and discuss with the involved stakeholders during the first meeting:

Schedule

Discuss when the project should start and end. Also agree on when the construction job will start and end every day. You will eliminate unpleasant surprises when you agree on the time when workers will come to and leave the job site. This schedule or routine should not be overlapped by your construction team.

Project access

Discuss how the construction crew will access your work site. This includes when and how they will come to your property. That way, you will avoid wasting each other’s time as you wait for the workers or as they wait for you. Also discuss whether the workers will access the site from the back, front, or side door. That way, you will keep the job site safe and the project on your schedule.

Toilet and utilities

Determine the toilets that workers will use while on the job site. If necessary, rent portable toilets for the workers. Also agree on when to turn utilities on and off. If you intend to resent important electronics like the alarm system or the fish tank, let your construction crew know about it.

Payments and billing

Cash flow is generally important in every construction project. Therefore, agree on a payment and billing schedule up front.

Continuous communication

Ensure that every member of the construction team knows who to talk to. This can be a foreman, a lead carpenter, or a sales person. Make sure that there is a person that is in charge of communication. This will make the project easier to coordinate and complete.

These are some of the most important things to discuss during the first meeting of a construction project. Review them carefully and your project will run smoothly and efficiently.

Building Construction Types Explained

One day while visiting Texas, I was once told by a fellow old rancher that happened to own Appliance Repair San Antonio out in the Alamo City, that there are different building construction types and each type has characteristics that should be considered before the actual construction begins. That’s because the type of a building that is constructed affects the entire construction process including the required materials and time. How a construction project is planned is also influenced by the type of a building construction.

Here are the major types of building construction:

Timber or wood frame construction

This is among the most popular types of building construction for homes in the U.S and Europe. Light wood is a preference for many people because it allows for quick construction. Light wood adapts to different geometric shapes with ease. This makes it possible to clad it with different materials. Additionally, there many systems and materials that are designed for this type of building construction.

Concrete frame construction

Concrete frame constructions are also very common in the contemporary world. This type of building construction comprises of concrete frames or concrete skeletons. Horizontal frames are known as beams while vertical frames are known as columns. People walk on the flat concrete planes that are called slabs. Columns are the most important because they carry the load of the entire building. Damage to the slab or beams necessitates home or appliance repair in San Antonio and this can be very costly. In fact, damaging the columns can bring down a building.

Steel frame buildings

Many steel constructions are erected with mild steel. That’s because this steel is immensely strong and flexible. You can bend this steel and it won’t crack. Thus, even if wind or earthquake pushes it on the side, it won’t break. Steel frame buildings rarely collapse and their damage is not sudden.

Pre-engineered building constructions

These are factory-built constructions. They are mainly made of steel before they are shipped to the site for installation or bolting together. Pre-engineered building constructions are different from the other construction types because contractors design them. This practice is known as design and build. These buildings are ideal for warehouses and industrial buildings. They are fast to build and cheap. They are also easy to relocate and dismantle.

Generally, these are the major building construction types to consider when building a property. If you need a new structure, consider each of them carefully and talk to your contractor for professional advice.

How to Make Construction Work Hassle-free

 

Many people don’t like construction work because it can be stressful, pricey, and time-consuming. But, this work is almost unavoidable because everybody has a dream home that they want to live in some time in the future. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid the hassles that come with a building construction.

Here are some of them:

Select a contractor carefully

Before you hire a builder, take time to learn about them. For instance, visit their current construction site to see how they operate. Also see their past jobs and speak to owners of the properties that they have built. Ask them whether the contractor had an excellent follow-through and if they completed the construction project on schedule and budget without compromising quality. This information will enable you to pick a contractor that will not give you headache during the construction process.

Investigate your construction site

Before you start a construction project, investigate the area where you want to build a residential or commercial property. For instance, know the construction code requirements and availability of public utilities and services. Doing some research before you start the actual construction will enable you to discover costs that you may have not factored in your budget.

Don’t overbuild

If you want to build a home, compare the home that you want to build with others in the same location. You should do this before you finalize your construction plans and start the construction process. This is very important because you don’t want to have the most expensive building in the area since you may not get back your money if you decide to sell it in the future.

Source your construction materials carefully

When it comes to materials like cabinets, door knobs, and lighting fixtures, it’s possible to find cheap and quality options. You can work with your contractor when buying these items or source them on your own. Nevertheless, consult your contractor to ensure that you buy the right materials or items for your building.

Basically, you can make your construction work hassle-free with proper planning. Nevertheless, the most important thing is to work with a reputable contractor that has your best interests at heart.  

Low Cost Construction Tips for New House Builders

Architecture concept with drawing compass on blueprints.

It’s the desire of every new house builder to keep construction costs low. Here are construction tips that make building a new house on budget possible.

Buy a large construction lot and split it

If you have family members or friends that want to buy a construction lot, join hands and buy a large lot then split it into smaller lots. This is a wise move because most appealing lots are larger than a single person may afford or want. Sellers of smaller properties are mostly not willing to split them further. Therefore, if possible, share the cost of acquiring a large construction lot because this approach might even get you a better deal.

Consider lots that are considered problematic

Narrow, infill, and hillside properties are not desirable to many people. That’s because people see them as problematic. Therefore, they go for relatively lower prices and they do not sell faster like desirable properties. However, with a capable contractor and the right plan, a property that seems problematic can be transformed into a perfect lot for your home.

Choose a bay or canal lot rather than a lakefront or oceanfront property

If you need a waterfront site, go for a bay or canal lot because these are less expensive and still accessible from the water. They also provide better protection against unfriendly or inclement weather.

Buy low-maintenance construction materials

Metal roofing and vinyl siding for instance are low-maintenance construction materials. Although their installation may be a little more expensive, they pay off in the long run because they go for years before they need repair or replacement.

Splurge on things that you can’t live without

You shouldn’t skimp on components like windows and doors of your property for security and safety purposes. Therefore, buy the best materials for such areas. Additionally, some features determine the overall design of a property. Make every effort possible to get the best materials for important parts of your house.

If you are planning to build a new house, consider these low cost construction tips first. This will enable you to save money without compromising the integrity of your new house.

Residential Construction Tips that Will Save You Money

A residential construction project can be costly.  However, there are ways to reduce the cost of building a home and keep more money in your pocket.

Here are some of them:

 

Don’t go for the cheapest contractor

Just because a contractor gives the lowest quote doesn’t mean you have to hire them right away. The lowest quote doesn’t imply the best deal. Essentially, you should do some homework. Make sure that the contractor charges low prices without compromising quality of the construction work.

 

Don’t pay a high deposit upfront

The best approach is to pay a contractor in installments. This ensures that your construction job is done within the agreed schedule. Additionally, pay the last installment once the contractor completes the work. This will enable you to ensure that everything is done as per the agreement.

Consider handling the construction project during the colder seasons

Summertime or warmer weather is typically the busiest season for contractors. That means you will have difficulties in finding the best contractor and the available contractors might charge you higher rates. That’s because there is a high demand for contractors during this season. Therefore, to save money, handle your construction project during a colder season. This time more contractors are available and they will have enough time to do your job.

Do some jobs yourself

You don’t have to leave everything to the contractor. Some jobs are easy to do without help from a contractor. For instance, you can prepare the construction site before the actual construction starts. Remember that the more the work the contractor does, the hire the total cost of your construction project. You can also refinish the already installed cabinets in the kitchen without professional assistance.

Generally, following these tips will make your residential construction project less costly. Nevertheless, you should work with a reputable contractor that understands your needs including your tight budget.

Don’t forget to visit the National Association of Home Builders website at https://www.nahb.org/ for more information on how to help out the Hurricane Harvey/Irma victims.

Five common construction problems and solutions

What is your biggest challenge in your construction projects? Many aspects need to be given close attention for a building project to be successful. Contractors have the task to ensure a proper set of documents is available. However, there is no set of papers is ever complete or perfect. The fact is that some challenges quickly come up during as a construction project that can impact the completion time or and the budget. Here are common problems facing construction professionals and how to solve them.

Limited skills capabilities

One of the biggest problems facing the construction industry is the inadequacy of skilled workers to meet the growing demand in the market. One of the factors contributing to this is the limited knowledge about benefits of a career in construction, and so young people just opt for other fields in college. Moreover, most construction companies have the culture of working with previous teams and fail to establish a connection with the agencies and workforce that fits the job. You can find such skilled workers from construction staffing agencies.

Delays in construction time

One of the homeowner’s biggest fears is usually the certainty of the project ending as quickly as possible. The contractor should stipulate the production schedule in the construction contract which you can use to monitor the progress of the project. There are some acceptable reasons for delays in the project which you need to be aware of prior. However, if of delays occur, it should be addressed quickly communication be made between the homeowner and the contractor immediately.

Deficient communication between construction parties

Communication is essential to the success of any project. Communication breakdowns mostly occur when things are going wrong in a project. With the increased spread of technology, it is likely that almost everyone on your project has a smartphone. To have consistent and efficient communication, you can agree on the best ways to keep communication useful during the project. You may choose to use text messages, emails or technology apps to allow real time communication regarding project progress and updates. It is one way to speed bumps of a communication failure by reducing slowdowns.

Lack of proper organization

The construction project management has the mandate to make decisions and procurement processes which should fit the schedule of the project plan. However, having a management that is not able to cope with the speed and scale of demand, it may be a big problem for the project’s success.  The construction project management should have people with proper management skills that will ensure the success of the project according to the schedule.

Financial problems

You may have payments due for the employees, vendors, equipment renters and suppliers yet the amount for you is due on project completion. As the contractor, you need to have enough cash to manage this problem. Going for an open business line of credit will help you manage such bills and save your reputation.