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Home Remodeling

Shana Gatschet

2010-03-01 08:47:00

Question: My parents are aging and wish to continue to live in their home independently throughout their later years. I am concerned about their safety and independence. Where do I start with identifying what changes need to be made to help them remain in their home?

Answer: According to AARP, 85 percent of Americans age 50+ want to remain in their current homes and community for life. However, studies also show that only 1 in 10 feel they can actually do so based on its current design. Your parents’ situation is not uncommon as they want to remain in their home, but if their home is not accessible to accommodate any situation, it may not be possible. There are professionals in your area that can help you find solutions. Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) are recognized through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). They are trained professionals to help you make your home more “livable” and fit one’s lifestyle. These professionals consist of remodelers, builders, architects, designers and Occupational Therapists. CAPS professionals understand universal design. When a home is customized to become an aesthetically pleasing and barrier-free environment, it increases one’s safety and independence. It also allows for family and friends of any age or ability to visit. It may increase the value and marketability of the home as it opens the doors to a wider audience of home buyers. More importantly, investing in universal design techniques can allow your parents to live as they choose, in the place they choose, and maintain their quality of life. Helping your parents plan for their future is imperative. Delayed planning can force many people to face the heartache of moving to a nursing home simply because their home was not accessible. With the average costs of a nursing home stay at $4300/month and assisted living at $3000/month, it is wise to consider a home remodel, which can ultimately last a lifetime. Considering a custom home remodel with universal design features can help you gain peace of mind that your parents’ home can be a home for life.

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Home Remodeling

Nancy MartinMadden

2006-03-01 08:45:00

My resolution this year was to brighten up my bedroom, but I don't want to have to redecorate at the beginning of every season. What fabrics are transitional from season to season?

ANSWER: What a great resolution! Mine usually involve painful exercise and starving myself.It sounds as if you want the mood of the bedroom to change with the season without completely redoing your room. This is a fairly simple task and one that can be achieved with minimal effort and we can also do this and remain budget conscience...You question the transitional fabrics. Think of the perfect black dress (or suit) whatever the case may be...Chose a nice middleweight fabric in a color or colors to compliment your personal taste...Always ask yourself "Is this the image that I. Wish to portray?" Keep in mind we are going to build on this first layer, for example. You do all realize that.It doesn’t have to be black. That was to get your creative juices flowing...We are all on the same page now right?Lets start with a warm area rug, angle it under part of the bed. Next, a duvet cover in a fall or winter color, Encase a soft down or down like comforter in the duvet, layer this on top of your comforter, Pillows, lots of them choose two or three styles and colors and toss them on your bed.Add a little weight on the windows, wood blinds or shutters. Layers of fabric with tie backs of heavy tassels, It is cozy and warm and you are ready to hibernate during those cold, cold nights.I promise if you live in the Midwest the weather will change before you know it. When you get your first inkling of spring fever, roll up the area rug and pack up the duvet and comforter. Take the heavy fabrics off the wall.Now for starters, Add an additional bedskirt. It can be stripes,florals checks or bolder brighter colors. Place this treatment over your existing skirt, Use safety pins to shorten the skirt by making the adjustments down the center, The new bedskirt will be a little shorter than the existing one thus allowing it to just peak under the new treatment, Next chose a lightweight summer coverlet, this can be draped or rolled and placed at the bottom of the bed.Here we go again....pillows,pillows and more pillows. Try some of the new colors aquas,salmons,yellows and greens,Lets attack the window with a light weight gauzy sheer or linen  with a rattan shade. If you have the storage change pictures and lamps maybe a trunk for a chair. Now with very little   work you have created that perfect oasis in which to escape.This is especially nice for rooms that wont allow you To change the furniture around. You'll  have a whole new look and remember to ask yourself "Is this the image I want to portray?

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Home Remodeling

Jim Bussey

2003-05-01 11:49:00

: Wouldn't I save money for my kitchen or bath remodeling project if I bought all the materials myself and gave them to my remodeler to install?

ANSWER:  Not necessarily, all experienced remodeling contractors have overhead costs as part of doing business. These include salaries, office, rent, administration fees, trucks and vehicles, insurance, computers, accounting, etc. In order to pay for these expenses and earn an honest profit for the risks of being in business, remodeling contractors need to count on sufficient gross profits from all jobs. Parts of the gross profits include markups on all labor, subcontracts and materials to form the basis of sales prices. If a contractor cannot include a fair markup on the products used in a remodeling project, he or she would have to raise other prices to compensate. The cost of labor would have to be raised to provide enough return in exchange for the costs of being in business.      An analogy would be if you walked into your favorite fine restaurant with a grocery bag of food bought at the local food market and asked the restaurant to cook your food and reduce the menu prices accordingly. I'm sure you know what the answer would be. The restaurant counts on a fair markup on all their food (products) in order to receive sufficient revenue to cover their operating expenses and earn a fair profit.      Remember that experienced remodeling professionals don't just provide an installation, they provide a valued service to assist you in design, analysis of all products and materials to be used, quality workmanship, and warranties to protect your continued satisfaction with the products and services provided. If you were to insist upon having materials installed that you provided, there would be no recourse if the products failed at a later date. Allow your contractor to earn a fair return for their expertise and assistance in making your remodeling project an enjoyable one for both of you.

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Home Remodeling

Jim Bussey

2003-04-01 10:46:00

:   What's the typical cost per square foot to add on a room addition?

ANSWER:  Remodeling is such a unique and custom form of construction that it is impossible to accurately quote a project by square foot price without knowing all specifications of the job. Prices can vary dramatically depending upon several factors including size, location, materials used, demolition to existing house, tie-ins to existing, etc. Some additions are built for less than $100.00 per square foot, while others at $200.00 per square foot, or more. Have you ever tried to buy an automobile per square foot? Which do you think would cost more to buy per square foot - a Chevy Cavalier or Rolls Royce Convertible? It's pretty obvious that one vehicle will cost five to ten times the amount per square foot as the other. The same is true with room additions and other remodeling projects. It all depends on specific details as noted above. The best way to proceed is to discuss your ideas with a qualified remodeling contractor. He or she can give you a ballpark estimate based upon the type of job involved. If after you receive that estimate you are serious about an addition, the contractor will be glad to figure an accurate quote you can use to make your decision.