I find the two main deciding factors on whether or not to use “custom” or “stock” cabinets are “time” and “money”. Stock cabinets can be quite affordable and readily available at your local home center.
However, you really do get what you pay for and modifications to stock cabinets are nearly impossible. For the home owner who is looking to do a fast and affordable kitchen I would recommend using stock cabinets.
Picking the right tile is essential in creating the warm environment for your new spa bathroom. Travertine tile is an affordable natural stone that is readily available and comes in various earth tone colors.
Pebble stone tiles for shower floors can add a distinctive feature as well as a soothing massage for your tired feet. We have had rave reviews when using a combination of these materials when doing recent remodels and additions. So make sure you check our photo gallery to see pictures of our recent work.
Check out this video on how to install tile backsplash. ...
Read MoreOne of the pit falls home owners run into when remodeling or adding on to their home is not completing the planning phase of their construction project.
Phase one is easy and fun for you, the home owner, as it really is your dream of a new kitchen, bathroom, remodel or addition. This is the step where your creative input is so important. Many times home owners will do simple sketches or floor plans to get the idea of what they want.
Having your air ducts cleaned regularly in your home improves the hygienic conditions of your home. Doing this also improves your system efficiency, which saves you money and reduces your carbon footprint.
It also improves the longevity of your system which means less stress on the components and therefore makes your system last longer. Also with a clean working system you will be saving money on heating and air conditioning costs. Having this service done also insures that any system repairs are located and can be addressed, should further repairs to your system be needed. It is basically a tune up of your HVAC system.
New kitchen cabinets and kitchen remodels can be a major expense. Here are some ways to make your existing kitchen cabinets and kitchen in general more useful and user friendly.
Adding pull outs to existing base cabinet shelving can not only increase the usability but also make those hard to reach areas actually functional. Kits ranging from around 100 dollars and up can be found at your local home center or of course we can customize any cabinet or shelf to meet your needs.
A bid job consists of the anticipated (worse case scenario) labor and materials to do the job plus the contractor’s profit and overhead added in to the total.
A cost plus job consists of the actual labor and materials plus the contractor’s profit and overhead.
With today’s economy every one is trying to save money and that includes money on home remodeling. Cost plus can be a viable way to achieve this. However, you must trust your contractor implicitly. By doing a job on a bid basis the thing you must consider is that the contractor has to bid worse case scenario for your home remodeling project.
Musicians and recording engineers can save tens of thousands of dollars by building an in-home recording studio.
With the cost of professional studios rising building your own in- home recording studio can be a viable option.
First thing you should do is check with your local government agency to make sure your recording studio can be legally permitted and installed.
Next, put together a budget of what it is you would like to spend on your recording studio. Note, a min budget of 5,000 would be needed to even get started and 20,000 to 50,000 would be the average cost for a home recording studio.
With the increasing cost of energy these days, it is becoming more and more economical to install the latest technology in water heating.
The tankless water heater has been around now for over 10 years and the systems have proven their cost saving benefits as well as their reliability. With potential savings over 50% on your current water heating bill, a new tankless water heater can virtually pay for itself within 2-5 years.
Many customers while remodeling their homes, decide to install the tankless water heater, which in some cases saves them time, depending on the home remodeling which is being performed.
Maintenance on your electric solar system is simple but must be done routinely in order for your system to be effective.
Every 3 months it is necessary to have someone clean the surface of each solar module. The first thing you will need is a supply of clean, soft cotton rags and a hose (with a pistol grip sprayer) long enough to reach your solar array. Note; make sure whoever is providing the service is good on ladders and not afraid of heights.
With all the rain this season it is important to make sure you do routine roof and flashing maintenance.
Hidden water damage and leaks can cost thousands of dollars if not properly located and repaired. Where as routine maintenance and repair can be very inexpensive.
The most obvious is water stains on the walls and ceilings. Instead of painting over these stains you need to have a professional come out and determine if further damage has been caused by the leak.
Termites, dry rot and mold can result from an unresolved leak source.
With summer right around the corner it is important to check your doors and windows for any signs of failing paint or stain finishes.
Wood windows and doors that are hard to open and close will typically have signs of failed paint or stain finishes which cause the wood to swell and eventually fail at the joints. If not properly maintained this could turn into replacement rather than repair.
Areas that receive excessive exposure to weather (sun and rain) deteriorate faster than areas that are covered from exposure.
We also notice here in Southern California the southern facing doors and windows need more maintenance than the northern facing doors and windows.
For the last 2 decades or so property home inspections have become routine when purchasing a home in Los Angeles, Burbank and surrounding SoCal areas.
After the home inspector has completed his report and finds deficiencies with the property the next step is to budget these repairs.
It is important to have a qualified, licensed, general contractor go over the report and do an on-site evaluation of the deficiencies listed in the report and provide a detailed budget to repair these deficiencies. Sometimes we even spot items that your inspector failed to identify.
While doing our on-site evaluation we anticipate the cost related to repair each item. This service generally takes a total of 2 hours at a cost of $350 for your average 2,000 to 3,000 square foot home.
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