Category: Jason Foldenauer Construction - page 12

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I recently asked my eight year old son. He replied an athlete, specifically a world cup soccer player. We all know that chances of him living this dream are few and far between but hey if that is his aspiration right now I am excited for him. I on the other hand was hoping he said a contractor/builder. My home is in need of some improving so as I see it this would be a win-win situation. He could own a large construction company that would service the needs of moms and dads all over Michigan that just did not have time to do the work themselves.

As a general contractor you are in charge of the organization of all the parties involved in a home renovation project. You not only oversee the individuals working for you but also the product vendors and trade contractors. It is important that you keep open communication with the owner of the home because they are the ones who satisfaction is ultimately needed for the project to be wrapped up and paid for.

It is always important for a contractor to visit the location that needs work done before any project is agreed upon or begun. This allows a decision to be made about the costs associated with the job for the contractor to work out an estimate/quote to be reviewed by the home owner. Not only must the labor being included in the quote but also material estimates and equipment costs. When an estimate has been accepted it is general practice that the contractor and homeowner will meet to go over all documents for the project. A budget will be formulated, the particular conditions for the job will be laid out and any designs will be approved by an architect.

Many times in construction projects it is up to the contractor to pull building permits and to know specific requirements for the county that the work is being done in. It is important as a contractor to maintain a list of specialized subcontractors on file that you have worked with in the past and have been satisfied with their work. Many times you will need to call upon these people as the project moves on. Examples of this may be plumbers, electricians or even landscapers.

It is required that any contractor working in a state be a licensed contractor. Many contractors are also business owners. They may have several projects going on at one time. It is important that they have brought together people on site that are trustworthy and work well together.

The advantages of working for yourself as a contractor are very similar to being your own boss in any industry. You are not obligated to work with any client that you choose not to. You can also choose a variety of different jobs so that you don’t get burned out say with only building home additions. Also, you can evaluate the length of projects and work them around any special scheduling needs. For instance, weather conditions might play a factor depending on where you are licensed. Michigan has a few months where it is possible to work but the conditions will not make it pleasant to be outside.

The disadvantages are vast of being a contractor and owner of a company. For Instance, you are in charge of all of the employees that work for you. That includes their salary, health benefits and insurance. You don’t get paid time off. Actually time off is not really associated with being the owner. You are always on call and responsible for the business functioning. Yes, you hire people who you can trust to help make those decisions when you are not available but it still always falls back to you in the end. The biggest disadvantage is that you still have to pay employees and subcontractors even if the renovator is slow at paying their bill. Of course this can be a mute point if you make sure to have paid points throughout a project. However, in the end as the owner and contractor you are responsible for the completed project and all those involved in it.

None of us really figured out what we wanted to do in life until we were much older and had tried our hands at a few professions. I know that soon my son will stop wanting to be a professional soccer player and move on to something else. I know he will find something he truly loves doing and that he is good at. For my sake I sure hope he ventures into contracting even if for a moment. (Hopefully long enough to add a reading room, a new kitchen and a bathroom spa retreat!)

Picking out flooring for your home is always a bit tricky. There are so many different factors to take into consideration when looking into what is right for your home. It is also important to realize that each room needs to be considered separately when making flooring decisions. It is important that each factor be taken into consideration and ranked by importance then a determination can be made on what flooring is right for your home.

For instance, if you’re budget is the most important consideration than hardwood throughout your home is obviously not really a viable option. The same is true for safety. If you need assistance from a walker to move about your home it is not wise to think about flooring option have a large gradation between them. An example of this is linoleum to shag carpet the threshold would create a sizable difference making it hard to maneuver a walker. It is best if you have special issues to take them into consideration BEFORE the new flooring is in place.

Another thing I like to remind people is to gauge the amount of traffic that will be on any given floor. Bathroom floors and kitchen floors remain the most highly used areas within households. It is important to use materials that can withstand the wear and tear of your household traffic while maintaining the original look and feel. Laminate squares might be okay for a house without a lot of traffic but in a house that maintains a constant flow they the squares will begin to separate overtime.

Special conditions may also exist in certain rooms. For Instance, it is important that kitchen and bathroom flooring are moisture resistant. Getting out of the tub onto a carpeted floor is going to create mold and mildew underneath the carpet surface sooner rather than later. My parents have always had a carpeted kitchen and dining room. It is always in need of a cleaning especially with six grandkids and a grandmother that loves to make cookies with sprinkles.

It is important that the flooring type fit all of the conditions the room and home owners present. Remember that just because one floor works in a certain room for one homeowner it might not be the right product for you. Different households create different situations. It is important to look into your needs before spending money on flooring.

Flooring options are so wide and very in material, style, color, durability and cost. Determining the needs of your family before you install flooring materials will help save you money in the long run. Really looking at your needs might make you realize that it is worthwhile to save up for a more durable, but more expensive option like hardwood. Or it might make you realize that you really need to create unity throughout your home and are ready to do that using a different variety of materials within the same color family. Flooring is one area that can really make or break a home’s feel so make sure you choose something that is consistent with your homes look and feel.

There are many things to consider when adding on to a house. It is a very stressful process if attempted without a plan and a contractor. With any addition there are steps to follow and budgets to be kept to keep adding on to your home a smooth event. No one wants to end up like they do in “The Money Pit” where Tom Hanks and Shelley Long are hopelessly wrapped up in home improvement renovations that their life together falls apart. Any project needs a good start to lead to a stellar finish. The following eight steps will help guide you in the right direction.
1 Dream Big
Think about what you want adding on to your home to accomplish? Are you looking for more dining space, a new outdoor entertaining are such as a porch or deck or are you adding on to your home because of a new addition to your family? Rank the goals that you are looking to achieve and once you see the things that are a priority to you it might become clear that adding on a deck or adding on a porch for outdoor entertaining is more important that junior sharing his room with a new sibling. It is nice to figure this out before the renovations begin.
2 Follow Local Rules
It is important that in adding on to a house that you pull the proper permits for any and all projects that you are doing. The last thing you need is to start and have an outside wall torn off your home and local inspectors that put a halt to your project for improper permits.
3 Be Open To Change
What I mean by be open to change is thinking outside of what is already around you. Just because a sink or tub is in a certain position now does not mean it has to stay there. Often you can make big changes to the layout of a room with just tinkering where the stationary items are placed. Doors and window placement can also be changed which adds a dramatic difference to many home additions.
4 Expand Efficiently
This is a very simple concept. Sometimes we have space that is usable staring at us and we don’t even realize it. We had a closet in our dining room that really was not suitable for use except for storage. We stored the items that were in there in the attic and revamped the space so that we could sufficiently add a hutch without using any of the important dining space.
5 Add Angles To Add Interest
If you are living in a square the outside can be spruced up by adding dimension with angles. Your home does not need to be kept square. If you are looking at adding on a deck add dimension to your home by adding levels and more complex angles and lines.
6 Consistency Is Key
It is important to use materials that are as close as originally used on an addition. If you cannot find siding that matches exactly or find something that compliments the new addition. You don’t want it to look like an add-on. Any addition to your home should enhance your home and blend to the point that it is not obvious anything has been done.
7 Landscape That Makes Sense
Make sure you take into account the outside when adding on to a house. It definitely does not make sense to create a space in which you have to destroy half your yard to put it in place. For instance it does not make sense to add on extra windows if you have established trees blocking the light the windows were supposed to expose.
8 Keep Things In Proportion
This is a big one. Adding on to your home is about making more space however don’t build a 2300 square foot addition to a one car garage without thought of also expanding that. Things need to stay relative to one another in your homes addition.
There is a lot to think about when going into any home improvement project but even more so when adding on to a house. Plan the best you can, be as prepared as possible but hold on because there will be some rough roads along the way of any home renovation. That is my only guarantee.

When you purchase a home you go into it knowing there are things that you will need to change. That happens so that you can make it your own and make it your home. When thinking about remodeling your home there are several things to think about as you venture into these projects. You need to figure out a budget, how far you want to immerse yourself in renovation and the style that you are looking to achieve with your home renovation project.
Bathroom remodeling is growing fast as suppliers are offering spa like fixtures and home owners are looking to create a quiet retreat from the busy world in their very own homes. There are so many levels of remodeling when it comes to bathrooms. First you must decide if you are going to enlarge a bathroom gutting it and basically starting from scratch or are you happy with a coat of paint, new fixtures and some new lights. Of course a lot of this will depend on your budget and willingness to immerse in a complete remodel.
I would suggest creating a list of your wants and needs. Determine how much you are willing to budget for the bathroom remodeling project and exactly what you are looking to have on the outcome of the project.
Start with determining what types of faucets and fixtures you have verses what you would like. Look around the current room and ask yourself some questions. Do you like the current layout? Are the tub, sink and toilet all going to stay or are you interested in replacing them? What about the vanity? Is there enough space for towels or are you interested in adding a linen closet? Do you want the closet inside the current space or do you want to add a space on the outside of the actual bathroom? Other things that you need to ask your self is are you okay with tub surrounds or are you more interested in specialized tiling? All of these things will help determine if your project is capable of being done within your budget or if you need to wait or scale back expectations.
Also look into lighting. So many different options are currently available. Do you like the look of florescent lights or do you want a more natural light. Is there a window in your bathroom to provide natural light and you are looking to enhance the natural light of the room? Recessed lights are also very popular and can be done to also provide heating elements in spaces like stand up showers.
It is fun to determine paint. Paint will help create an environment in your bathroom. If you are looking for a sea/ocean feel verse a spa feel verse a fun kids space. Paint can change the mood without a lot of expense. If your budget is small think about trying to paint to see if that is enough change to create a certain feel for your bathroom setting. This might be a simple solution to a major bathroom renovation until you can afford the more luxurious renovations.
Budget is the number one factor in any remodel but especially in a bathroom remodel. Every dime spent adds up quickly. Often during a renovation we don’t take in to account the minor expenses like caulk or new electrical fixtures. Make sure expenses don’t sneak up on you with thorough planning before you contemplate an all out, full scale bathroom renovation.

Choosing flooring for your home is often one of the most important decisions you will have to make as a home owner. It combines all aspects of your home and you truly want the flooring throughout your home to blend with the style of the home as a whole. One thing that was odd in the house I grew up is that each room had different color and textured carpet. The kitchen flooring was berber, the living room was a frieze/shag and the bedroom carpet was plush. Another thing was odd is that my bedroom had red carpet, the boys had brown, the kitchen was white/blue/gray and the living area was beige. How did any of that tie our home together? I am sure the people who bought our home immediately tore out the flooring and replaced it.
Flooring does depend a lot on personal style. This is a surface that every day you will use. Family and friends will use the surface for walking on, sitting on, accidentally spill their drinks on and play on. It needs to be durable and practical for your family and friends. If you are the hostess of many family gathering is it really wise to have white carpet throughout your home? As you begin the processes of choosing your flooring take several things into consideration. First you must determine a budget, consider the size of the room, what is the usage of the room, do you have kids and pets and how long do you expect the flooring to last?
Kitchen flooring is always a fun area to consider. There are so many personal decisions to make. Several choices exist, linoleum, ceramic tiles, wood, faux wood and carpet. Carpet is not necessarily a popular choice these days. As with a bathroom, the kitchen takes abuse from moisture, spills and an abundance of traffic. If you are looking into living in this home awhile and hoping for high resale value buck up and spend the money on real hard wood. It is durable and long lasting. It can take a beating the aging looks like a natural progression of a home that is lived in. When you start to miss that new floor it is easy to call a local flooring expert out to refinish it bringing the luster right back into the floor. Linoleum is the least expensive option and ceramic tile is a great mid cost product to use that also holds up well. You might have to have the floor grouted again after several years of use but that is a fairly inexpensive project for your local handyman.
In bathroom flooring it is obvious that you need to consider a material that will hold up against daily use and moisture. Linoleum can be used but it is a short term material. Often linoleum will wear and date itself within seven years of installation. Better long term options are ceramic, limestone and marble. Again this is where budget and personal preference come in to play. Color and texture options are plentiful in any of the above mentioned materials.
Areas such as living rooms and bedrooms are areas that personal preference will take over. I have a thing for the comfortable look and feel of carpet. I think that with my children being small that they spend most of their time playing on the floor. Carpet provides the warm, comfy feel I enjoy in a living are. However many people really like wood floors with area rugs. This is a very good option for longevity but will be pricey to install. Wood can always be refinished which makes it the longest lasting option. Area rugs are inexpensive and can be used to add warmth to any room.
As with most home renovations flooring can increase the market of your home. Take this into consideration if this home is just a mere stepping stone. Don’t spend astronomical amounts of money on a floor that you will not enjoy. If it a home that you are looking to spend the rest of your life in consider the upgrades otherwise choose a mid grade option that will tend to be on the neutral side of flooring options. These will the resale value of your home in the long term. Kitchen flooring and bathroom flooring are areas that will change the perception of your home. This is often what makes or breaks a home sale so consider this before doing something radical like adding carpet to your kitchen like my parents did.

Thinking about building an addition? What are you really in for? There are certain things that need to be considered before you are knee deep in renovation on an addition to your home. The dream of an addition sometimes far out ways the reality of it so it is important to really consider all options before diving into any home addition. Whether you are adding on a porch, exploring adding on an entire upstairs level or enhancing you yard with the addition of a shed make sure you are prepared. You can do this by asking yourself a few questions before you start.

First you must ask yourself why you really want to build an addition. An addition is something that is often quite pricey. Do not go into it without really asking yourself why the addition is important to you. I know many people who have invested time and money into building an addition only to realize that they could have done without the extra space. Some people just “need” a shed but find that all they do is store things in it that really should be tossed. A shed should not be a storage area for things that you can do without. Or did you add a porch only to realize you really do not enjoy sitting outside. This is the most important question that needs to be considered with any building addition to your home.

Next if you have decided that an addition is a must start by talking to neighbors, friends and family to start finding a contractor to help with the addition. If you know of someone who has recently had an addition put on, a porch added or a shed built call them up and ask them if they would use their contractor again. It is important to find someone to help in your renovation that is easy to work with so make sure to qualify any contractor before you begin working with anyone.

You need to secure several things in order to start and complete an addition. It is important that you have proper financing and building permits. It is also important to know who you will need to deal with throughout the project. Do you require an electrician, a plumber or are you able to complete your project without having to invite outside contractors to the table? Make sure that you secure enough funding to complete building an addition. If you are halfway through the building addition but all the way through your cash you have a major problem to solve. Ensure this does not happen to you. Make sure you have cash and financing options enough to cover your project.

It is important that you meet with an architect if you are considering a major change to the structural component of your home to allow for an addition. It is important to determine if your structure will be safe for the addition that you are intending.

Then you begin the final stages of building an addition which include beginning the remodel. In order to do this you will need to think about all of the following things:

1) Will you need to put the addition on a slab, a basement or will you have to create a crawlspace for your new space?
2) Begin constructing the outside structure which includes the walls.
3) Add the walls and wrap to prepare for siding or whatever outside material you will be using. It is also the time to install the roof and add shingles.
4) Next call in the insulation and drywall professionals because you are to that point in the addition.
5) Once you are completely framed it is window time.
6) Next comes flooring and painting. At this point you can see the finish.
7) Trim in the windows and doors and your project will be complete. You can move in the finishing touches of furniture and knick knacks and sit back and enjoy the finished project.

There are so many renovations that can be done that will increase the value of a home. Isn’t that what people want when they spend their hard earned money on home renovations? One of the many things that can be done to increase a home’s value is flooring renovations. There are several options in flooring; carpet, ceramic tile, linoleum and wood. As with carpet there are many choices to decide between. All flooring ranges in styles, price, durability and color.

Wood flooring renovations are becoming the most popular option in flooring choices today. The decisions about what type of material, what color and which laminate to choose are endless. The biggest decisions will need to be made to determine what will fit the style of your home and budget.

There are three main types of wood flooring available for renovations; solid hardwood, engineered wood flooring and laminated wood flooring. None of the three choices are correct for every household. You will need to look into your specific needs and determine what the best is for you. Yes, some people will say that solid hardwood is the only way to go. However different environmental factors such as your lifestyle will determine the best wood flooring renovation that is right for you.

Solid hardwood is the most expensive of the three flooring options. It is the best quality and the most expensive of all your wood flooring options. Solid hardwood floors can be produced out of almost any type of wood. The more ornate, like teak and mahogany, can prove to be very pricey. Don’t worry though because you can also choose from less expensive options like oak, pin and maple. Solid wood is very durable and can be easily maintained and refinished after years of wear. It also gives a home a very rich feel. If solid hardwood floors are in your budget, splurge. The extra expense will be well worth it. Solid hardwood flooring renovations increase the value of your home more than the out of pocket expense. It is considered a luxury renovation.

Next down the line is engineered flooring. It does not offer the same luxuriousness that solid hardwood does but it is a close alternative. Engineered flooring is made up of several layers. The face is a hardwood lamella and the core is basic softwood with a final layer of hardwood lamella. When installed the top layer only the top layer is visible to the eye. You can think of it like a piece of plywood with the many layers being compressed together. It is less expense than solid hardwood and is also very durable. It is a beautiful replica in replacement of solid hardwood.

Finally the least expensive option in wood flooring is laminate. This is basically a resinous base coated with a paper coating that resembles wood in color and texture. It is easy to maintain but will not withstand the years of abuse that solid wood does while continuing to maintain the look and feel of wood flooring.

When contemplating the installation of any wood flooring it is best to obtain advice from a professional. Flooring professionals will make sure that your investment and installation is performed in the most appropriate manner for the flooring choice. As there are many types of wood flooring options there are also several different installation procedures for the type of wood flooring choice. Hiring a professional will ensure that your investment is installed properly and will last for the lifetime of your flooring choice.

There are many reasons homeowners want to renovate their homes. One of the major reasons these days is to increase the value of their home. How do you know if what you are doing is going to be a valuable home improvement? Are you also renovating in the meantime to add comfort while you are still in the home? Of course, so it is important to research the renovations that will return the most bang for your money.

Things to consider doing to spruce your home up that add value without a lot of cash out of pocket are cosmetic like painting, getting new updated fixtures and new flooring can add a lot of appeal to a home. These are manly things you can do or hire out to a local handyman. These little things are inexpensive but will give the impression of a clean kept up home which is what you want when you are putting money into your home. Other things that can make a large difference are things that just require cash not a lot of effort such as area rugs and fresh linens.

If you are looking for a home improvement project that is going to make a huge impact on a home’s value look into renovating the kitchens and bathrooms. They are often the projects that will involve hiring a contractor but can offer you the most added value upon resale and comfort while you still own the home. It is important to determine your exact motives when looking into any remodeling/renovation project to make sure that it is worth the time, money and effort.

When thinking about updates consider the range of time that you hope to stay in this home. If you are thinking that you are going to place it on the market in a year it is probably best not to begin a kitchen remodel that is going to take 4 months and cost upwards of thirty thousand dollars. I would think about projects in increments of time. If you plan on selling the house within four years from the time of renovation carefully do a cost analysis to determine if it is worth the expense. Will you get your money out of the project?

Projects to consider in this time frame range from new flooring, windows, a roof, siding, painting, freshen up landscaping and staining the deck. Things that are relatively inexpensive but that produce an appeal to buyers. If you are planning to stay in your home for a period of time greater than four years you can take on the expense of a kitchen or bathroom remodel and get your money out of the investment in the end. Plus you have had time to enjoy it and savor the changes that have been made.

There are many cost analyzers on the internet today that will help you financially determine if the home improvement costs are outweighed by the increase of value to the home. It is important in any renovation that you are satisfied with the end result and that appeal has been added to your home. You are the one that has to love where you live so also keep that in mind during your next renovating project.

Budgeting for home renovations is always tough. Even when you plan for everything and even a few glitches along the way budgets often find a way to be busted. In order to keep your progress from ending in a budget stale mate here are a few things to keep in mind when renovations are planned for your home.

First decide why you are renovating your home. What do you hope to accomplish with the renovation? Are you adding space for a new addition? Are you adding space for a kids play room or do you hope that with your renovation you increase the value of your home. Knowing exactly what you hope to accomplish with your home renovations will make it easier to create a budget and stick to it. It is often when a plan is not created that we go overboard with spending. So the more you can think out ahead of time before renovations on your home begin the better your finances will look in the end.

Speaking of a budget determine how much you can afford to spend on this home renovation. If you realize that what you hope to accomplish is not possible within the funds you have allotted for the project than you can easily put it on hold at this stage of the process. Determine the cost of all materials, tools and furnishings that will be needed to complete the renovation. If you are doing a kitchen renovation make sure to take into account large items like stoves and refrigerators. If you are doing a bathroom remodel take into account a new tub, sink and vanity. A toilet and new fixtures should also be added to the budget.

Next ask yourself are you up to taking on the challenge of a remodel or is it better for you to hire a contractor to ensure a smooth renovation. If you are the handyman type simple renovations can easily be done on your own and can save your contractor fees. If you are going to hire out a residential contractor make sure to look at examples of their previous work. Ask for references and check out their website. The detail put into their work, references and website will give you a good idea of their work and work ethic. It is also important to make sure your gut tells you that the contractor you have chosen is right for you and your renovation.

A timeline is also important in home renovations. It is important to go over this with your contractor and get in writing a plan of attack. It is important that each step is broke down into a time frame so that you and the contractor can work together to make sure progress stays on track.

Making sure that the contractor you hire is on the same page as you is one of the most important steps in home renovation. You can have this by opening the lines of communication from the start. Know that sometimes things can take an unexpected turn but that you are interested in keeping up to date with the progress and would like updates even when something goes haywire.

Once you have agreed upon a plan do not keep changing things. Nothing makes a contractor bitter more than an indecisive customer. They to have a time frame to stay within so that they can continue work with other clients. Every change adds time and money to the budget so stick to the original plan of attack. It will ease the schedule and budget if you stick to the initial renovation plan.

The last thing you will need to decide is if you plan on living in your dwelling during the construction or if you plan on finding a place that is more conducive to your life. If you decide to live in your home during the renovation make sure that you do not interrupt the progress. A happy contractor makes for a happy homeowner.

Is it possible to complete a kitchen remodel in less than three months and stay sane? I believe it is. The kitchen is the most functional place in any home. Who wants it to be out of commission any longer than it absolutely needs be? That is why it is so important to be prepared before you begin any home renovation but especially the kitchen. In order to complete a kitchen renovation it is important to consult a professional for help if not to complete the entire project. Some homeowners take on more than they can chew in between family and work obligations and a kitchen remodel is not one of those things that is easily handled.

Professional kitchen remodelers have all the tools and skills needed to finish a kitchen renovation is a short periods of time. They are skilled and prepared to tackle this job and give it one hundred percent of their dedication to ensure that the center piece of gatherings within the home is finished quickly. The steps they follow are the same as if a homeowner were doing it on their own. The major difference is that it is their job and will not be interrupted by life during the renovation of your kitchen.

Step one involves prepping the kitchen for the remodel. This involves removing furniture, appliances, food, dishes and anything else that lives within your kitchen area. Make sure all gas is turned off in the area if that is applicable. After everything is removed from the kitchen it is time to start dismantling the cabinets unless you are going to refinish them. If you are refinishing the cabinets now is the time to unscrew the doors from their hinges and label them so they can be put back in place properly. Make sure to unhook all plumbing fixtures and remove them before any countertops are removed.

The next step involves prepping cabinetry. This is the step in which cabinets are either refinished or removed. If the cabinets are to be refinished the doors will be removed, sanded, and primed for finishing later. The base cabinets can be unscrewed and moved to a storage area while renovations continue in the kitchen area.

Once everything is cleared it is time to paint. In order to paint the surface should be patched, sanded, washed, primed and then painted with two layers. This will improve the look of the paint job. Another thing that should be done during this part of the kitchen remodel is the countertops should be measured and a plan of action should be made to access where the sink will be placed.

The flooring and cabinets can be installed next leaving the final touches in the kitchen remodeling process to be the backsplash and putting appliance back into place for use. If the cabinets are being refinished also that process should be completed while you are working on painting the kitchen. This will ensure proper drying time for the cabinets before items are put back in place.

As this illustrates there are many steps to think about and coordinate before a kitchen remodel. It is probably best to hire a kitchen renovator to do this major home renovation. It takes a great deal of time and energy to complete each phase of the multi-level process of kitchen renovation.