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    Renovation Ideas For Your Main Floor

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    Renovation Ideas for main floor
    Couple discussing ideas for main floor upgrade.

    Renovating your home can be somehow expensive, especially if you need to pay someone to do this for you. The truth is, labor costs can be damn high. So, hiring the service of a professional renovation company should be part of your plan, except you have special skills for DIY services.

    Remodeling the main floor of your home can really be tricky. Generally, the main floor is made up of kitchen, living space, laundry, and sometimes with a bedroom. So, when designing for the renovation of your home, don’t forget the value of these spaces add to your entire home.

    • Open Concept Main Floor
    • Larger New Kitchen
    • Installation Of Fireplaces
    • Rear Wall Opening
    • New Stairs Options With
    • Adding Powder Room

    Browse our website for more ideas and images that can be a great start for your inspiration. We provide all sorts of assistance and services in design. You can do great remodeling and bring back to life any house with few great renovation ideas for main floor.

    Open Concept Main Floor

    Open concept main floor
    Complete open living area with kitchen.

    The open plan is the general term used in interior design and architectural design for any floor plan using open, large spaces and minimizes the enclosed rooms, small rooms, such as private offices.

    Yes, almost everyone loves to have open-concept spaces in their homes, where a small space has several uses, and why won’t they love it? Between giving the occupants of the house the ability to easily interact with their guests from the kitchen, and also allowing parents to always keep an eye on their children while they play. The fact is, this kind of layout has become so synonymous with modern convenience and sleekness.

    Though having so much benefit doesn’t mean that it doesn’t come with its own challenges. Besides, without having any wall to rely on, the responsibility for using a space fall on you. And to most people, knowing when and how to create the space correctly feels greatly daunting.

    Spacious, airy, versatile, and open plan is a nice design, especially for modern homes, but having a successful scheme demands extra careful planning. Remember, your goal is actually to transform your empty room into a welcoming and warm sociable hub for the entire family.

     Larger New Kitchen

    Everyone knows that the kitchen is the heart of a home. Besides, the main activities of a home rightly take place in the kitchen. Yes, of course, the kitchen is a place suitable for a family to get together, a place for cooking, and a center for all home-based entertainment. It is no longer a place where we prepare our food, but now, families entertain guests, store gadgets, and eat their meal right in the kitchen. If you have challenges setting up a large new kitchen during the renovation process, why not speak with a professional renovation company. Remodel On Point team has set the pace in its complete renovation services. Whether you want to create more space for your new kitchen or you want to renovate the entire home, Aldo renovation is a tested and trusted service provider to assist you in achieving your dream kitchen.

    Installation Of Fireplaces

    Installing fireplaces during the renovation process on the main floor of your home is something that must be done with adequate care and professionalism. The installation of a fireplace in your main floor can be a potentially dangerous and costly endeavor, with gas fireplace installation even more challenging still. Here, it is advisable that you speak with the professionals for proper installation and safety.

    Rear Wall Opening

    You can always transform your living room and save on the cost of an extension by bringing down the walls that separate your living room and your kitchen. So, do you want a spacious open-plan kitchen but fear the cost implication for an extension? Good, speak to our representatives and we can help.

    Though for rear wall opening, you really don’t have to apply for planning permission, including renovating the internal walls of your home. But if you live in a listed building, you may possibly need listed building consent for such an opening. Sometimes, you may need approval from your local council, especially if your wall is load-bearing. The bottom line is, speak with local company about this and you’ll be glad you did.

    New Stairs Options With Railings

    New Stairs options with railings
    Modern open stairs installed on main floor.

    Have you always wanted to create new stairs with different options – glass, wood, or metal railings? Doing this can be one of the easiest ways of making a significant impact on how your home looks and valued. Whether in a spiral staircase, or you need a regular stair of any kind, we can design your new stairs that make all the difference.

    Replacing your old and tired stairs railing with the latest and new decorative new stair option can just be the ticket. Your new stairs railings forged in wood, metal, or glass, or in any style that hits your fantasy may simply be the best way to reinvent your home with the changes you were hoping for. Doing this automatically brings in a new level of beauty and creates a lasting luxury impression for your entire home.

    Adding Powder Room

    Generally, your powder room can easily create a powerful impression on your guests in your home, and at the same time, can be the most valuable square footage in your entire home. Your powder room doesn’t have to be large in size.

    The good thing about having your powder room small in your home is that it can be the least expensive in your entire home to makeover. Though there is really not much thing to change in the powder room, renovating the entire powder room can make a significant difference in the impact it can have on your home, as well as your visitors. Consulting a professional renovation company –  is still the best and most favorable decision to get the best professional service at a very considerable price.

    Conclusion in Ideas for Main Floor of Home

    On Point Remodeling works hard to give ideas and push points to all readers but final decision will always be the hardest to make. There is tons of help with information on our website and you can find almost any topic on remodeling and construction projects.

    Our team also provides services in design and supply management of materials for your projects. We have great materials with discounted prices that can be calculated properly and delivered for your home or office.

    How To Prepare For Home Renovation Project?

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    How to prepare for a full home renovation
    Excited woman preparing for home remodeling project.

    Deciding and finding time to renovate your home can be a whole lot of enormous decision, and it should never be taken lightly. After all, it will take a whole lot of invested funds, and in most cases, a lot of money.

    So, never jump into such a project without first critically following these given guidelines that’ll undoubtedly assist you in renovating your home as smooth as possible.

    It’s very rare to meet someone who has just concluded a full home renovation without complaining that it took so long, but I can assure you that if you follow these tips critically below, you’ll not only renovate your home smoothly, but you’ll also reduce your project timeline greatly.

    • Know The Exact Scope Of Renovation Work
    • Set Your Budgets
    • Find A Renovation Company
    • Storage For Furniture
    • Rental Space For The Time Of Renovation
    • Be Ready For Delays
    • Document Everything

    Of course there will be other problems on the way that we cannot predict how to prepare for home renovation, but staying cautious always helps to manage with issues.

    1. Know The Exact Scope Of Renovation Work

    It is first important to understand the scope and extent of your home renovation. Here, you decide whether you will renovate the entire home or just a few parts first. How long this renovation project will take, where you are starting from, and your expectations after the completion of the renovation.

    Also, you need to decide how extensive you want this renovation project to be, plus your remodeling goals. If you need a large space, cleaning out the entire house is the best way to start. You throw out anything you no longer use, don’t need, or that has expired.

    In this case, you must clearly define why you are renovating. The truth is, is essential that you prioritize your intention for your renovation. Generally, there are 2 categories. The first category is that you want to improve the value of your home.

    This kind of renovation demands careful evaluation. Here, you decide what you want to alter, how much you’ve budgeted for this renovation project. Also, you decide on the materials and supplies you want to use, are they really universally appealing? In most cases, you’ll always want to avoid materials that are too cheap or too expensive.

    On the other hand, if you want to renovate your home simply because you want to improve your home and create a bigger space, then your choice needs to reflect your desires, your wants, and your needs 100%.

    2. Set Your Budgets

    For every renovation, it is essential that you clearly budget for the present and beyond. Whatever your budget for your renovation is, ensure you add a buffer of, at least, 25% percent as this will greatly help you to cover unforeseen expenses, circumstances, and some other challenges that may happen during the renovation. Just keep this amount set aside specially to cover unexpected expenses along the way.

    To achieve a smooth full renovation project, set a realistic budget for your renovation. Also, determine how you’ll fund your project. Is saving, loan, or credit card? This tip on how to prepare for home renovation is to expect spending a whole lot of money for the job.

    Preferably, make a list of everything you’ll need for your renovation: flooring, cabinet, fixtures, sinks, appliances, toiler, disposal, knobs, tubs, and many more.

    3. Find A Renovation Company

    Find a renovation company to deal with
    Interview with contractors for home project.

    Find time to research your contractor or professional renovator. Choosing a good and professional renovation company is paramount. Ideally, you can get contractors through word of mouth, and research. Perhaps, a friend, or a neighbor, or even a friend of a friend had can recommend a professional renovation company to you.

    Contact them and ask them about their experience and their previous renovation projects, and find out why they would recommend them for you. And if you have anyone who can refer a contractor for you, then ask potential contractors to offer you referrals from their previous clients and follow up on them.

    Also, make sure that they have liability insurance. Another great way to get the best is to visit a site they are currently working on, and from there, you can learn so much by just watching and observing how they work and organize the site works. The far most important part of how to prepare for home renovation is actually finding the company who will do the job.

    A good, tested, and trusted renovation company can be found through internet or suggested by friends/family. You can contact On Point Remodeling for more advise and suggested professional renovation service.

    4. Storage For Furniture

    This is one of the things that you must settle during the planning process. Here, you determine how you want to provide storage for your furniture. How are you packing furniture? Where are you storing them? How long do you want to store them, and which of them storage companies will provide storage for your furniture, and how much? These are critical questions you must have settled during the planning process.

    The truth is, the whole storage process is sometimes expensive based on the volume or the sizes of items you want to store.

    So, if you wish to store the furniture with some other items, then hiring a professional storage company will help, at least, to handle and store your stuff for you.

    5. Rental Space For The Time Of Renovation

    Plan for a rental space for the time of renovation. Truth is, you’ll experience a serious discomfort of your living space during the renovation process. So, it is advisable that you rent a space with a token for a few weeks until the renovation is completed. Alternatively, find a neighbor or friend to stay with during this period.

    Ideally, if you have, at least, one or two rooms in your home and a bathroom that are untouched refuges, then you’ll really feel so much discomfort during this period.

    6. Be Ready For Delays

    If you plan to stay home during the renovation process, then ask everyone to be considerate and patient. The truth is, your project may experience delays like supplier late deliveries, city permit delays, and correcting deficiencies.

    The bottom line is, just discuss them with your contractor and give you the full idea of all possible difficulties that could arise in the process. Discuss these difficulties with your contractor and monitor them to get them done on the negotiated deadline.

    Never make major changes to your lay down plans during the renovation process or you’ll end up delaying your renovation.

    But always prepare for unexpected delays and inevitable inconveniences that may arise during the project. The good thing about a reputable and professional renovation company will give you the full meal-deal on every possible difficulties and challenge that could arise.

    You may want to fully understand what you are getting into so that you can prepare and properly adjust your life and expectations

    7. Document Everything

    Document everything with contract
    Construction contract with detailed scope of work.

    All the work that goes at your home should be documented for reference. Many companies do not take notes on completed tasks and end week without taking pictures throughout. This becomes your due diligence as home owner to protect yourself.

    First of all On Point Remodeling recommends keeping a log of work completed for each day, week or month. Have images or even vidoes of each step and process of home renovation. Not only this helps from scamy contractors trying to do lazy job or use wrong materials, but also can speed up the process.

    Document your communication and materials selected for your home. Simple word or excel document sheet can be made to write down what material was selected or purchased for each work.

    Conclusion on Preparation for Full Home Renovation

    We have listed 7 steps of preparation for home remodeling project, but you will always have to be on your toes protecting you home and money. If you want to be relaxed with completely trusted company for your project, contact us for referrals.

    On Point Remodeling team has list of contractors and companies we and our partners work with on regular basis.

    How To Budget Home Renovation with all hidden costs?

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    How to budget for home renovation
    List of all materials and labor cost for home renovation.

    A few times in life, we can either buy a new house or move to the place we want, but making spare parts or renovating a home is available to everyone if we save some money or take out a loan and plan different stages.

    Gradually, we can reform each environment and renovate our home in a process of time – months or even years. We share some ideas on how to budget home renovation project without major investments or works that pass us from stress.

    Do you want a kitchen renovation? Are you anxious about a kitchen or bathroom remodeling? The best approach is knowing your goals for your home remodeling and working towards achieving the goal.

    So, whether you are planning to keep up with your large family, create a bigger office space, or increase the value of your home, this information will assist you greatly in how you can budget for your next home renovation project.

    We recommend breaking down each step:

    • List All The Renovation Needs
    • Designer And Architectural Fees
    • Required Permits And City Fees For The Job
    • Cost To Move
    • Living Expenses During The Renovation
    • Budgeting For Appliances
    • Renovation Costs And Options
    • Unexpected And Additional Work

    There are few more things that can come along in worst case scenario, but we think On Point Remodeling covered most of expenses and steps in remodeling.

    1) List All The Renovation Needs

    This is the first stage of the renovation process. Here, you need to clearly make a list of the areas you wish you renovate or work on in your home. Do you wish to renovate the entire home? Do you just want to work on a few parts of the home?

    Providing smart answers to these questions will greatly determine how to budget for renovation project and also determine exactly what you need to prepare to make this renovation.

    In short, this is part of the planning process which greatly determines what you will spend, how you’ll spend, and for how long this renovation project will take.

    2) Designer And Architectural Fees

    The designer and architectural fees simply talk about the architect’s fees taken to design houses and provide other valuable services for homeowners. Although most of these architectural firms have different names for residential architectural fee packages.

    So, for every renovation, the designer and architectural fees must strictly be considered. Most clients are advised to engage their architects to provide a minimum of Tier 5 services. Reason being that very few of them have the knowledge on how to deal with contractor bidding.

    It could possibly be the most expensive effort during the renovation process, nor to deeply understand the environmental implication of what they are seeing being carried out during the construction or renovation.

    The truth is, these designer and architectural fees being paid to an architect to provide the renovation design are really worth the price and can make a very big difference between a properly build or renovated project for the best reasonable price and disaster.

    3) Required Permits And City Fees For The Job

    Required permits and city fees for remodeling
    Surprised home owner with city permit fees.

    Each city has its own renovation permit and city fee. Depending on the level of the renovation project at hand, and your state, all necessary dues and city fees in this regard must be dully paid before the commencement of the renovation exercise.

    Following the building Code Act in your state, a building permit is being required by the government for the construction of an additional building, a new building, an alteration, a renovation, or for building a structure over 10 meters square.

    Before freaking out about how to budget home renovation city fees, contact municipality and ask them about associated fees with work you are planning.

    4) Cost To Move

    The entire moving process is actually more expensive than you might think, with all sorts of little moving costs that will eventually add up and take a big bite out of your wallet – unless you plan ahead.

    While preparing for the renovation process, you need to consider how much it takes to move your furniture in and out of your home.

    The moving process is usually more expensive than you might think, with different little moving that will eventually add up and take a big portion of your wallet.

    If you have a whole lot of furniture to move plus other items, hiring a professional moving company might really be a good idea, at least, to handle your stuff for you. Although rates will vary depending on the items you are moving, but in most cases, you get exactly what you pay for.

    5) Living Expenses During The Renovation

    Making an extra commitment for a major renovation in your home is a decision you don’t have to take lightly at all.

    One of the major decisions you have to weigh up is whether to stay at home during the course of the renovation or whether to make room for a temporary accommodation arrangement.

    Either way, you need to really prepare yourself for one of the major stressful and inconvenient times of your life. But the truth is, you must prepare some money to arrange for other living expenses during the renovation and other temporary rental fees.

    6) Budgeting For Appliances

    It is very important that you make budget for appliances before you press the button to open the flood gate of several months of consistent expenses, project management, noise, dust, mess, and tradesmen, things might go wrong while the moving company is packing your furniture and other appliances out before the renovation, and back after the renovation has been completed.

    7) Renovation Costs And Options

    It’s very important that you budget for the entire renovation cost before the start of the renovation process. So, we advise that you to be realistic on how to budget home renovation process and the standard material finishes that will be needed after the completion of the project.

    The truth is, a renovation project will always set you back more than you earlier bargained for. There will be rusted pipelines, leaks, and other luxuries and material finishes which you need begin to notice at the start of the renovation project, leading to extra expenses.

    The best way to adequately plan for unforeseen expenses and the total renovation cost is to add about 20% to 25% to the total renovation cost you have already made.

    8) Additional Work And Feature Items

    Additional work and feature item costs
    Man confused with extra costs added to the project.

    Most of remodeling projects have some sort of additional or unexpected costs involved. There are several reasons for not including some scope of work and paying extra at the very end.

    The first reason that we see very often is due to home owners or clients asking for additional items throughout the job, that they did not think of before. Remodeling projects last several month and there is plenty of new things you can think of.

    Building inspector may order some extra work to be done for safety or code measures. If you have inexperienced contractor or manage project by yourself these could be costly mistakes.

    Concluding On How To Budget Home Renovation

    Before committing to the job, be sure of know how much it costs in details. If your builder or renovation company charges by percentage as management of trades, we recommend getting familiar with local costs.

    Our team has plenty of articles on how much certain renovation projects or specific trade work costs. For additional assistance, contact our team by email.

    How Much Does Basement Underpinning Cost?

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    How much does basement underpinning costs
    Full explanation of costs to underpin and lower basement space

    Average house with common basement of 800 sq ft and 6 feet height costs around $60 000 for underpinning and increase overall height to full 8 or even 9 feet. That work includes full excavation with underpinning, waterproofing and sump pump installation for flood protection.

    Many houses built in throughout the country have basements with very low ceiling height. Throughout years we have adapted our services to needs of home owners who need to increase overall height to 8 or even 9 feet for comfortable living and enjoyment of the space. Average time to finish basement is 6-7 weeks after lowering is done. Local companies like Rock Basements can analyze project onsite and give more details on how much basement underpinning costs with waterproofing and other protective measures.

    The process requires specific machinery, materials and heavy man labor. To understand involved costs in the process of lowering your basement we have divided job into small steps with approximate costs.

    These prices will not be exact and may differ from one project to another. For more detailed quote please contact us directly.

    Underpinning of walls – $300 per linear foot

    Each house has load bearing walls that hold entire structure. These walls go below concrete floor and have footings.  Basement underpinning process is literally excavating and extending support walls with new footings. The basement walls are divided in 3 or sometimes 4 stages of sections. Every section is between 2 and 4 feet.

    Our job is to excavate all sections that are #1 with new concrete poured. It gets inspected by city official and similar process can be continued for next sections of the wall. Average wall is estimated to cost $300 per linear foot to extend and underpin.

    Basement Slab – $20 per square foot

    After all walls are extended down, middle of the basement has to be excavated to similar height. In most situations machinery cannot be brought down inside the house. It takes several weeks to manually dig all dirt with concrete. Dirt belt is directed throughout the basement window to easy the process of carrying outside what was dug out.

    When excavated to the right depth, we need to put new gravel, insulation layer and pour new concrete slab. While digging process is calculated with labor of underpinning the walls, new slab with required materials will cost $20 per square foot of your new concrete basement floor.

    New drains with sump pump – $6000 per job

    New drains with sump pump in underpinning
    Installation of sump pump and back flow prevention.

    Under floor in basement each house has drain pipes that connect to city lines. They take everything that gets flushed down from sinks, toilets and showers through stack pipes into the floor drains. While excavating and lowering basement floor these pipes are replaces and new drains are installed.

    Sump pump is suggested for all basement work in risk of floods. Home owners will get rebate from the city for installation of sump pumps and backwater valves. All pipes are tested and inspected before covered with gravel and concrete to finish the job. Approximate costs for this stage of work are $6000.

    Demolition

    Normally basements have some sort of finish before work. Basement underpinning companies may offer separate quotation for demolition and disposal of basement walls, floors and everything else to completely clear it.

    Another option is to hire demo contractors ahead of time and save a little bit of money that way. It includes not only exterior walls and floor, but everything else within the basement. Drywall, framing, insulation, loose wires, drain stack and other things that were built previously now have to go.

    Direct cost form demolition company can be within $4-$7 per square foot. The costs include disposal of material with construction bins.

    Home owners that want to save a buck, we recommend doing the work by yourself. It will take several weekends of free time, but there is nothing complicated in demolition. Be careful with disconnecting electrical lines, shut off main water valve and gas line before you start swinging with hammer.

    Additional costs

    Additional costs when underpinning basement walls
    Removing posts and adding beams during underpinning.

    Other scope of work may increase overall costs for your basement underpinning. There are many factors and the best evaluation will be at the location of the job.

    Beams – in wide basements middle concrete wall may act a support for main floor. To take it out and make open concept basement, metal beam is installed.

    Basement Walk Out – to create separate entrance for new living space in basement some home owners decide to create basement walkout.

    Depth of Basement – some existing basement have height less than 6 feet and to excavate more soil it costs more.

    Limited Access – downtown housing is very condensed and some houses do have private driveways for disposal bins and concrete truck access.

    Remediation – often enough there could be substances like asbestos, lead or mold behind the walls. All of these require lab testing and remediation by licensed company.

    Temporary services – option to live inside of house during underpinning project is not only dangerous, but also very costly. Connections for washrooms, furnace and kitchen need to be temporary connected for time of work.

    Conclusion for Basement Underpinning Costs

    Lowering level of your house deeper into soil and extending foundational walls is not for everyone. The work itself is very hard and costly. Some homes cost more than companies would charge to underpin it.

    Although $60 000 work can be justified by high living cost area such as New York or Seattle, where most of small houses cost north of a million dollars.

    Another motivator for spending all these money for home underpinning is increasing living space and trying to avoid moving to another place.

    On Point Remodeling listed average basic costs for underpinning of basic structure house. This changes from city to city and can go significantly higher and in some cases lower.

    Average Cost to Build House per Square Foot

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    Custom built home cost per square foot
    Discussing design and costs of new home construction.

    All of home buyers have at one point thought of building a custom home instead of purchasing house with realtor. What always stops from proceeding research and going deeper into considering new home construction is time and costs. But how much actually is average cost to build house per square foot with builders and without?

    Instead of saying it all depends we want to break down all stages of custom home construction and provide average costs for labor and materials. We want to remind our readers that On Point Remodeling used national average costs for contractors and only one type of material that is considered standard for custom home.

    We broke down costs for:

    • Custom Home Exterior Costs during Construction
    • Interior Work and Finishes Cost per Square Foot
    • Expenses for Necessary Documents and Permits
    • Main City Connections and Disconnects
    • How Much Does Builder Charge on Top
    • Supervising Custom Home Project by Yourself
    • Total Average Cost to Build House per Square Foot

    Highly reputable builder charge more than other and materials selected for home can cost way more than we averaged. For those interested in specific design new home construction, we provide architectural plans for custom homes of all types and sizes.

    All costs are based on national average labor and material for 3000 sq ft home.

    Custom Home Exterior Costs during Construction

    Custom Home exterior costs
    Modern Home finished with brick and natural stone

    Each step of construction project varies in prices. Material difference in cost and quality is one of the factors, but do not forget about difficulty of the job. Even demolition or excavation could have levels of difficulty. For example before construction there is a shed that has to be demolished probably with small bobcat. This would be considered as easy demolition and disposal part of the job. Imagine same lot but with 2 story brick structure that requires several days of work by dozer and excavator with 30 truck loads of disposal. This is an example of difficult and expensive demolition part of project.

    Cheap/EasyAverageExpensive/Difficult
    Demolition$4 000$16 000$34 000
    Excavation$6 000$11 000$23 000
    Protection$0$24 000$41 000
    Foundation & Footings$13 500$21 000$37 000
    Stairs & Walkout$2 500$8 000$14 000
    Walls (frame/blocks/concrete…)$41 000$68 000$92 000
    Facade$17 000$29 000$70 000
    Roofing$8 400$12 000$21 500
    Eaves/gutters/fascia$3 000$5 500$11 000
    Windows & Doors$13 000$22 000$46 000
    All costs are based on national average labor and material for 3000 sq ft home

    Some projects have more or less exterior surface and the numbers are never exact. The same project can have 20% difference between estimates from different contractors. Our table is more educational than guidance for exact costs. For exact costs, contact our team and find out how much to budget for your new home.

    Cheap/EasyAverageExpensive/Difficult
    Heating$9 000$21 000$41 000
    Plumbing and Fixtures$11 000$17 000$26 000
    Electrical and Fixtures$14 000$22 000$34 000
    Insulation$0$13 000$28 000
    Drywall/taping$15 000$27 000$36 000
    Stairs$0$8 000$26 000
    Railings$0$4 000$16 000
    Tiles$6 000$11 000$17 000
    Flooring$9 000$15 000$10 000
    Doors$3 500$9 500$16 000
    Casings & baseboards$2 000$7 500$13 000
    Painting$8 000$12 000$22 000
    Stain$0$3 000$11 000
    Glass showers $1 500$3 000$6 000
    Kitchen Cabinets$16 000$31 000$80 000
    Vanities$2 500$5 000$9 000
    Appliances$10 000$16 000$33 000
    All costs are based on national average labor and material for 3000 sq ft home.

    Biggest variation in custom home project is the cost of materials home owners select. Visit our shop for trendy fixtures for new custom homes. As average cost to build house per square foot varies, our dedicated team can help you price specific project with details you want.

    Expenses for Necessary Documents and Permits

    Before construction of new custom home, owner or builder must apply to municipality for their approval for construction. The application is different everywhere, and most sophisticated regions regulate home construction with tons of restrictions and guidance.

    Developing cities have equal game for everyone who wants to build and create guidelines which builders and architects must follow. It starts with architects and engineers creating drawings with all sorts of details that municipality needs to see.

    There are other parties that are involved in process to obtain approval from the city to start.

    Normally those include:

    • New Construction Survey – specifies boundaries of lot with details
    • Arborist Report – specialists specify trees and other forestry
    • Architectural Drawings – drawings of house with engineering structural details
    • Mechanical Drawings – drawing and calculations of heating system for new home
    • Environmental Report – air samples and lab test for designated substances
    • Drain and Plumbing Permit – approved plumbing and drain lines
    • Demolition Permit – in case you need to demolish existing house
    • Building Permit – main document for construction of the house or building

    Simplest regions may need only a package that you can purchase online with application fee to city, with overall costs below $5000. High populated cities with more competition will require all above listed items with overall costs of up to $50 000 for 3000 sq ft home.

    This brings us to average of $9 / sq ft for documents and permits.

    Main City Connections and Disconnects

    So this all starts from your property type and lot. Rural area construction can be on very empty lot that does not have any sort of connection. It’s typically a south ranch or log home in woods. Building new home in those areas does not require any disconnection before construction, but may need new connections unless the house will be completely independent. Service lines are always overlooked when budgeting and calculating custom build home cost per square foot.

    We list most of necessary steps, but they do not always apply to all projects.

    Electrical Disconnect/Temporary Station/New Connection – demolition of new home with electrical line needs it to be disconnected all the way at municipality. Some builders prefer to set up temporary poles instead of constant use of generator.

    Water Disconnect and New Line – do not forget to disconnect water line before you demolish existing place. New bigger homes require complete upgrade of water line to 1 inch line and new drain system. Urban city may charge several thousand and rural areas can use a well.

    Drain Lines for House – Digging hole and installing large pipe underground is very costly procedures. These costs can go as high as $20 000 +

    Gas Disconnect and New Line – if your house is heated with gas that goes from some sort of main line, book disconnection ahead of time. New line is suggested after house is build. This can be for home furnace system, gas stone and even barbeque.

    Overall costs can go up to $40 000 and it does not matter how big your home is. It all depends on difficulty of connections and distance from main city lines. Minimum costs are at 0, bringing our average to $20 000 or just shy of $7 per square foot.

    How Much Does Builder Charge on Top

    Hiring building should automatically mean that he or his company will be making money for time and work builder provides for you. How much should home owner expect to pay builder for custom home construction?

    Flat fee for project management can be arranged with solo home builder or construction company. Entire project is roughly estimated for cost, complexity and time completion and builder decides how much he wants to charge on top.

    In this option with regular complexity project you should expect to be charged within 8% – 15% range of the cost. Projects $700,000 – $1,500,000 can be arranged for flat fee of $100,000.

    Percentage base management by builder is one of the most popular ways to work in home construction industry. It protects builders and assures their payment if project increases overall costs and has luxury add-ons in later stages.

    Each company has their standard percentage that includes management of the job as well as overheads and profit. On average it is 15% of the labor and material cost, but larger homes that go above several million can be negotiated down to 10%.

    Firm cost for project is the last way of payment for new homes. It has exact amount from start to end and does not ever change once agreed. These projects have to be discussed to exact details and scope of work. Drawings and 10-20 pages of scope of work is included in contract.

    It protects home owners or clients from price ever going up till the end of job. Because of high risk from home builder guaranteeing set cost for a year of time ahead, the charge included is higher than all other payments. When calculating entire project, builders add close to 20% of their fees in case of miscellaneous items and other unexpected expenses.

    For the purpose of our topic On Point Remodeling takes 15% as the fee for builders.

    Other Costs and Miscellaneous Items

    Other miscellaneous items
    Waste of materials and floor protection.

    Building new home is never smooth and easy going job. There will always be problems; issues on jobsite, weather condition that slow work, and theft of materials that increase overall costs. Our team wants to list most common items for unexpected expenses for home builders and educate their clients.

    Under calculated materials – each work needs waste to be included in calculation. They get damaged in the process and sometimes even stolen from jobsite. In ideal situation we always take into consideration that 10% extra will be needed for all materials.

    Constant clean up – throughout the home construction cleaning needs to be performed multiple times. Most or even all trades have to be cleaning after themselves, but we guarantee that things will be overlooked and third party cleaning services will be used.

    Waste disposal – keepings things in order and clean on site, requires construction waste bins to be places and available for every trade. Carpenters, framers, drywallers and literally every trade has tons of rough and finishing materials that go to waste and end up in bin.

    Supervisor – larger construction projects require supervision at all times. This is not included in project management fees from builder company. Smaller jobs can be controlled by project manager and you avoid extra fees.

    Increase of costs – unless you agreed on set price for the job, the costs of materials and labor go up down the road. Remember that from budget set up to last day of home construction can be a year or even longer.

    Recommended estimate for extra costs is 10% of home costs that you set up on day 1.

    Total Average Cost to Build House per Square Foot Finalized

    Total costs of custom home per square foot
    Overall costs for building home.

    After you have experienced the process of new home construction there you realize there is no magic number for calculation average costs. During selection of items for the house every item is unique and can be selected for any budget.

    Our job is to educate readers about all steps and how much they cost for labor with local material costs. We are sure that all of you can find cheaper and more expensive items that we have listed.

    Summing up all the steps in new home construction of 3000 sq ft gives us average cost of $176 per square foot. Every house is different and numbers fluctuate. Some projects do not require complicated steps and permits, while others can be distant from main suppliers and delivering materials or hiring professionals costs more.

    For those of you who have project in mind and are looking for exact costs, our estimators can help out. Email us with request and we will write back with all details we need in order to calculate your project.

    How to Create Bathroom Safety for Kids

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    Bathroom safety for kids
    Basic principles of how to keep children safe in the bathroom.

    Caring for the well-being of children is very important to parents. We try to keep them safe in everything and the bathroom is no exception. A lot of things we use daily can be harmful if misused.

    Since we cannot always keep track of every step of our children, it is worth taking care of their safety. Here is a list of things that will make finding more bathroom safety for kids.

    10 Recommendations for Children Safety in Bathroom:

    • Get Rid of Electrical Appliances
    • Use Non-slip Floor and Shower Materials
    • Hide Toxic or Reactive Fluids
    • Store Medicines in the Medicine Cabinet
    • Install Grab Bars in Tub and Shower Doors
    • Create Bathroom without Sharp Edges
    • Choose the Right Non-slip Tile
    • Electrical Plug Covers for all Sockets
    • Prevent taps Opening with Secured Faucets
    • Install Safety Lids for Toilet

    Remodeling on point invites you to consider each point in detail and find out what dangers may be hidden in things we are used to.

    1.Get Rid of Electrical Appliances

    The right use of electrical appliances in bathroom safety for kids is an integral part of the modern world. These can be toothbrushes, hairdryers, razors, and much more. These devices are harmless for adults, but not for children.

    Improper use of electrical appliances can cause burns or wounds in children. No one can guarantee that one day your child will not pick up a razor. By imitating their parents, children do not understand that they can harm themselves.

    If you have small children in your home, then you should make sure that all electrical appliances are inaccessible. Set aside a separate box for them, preferably at a height where the child cannot reach. You can also use special latches so that the child cannot open it.

    2.Use Non-slip Floor and Shower Materials

    Children are much more mobile than adults when taking a bath or shower. Falling in the shower can cause serious injury and should be avoided. It is worth taking care that the floor in the shower area or bathroom is not slippery.

    While teaching your child you will teach him about safe behavior, but you shouldn’t stop there. Nowadays, many special materials do not slip in water. The rugs made of them will be comfortable for both children and you.

     3.Hide Toxic or Reactive Fluids

    Reactive fluids in availability
    Keep toxic liquids out of reach.

    It is also worth taking care of the correct storage of hygiene products and cosmetics. Many cosmetics and hygiene products are harmful to the body if they enter the stomach. Children are interested in everything, and there should not be liquids in a conspicuous place that they can drink or spill on themselves.

    Make it a rule that everything should be under control. Where the child can reach, there should be nothing dangerous to his health.

    Everyone understands that the convenience of adults is also important and there are several solutions. For example, storage of hygiene products in a wall-in cabinet above the sink. The child will not get there, and you will not have to search the entire bathroom for the bottle you need.

    4.Store Medicines in the Medicine Cabinet

    Medicines, like hygiene products, need to be handled correctly. When planning renovations in the bathroom, allocate a special place for them. Most styles use medicine cabinets that look harmonious and are always at hand.

    Due to their location, they are inaccessible to children, which means that the child cannot harm himself. If the situation arises that it is not possible to establish a safe storage place for medicine, remove it to another room. Just take what you need with you to the bathtub and store it in a protected place after use.

    Remember that the health of children is much more important, and it is not difficult to take these steps to protect them.

    5.Install Grab Bars in Tub and Shower Doors

    Bathroom safety grab bars
    Handrails for safe use of the toilet by a child.

    Installing handrails can be useful not only for children but also for adults. It is very convenient when you are taking a bath or shower. The handrails will ensure both yours and the safety of children, which is also important.

    6.Create Bathroom without Sharp Edges

    When planning a new bathroom safety for kids, think about which style to choose. If you have children, it is preferable to choose a style with fewer sharp edges. Use a rounded shower area layout

    You can also choose a semicircular sink. Many elegant bathroom fittings are considered safer for children.

    If you have chosen a strict style of furniture, do not get upset and worry. There are special silicone corner protectors. With the help of them, you will protect your child and can give individuality to your furniture.

    7.Choose the Right Non-slip Tile

    Tiles are the main flooring in the bathroom. This is due to its resistance to water, which is sometimes very abundant in the bathroom. The materials from which it can be made differently, and it is worth choosing less slippery ones.

    Take a closer look at natural stone tiles. Its natural texture can be slightly roughened for less slip. Moving on such a tile, when it is wet, you will not feel like on ice.

    If you don’t plan on doing renovations anytime soon, you can use special bathroom rugs. They are pleasant to the touch and perfectly absorb moisture. Even after long splashing in the bathroom, your child will be able to move around without slipping.

    8.Electrical Plug Covers for all Sockets

    Electrical plug covers
    Protect electrical outlets in the bathroom.

    We’ve already recommended that you be careful with electrical appliances, but don’t forget about the power supply points. Make sure that special protective covers are installed on electrical outlets.

    This device will protect children from electric shock because children love to touch everything they can reach with their fingers. Also, the outlets will be protected from direct water ingress. This is certainly not one hundred percent protection, but the chance of shorting the wires will be minimized.

    9.Prevent taps Opening with Secured Faucets

    A great bathroom solution is to install secured faucets. This type of crane is rather difficult for a small child. This small improvement will prevent you from accidentally opening the tap. With taps tightly closed, you will avoid accidental flooding that you might not like.

    10.Install Safety Lids for Toilet

    Someone would not want to see his little child splashing around in the toilet. Protection from harmful bacteria is important at such an early age. There are special tools to help you do this.

    Special locks for the toilet lid or fasteners blocking its opening. Such a trifle installed on the lid will make it impossible for a child to fall into the toilet. Also, he will not be able to throw any garbage or things there.

    The main function of these devices is to protect the child from injury and to reduce potential risks to the healthy growth of the child. Remember that not all threats can be seen and you need to know about it.

    Conclusion about Bathroom Safety for Kids

    The safe stay of children in the home should be one of the most important rules for each parent. Keep all electrical appliances and hygiene products out of the reach of children. Make the most bathroom safety for kids and comfortable stay in it for their health and your peace of mind.

    On Point Remodeling has provided some tips on how to get it all set up. Perhaps you have already seen some of this information from your friends, but something has become new information for you. If you think that this topic will be useful to your friends, be sure to share it.

    9 Ways for Small Kitchen Decorating

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    Create more space in small kitchen
    Small kitchen with correct furniture positioning

    Decorating is an essential part of any room in your home. The decor includes not only decorations but also various functional details. For example, in the kitchen, a table, chairs, and any other furniture can be decorative.

    When it comes to small kitchens, limited space is an important consideration. If there is a mess in the kitchen, then it will be inconvenient for you to cook and just move around it. When we talk about the clutter in the kitchen, we mean incorrect positioning and unnecessary furniture.

    • Using One-Wall Layout
    • Hanging Utensil Rack for Kitchen
    • Wall-mounted Exhaust Hood
    • Hideaway Furniture
    • Decor Table and Chairs for Small Kitchen
    • Dark Small Kitchen Decorating
    • Wood Plank with Metal Hooks
    • Canvas Art Print
    • Decorative Shelf with Jugs

    There are many ways to make your small kitchen decorating aesthetically pleasing. Let’s take a closer look at the points above.

    1.Using One-Wall Layout

    Small kitchens decorating are often used in homes with small families or as an additional kitchen. In either case, it is not intended to be used in large quantities. The best option for a small kitchen would be using a one-wall layout.

    This option for planning kitchen furniture does not take up much space, which will benefit you. You can fill the remaining free space with additional functional or decorative items.

    The placement of a small kitchen table for two or three people is perfect. And on the remaining free wall, a TV or various decorative elements can be placed.

    2.Hanging Utensil Rack for Kitchen

    Fruit in pots in the kitchen
    Convenient placement of kitchen utensils saves space

    Storing utensils in the kitchen takes up a lot of space. Because of this, many people install additional vanities along the walls. Although this method is quite functional, it is still not very convenient in a small kitchen.

    If you want to achieve more free space, then On Point Remodeling advises paying attention to hanging utensil racks. This fixture is wall-mounted just like vanities but doesn’t take up much space.

    Hanging utensil rack will create more free space, as well as give convenience in cooking. The presence of shelves of various sizes will allow you to conveniently store everything you use. You can always have on hand plates, mugs, and everything that you place on these shelves. You no longer have to open all cabinets in search of spices or pot lids.

    These shelves can be completely different and you can choose what you like. When choosing a model, it is important that it matches the style of your kitchen and can accommodate items that you often use.

    3.Wall-mounted Exhaust Hood

    Steam and smoke can be generated during cooking, so good ventilation in the kitchen is essential. In every house nowadays, an exhaust hood is installed above the stove. They are useful for both convenience and safety.

    Fitting a standard exhaust hood for a small kitchen can be inconvenient due to its size. Since every feet count, a wall-mounted exhaust hood should be considered. It will take up much less space and will allow you to place a shelf or any decorative detail above it.

    A wall-mounted exhaust hood can itself look like a decorative item. On Amazon, you can find many different looks in both modern and other styles. When choosing appliances for the kitchen, remember that it can also be beautiful and stylish.

    4.Install Hideaway Furniture

    Furniture takes up most of any room and the kitchen is no exception. In a small kitchen, it makes sense to use functional furniture. It will save a lot of free space.

    Hideaway furniture can be completely varied. Drawers will be very convenient to use. Also, hideaway furniture includes the use of backless bar stools, which can be easily removed under the table. And drop-down, wall-mounted cutting boards or tables are easy to operate and invisible.

    5.Decor Table and Chairs for Small Kitchen

    Classic kitchen with patterned tiles
    Different ways to use decor in the kitchen

    Small kitchens rarely have a lot of space. But still, you can place a small table on them where you can drink coffee or have dinner with a couple of people. These tables can also be an excellent decorative element.

    There is a huge selection of such tables for the kitchen. They come in round, square, and other shapes. They are also made from many types of materials, so everyone can choose what he likes.

    Kitchen tables may be sold complete with chairs. In this case, the complete set will be available to you. If you plan to order an individual table, you will have to think over the shape of both the table and the chairs. You can ask your interior designer for advice on this matter.

    Small kitchen tables are not always used for eating. They can be a full-fledged decorative element. In this case, a vase of flowers or a fruit basket is placed on them. This decor element looks very impressive.

    6.Dark Small Kitchen Decorating Ideas

    Wall art in kitchen
    Dark furniture and decor add contrast to the small kitchen

    The color scheme in a room often depends on the style you choose. But there is nothing to limit you and you can choose the color of the walls, tiles, and furniture as you like. Of course, the combination of colors matters, but in general there is nothing to limit you.

    If you decide to use dark colors in your kitchen, there is one important thing to remember. Lighter colors visually expand the room and dark ones vice versa. Therefore, when choosing colors in a small kitchen, we would advise using lighter shades to make it appear larger.

    If you feel like it, you can opt for darker colors for vanities and countertops. They can go well with light-colored walls. If you are installing additional decorative elements, then shelves made of dark wood are perfect for you.

    These combinations will help to bring dark shades in a small kitchen without affecting its visual perception.

    7.Wood Plank with Metal Hooks

    The decor is used to create beauty and comfort in the room, but it is also convenient when it is functional. One such example is wall planks with hooks. They come in many different shapes and are most commonly used to store coffee cups.

    They can also be used to store pans, pots, and other kitchen utensils. Wood plank with metal hooks come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Choosing this type of functional decor, rely on what will be stored on these hooks.

    8.Canvas Art Print

    Fine art elements are always a great decorative element of any room. If you like to enjoy the paintings, then you can safely hang a couple of pieces in your small kitchen decorating.

    In most cases, paintings are selected according to the preferences of the owner, but there are several standards. In the kitchen, most of all there are still lifes and landscapes with open spaces. This type of paintings is suitable for classic kitchen styles. For an industrial style, you can pick up something from modern art in many directions.

    Don’t forget about safety in the kitchen. The paint in the paintings is highly flammable, so you shouldn’t hang them near the stove. And in order not to stain the picture with splashes, it is better to keep it away from the surfaces on which you are cooking. Choose a free wall for the picture opposite the kitchen table where it will be safe and you can admire it over a cup of coffee.

    9.Decorative Shelves for Kitchen

    Wooden kitchen with open shelves
    Decorative shelves create extra storage space

    The decorative shelf has been a common decorative element for many years. They are used not only in kitchens but also in other rooms. The shelves are made from different types of wood. They may also have decorative patterns or metal inserts.

    The shelves themselves serve for the most part as a stand for other types of decor. These include various types of flowerpots, glass and ceramic jugs, and more.

    This type of decor is convenient in that it does not require a lot of free space. They can be installed between vanities or on a free wall. It also looks great when there are several of them in a combined composition. The terms of use of decorative shelves are great for small kitchens with limited space.

    Conclusion

    Small kitchen decorating ideas can be of different types. It can be expressed both in functional furniture and in decorative elements inherent in the chosen style. Do not worry that if your home has a small kitchen, then there is no way to make it decorative and beautiful.

    The above examples are only a part of the possible ones to use. Every year new ideas come and new styles are created. Try experimenting and improving your home. The main thing is that you feel comfortable and pleasant to spend time in each of the rooms.

    And for those who have doubts about the choice, On Point Remodeling recommends that you seek help from an interior designer. An experienced specialist will be happy to help you choose the decor elements for your kitchen.

    How to Hire a Contractor for Bathroom Remodel

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    Hiring company for bathroom remodeling
    How to choose the right company for bathroom renovation.

    Having a renovation in your house or a separate part of it, the first question is which company to turn to? Many people are worried about the repairs going well, but they do not know who to entrust this work to. On Point Remodeling will share with you tips on how to choose a company to renovate your bathroom.

    There are several common methods for finding a company that provides the services you need.

    • Ask Friends and Family about
    • Local Company Working on Your Street
    • Local Directories of Renovation Companies
    • Find a Company Site with Google Search
    • Get a Minimum of 3 Estimates Hiring
    • Get Referrals or Current Jobs
    • Agree on all Terms
    • Have Written Contract

    Let’s take a closer look at all the possible options for finding a company to renovate your bathroom. We will also discuss the important stages affecting the quality of the work performed.

    1.Ask Friends and Family about

    First of all, we always learn the information from our friends. Finding contractors for an upcoming renovation is no exception. Try to remember which of your friends or family had recent renovation projects.

    It often happens that we hear such information in an ordinary conversation. People always express their opinion about what is happening in their lives, and renovation in the house is quite an interesting event.

    After asking your friends, you can get the necessary information and maybe even get a couple of options for companies for the upcoming bathroom renovation. This will be the first step in the upcoming election.

    2.Local Company Working on Your Street

    If it so happens that in your social circle you have not received the necessary information, do not be upset. As with any business, construction companies display many billboards.

    Repair work is carried out constantly and possibly even on your street or on the way to work. You can contact the company that repairs by taking the contact information from the banner. If you wish, you can even walk up and talk to the workers so that they can refer you to the person who is in charge on the project.

    The advantage of this way of finding a company for upgrading your bathroom is live communication. You will immediately be able to understand many important factors, and most importantly, will you like working with these people. With this method of searching for a company for repair, you can also ask to show you the object that is currently being renovated. This will allow you to see the quality of the work of the company’s employees and learn about many details.

    3.Local Directories of Renovation Companies

    Local directories store a list of companies providing certain services. Nowadays, they are easier to find on the Internet. On these sites, companies themselves register their pages with a description of the services provided, work experience, and their location.

    The convenience of this method lies in the fact that by setting the necessary parameters in the search, you will receive many accurate results. When choosing a company, follow the usual methods, read the information about the company in detail, and look at the provided photos.

    This type of search for a bathroom renovation company is very popular and practical. If you liked some of the found companies, try to contact them for further conversation and meeting.

    4.Find Company Site with Google Search

    Find remodeling сompany site
    Search with Google for a bathroom renovation company.

    A hiring company for upgrading your bathroom on the Internet is considered the most convenient. This is because you do not need to go anywhere, and all the information is on your computer screen or phone. Every good construction company has its website.

    On the company’s website, you can see all the information you need. This list includes what the company does, what work experience it has, and in which region they work. It also contains all the necessary contact information to contact the company representatives.

    You can also see photos of the work performed on the company’s website. But you should treat these photos with caution and do not base the choice of company for upgrading your bathroom only on them. The problem may be that the photographs of the work performed may not belong to this company, but simply be an example downloaded from the Internet.

    5.Get a Minimum of 3 Estimates

    After trying many ways to find information about bathroom renovation companies, you are sure to be interested in someone. But do not rush and choose the very first company with which you talk on the phone.

    Make an appointment and have a company representative evaluate the upcoming work in your bathroom. Listen to what he will tell you and what advice he will give. Having estimated the required scope of work, the company within a few days can provide information on the estimated budget that will be needed for your repair. This is very important information to remember.

    After that, it is worth conducting a similar process at least two more times, but with representatives of other companies of your choice. By comparing the information received from several companies, it will be easier for you to understand which of them you would like to cooperate with the most.

    6.Get Referrals or Current Jobs

    The best way to find out about the quality of a renovation company is the project they have done live. It doesn’t matter which way you found a contractor, ask a company representative about this opportunity. Professionals have projects all the time, regardless of bathroom sizes and complexity of job, and maybe they can invite you to where the renovation is currently taking place.

    You can communicate with the workers of the company without distracting them from the process. Assess their attitude to work, how responsible and experienced they are.

    Communication with a company representative is also very important. This is the person through whom you convey your thoughts and desires, therefore it is easier to work with someone with whom you are comfortable.

    7.Agree on all Terms

    So you have decided on the company that suits you. The next stage is to discuss all the conditions for the upcoming repair. Try to disassemble all possible processes in as much detail as possible.

    In most cases, a company representative will discuss important issues with you himself. These include the design, the estimate for the work provided, the start and end time of work.

    Ask all the questions that interest you. This will help you more clearly articulate your idea of ​​how everything should be done. Additional information will never be superfluous and will help to avoid unpleasant situations.

    8.Have Written Contract

    Writen remodeling contract
    Remodeling contract should be carefully documented.

    Any work contract should be carefully documented and repair services are no exception. Remember that verbal agreements do not weigh on disputes.

    The contract must be written in detail to avoid problems. Each side must be aware of the extent of its responsibility. The company providing services agrees to the terms of work and the terms of its implementation, and you, as a customer, to the cost of services and the procedure for payments

    The contract may contain small details that are individual for each project. Read all clauses of the contract carefully before signing. Once you agree to the terms, it is very difficult to make changes that suit both parties.

    Conclusion

    Finally, we want to take stock of how to hire a contractor for bathroom remodel. Based on the above, certain conclusions can be drawn. The main thing in finding a company to perform work is not the way of searching. You can use the advice of friends or find a company on the Internet, or try all the options presented.

     It is important to remember the criteria when choosing a company, the quality of work performed, communication skills, and a responsible approach to clients. Try to conclude a contract consciously, looking at several options, and weighing the pros and cons.

    Be sure to discuss all questions about the upcoming repair, make an estimate, and sign a contract. Having clear documentation will help you to argue when you have any disagreements with companies.

     

    How to Find a Contractor for Home Addition Work

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    Second floor added by contractor
    Home completely renovated and second floor addition in progress.

    A home addition is a great method of building a perfect home equity coupled with the fact that it brings beauty around your home.

    A home addition is not always the type to do with the DIY method. It is always necessary to hire a professional contractor to get this done.

    Apart from the fact that having a contractor for your home addition gives it a more professional look, it also saves you a whole lot of money and time since you don’t have to waste a whole lot of time and money trying to fix it yourself.

    Remember, one of the reasons for home addition is to enhance the beauty of your home which can only be possible when you hire a professional contractor. A major problem most people face is how to find a contractor for home addition that is reliable and competent.

    Getting a service of a professional contractor to handle your home addition project is the best way to carry out major home improvement in your home.

    Hiring a contractor to handle your home addition simply means that you are trying saving yourself a whole lot of stress. They understand the best designs that fit your free space, and they are good at giving a precise and accurate measurement for your projects.

    We wanted to list few steps for finding contractor for home addition for home owners to go smoother with their project:

    • Where to Find Contractor for Home Addition
    • Which Contactors you Need for Renovation
    • Which Criteria Should Contractors Have
    • Proper Agreement with Right Company

    Recall that converting a basement or handling a home addition project requires that it must be designed, constructed, managed and supervised to specifications. All building projects or home improvement must be able to meet the set standards which must be adhere to strictly.

    Contractors understand the specifications and standards required for home addition project, and they are great at bringing your ideas into reality. In short, the very best decision any homeowner can take for home addition in their property is to hire the service of a professional contractor to handle this job.

    Hiring a bathroom contractor is by far easier than for an addition, simply because of increased scope of work and whole house responsibility for duration of project.

    Where to Find Contractors for Home Addition

    Online – this method of looking for workers or companies to complete your project is the most popular. There are thousands of websites with company ratings, portfolio and referral work contractors. Home owners need to search carefully for candidates before interviewing them, because there are many scammers out there.

    Through Friends – if you have friends that recently did similar job and loved the company the dealt with, it should an easy pick for you. Referral work has been out there for thousands of years and it is always good to deal with recommended by close friend contractors.

    On Jobsites – there is tons of work in every city. Simply by driving around in your neighborhood home owners can spot similar projects being completed. Do not hesitate to walk up to them and ask if they can estimate your work.

    Through On Point Remodeling – we have suggested contractors and home addition companies that work in every region. Our designers created plans and hired many times professionals that we can recommend for your project.

    Which Contractors You Need for Renovation?

    Which contractors you need for renovation and home addition
    Each contractor has specific specialty and experience in different trade.

    The first significant step is to decide and analyze which type of contractor you really want. You must figure out the type of contractor during the planning process. Are you hiring a professional contractor for this project or a roadside contractor?

    Depending on your budget, getting a professional contractor will make a whole lot of sense in achieving your long-term beautifully designed home addition. Some of the roadside contractors are usually known to be showing up late at sites, offering shoddy services, and leaving the project site too early.

    One of the biggest problems that people face while hiring a contractor for their home improvement is that they don’t know whether they are capable of doing the job or not. Honestly, hiring a contractor is synonymous with hiring an employee.

    You don’t need to be tricked by those yellow pages and sweet companies’ names. You have to use your common sense and possibly take the long-detailed process of hiring the best contractor.

    There are a whole lot of homeowners who have unfortunately fallen into the hands of those bad contractors. They abandon projects midway and ask for more money beyond what was stated in the contract.

    The other tip on how to find a home addition contractor is to try and access the services of the few available contractors around you and check what their customers think of their services plus the type of project they have successfully handled recently.

    Generally, contractors charge to make any change to the initial designed plan most especially if the home addition requires more work or more materials to get the job completed.

    Everyone wants to keep his or her reputation so when you finally have a reliable contractor that is ready to work with your budget; you can pay between 20%-40% upon signing the contract and paying the balance on an installment basis.

    Which Criteria Should Home Addition Contractors Have

    Portfolio of Completed Home Additions – every experienced and professional remodeling company should have portfolio of their projects. Number one page at local renovation companies visited by clients is portfolio and it is for a reason. See if they completed something that you want for your home.

    Licenses and Documents – on the road of how to find a contractor for second floor addition, everyone should insure the company is properly licensed and insure. Home owners take full responsibility and obligation for people he signs contract with.

    Current Jobs They Work at – if the company you are about to hire is as good as they say, there should not be a problem visiting one of their current projects. Ask supervisor or project manager to stop by in same size or similar area project to see how they operate.

    Costs and Availability – there needs to be a balance for costs associated with home addition job and availability of the company. Be cautious if they can start right away and ask why. Most reputable home addition companies need several months to commence large projects.

    Proper Agreement with Right Company

    Proper agreement with home addition contractor
    Legal agreement and contract is mandatory for hiring contractors.

    Entering into agreement or contract for large remodeling project is a big deal. Do not simply give a deposit and assume everything is going to be as you expect. These jobs go for several hundred thousand dollars and we recommend paying a layer to read it through for you.

    There could be hidden areas where home owners do not pay attention when reading contract, but it could hurt them in the end. Make sure it is fair for both parties with obligations and responsibilities.

    It is a big mistake trusting company you hire with large amounts of money. Small contracts with one or few pages of details should be reconsidered. Ask them if they would be ok signing a contract or agreement you provide, and get it prepared by professional.

    On Point Remodeling provides samples of contracts and agreements for all sorts of renovations and home additions. Ask our team for document that matches your project.

    How to Find and Hire a Contractor for Home Addition

    Hiring a good contractor demands that you make a good discretion and good judgment to achieve your deserved result. Another crucial factor to consider is that your contractor must be someone who is ready to listen to details and devote a lot of time to your project because hiring a busy type of contract can result into a whole lot of mistake.

    Look out for a licensed contractor before you start your home addition. Hiring an unlicensed contractor is as good as hiring an irresponsible contractor for your project. Most property owners conclude that hiring a professional contractor will, in the long run, save you more time, stress and money.

    Doing this may seem so tricky especially if you don’t know one already, you can ask a friend, colleague, family member for a proper recommendation and you can find them online too.

    In a nutshell, it is better you choose based on your recommendation. You ask for references while checking them all out. If you don’t get any contractor through recommendation, you can then check the yellow papers.

    Ensure you hire one that has all the necessary paper works and is completely legal during the pre-hiring stage. Most importantly, get one who has recently done a similar job. Find out the charge from people who have experience in hiring such services.

    Do You Need Permits for Basement Underpinning?

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    Do you need permits for basement underpinning
    Legal requirement for doing underpinning work.

    Yes, basement underpinning job requires permit and architectural drawings. It shows necessary structural work that has been approved by licensed engineer. Underpinning Permit is created for calculating loads for new footings and foundation walls that need to be poured.

    All structural work in Ontario is required to have drawings with appropriate permit. Some companies try to go around the rules and save few thousand dollars only to later find out that their job has been shut down by ministry of labor and fines are issued for working without permit.

    Home owners should shut their door immediately in front of contractors that propose structural work without the permit to save money or time. On the day of estimate our project manager will explain what permits and reports are needed from the city to start the job of lowering basement.

    Architectural Drawings for Project

    In order to submit required changes of your house to the city for approval everything needs to be reflected on professional drawings. City officials have to be able to understand requested changes with structural details. This step is absolutely necessary for contactor to understand what has been asked by the architect to do and approved by the city.

    These architectural drawings will have necessary details of how the work should proceed with structural supports and changes to the building. Our team works with architects that can assist in creating proper drawings for the underpinning project at your home.

    Engineers and Stages for Home Underpinning

    Each underpinning is performed in sections. To continue support entire weight of the house on existing footings and at the same time extend them, underpinning is usually done in three or four stages. Entire exterior wall is divided into approximately two to three foot sections and all of them are marked as per engineer.

    In the beginning all number one sections throughout the house are dug out and footings are extender to appropriate height. After each stage city inspector or engineer has the responsibility to approve the work to proceed forward. The same process continues until all sections for footings are completed.

    Costs for Permits and Drawings

    Expenses start with architectural drawings. Depending on size of the basement, structural changes and necessary beams the cost can range from $2000 to $6000. Structural engineer charges between $500 to $1000 for reviewing the drawings, approving them with stamp and submitting for permit.

    The actual permit fee from city for basement underpinning is on average $800. Basic 800 square foot basement with average depth increase without complicated structural changes will cost around $4000 for all drawings and permits.

    Additional charges may be for requested visits of structural engineer, requests from home owner to change the layout and resubmitting the drawings.

    Timing for Basement Underpinning Permits

    Timing for basement underpinning permits
    Expectation of schedules for basement lowering.

    If your basement is completely open and architect can see the structure of the joists with supports, all drawings can be completed within two weeks for average size basement. Engineering part with stamps and approval can be done quite fast and only within one week you can be ready to submit for the permit.

    After submitting everything it all depends on season and how busy permitting department is. In best case scenario during the winter your basement underpinning permit can be approved within two weeks.

    In more busy times it can take up to 5 weeks for the answer from city officials. Delays may occur in uncovered basement, with additional architectural remarks after demolition. Overall the process of obtaining permit takes six to eight weeks.

    What Happens if Work Done without Permit

    Company that is doing the work at home for underpinning will not provide proper warranty without permit. There will be simply no ground for home owner to approach them if something goes wrong. Permitting is responsibility of the property owner and he or she needs to follow local bylaws.

    Let’s say you proceeded with the work knowing there must be permit obtained for home underpinning but never got it. Neighbors can complain about ongoing work and city inspector or official may stop by to check things out.

    When they find out there is ongoing project without open permit, project gets immediately shut down until proper documents submitted. Home owners may be charged with hefty fee as well.

    The last point on problems associated with not getting permit is the actual quality of work. How can professionals perform such a technical project without approved engineering details? There will be mistakes and shortcuts made if third party does not get involved for inspections and quality checks.

    Exception when Permit for Underpinning not Required

    The only situation where we think permit is not required for home underpinning is in areas where local bylaws do not include such previsions. You will almost never see it happening, but very rarely there are properties literally in the middle of nowhere. They build what they want and however they feel is suitable for them.

    Underpinning projects are very technical and can cause entire structure to fall down if not performed with caution. Even in areas where there is not inspector to oversee the job, we still suggest contacting engineer or architect for confirmation of work process.

    Conclusion for Underpinning Permit Requirements

    Conclusion for basement underpinning permits
    Stages of concrete underpinning marked on walls.

    We cannot stress enough on safety of construction projects. Underpinning of a house means literally lowering down its foundation walls with footings to create space below ground. In order to do that, entire wright of the house has to be temporary put on something while walls extend down.

    There is no good reason to ignore precautions and local bylaws. Charges from building inspector are only the beginning of worst things that could happen.

    Home owners can spend extra tenth of thousands of dollars to redo half of project when caught doing illegally and obligation to change most of work. Who can you blame when your house collapses due to avoidance to architectural and engineering specs?

    On Point Remodeling strongly advices all home owners who plan to proceed with underpinning project to carefully approach work process and complete all necessary permits. Contact local authorities and they would be happy to guide you in the right direction.

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