Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Start Planning My Remodeling Project?
• Make a list of the things that you want to achieve with your
remodeling project.
• Upgrade the space you have? A basement, kitchen or bath-room.
• Enlarge a room within your existing home.
• Enlarge your existing home with an addition, and so on.
Who Can Guide Me Through the Process?
Contact a reputable remodeling Contractor with design capabilities,
a designer, or architect. (preferably Huber & Behle)
At this point you can discuss the possibilities that would work with
your existing structure, layout, plumbing, electrical systems or
all. After that discussion, some rough sketches are in order. Once
you have the basic ideas, we recommend that you get a rough estimate
from a qualified remodeling contractor and we do mean contractor.
Friends, family, and acquaintances of friends and family lack the
expertise of professional contractors who prepare estimates
everyday. Would you ask your next door neighbor, who designs
databases for a living, to perform your open heart surgery?
Sometimes an architect or designer can tell you that your project
might cost so much per foot. This kind of calculation rarely applies
to most remodeling projects because of all the different variables.
For instance if you are thinking of building a room addition,
appropriate questions include how accessible is the site? can you
get heavy equipment to the site? Bring concrete and building
materials in without damaging your driveway or yard? or, will you be
encroaching on your neighbor’s property? Where will you go with the
excess dirt that will be generated when digging out the basement or
crawlspace?
When planning an interior remodeling project, different selections
can affect your cost. In the kitchen, will you select an expensive
custom cabinet, or choose a stock-type cabinet? Will you choose a
laminate counter top, or more expensive granite or Corian type
countertop? In the bathroom, will you install a steel tub and shower
combination, or will you prefer a larger ceramic tile shower with
seating, body sprays, and a heavy glass enclosure? All these types
of decisions will have a major affect on you final cost.
When you get your rough price, please remember that call it rough
for a reason. It is not exact cost, but should give you an idea of
the range that you will be in.
At this point you will decide if you want to proceed with drawings
so that your contractor can give you an accurate quote with
specifications and allowances. We consider this phase the
feasibility study, when you determine if you can proceed with the
project.
How Do I Select a Contractor?
Selecting a contractor is the most important decision that you will
make with your remodeling project. Obviously you want to find a well
established remodeling contractor that has a reputation for doing a
professional job at a fair price. Most reputable contractors can
give you a substantial list of past customers that will talk to you
about the contractor’s performance on their project. Often you may
know someone that has had work completed by a certain contractor and
that offers you a level of comfort. Make no mistake, selecting a
contractor that you feel comfortable with, one that you feel will
treat you fairly throughout the length of the project, is very
important. Remember that once the project starts its like a
marriage. You will be spending a lot of time with your contractor
and his employees. They will arrive early every morning and be there
all day for the duration of the project. You will get to know many
of them by their first names, how many children they have and so on,
and they will get to know you and your family and probably the name
of the dog or cat. During the process both the contractor and the
owner need to keep the lines of communications open. This will help
to complete the project in a professional and timely fashion.
When can we start?
First, when is the contractor able to work your project into the
schedule. Most contractors generally have multiple projects
underway, in many different phases. Often times there may be items
that are needed to start or complete the project that must be
ordered months in advance of the need. You must work with your
contractor to develop a realistic schedule both you and your
contractor can live with.
How long will it take to complete the project?
Everybody wants the project completed as soon as possible, but that
will depend on how large and involved, and how difficult the scope
of the project will be. Some jobs will be a matter of removing
cabinets and flooring and installing something new in its place.
More often than not the job will require removing or altering walls,
some of which will be load bearing and/or with existing mechanicals
such as plumbing, electrical, and heating that will need to be
relocated and we often need to install new structural beams to carry
a second floor or roof load where a wall has been removed. All these
factors will decide the length of time the project will take.