For the contractor we need to let the customer know what we will be doing and when.  we are in their homes tearing up their kitchens and bathrooms and disrupting their schedules.  We do tend to forget sometimes that some things we think of as just part of the job aren’t things the homeowner would automatically think of.  Simple things like the need to park somewhere close to the project or removing pictures from the wall on the room next to the project room.  I can tell you it’s a sinking feeling to start tearing drywall off a wall and hear a crash in the next room as something falls off the wall.

What time will we be starting and finishing? Do we work on Saturdays?  Who are these people we’re sending to their house?  And after the excitement of starting the remodel wears off, when will we be finished and out of their lives?  These are all things we need to communicate early so that our customers can adjust their schedules and have some clarity during what can be a time of turmoil in their home.

For the homeowner, make sure you understand the contract and what you are getting.  You did get a written contract didn’t you?  Does it describe the products you’ll be receiving and the level of fit and finish you were expecting?  If you wanted stained hardwood trim and the contract calls for painted MDF you need to clarify that now before it’s all hung and painted.  It’s always best to ask questions early and often to be sure you’re getting what you want from the start.

Does your homeowner’s association have certain restrictions or requirements that your remodeling contractor needs to know about?  What will you do with your pet or children during the project?  Something as simple as which door you would prefer we use to get to the work area can make you feel more comfortable during the process but you need to make it known to your contractor.

Some requests are over the top but for the most part if work together to keep both sides clear on what is expected throughout the project it will be a much smoother process.  In the end communication is the key to a successful and relatively painless remodel.  If both sides keep that in mind it can make all the difference.

Herb Coulter, The Remodeling Company LLC – 804-266-3776

I try to keep a tight schedule on all of our remodeling jobs but sometimes things don’t work out that way.  This week we had two days of rain that caused one job to run over.  That change caused a domino affect.  Some things just needed to be moved a day but for others it meant being moved by several days or even a week.

It all depends on the job at hand.  Some parts of the project we want to start and finish in successive days rather than tearing it up on Friday and leaving it over the weekend.  So a one day delay could move that job into the next week and then affect other jobs down the line.

Especially on larger projects there may be delays in our sub-contractors schedules that need to be addressed in ours.  Key people being sick or supplies being back ordered are just a couple more reasons for delays.  We can usually move some things around to keep jobs going but sometimes the order is fixed and we have to wait.

This is just one of the many things you’ll need to consider when starting a remodeling project but it is important.  I try to bring this up early on in the planning stages just to let our customers know that it is possible.  Understanding that there could be delays from the start may not make them any easier to take but it’s always best to be informed from the start.

Herb Coulter, The Remodeling Company, LLC

http://www.zillow.com/blog/2012-04-17/horrors-scenes-from-a-home-inspectors-no-no-book/

Herb Coulter, The Remodeling Company LLC

On the left is the old railing. On the right is our new railing with the aluminum insert for strength.

We buy our railings factory direct.  They are made in the USA and come with a lifetime warranty.  They are fully code compliant, won’t rot and I have never met a termite that would eat vinyl.  They come in a variety of colors too so if white’s not your thing you do have options.

So if you’re thinking of replacing the railings on your Glen Allen home don’t dismiss vinyl based on cheap examples.  Let us show you what we have to offer and you will be surpised at the quality of our product.

Give us a call at 804-266-3776.

Herb Coulter, The Remodeling Company, llc

With the toilet offset too far to the outside wall there was no room for a vanity.

The homeowner wanted to be rid of the pedestal sink and awkwardly installed fiberglass shower stall from a previous remodel.  The shower wasn’t going to be a problem but installing a vanity would leave no room for sitting on the toilet.  Using 3-D drafting software we were able to move the toilet around and determine exactly what size vanity we could fit in the space.

12" deep Euro style vanity gains storage while allowing leg room.

Moving the toilet towards the inside wall and installing a 12″ deep Euro style vanity with overhanging sink would allow us to leave some legroom in front of the toilet.  Though small the vanity still allows for some under sink storage and with the matching medicine cabinet and wall cabinet we were able to gain a bit more storage.

New tiled shower with glass accent and niche

The shower area was opened back up to full width of the room and a Carrara Marble style tile was installed over the Schluter System membrane for a totally water tite install.  For an accent a glass band was added along with a two shelf niche for in-shower storage.  The tile was grouted using an epoxy type grout for years of easy cleaning.  The tile was also carried over onto the floor of the room to tie it all together.

There were some challenges and a couple sacrifices along the way do to size and space available but overall this turned out to be a great bathroom remodel.  The homeowners were some of the best we’ve ever worked with and we are truly grateful to them for allowing us to help with this project.

Thinking of remodeling your bathroom?  Give us a call at 804-266-3776.  We’ll be happy to help.

Herb Coulter, The Remodeling Company, LLC

If you’re like a lot of people (I plead the fifth here as not to incriminate myself) you’ll wait until the last minute to pull everything out and get ready for the first get together of the year and then tell yourself you’ll take care of the deck maintenance soon. Next thing you know the heat and humidity of our Glen Allen summers make it way too hot to think about staining and sealing so you just let it go. Before you know it you’re noticing mildew stains and rotten boards, now it’s too late to just seal it. You’ll need to do some major repairs. Here are a couple tips to make sure this doesn’t happen to your deck.

- First if you’ve let it get too far make sure to repair any damaged wood.

- Keep your deck clean. Dirt can hold moisture which will lead to mildew or mold growth. Both of these will start the rotting process and before long even treated deck boards can start to rot through. If you clean it before it gets too hot out you can actually just use a good deck cleaning solution and a brush then hose it off. Once the summer sun starts to beat down though, it will dry the cleaner faster than you can scrub. If you wait you’ll need to use a pressure washer to get it clean.

Note: If you are using a pressure washer make sure you get a “gentle” nozzle for it and don’t use it like a sandblaster. The biggest mistake I see is using too much pressure which will strip away the softer wood leaving grooves for dirt and water to settle in. This may be worse than doing nothing at all

- After a thorough cleaning let it dry completely before using a quality sealer or stain to seal it up. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Most clear sealers only last about a year while the more solid or opaque stains can go two to three depending on exposure to the sun. A quick way to test is to spray water on the deck. If it beads up you’re OK but if it soaks it up quickly it’s time to reseal.

So get out there and enjoy the spring weather on your deck!

If you don’t have a deck to enjoy we can help! Give us a call at 804-266-3776.

Herb Coulter, The Remodeling Company LLC

An old mortar pan style shower lets the water soak through the grout and into the  mortar below but then has a metal pan that directs the water to the drain.  If the seal is lost around the drain it will leak into the surrounding sub-floor.

So what are your options when this happens?  Here are three options that are available for replacing your Glen Allen shower.  All of which start with tearing out the old shower and fixing the rotten wood before moving on.

1. A new acrylic pan and wall system can be installed.  This is the least expensive but there are limitations in sizes available.  There are different quality levels among these too.  Although all of these come in 2 to4 piece sets some are well designed and direct water to the drain with no need for caulking joints making for a clean look.

2.  A bit more pricey is a cultured marble floor and wall system.  Like the acrylic it comes in separate pieces but with the thicker panels and many different tile and stone pattern options to choose from it definitely has a more solid look and feel.

3.  Last is to rebuild the tile shower using on of the newer systems that utilize solid foam pans and totally sealed waterproof membranes to keep water from soaking in and leaking.  This is usually a comparable in price to the old system and is totally customizable with any shape, size and tile that you would like.  Eliminating the mortar bed from the pan will also lower the humidity in the room and help prevent a musty odor from developing from water that has not drained out.

Whichever route you choose we can help.  If you have questions or would like to talk to someone about replacing a shower in your Glen Allen home, give us a call at 804-266-3776.

Herb Coulter, The Remodeling Company, LLC

Although we were on a tight budget we were still able to add some small accents here and there to make this little kitchen look and function much better than it had in the past.  All of the doors are on fully adjustable hidden hinges.  The drawer boxes were built with dovetail construction and mounted on soft-close full extension slides.  Finally for only a few hundred dollars more than laminate we installed a great looking and durable granite countertop.

This turned out to be a great looking kitchen with some style and good functionality.  Now we’re moving on to our next project, a small master bath that needs some help.  Stay tuned.

Herb Coulter, The Remodeling Company, LLC

http://www.icontact-archive.com/2xj9DDTQbDXppLbHrCjY9x9YQ4KJUDFt?w=2

What are you looking for in your kitchen remodel this year?