Great Start To 2012 Begining With This Kitchen Remodel

Posted on by
Reply

First we’d like to say thanks to all our customers for a great 2011.  After a little slow down around the holidays we’ve been going strong in the first month of 2012.  We’re starting off with a kitchen remodel in Glen Allen.  It’s a simple L-shaped kitchen but with some upgraded cabinets with granite counter tops and a new floor this will be a major transformation when complete.

Here’s what we started with:

Late 70's L-Shaped KitchenLate 70's L-Shaped Kitchen Before

The old cabinets are from the late 70′s and were originally stained very dark.  At some point they were painted white and the laminate butcher block counters were added.  The drawers barely work and the sink cabinet has significant water damage.

 

After a day of demo we were at this point:

We took out all the cabinets and eventually pulled out the old vinyl.  There’s also some repair work done on the ceiling from some old water damage in the upstairs bathrooms.  We also had to repair some electrical issues to make the kitchen safe and bring it up to code.

 

 

I’ll post pictures of the final product after the new cabinets and counter tops are in and all the painting and finish work are complete.  After this we’ll be moving on to a small  bathroom remodel in Henrico that will include a new tiled shower stall and some space saving ideas for small bathrooms.  Stay tuned for updates.

Do We Need A Green Building Code?

Posted on by
1

Do you want to save money on your energy bills?  Do you want to have better air quality in your home?  Of Course!

Do you want your building and remodeling work to cost even more than it does now?  Do you want the government to decide you have to build green?  Well….

Lately it’s become impossible to pick up a construction industry magazine without being bombarded with “green this” and “sustainable that”.  It’s become kind of taboo to question how important it is to everyone.  Having only been asked  about this by a handful of our remodeling clients I wonder if it’s just another case of the media telling us what to care about or if it does really matter to homeowners here in the Glen Allen, Virginia area.  And more importantly should it be the law?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not against building more energy efficient homes with better air quality but with construction already struggling and homeowners putting off projects because of the cost do we really need to force more costs into the system?

One thing that bothers me is just how safe the green products are.  With the current push to jump on the band wagon just about everything gets labeled green these days.  Most of them haven’t been around long enough to know if they are truly safe.  Which one is the next asbestos or lead?  Will contractors need to be government certified to remove these products from homes in ten years?

Is bamboo grown in China and shipped across the ocean and trucked across the country really greener than oak grown in a sustainable tree farm closer to it’s final destination?

On the other hand I do have to agree with better building practices that make for a tighter seal and better insulated house.  Being from the north I have a great appreciation for insulation and draft stopping to keep out the cold but those same principals do work here in the south to keep the heat out too.  Making for more efficient cooling in the summer.  But this is more about hiring a contractor that cares about the details and quality that you can’t see after the siding is on.

Is green building really as important as the media would lead you to believe?  Maybe it is.  Since we already have an energy code, do we need a green building codes to force us all to build green too?  I’m not so sure.

Let me know what you think.  Add your comments below.

 

Herb Coulter, The Remodeling Company LLC

Is Your House Your Home Or Just An Investment?

Posted on by
1
Dark pine kitchen circa 1985

1985 Called, They Want Their Kitchen Back.

When did our houses become just investments?  Don’t we still live in them?  Raise families, entertain friends and call them our homes?

I ask this because every article I read about whether or not to remodel in “the new economy” says not to do it because you’ll never get your money back.  It’s a terrible investment.

The one thing these “experts” seem to miss is the personal investment we make in our homes.  First you have to consider rather or not you plan to stay in your home or if you plan to move soon.

If you are planning to move it may be more advisable to simply spruce up your kitchen and bathroom with a new paint job or some new counter tops just to make it more appealing for the sale.

On the other hand if you are planning to stay, even for just five years, the emotional return on the investment of a major kitchen or bathroom remodel will be far more than the financial.  If you get depressed just looking at your kitchen and try to avoid having guests in the room than a remodel will definitely pay you back.

In the end it’s up to what you want to do with your own home.  Don’t let the “experts” or me for that matter tell you what to do.  It’s your home. Do what makes you happy.

Herb Coulter, The Remodeling Company LLC