Why Hiring a General Contractor Is Better than Hiring Your Own Subcontractors

For many home or business owners, it’s tempting just to find your own subcontractors and leave a general contractor out of the picture. Many people believe this is easier, less expensive, and makes more sense. However, a general contractor has connections, expertise, and planning and organizational abilities that will become assets to your building project in the near future.

Connections

While general contractors specialize in running the show, hiring subcontractors, and getting the job completed from start to finish, subcontractors specialize in very specific areas like plumbing, masonry, framing, electricity, and even concrete work. You may think you know plenty of subcontractors to hire the right ones yourself, but we guarantee we will think of details you may not realize could come up later, and we know the best in the business who will complete a job the right way in a timely fashion. If you hire subcontractors on your own, you could get taken advantage of financially. We know who charges what for their work and who can provide you with a more accurate budget for your building project, so you never have to worry about “surprise” costs. Since we have been in the business so long, we know the best subcontractors who will be worth every penny you spend.

In addition to people connections, a general contractor is also responsible for providing all the equipment needed to build your project. If you hire subcontractors on your own, you may end up having to acquire special rentals or tools that you otherwise wouldn't have needed access to, so instead of spending more unnecessary money, let us handle it for you.

Expertise

Most general contractors have built hundreds of homes, if not thousands. We understand challenges will occur, and we know how to handle any problem no matter what size. We are able to see the bigger picture when you are concerned about the details and become stressed about the little things. We can remind you that there is always a way to remedy a problem, and we know who to contact to provide a solution.

You will hire your general contractor while you are planning the building of your home or business, and we will help you come up with original ideas, budgeting strategies, building materials, and a finalized blueprint. From there, we will guide you and all the subcontractors to the finished product, keeping everyone on task and happy, so you don’t have to deal with begrudged, injured, or confused workers. Basically, a general contractor does all the dirty work, so you don’t have to.

Hiring a general contractor is always a better decision than hiring your own subcontractors for any building project, no matter how big or small it may be. Many people get in over their heads trying to handle projects like this without the tremendous help of a contractor. To schedule a time to meet to discuss your dream home, contact our office.

If you are getting ready to complete your bath remodel, there is a good chance you have been on Pinterest looking for ideas or browsing your favorite issues of Better Homes and Gardens. We have pictures we can show you as well, and enjoy being part of the creative process. When it comes to remodeling your home, the bathroom can be a great deal of fun, for while it is a small room, it also provides you with an incredible amount of flexibility. With your bathroom, you don’t have to worry about it matching or blending in with the other rooms in your home. You can go in any direction you like, and we can take you there.

Beyond the aesthetics of your bathroom, it needs to have a high level of functionality. These five lifestyle hacks can make your bathroom more efficient and organized.

#1 - Built-in wall storage.

Every bathroom needs this. If you are tired of having towels flooding out of the linen closet or need more storage for toilet paper and extra bottles of shampoo, built-in wall storage can tuck it all away neatly out of sight. This is ideal for both large and small spaces.

#2 - Hidden hamper.

If you are like most families, dirty clothes tend to pile up quickly, sometimes on the bathroom floor. When completing your bath remodel, we can install a hidden hamper under the kitchen sink. Just like your garbage can be hidden in the kitchen, so can your dirty clothes. With a removable and washable clothes bag, you can simply pull it out and throw everything in the wash before replacing it again. Tell the kids to throw their clothes in after a shower, and you will spend less time picking up.

#3 - Custom tile shower.

Your shower can be neat, organized, and even give you a place to sit down and shave your legs. We can give you a beautiful and functional custom tile shower when completing your bath remodel. While a high-end feature, this is also an incredibly convenient way to get clean.

#4 - Built-in television.

If you need to catch up on your morning news while getting ready, we can install a television. You can stay up-to-date without sacrificing your morning routine.

#5 - Heated floors.

Gone are the days of feeling cold after your shower when you have heated floors. They are comfortable, producing steady and consistent heat while making your routine more luxurious. If you are a family who turns the heat up to give the kids a bath, this is a simple solution to keep that room of your home warm and toasty.

There are so many ways to improve the functionality of your bathroom. We can provide you with suggestions and solutions after viewing your space and discussing what your family’s unique needs are. Our goal is to create a truly stunning, beautiful, and ideal space for your family to use on a daily basis.

Five Things to Consider Prior to Your Kitchen Cabinet Installation

When planning your kitchen cabinet installation, it is time to think about the details. Remodeling your kitchen can be exciting, especially when thinking about the colors and textures you want to use and the overall design concept. Given how frequently the kitchen is used, remodeling it can make a significant impact on the look and feel of your home.

Beyond the basic design concept, you should take the time to really think about how you use the kitchen, so your remodel will provide you with a space that is as functional as it is beautiful. Here are five things to consider prior to your remodel and kitchen cabinet installation.

#1 - Where do you want your appliances to go?

The layout of your kitchen should be set in stone before demolition and certainly prior to installing any of your cabinets. Your major appliances will need a set spot, including your refrigerator, dishwasher, and sink. You should also consider where you want your small appliances to go. Things like a toaster oven, microwave, coffee pot, toaster, etc. can all have a set place in your new kitchen design and do not have to be simply sitting on the counter. Instead, they could be built-in to your cabinet design (this is often the case with the microwave). We can even create appliance cupboards for things like your coffee pot. This way, they are hidden out of view and can remain in position and plugged in for convenience's sake.

#2 - Do you entertain?

If you like to host parties, let us know. We can design your kitchen cabinets to house the items you use on a daily basis and also to store your extra plates, cups, napkins, serving platters and anything else you use in the course of entertaining.

#3 - What do you use when cooking?

If there is a certain type of cuisine that you cook or certain types of cooking utensils you use on a regular basis, these things should be easy to access and easy to reach. For example, if you use your wok daily, there should be a place for it near the stovetop. If you use your kitchen to bake, you should have storage for all your baking utensils and supplies next to each other to make your baking preparations more convenient.

#4 - How many cooks are in your kitchen?

When cooking is a family affair, it is wise to design the space to allow for multiple people to participate. Your kitchen cabinet installation plays an important role in this because we can create multiple stations that have a cooking or prep surface while providing storage space for the tools that will be needed in that area. For example, a prep station should have access to cutting boards, mixing bowls, and knives.

#5 - What else do you use your kitchen for?

We can install things like a built-in desk or place charging outlets alongside your cabinets so you can watch your favorite cooking shows on your iPad while making tomorrow's dinner. The possibilities are endless.

To get ideas for your kitchen cabinet installation, call our office today.

Tips for Picking Out Wood Cabinets

Our wood cabinets are made from select hardwoods that will last a lifetime. If you are remodeling or building a kitchen or multipurpose room in your home, there will come a time when you must pick out what type of wood cabinets you would prefer. We recommend only choosing cabinets of the highest quality materials that will perform well and look classy for years to come. Some of the categories you should take into consideration during your decision process are hardness, grain, and color.

Hardness

The hardness of your wood cabinets is important, because when you invest in an attractive, long-lasting wood option, you want it to withstand the damage from daily use, children, and even moving appliances around. While Brazilian walnut wood is the hardest you can find; the commonly used white pine is the softest. You will want to consider how trafficked your kitchen is when you determine the hardness of your wood cabinets. The hardest wood option may not be necessary for your uses, but you could instead choose a wood of medium hardness. Some popular options that fall into this “medium” category that are often chosen for cabinets are yellow pine, American walnut, cherry, silver maple, and African mahogany. A widely popular hardier option is either the white or red oak. When you visit to discuss your wood cabinets with us, we can help you scale out what level of hardness you need so you can more easily narrow down your choices.

Grain

Our solid wood cabinets and even our veneers have variations of grain. Different trees are unique in design and beauty, and our fine wood cabinets created from these trees carry on their attractive attributes. Some grain is strong, colorful, and distinct, and it will show through any finish you put on it— This is common with oak cabinets. Other options like walnut or maple wood will have fine grain patterns that are lighter in color. The grain you choose depends entirely on your taste. With some woods, the grain can be muted down quite a bit by the shade or finish you choose.

In addition to grain, all of your wood cabinets will come with their very own unique characteristics like small holes from bird pecks or worms and knots. These characteristics are not only interesting to admire, but they are also proof that you have chosen a sophisticated and genuine solid wood option for your cabinets.

Color and Shade

While choosing a color for your wood cabinets is important, even if you decide on an option like yellow pine, which is lighter in color, you can stain and finish it to look darker. Some woods even darken over time rather than fade. For example, a cherry wood will already have a reddish, dark hue to it, but it will also soften and become darker with age. In this case, you should choose a lighter finish as to not overpower the color. As you are narrowing down your wood cabinets, ask for more information about how the wood will fade or darken with age. This will help you better determine an appropriate stain and color choice. Some woods may even require a heat shield to keep them from changing color due to radiation from the oven and stove.

While you are considering your options for wood cabinets, you may have more questions. You can call or visit us for more information about all of your options so that you can pick the best choice for your home.

Tips for Your New Kitchen Remodel

If you have the opportunity to perform a kitchen remodel, congratulations! You now have the chance to develop the perfect kitchen you have always wanted just to your specifications. Before immediately focusing on what your new appliances will look like or what color you’d like the walls to be, consider the layout of your future kitchen. You will want to maximize space while keeping your kitchen inviting and functional. These tips for your kitchen remodel should help get you started on planning your new cooking space and keep you happy for years to come.

Eliminate Wasted Space

When you are remodeling your kitchen, take some time to think about storage. As you plan out your cabinet placement, consider adding cabinets that reach the ceiling to eliminate wasted space, keep dust from settling, and provide more space for rarely used items like fine china and vases. Many people opt to include glass panes in their upper cabinets in case they decide to display china in these hard-to-reach areas. If these cabinets also have a lighting source, it can lighten your entire kitchen, instead of making it feel dark and cramped.

Keep Things Spacious

You should keep in mind things that bothered you about your previous kitchen. Were the walkways too narrow? Was an island in the middle of your kitchen taking up space rather than being useful? Could you easily access your fridge, cabinets, and dishwasher without being in the way of others? Kitchen islands are great for large spaces, but we encourage those with a smaller kitchen space to nix the island idea, as it typically ends up being more of a nuisance than a help. We also suggest remodelers keep the walking space open so more than one person can get around at the same time. This is especially great for when you have company who wants to socialize with you while you cook. A side bar is a nice addition for a kitchen remodel, as it provides extra storage or cutting space, as well as a place for visitors to sit without being right in the middle of things.

Think About Kids

If you have children or grandchildren, you will want your kitchen remodel to be kid-friendly so you can keep an eye on them while you cook. Some newer kitchens include tiered counter tops, so your child can mimic what you do at a height they are comfortable with. Tiered counters are fun for baking cookies or teaching small children the basics of food preparation. They can also be helpful if a sink is in place at their level. If you have young children, you will want to think strategically about oven and stovetop placement, so they cannot be easily accessed or bumped into by children without your supervision. Keep the barstools and microwaves away from these areas so children can color or entertain themselves safely and comfortably while keeping away from the more dangerous areas.

With these tips to get you started during your kitchen remodel, you will be able to plan ahead for the inevitable. When you need an extra hand or want more tips, contact us to learn more.

What Does a General Contractor Do?

A general contractor is hired by the owner of the property (typically, you) to complete a project from start to finish. When you enter a contract with a general contractor, they are taking responsibility for the entire project, which means they will take on responsibility for all elements of the project. This includes the financial responsibility of getting the project done within the budget agreed upon. Naturally, there are always contingencies, but for the most part, your general contractor will give you an estimate and stick to it closely. At the same time, the general contractor is also responsible for getting the project done in a timely manner without causing you a great deal of undue stress. The general contractor purchases all the supplies, hires the tradespeople and engages the subcontractors.

What Are a General Contractor’s Key Responsibilities?

The general contractor is fundamentally responsible for the entire project, which makes it critically important that you make a great decision when hiring the general contractor. Some of the areas the general contractor will focus on include:

Hiring and Managing the Subcontractors: When there is a large job or even a smaller one, there is going to be a number of smaller jobs. When you put in or renovate a kitchen, for example, there will be plumbing work, electrical work, counters and masonry work, cabinetry, etc. It is very important that you have the right subcontractors and make sure that if you get these individuals, they are the responsibility of your general contractor. Additionally, the general contractor sets a schedule for paying the subcontractors and makes sure you approve. Typically, this is time-based and also based on progress as the work is completed. As such, the general contractor will negotiate the contracts for the subcontractors, hire them, and set forth the terms.

Getting Permits and Inspections: Any time you have a project that involves changing or building anything, you will need permits for all the work. The general contractor is responsible for getting the permits in a timely manner so the work can proceed. To do this, they will need to be intimately involved with the planning process and know exactly how to get the permits you need. In addition to this, the project will need periodic inspections based on how far along each aspect of the job is. Often, you cannot proceed to the next phase of a job until the inspections have been completed. The general contractor is responsible for scheduling the inspectors to visit, making sure your site is ready, and making changes if for some reason you do not pass.

Supplies and Materials: The general contractor will be responsible for ordering the supplies you need to complete the jobs. To that end, they will order supplies based on what the job needs and ensure that your subcontractors do not run out of the materials you need. All this should be included in the quote you get from the general contractor before you make a hiring decision.

Important Things to Consider Before a Bathroom Remodel

Most homeowners dream of performing a perfect bathroom remodel. When you buy a home, you often become stuck with outdated sinks, faucets, toilets, tiles, and more. You may not mind the current bathroom outfit, but you may feel like it doesn’t suit your particular decoration and design style. Now that you have the opportunity to perform a bathroom remodel, you have several things to consider before you begin. You should also consider hiring someone to perform the work for you to ensure everything is installed professionally and works correctly.

Consideration #1 Dream Big While Being Practical

Dream big and beautifully, but also consider your budget and practical uses of the space. Some of the most beautiful fixtures, sinks, and tubs also make servicing pipes and electric lines a hassle. When you are picking these items out for your bathroom remodel, consider placement and making important wires and pipes accessible to plumbers and electricians. This also goes for fancy add-ons like heated floors and touchless faucets. Heated floors may sound extravagant and wonderful, but are they really worth the cost when you can put that money toward classier fixtures or items that make your bathroom look more pleasing to the sight?

Consideration #2 Be On Guard for Toxic Chemicals and Materials

This consideration is especially important if you are performing a bathroom remodel in an older home. The presence of asbestos is often unknown until a remodel begins, and it can pose serious health risks to those who breathe it in. If you are concerned this could be a possibility in your home, hire a professional who knows how to prepare for toxic materials in advance. You may even need to stay elsewhere while your bathroom is being remodeled if this is a potentiality. You should also be aware that mold and mildew hiding in bathrooms is not uncommon. Not only are mold and mildew stinky and unsightly, but they can also lead to asthma attacks, respiratory problems, and worse health risks if you are exposed to them too long. Prepare yourself and others for these possibilities and hire a professional who is well-equipped to deal with them.

Consideration #3 Make Your Bathroom Convenient to Navigate

It can be tempting to pick out the biggest and most impressive tubs, toilets, and sinks, but also consider how useful they are. You want your bathroom to appear spacious and feel that way, so pick appliances that are easy to get around and provide you with a comfortable atmosphere. Also, keep in mind privacy. If you share a bathroom with someone, you may want to consider investing in toilet or shower spaces that are separate from each other, so you each have your needed privacy.

These are only three of the many considerations you should think about during a bathroom remodel. For an expert’s opinion and suggestions, contact our office. We can help you think of everything you need to get in order and decide on before you start your dream bathroom remodel.