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Remodel or Renovate?

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Tracy Tesmer is founder of Tracy Tesmer Design • Build • Remodel • Repair, a Gainesville, GA bathroom remodeling company specializing in kitchen and home renovations in North, Ga.  Tracy has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry and hosts a weekly home improvement radio show on WDUN discussing home renovation in North, GA.

remodeling

Can’t decide whether to remodel or renovate your room? Or perhaps now you’re second-guessing the difference between the two… Often the words “remodel” and “renovate” are used interchangeably, but this is not technically correct. How do you know which one you need? And which factors do you need to consider when deciding whether to remodel or renovate your home?

1) Long Term Plans

What you are planning on doing with your home matters. Renovating might be a good thing to do if you are considering selling your home in the near future. New appliances in the kitchen and faucets in the bathroom will help your resale value. Some home remodeling projects take on a more personal touch, such as an added sun room or finishing the attic, but might not add value to your home. In fact, some may even make it harder to sell when you decide it is time. Considering your short and long term plans will help your decide whether remodeling and/or renovating is right for you.

2) Budget

How much money you are going to spend on your project is most likely one of your primary concerns in choosing remodel or renovation. Obviously knocking out the structure of your house is going to be more expensive than added a new refrigerator to your kitchen and putting some new paint on the walls. Prior to beginning a project having an ideal budget in mind will keep things from getting out of control and help you be happy with your choices in the end.

More tips on how to renovate on a budget

3) Timeline

The question you must ask yourself is how long am I willing to deal with the inconvenience of a work in progress?  Remember, what television programs complete in one hour often requires weeks and sometimes months.  It is important that you realize that remodeling and renovations can restrict certain areas of your home for a period of time. Deciding to finish your basement on Thanksgiving by the time the family gets home for Christmas may not be realistic and could become a source of stress.

Step back and ask yourself, what am I trying to accomplish? There are many variables and moving parts that go into answering this for each individual. Whether you choose to remodel or renovate your home, both are great ways to rediscover your home and make it your own.

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Posted in Uncategorized

Home Improvements That Pay You Back

Monday, January 16th, 2012

scrooge mcduck swimming in money

Some home improvements may seem like a great idea initially, until you find out that they are not all that practical. There are primarily two types of home improvements that can be considered, those that save you money while you continue to live in the home and those that help you sell your home faster.

Home Improvement that Save Money

Windows and doors
When you are searching for cost-effective methods of home improvement, windows and doors are always a good place to start. Whether you plan to stay in your home or you plan to sell your home, windows and doors are always a great option. Not only can you save hundreds of dollars a year in home heating and cooling costs, but upgrading your doors and windows make a great selling feature.

Energy audits help
Do it yourself energy audits can help you identify low-cost methods for improving your home. Simple things like upgrading your heating system, changing light bulbs and adding insulation to your home can save hundreds of dollars a year. In addition, taking the time to conduct an energy audit can help identify problem areas that could be improved if you plan to sell your home.

Kitchen upgrades
There are several minor kitchen upgrades that will pay for themselves in a relatively short period of time. For example, upgrading counter tops, adding additional storage space or a simple coat of paint are all cost effective kitchen upgrades that make your kitchen more practical and serve as a great selling feature.

Outdoor features
Changing the outside of your home can have a great impact on the value of the home. Whether you are planning to stay in your home or planning to sell your home, siding is an option that may be considered. Not only is siding practical from an energy savings standpoint, but if you are planning to sell your home it can help add curb appeal.

When you are considering upgrades to your home, it is best to avoid things like upgrading a home office, over-sizing of master bedrooms and other upgrades that won’t pay for themselves. Home upgrades can be disruptive and they can be costly if they are not well planned. Whether you are searching for effective home improvements to save money when you plan to stay in your home or you are searching for ways to make your home more marketable you’ll need a plan. It is never a good idea to upgrade just for the sake of upgrading, you want improvements that are practical, cost effective and will pay you back over time. Upgrades that are a waste of money do little to help salability or livability.

About the Author: Jon Clark is a blogger, coffee lover and home décor enthusiast. He writes for www.CaliforniaApartmentsBlog.com which provides apartment renting and living tips as well as reviews for apartments such as these Los Angeles apartments and apartments in Sacramento.

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Posted in Design, Environmentally Friendly, diy, home improvement

Flooring Installation: The Art & The Science

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

laminate flooring

Remember that when you install a granite countertop in a room where you’re planning to have hardwood flooring, always compare and match samples of both materials.  Darker red granites go well with blonde woods.  Green granites naturally complement browns, and so on.

But before you worry about the more elevated aesthetic concerns, you have to establish what your budget is.  You know what they say: you’ve got to spend money to make money!  You have to invest in your home’s appearance to increase your equity and standard of living.  But you’ve got to have money to spend it!  That’s always the kicker, isn’t it?  So there’s an art and a science to selecting and installing the ideal materials to decorate your home.  The art involves discernment.  The science involves budgeting and expertise.

Remodeling a home is a large investment. Not just with funds, but with your time. If you’re trying to save money by remodeling your home yourself, the task is a large one to undertake. Between new cabinets, countertops, expanding the space in your home by knocking down and building new walls, it can take months to complete. One of the biggest tasks is installing a new floor. Whether you’re laying new carpet, tile, laminate or hardwood, careful attention to detail and budget is important when installing a new floor.

But installing a new floor doesn’t have to bust your remodeling budget. One inexpensive option we recommend is laminate floors. It looks just like hardwood, but is more friendly to your wallet than real hardwood flooring and cheap laminate flooring is easy to clean. This flooring can also handle high traffic areas.

Prep Before You Buy

Before buying any new flooring, determine the condition of your current floor. Fix any rotted wood subflooring by placing in new plywood. Although many laminate flooring manufacturers claim the laminate flooring can go over existing carpeting, consider pulling out the old carpet to give the most even and stable surface. If the new floors are going on top of concrete, apply patches of cement in places where the floor dips. You may have to skim a light coat of cement over the entire surface if there are too many dips or humps to the floor.

When you make your purchase, always buy more flooring than you need. Even if you are only adding laminate flooring to one room, you’ll have extra if you make any mistakes in cutting the pieces during the initial install, or if the laminate flooring becomes nicked or gouged in the future.

Do-It-Yourself Flooring Installation

Remove the baseboard in the room, if necessary, and lay down the underlay pad onto the floor.This is a type of vapor barrier that will protect the flooring from moisture and mildew. Set down the strips according to the manufacturer’s instructions, either by laying side-by-side or abutting the pieces. And make sure to check the underside of the laminate wood. Sometimes the manufacture creates flooring with the underlay already attached.

Place the new laminate flooring in the room where it will be installed. Take off the plastic and let it sit for 24 to 72 hours. This allows the floor to acclimate to the temperature and humidity of the room.

While you wait, this is a good time to measure the height of the boards to the doors of the room and decide whether you will cut the door jambs so you can slide the boards underneath. Also, if you have places along the wall where there are gaps where the drywall doesn’t meet the subfloor, this is a good time to install pieces of plywood into those gaps. Simply use the circular saw to cut the 1/4-inch plywood about two-inches to three-inches wide and add it as facing strips.
Time to lay out the flooring.

Start at the longest wall in the room. Place the first row of boards down on the subfloor without interconnecting them just yet. You want to get an idea of your end cuts. Have the boards with the tongue side facing the wall and the groove side facing you. Cut off the tongue with the circular saw (a table saw works great for this also). You will only have to do this with the first row.

Place in the 1/4-inch spacer against the wall and set the floor piece up against it. This gap allows the floor to contract and expand during seasonal temperature changes. Connect the next adjoining piece of laminate floor board based on the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the tapping block and rubber mallet to make sure the seams are joined securely.

Continue to join pieces, with spacers placed every 12-inches, until you get to the side wall. Often, you will have to cut this piece of flooring to fit. Take the measurements and mark the underside of the wood board. Use the circular saw to cut the wood, bottom side up, to the correct measurement. Tap the floor piece into place.
Start with your next row of laminate boards.

Stagger the boards 8-inches to 12-inches offset to the seams of the first row. This gives a unique pattern and strengthens the seams without leaving gaps. Place down the flooring until reaching the far wall, rip cutting the last boards down the width to fit. To attach the tongues into the grooves for the last row, place a pull bar on the board and tap the mallet against it unto the board snaps into place.

Now it’s time to remove the spacers. Reinstall your baseboard to cover the gap, and add a bit of shoe molding by nailing it to the baseboard.
Follow these instructions and voila!  Your floor is finished!  Now you’ll have a beautiful space to stand on for years to come.

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Posted in Tips/Advice, Uncategorized, home improvement, interior design, remodeling

Guest Post: Does your paint cause tears of joy?

Monday, January 9th, 2012

The gallery customer picked up the jewelry box, turning it in her hands.

“So, you’ll inlay any Lapis Lazuli initials in the oak?”

“Well”, I said, ”I’ll paint it in faux Lapis.”

She had bit of a distant look on her face.

“So the price is for faux Lapis?” –running her fingers over the design on the box– “How much to do it like this?”

“I’ll be doing it just like that, in any initials you choose.”

The distance turned to confusion. Fostering my own confused look, it started to dawn on me that we had a communication problem.

Oak-Laps Box X2

“But I want real Lapis, like this.”

This is the ultimate compliment for the Trompe L’Oeil (French for ‘to fool the eye’) artist. Absolute conviction that your work is “real,” not painted.

Long story short, I managed to clarify that the entire surface was faux paint: The Lapis Lazuli and the Oak.

Thankfully, I never really get used to this. It’s always a thrill.

Like the guy at the antique car show who kept finding ways to ask me how the “wood” dash board was finished.

“So…you painted the wood? Don’t you mean stained it? Did you carve it or did you have someone else do it?”

“It’s not carved? How did you shape the wood…?”

After a few minutes of this back and forth, I took a key out of my pocket and tapped it on the dash. It rang out like the early American Detroit steel that it is.

He turned a little red, grinned and yelled: “How the hell did you do that!?” He claimed to be an experienced woodworker.

48 Dogde Interior

It’s fascinating to me that people often react more strongly to convincing Trompe L’Oeil work than they do to the real thing. Like the jewelry box customer whose attitude went from a blasé “this lapis” to “Oh my God! It’s paint!”

It’s a kind of magic and (sappy or not) the power of magic is enduring because it gives people a wonderful combination of hope and surprise.

My interior projects typically go through a similar process. The customer comes home from work to freshly installed faux crown molding, flooring inlay or wood grained cabinet doors. The reactions vary, but not much.

One lady started crying. I don’t mean damp eyes; I’m saying she was sobbing. And smiling. I assured her everything would be okay and should we proceed with that fireplace mantel she’d mentioned.

But that’s only the jumping off point. The real fun begins when they get to mess with friends and family: “Well, yes Walnut is very expensive but I just had to have it for these French doors (giggle).”

Eventually they share the truth (or not) and in this way, for as long as they’re in the home, own the car…, they get to be the magician.

Thanks to advancements in painting techniques and materials, you can make amazing painted wood grain part of your interior design project and no one will be the wiser. But please, after they’re sufficiently impressed, let them in on the secret.

Does your painter know how to apply perfect wood grain? Would you like to learn breathtakingly realistic faux wood grain for your home, business and craft projects?

Either of those questions can be answered by clicking here for Perfect Wood Grain Mastery, a quick to start and easy to learn step-by-step home study course. It gives painters and crafters the skills to duplicate any wood using easy to find tools and materials.

As a decorative painting professional, Norman Petersen has been making things look like other things since 1994. Today he’s on a mission to teach wood grain super-powers to homeowners, faux finishers, craftspeople, fine artists and custom car painters. Learn more about (you guessed it!) faux wood grain at his blog, perfectwoodgrain.com/blog

For information on buying and selling jewelry and other valuables, check out our friends at:

+ DuMouchelle Silver & Gold Exchange

+ DuMouchelle Diamond Exchange

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Posted in Design, Environmentally Friendly, Fun Ideas, Furniture, Services, decorating, diy, home improvement, interior design, kitchen remodeling, remodeling

How to Keep Your Kids Safe During Home Renovation

Sunday, December 4th, 2011

kids hard hats construction

When I was a little girl in the 1980s, my parents bought a microwave, big as a Buick. I always liked when handymen came to the house for installations. It gave me something to watch besides television, and someone to talk to other than myself. For a few hours, our split-level ranch would be in mild disarray but reassembled by the time my father got home.

“Sweetie, I left my carpenter’s level by the garage, can you fetch it for me?” the repairman said. I darted off, feeling helpful. But I tripped over a bucket of drill bits and roofing nails in the garage. Three rusty nails impaled my tender heel, piercing the rubber sole of my Chuck Taylors. The repairman had a first-aid kit, and I sat on my mother’s lap while he bandaged my foot, the smell of pipe tobacco redolent on his overalls.

My story illustrates why Ace Hardware recommends making the garage off limits to children, or at least taking care to store any potentially dangerous items out of reach. They suggest removing or keeping tightly closed four- to six-gallon buckets or pails, since a child can fall into a bucket of this size and drown in just a few inches of water. It’s essential, too, to maintain a first-aid kit and be familiar with its contents.

In addition, post the number of the nearest poison control center near your home phone, along with your child’s weight, allergies, and any important medical conditions. In an emergency, you might panic and forget. Also, a babysitter or visiting relative might need the information. Ipecac induces vomiting if a child ingests a poisonous substance.

If putting in a microwave can be dangerous, imagine the potential hazards of an entire kitchen renovation. Children are curious, exploratory beings, and an area with new and dangerous happenings provides an irresistible attraction. “Parents need to assess the safety liabilities on the renovation site, set boundaries, and warn their children,” says Denver personal injury attorney Daniel R. Rosen.

It’s important to talk to your contractor and introduce your children to him and his workers. Ask the contractor to lay down a tarp, and see if he’ll let your children draw a line in chalk across it. Then, instruct the children to stay behind that line, like the home renovation version of an electric fence. When rooms that children use everyday are remodeled — like the kitchen, bathroom, or a living room — it’s particularly challenging.

“Set up a temporary kitchen in a spare room, complete with hot pot and mini fridge,” advises child psychologist Kate Gorman. “It can be a little like playing house. It’s also smart to get children involved in making signs.” If a member of the household suffers from asthma, get children involved in constructing a sign that says, “Danger: Dust Particles. Asthma? Keep Out.”

Christopher Ashe, one of the stars of HGTV’s 24-Hour Design, isn’t just a carpenter. With more than a decade of experience in the building trade under his belt, Ashe knows about the dangers that families can face when remodeling.

“I categorize construction hazards as one of two ways: immediate or long-term,” says Ashe. “Long-term hazards are usually materials that were once commonplace but have since been found to be dangerous.”

If you’re working in a home that was built before lead was removed from paint, the best way to test for lead is to have a qualified lead inspector come out to test the house. Wear approved safety gear when working around lead paint remnants. Ashe recommends that homeowners seal off any HVAC ducts and make sure they vacuum with a HEPA filter vacuum twice a day, minimum.

It’s also important to research pressure-treated wood on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, http://www.cdc.gov/. Some treated wood contains poison. It may be worth it to pay more for eco-friendly options that are safer, particularly for pregnant women.

It wasn’t any fun getting a tetanus shot after stepping on those rusty nails. And, years later, I still recall how my childhood fascination with a modest home renovation project took a dangerous and painful turn. I’m thankful that the damage was minimal. You can be sure that I will take all the necessary precautions with my own two children. By following the advice above, I will do my best to make home renovation a source of excitement and future enjoyment for my young family.

Pari Chang is an attorney, single mother of two, and professional journalist for SixEstate. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, SELF, Glamour, Redbook, and the anthology, Behind The Bedroom Door.

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Posted in home improvement, remodeling

Cheapest Kitchen Renovation That Have the Biggest Impact

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

painting room

When it comes to renovating your home, especially for an increase in resale value, your kitchen is the most important. Your kitchen, even with small remodels, can enhance your resale value more than any other room in the home. In fact, homeowners can generally recoup as much as 80 percent of their investment in the kitchen remodel.

Thankfully, there are ways that you can renovate your kitchen effectively in terms of cost (so, in other words, affordably) while creating a big impact on your home’s resale value. You don’t have to literally gut and take apart your entire kitchen and start from scratch to make it worth your while. Think smaller – believe it or not, it works. Below are a few of the cheapest kitchen renovations that have the biggest impact.

  • Refinish or Reface Your Cabinets – There is a difference between refinishing and refacing your kitchen cabinets and the choice will depend on your individual preference. Refinishing your cabinets will require that you do some labor in terms of sanding and then painting or staining; however, it will only cost you a couple hundred bucks to get an entirely fresh new look.Refacing your cabinets means that you would simply remove the cabinet doors only while leaving the boxes – the interior of the cabinets – intact and replace them with an updated style of cabinet door. Expect $1,000 or less with this one depending on whether you DIY or pay a professional.
  • Upgrade Appliances – Wouldn’t you love to get a new look in your kitchen while at the same time increasing your home’s resale value AND lowering your monthly bills? Of course you would! You can do this by upgrading your appliances to energy-efficient appliances, which can be found at reasonable prices.
  • Upgrade Hardware and Accessories – Believe it or not, small changes throughout your kitchen such as new outlet covers, new drawer handles, new cabinet door handles or knobs, etc. can provide a drastically different look for your kitchen while giving your home a big impact. The DIY Network says that you can spend around $200 – depending on the size of your kitchen, how many pieces of hardware you would require and the extent of quality you prefer to purchase – upgrading the hardware in your kitchen.
  • Replace Your Countertops – Depending on the exact size of your kitchen and how much countertop that you need for your kitchen, you can spend around $1,000 give or take a few bucks to get brand new and fancy granite countertops.
  • Brighten the Room up with a New Coat of Paint – Do you want to keep the color of your kitchen and simply put a fresh coat of paint on top of the existing coat? Would you prefer to go all-out, establish a new color for your kitchen, and spruce up the room with a brand new color of paint? Or maybe do a little bit of both? Whatever the choice may be, choosing to paint your kitchen is a very inexpensive, cost-effective way to remodel your kitchen for a new look while getting a huge impact in every form. Plus, when you consider that you can paint your entire kitchen for under $100 (depending on the size of your kitchen and how many extras you want to throw in such as tape, brushes, primer, etc.), why wouldn’t you want to do it?
Nancy is a freelance writer for a website on Oakland homes. She knows home renovations like the back of her hand and is she is an expert in the field!

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Posted in home improvement, interior design, kitchen remodeling, remodeling

How to begin your kitchen re-design

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

kitchen remodeling

This guest blog post was written by Tracy Tesmer, founder of Tracy Tesmer Design • Build • Remodel • Repair, a Gainesville, GA kitchen remodeling company specializing in kitchen renovations. Tracy has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry and hosts a weekly home improvement radio show on WDUN in North Georgia.

The hardest part is getting started – at least that may be the case when beginning a kitchen re-design project. However, when following these helpful and simple pointers, even the initial phases of such a project can be stress-free and will come together nicely.

Narrow it down

The pre-planning and planning phase of any remodeling project is the most important. Not only will you get all your ideas into one uniform plan or design, you’ll also save time and money in the long haul. So, on paper, write down your favorite ideas for your project – color scheme, types of fixtures and cabinets, appliances, etc. If you’re short on ideas, consult a remodeling expert or page through some home renovation books. Take a few weeks to get a good feel for all your ideas; then narrow down your list so it includes your favorites.

Goals and budget

Will the ideas and items on your short list help achieve the overall goal you have in mind for your revamped kitchen? If not, add, delete or change the list to fit your vision of your future kitchen. This is a time to remember how much space you have to work with. It’s easy to overestimate the amount of room you have. Don’t get caught in this trap; take precise measurements so you know exactly the area you’re working with. This also is where you should begin to seriously think about your budget. Are the items on your short list affordable to meet your budget? If they are not, are the items available in an off brand or more affordable model? They probably are but, if they happen not to be, you may have to break items down into essential and non-essential items in order to spare pain to your pocketbook.

Work schedule

Just as important as a money budget is a time budget. Be realistic – a full-scale kitchen re-design cannot be finished in a day. Make a realistic timeline of when the re-design project should begin and be completed. Fill in more detailed information between the start and end dates. For example, at what point on the timeline will countertops be installed? Or, if you choose to include an island in your new kitchen, when does it appear on the timeline? This timeline will be helpful when discussing your project with those remodelers and experts who will help re-design and bring your kitchen project to fruition.

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Top 5 Most Useful DIY Tools

Saturday, November 19th, 2011

tools

When about to embark on projects around the house, you need to ensure you have your DIY tools in order and ready to go, but which are the tools that need to be on hand for each and every job you want to complete? Many tasks will have tools that are specifically suited for the task, but your grandfather will tell you of the time back in the day where his DIY tool kit comprised of less than 10 tools. While this may be an over the top exaggeration, as many of those types of stories are, but there is a lot that can be done with the basics and its important when putting together your DIY tool kit to know where to start. With this handy guide of our top 5 useful DIY tools, you’ll be tackling most tasks with relative ease.

1)    Multitool – This DIY tool is kind of a cheater to make it on the list as it fulfils a lot of requirements around the house. Leatherman is a popular brand and Victorinox also have a dozen variants to screw and cut its way through a multitude of tasks. Rather go for all the solid features without going overboard and make sure it is a solid build for durability.

2)    Portable Work Light – When you’re attempting to fix certain issues under the stairs on up in the ceiling, you are going to be able to need to see what you’re doing. This DIY tool can come in many forms from the torch through to a headlamp, which is the preferred option to enable free hands. Good quality LED bulbs will provide excellent lighting without too much glare.

3)    Hammer – Self explanatory, but you aren’t going to be knocking home or removing nails with a multitool. Make sure it is a solid and versatile size and constructed for most jobs around the home. The temptation for the sledgehammer may grab you in the store, but grab the common DIY tool size to ensure you hang pictures and not knock down a wall.

4)    Jig Saw – For all your cutting needs, the Jigsaw has the versatility of being able to cut a variety of angles, materials and shapes quickly and efficiently. This DIY tool is a must for anyone wanting to do a little more than change a plug around the house and definitely comes in handy when building just about anything.

5)    Electric Drill – Also a versatile tool as many now have the function of being used as an electric screwdriver as well.  You could go for the multi electric tool with various attachments but a solid drill will give you both wood and masonry options for those around the house jobs.

With a simple kit of these 5 basics, you’ll be well on your way to conquering the jobs around the house. Also remember that when attempting these tasks to be wearing some safe and durable overalls, such as Scruffs Workwear, and to ensure you have safety items such as goggles, gloves and ear plugs when attempting more in depth tasks. So now it’s time to get your DIY tools out and tackle that home improvement list with confidence!

Dave Tucker is a freelance writer with a keen interest in Home Improvement and construction. He hopes that through his shared knowledge people will attempt more projects on their own, rather than relying on professionals.

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Posted in home improvement

The Cheapest Renovations You Can Do To Your Home That Have The Biggest Impact

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
Cabinet hardware on display in a home store. F...

Image via Wikipedia

When it comes to the value of your home, performing small renovations can have a big impact. There are several key areas that will make a big difference in the sales potential of the property. It will also ensure that the current inhabitants are living in comfort and can enjoy a pleasant atmosphere. The most important areas of the home that can be greatly impacted by a renovation are the kitchen and bathroom. It is not always necessary to spend a lot of cash on these renovations. Most can be accomplished for under $1,000 by the do-it-yourself homeowner. The renovations that can have the most impact need not be time-consuming or done by a professional.

Curb appeal home is another important factor in the value of the home. For those who wish to sell their home quickly, it is amazing what a difference an attractive car in the driveway can make to the perceived value of the home. Those on a budget can visit used car search engine websites that allow for the quick finding of a suitable vehicle. The kitchen of most homes receives a lot of traffic and is often the focal point of the home. This is where people gather together and prepare meals. An outdated and messy kitchen is very off-putting and can instantly ruin the look of the home. Fortunately, it is very easy and inexpensive to completely overhaul this much-used hub of the home.

Refinishing or re-facing the cabinet doors is something that will dramatically change the look of the kitchen. The cabinets are left in place and only the doors are changed. This can be accomplished by going to a hardware store and purchasing new doors, or simply stripping off the old paint and putting on a new coat. Another part of the kitchen that is often worn out from much use is the counter-tops. This will require a bit more work, but the talented DIY-er will be able to easily accomplish this task. The desired material for the surface is up to the homeowner and there are many styles to choose from. Changing the floor by either putting in a new style of linoleum or installing tiles can give a contemporary look to any kitchen.

Painting the walls a more attractive and modern color will add eye-appeal and make the atmosphere more inviting. Simple measures like putting attractive new appliances on the counters and changing wall-outlets and door knobs can create a new look for very little financial outlay. The next area of the home that should always be up-to-date is the bathroom. It is easy to change the vanity and sink. Many large hardware stores carry kits that can be quickly installed. The walls should be painted with a flattering color and accessories replaced with newer versions. Shower curtains can be replaced, as well as towels and soap dishes. Putting in new flooring will add a modern look. The bathtub can receive a new coating and may not need to be replaced. These seemingly small improvements will have a huge impact on the home.

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Posted in Countertop Overlay, Tips/Advice, remodeling

Renovation Boom: Aging-in-Place and Universal Design

Friday, November 4th, 2011

Renovation Boom: Aging-in-Place and Universal Design

view from inside

There are close to 80 million baby boomers in the United States alone. The effect of baby boomers on many fronts is widespread due to their vast numbers, and the housing renovation industry will feel those effects over the next 20 years. At 80%, Americans over the age of 55 have the highest home ownership rate of any age group in the country.

In a March 2011 report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University entitled, “Housing Turnover by Older Owners: Implications for Home Improvement Spending as Baby Boomers Age into Retirement” (PDF), authors George Masnick, Abbe Will, and Kermit Baker write:

“As baby boomers relocate or downsize in retirement…they will release a very large amount of housing onto the market. Older homeowners (age 55+) accounted for about one third of housing turnover in the U.S. between 1997 and 2007, and this share will increase as the large baby boom generation continues to age into their retirement years.”

The study behind the report indicates that this housing turnover will increase renovation business in two ways. First, by baby boomers upgrading and repairing their homes pre-sale to increase marketability, and also by the post-sale remodeling by the younger homebuyers.

Though many people over the age of 55 will choose to sell their homes, an even greater number will decide to stay put. The results of “Fixing to Stay: A National Survey on Housing and Home Modification Issues,” released by AARP, indicate that 82% of respondents aged 45 and over would prefer not to move from their current homes. The desire to retain independence rather than seek other accommodations, such as assisted living facilities, is part of the “aging-in-place” movement.

“There’s been a growing demand for remodeling as a means to enhance Americans’ independence as they choose to remain in their homes into their retirement years,” says Leon Harper, AARP’s representative on a task force that is developing the Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) program. CAPS is a collaborative effort between AARP, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and 50+ Housing Council.

According to the CAPS task force, 75% of remodelers have seen an increase in requests for aging-in-place renovations, and the aging population is the second most pressing issue to affect the remodeling industry over the next five years. “Remodelers can’t afford to ignore the aging-in-place market,” says Dan Bawden, a remodeling contractor from Houston who heads the CAPS task force.

The aging-in-place concept is growing, as is the concept of “universal design.” The two go hand-in-hand, in fact. The concept of universal design was developed by Ronald Mace, founder of The Center for Universal Design in Raleigh, NC. Mace defined the term as “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”

With this in mind, tenets of the universal design concept will be beneficial to remodelers. Homeowners will want to update and reconfigure their houses for more comfortable living, as well as accommodate any special needs due to age or health concerns.

Specific suggestions include:

Lighting – Use bright lighting under kitchen cabinets to reduce eye strain, and in other areas of the house to prevent falls.

Handles - Install handles on cabinets and faucets that are easier to grasp, or use faucets with motion sensors. Lever-style door handles are also easier to grasp than traditional door knobs. Push-button controls on appliances are more comfortable to use than tiny knobs and dials.

Flooring – Floors should be slip-resistant. Natural materials are softer, and therefore cause less fatigue for someone to stand on for long periods of time. Carpet fibers should be short to prevent falls. Entrances should have low or no thresholds.

Stairs – Reduce or eliminate the number of stairs, and install strong guard rails. Keep stairways well lit and use contrasting colors from surrounding areas.

Countertops – Place countertops and vanities at a comfortable height — 36″ is recommended. Countertops that are adjustable offer more flexibility. Keep other frequently used items within safe reach, too. Sinks should be shallow, cabinet shelves should pull down, and drawers should slide out. Avoid sharp corners and edges on counters and other furniture.

Bathroom – Install grab bars and slip prevention in showers and bathtubs, as well as a grab bar near toilets. Shower and bath chairs can add comfort. Walk-in showers and bathtubs can be very helpful.

Emergency – Phones in the bathroom and smoke detectors that utilize lights as well as sound are also smart safety concerns.

Rachelle Matherne is a professional journalist for firstSTREET Online, a leading provider of innovative retirement gifts. From the Portable Electric Typewriter to the WOW! Computer for Seniors, firstSTREET has unique products to help seniors enjoy retirement, live independently, and even stay connected in a digital world

Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wegmania/2338278232/

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