IMPORTANT TIPS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR HOME RENOVATION A BREEZE
Ah, spring! Birds are singing, bees are hitting the distortion pedal, and home remodelling ideas are in the air. (So are ambrosia and other allergens, but let’s keep it positive) Tackling any home remodelling project can be problematic if you do not know where to start, but (*insert Star Wars opening theme) We are here to help!
This first warm season of the year has always been the best time to start all of your home upgrades and renovations you had in mind for the upcoming year. Winter is unpredictable, summer is too hot, and autumn is too rainy, so it is no wonder that spring is known as the renovation season. All of that wakening nature could tempt you to skip to that most exciting stage of remodelling, and start choosing colors, fittings, and fixtures, which would be a giant mistake. For any home renovation to go smoothly, there are several things to consider and plan before you even begin.
KNOW YOUR END GOAL AND YOUR BUDGET
You should determine how extensively you want to renovate. Are you just installing some new windows and painting walls, or have you decided to treat your home with durable mosaic floors and new bathroom furnishings too? Are you renovating to live comfortably for the next ten years, or to raise the raise resale values of your of your house?
While you’re at it, consult your budget and stick to it. Keep in mind that not everything always works as planned, so make sure you have a solid contingency fund for any unexpected expenses. Once you’ve made sure you know exactly what you want, and your monetary limits, you can move on to the next step without worries.
ESTABLISH YOUR DIY LIMITS AND MAKE DRAWINGS
DIYs are a terrific way to save money and create a sense of accomplishment. However, if you don’t know what you are doing, they can turn out to be disastrous. Make a list of tasks you can safely do yourself, as well as a list of tasks that would have to be handled by professionals. If you are an experienced DIYer, we probably don’t need to tell you this, but creating some transparent job drawings can save your project. These you can do yourself without any professional help. Depending on the type of renovation you are doing, do not forget to note the square footage, widths, and heights of doors and windows, as well as your current location for any electrical, water, and gas services. This way you can use your drawing to obtain a permit for your remodelling project.
CONSIDER YOUR ROUTINE AND DETERMINE A RENOVATION-FREE ZONE
Consider your family and your daily routine, and make sure you have everything you need throughout the renovation. It is important you have at least one place to gather, have a meal, and just semi-relax while the remodel goes on. The second part of this comes after you hire a contractor. Make sure you come up with a plan that causes the least disruption in your family day. This way you will avoid unpleasant situations and make sure everyone is happy with their new schedule.
AS FOR REFERENCES, AND CONSULT YOUR BUDDY GOOGLE
Any good contractor will provide you with plenty of references, and some of your friends will help you out with their own experiences. Do not rely on customer testimonials alone. Dig deeper to find some actual folks who can give you firsthand accounts and make sure you create a list of questions to ask them. Also, ask your contractor to provide you with before and after pictures of their previous jobs, and don’t be afraid to voice your opinion about anything that you feel is important relating to your upcoming renovation.
CONSULT YOUR CALENDAR AND CHECK THE WEATHER
Choose your end date, and work your way backward. Keep in mind that some delays can always happen, so make sure you pencil in a few days at the end of a month for wiggle room, so you can avoid having lazy and unproductive time. At the same time, check short and long-term forecasts before you schedule jobs that require outside access, like wood cutting and spray painting. This will also come in handy when you have to cut the heat and air conditioning, so you can avoid doing it on cold or hot days.
PLAN AHEAD
Planning can be a unique opportunity to enhance the functionality of your home and make it more efficient. If you are doing solely cosmetic interior remodelling, right after you rip out the entire room, you will be able to add some amazing features that will save you a lot of money in the future. For example, you could add insulation to the walls, add more convenient lighting fixtures, and upgrade your whole electrical panel.
If you are getting rid of your whole kitchen, don’t just go for the cheapest tiles. consider their maintenance and durability and go for mosaic tiles instead. If you are remodelling your whole bathroom, save water by converting your old shower into a steam shower, install a pressure-reducing valve wherever you can, and save on maintenance and future repairs by installing mosaic tiles instead the regular ones. The possibilities are endless once you have a clear image of what you want.
These are some of our favorite tips that will make your home renovation a breeze. Whether you are in for a gut renovation or you are just redecorating, these tips should help you achieve it without a hitch. You are welcome and good luck!
This article was originally published on Mosaics Lab’s website.
