Creating your dream home is no easy feat and whilst it can be incredibly exciting it can also be incredibly overwhelming! Unless you’re a seasoned professional undertaking renovations can feel like navigating a minefield. We’ve collated some of the most important things to think about when undertaking the works yourself.
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Plan Ahead
The best way to get to grips with your project is by making a great plan. Do your research and if you are based off the Interstate 5 then enlist the services of a general contractor in Centralia, WA for some help. Making a detailed list of what needs doing and when will ensure you stay on track.
Budget
It’s essential that you budget correctly whilst you’re in the planning stages. Do your research and find out how much each element should cost. Be sure to shop around so that you’re getting the best prices possible but remember that cheap does not always equate to quality. Whilst it is important to plan your budget, be aware that many things can go wrong with a renovation so keep some extra contingency money to the side for any emergencies. That way if you accidentally need to fix any damages that occur or discover something that needs a little more work such as pipework or electrics, you will have the resources to do so.
Get Insurance
It’s vital you take out some insurance to protect the area. It can be a tricky element to navigate so seek help if needed. If you have contents insurance, it will only be valid for an inhabited home so if you move out whilst your home is being renovated you will no longer be covered. If you are undertaking the project with the assistance of sub-contractors, you will be the main contractor and will need to organize site insurance. Whilst it’s not nice to think about, big renovation projects can easily have hiccups so being covered will keep you and your home protected.
Warn Your Neighbours
It’s good to keep your street in the know as your building works will affect them too. It’s important to remember they won’t be the ones reaping the benefits upon completion so keep the neighborly spirit alive by giving them a heads up.
Prepare The Site
Whether it’s you working on your own, or you have a team of builders, helpers, or friends working alongside you, you’ll need to make sure the area is safe for you to be in. Ensure there are some amenities such as a porta-potty and clean water to drink. If you’ve hired contractors they’ll be grateful!
Weatherproof The Site
Weather is impossible to control, so making the site weatherproof will keep you on track and help prevent any delays. Rain or snow can hinder the process so making sure the site remains dry will help you stay within your planned timeframe.
Do you have any plans to renovate your home this year? Let us know in the comments and offer up your best tips!
Which styles work best for the Pacific Northwest?
If you want to renovate your home, now is your chance to give your house a fresh new style. We’re here to help you decide and present the seven home styles that people in Pacific Northwest like most.
The neighborhoods across our country have various architectural styles, and every region leans towards certain types. For example, the Pueblo Revival-style home is widespread for the southwest. The chances for one to find it in the Pacific Northwest are instead a slime. History, weather, and natural landscape play their parts in the architecture, so every aspect of the country has its specifics. Find out what are the home styles most common for the Pacific Northwest:
Craftsman
Craftsmen homes often present gable roofs, decorative brackets under eaves, handcrafter quality, and natural material and finishes. Hire the best professionals to turn your home into a welcoming Craftsman Style home.
Colonial revival
The columns framing the house’s front door, the classical detailing, and shuttered windows are the trademark of colonial architecture. As a matter of fact, this is one of the easiest to recognize architecture styles. The columns framing the front door and the façade are symmetric for a stately appearance.
Rustic cabin/pacific lodge
The rustic cabin can become an updated version of the classic Pacific Northwest rustic style. Since the Pacific Northwest is home to unique forests and many outdoor activities, the rustic cabin retreats are widely spread. Reclaimed and salvaged wood can be used for the cabin style. Large standard rooms and stone fireplaces are specific to the lodge design.
Tudor revival
The steep-pitched roofs and arched entryways give the Tudor Style Homes a fairytale feel. In addition, the narrow windows grouped and stucco façade are typical of the Tudor style. The style was born in England, but many homes in the Pacific Northwest have embraced it.
Houseboat
One of the most representative cities for the Pacific Northwest, Seattle has won the hearts of movie fans with the forever-famous Sleepless in Seattle. Ever since the movie, when we talk about Seattle, we need to talk about houseboats.
Also known as “floating homes,” houseboats are instead houses and not so many boats. They are moored and float close to a pier and not so much float down a river untethered. Don’t let the size of these alternative houses mislead you—they’re a lot more spacious than you think. Houseboats offer exciting interior design and architecture that make the most of the space.
Modern
Modern-style homes impress with the fantastic flexibility in architectural design. Elements such as open floor plans, minimal to complete ornamentation, and clean lines are typical for modern home styles. Many recent Modern Style homes present an industrial feel and many unaltered materials and wood. A neat exterior design with an open interior layout with maple cabinets and wooden floors is familiar with this style.
NW Modern
The NW Modern style has begun to become popular during the modernist movement. It’s a regionally-specific style using lines and designs similar to the modern style but with several Pacific Northwest accents. A roof with an extended overhang to obtain a protected outdoor space year-round is a Pacific Northwest detail. For people living in Pacific Northwest, a covered outdoor area is mandatory, considering the rain throughout the year. Some NW Modern homes come with Japanese design aesthetics and an attractive inclusion of the NW landscape.
What about the design trends in Northwest homes? Which are they?
Professionals talk about seven current trends that are modifying the function, form, and future of Northwest homes:
Creature comforts
Creature comforts seem never to go away, and many have improved through technological progress. We’re talking about things like heated floors in the bathroom and heated towel racks—they’re just some of the many improvements.
Healthy home environments
It might come as a surprise, but almost half of people remodel to reduce the risk of health issues. Whether we refer to non-formaldehyde cabinets, non-VOC finishes, or high-end air filtration systems, people want a healthy living space for their families.
Remodel or move?
An impressive house trend is that more and more people would instead remodel their current homes than move to a new one. Maybe it’s because of the recession or because people know that moving to a new house is stressful. To each, their own, many people comprehend that renovating a home is a lot cheaper than moving to a new one.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Innovative approaches to sourcing have created amazing, unique, and sustainable products. Woodworkers take old wood, save it from the landfill and turn it into raw material. Even if they look rough at first, some sanding reveals beautiful colors and grain patterns.
All colors are trendy
It’s difficult to say which colors are popular, as the palette has a range of colors. Experts in the industry suggest customers go to stores that sell bath towels to find out which color will be trendy in the coming year. Such stores begin stocking new towel colors long before the paint stores start piling the new color paints.
Traditional vs. transitional
Raised panel cabinet doors were popular a few years ago, but things have changed. Now, it’s the flat cabinet panels that we see almost everywhere. It’s the same with renovation work. More and more people look for interiors with less clutter, fewer lines, and more relaxing.
Contemporary comeback
Most designers agree on one thing: people move towers simply in a cleaner and more contemporary design. Even if a rustic style won’t go away any time soon, a minimalist vibe is slowly winning consumers’ hearts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to renovate a house or build from scratch?
Nine times out of ten, it’s cheaper to renovate a house than build a new one. That doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to create a more affordable place than renovating. We’re talking about old houses.
What steps do you need to take to renovate a house?
The home remodeling process requires a thorough understanding and patience to take one step at a time. You want to make the renovation process as stress-free and straightforward as possible. Planning, demolitions, HVAC, electrical and plumbing, framing, and drywall, and painting are the steps to take in order. Always leave cabinets and fixtures for the last step.
Do you remodel inside or outside first?
Most of the time, you should begin with the foundational ad exterior work. When it comes to the phases of renovation, you need to ensure that your house is sound before you go to the interior work. If your renovation implies replacing windows and putting on a new roof, you should start with that.
How should you renovate: all rooms at once or one room at a time?
Some people are tempted to take everything outside on the vast loan and proceed with the remodeling afterward. What these people don’t completely understand is that remodeling cannot happen overnight. We strongly recommend you do just one room at a time—even if it will feel forever until you’re done with the renovation work.
How long will it take to renovate a house?
It can take anywhere from 7 to 10 months to completely renovate a small house, top to bottom. We’re talking about renovation work without any surprises along the way. A whole sizeable house will require anything from 9 to 15 months for renovation. Should there be any problems with city permits or other unforeseen delays, the renovation can take longer than 15 months.
