What to consider when thinking of exterior & interior remodeling?
Remodeling inside and outside of your home isn`t solely about the looks. Of course, they are important not only in terms of pleasure, delivered by esthetic and harmonious surroundings. They may also translate into increased curb appeal and consequently into resale value of your property. But you rather won`t consider them the ultimate goal of your every project. Not because (as the saying goes), beauty is in the eye of the beholder but because remodeling may mean so much more than that. Think for example of improving comfort and functionality of your home as well as saving money in the long run.
Roof - one of the most important home investments
Roof is one of those investments, where you`re not so much interested in following the newest trends, as in finding long-lasting and resistant option. And your roof should be both to perform properly its functions. It`s there to protect your house from elements like rain, snow, wind and sun but also heat and cold. As any contractor from roofing companies in Chicago will happily tell you, all of the available roofing materials can do that to some degree. However, many of them are better suited to withstand milder climate, while others could do well in extreme weather conditions. If you live in the area where heavy storms, hails or very high / low temperatures are common occurrence, then you`ll be better off choosing more durable roof covering. As result, initial investment will cost you more but in the end, you`ll save on subsequent repairs and / or replacements of damaged elements. So, such a basic thing as choice of covering materials may mean the difference between a peace of mind and dealing with constant problems. Do you need an example? Asphalt shingles can last as little as fifteen years for the so-called most affordable option. Of course, their price seems like a steal but not for long. They quickly deteriorate, losing their ability to protect your home effectively from the weather. Only mere decade and a half later, you`ll have to face the necessity of reroofing or replacement. First option doesn`t sound like a very bothersome solution but you can do it only once. If there are already two layers of shingles on your roof then sorry but no deal. You`ll need to replace the whole thing. So at the end of the day the budget friendly option turns out to be not so friendly any more. There are of course architectural shingles with life expectancy of thirty years but they are pricier and still not particularly impressive in terms of resistance. On the other hand, roof made of more durable materials costs more at the beginning but it offers high return on investment. Metal makes perfect example as it`s sold at premium and requires installation by professional roofing contractors, who are well versed in dealing with that type of product. However, it`s not only resistant to almost anything but also has excellent thermal properties thus allowing for saving on energy bills. On top of that, insurers reward such choice with lower rates and government - with tax credit (applies to accredited `cool` roofs).
When it`s time for window replacement?
Not long ago people used to repair their windows as long as possible (and sometimes even beyond that). Then, with advance of modern technologies, the tide has changed and homeowners settled for trashing old fixtures, no matter if they were salvageable or not. Now we observe another shift toward more greener, sustainable way of living where we try to give them second chance with a can of paint and a bit of caulking. However, eventually the moment will come when we can do no more than start shopping for brand new windows. How to recognize that it`s high time for window replacement? One of the indicators is their age paired with type of construction. Several decades old, windows don`t have to be in bad shape but often they are and there is no point in replacing its elements piecemeal. On top of that, such old windows usually were covered with lead paint. After so many years, it might have been sanded off but better not to take chances. I also mentioned type of construction. In the past, the most common type was single or double hung windows with single pane of glass. Of course, they are pain to wash but most importantly, they are very energy inefficient. For one thing, such construction makes it difficult to properly weather strip them, for another - single panes provide for poor insulation. Modern windows, consisting of two or even three panes with spacing between them often devoid of air and filled with neutral gas (usually argon) are excellent isolators. This means that you can enjoy comfortable temperature at your house, when the weather outside is less than friendly. Another `consequence` is lower energy bills as new windows keep you from heating or cooling surroundings of your house. To reap the most benefits from your investment, head for reputable company such as New Edge Window Replacement Chicago.
Interior remodeling - total make over or small redesign?
Speak of home remodeling and many homeowners will instantly think of some home decorating TV shows, where they start any project with knocking down half of the walls or some such. Mind you, there is nothing wrong with serious makeover but necessity of enormous (and costly) changes makes many homeowners wary of such solution. Of course, total remodeling has its place but in many cases, the small improvements are the ones, which imprints you house with your unique style. Often, you don`t even need to call home remodeling contractors Glencoe or elsewhere in your proximity but can do the necessary changes yourself.
- If you don`t know where to start, then go online. Seek for things that inspire you on lifestyle websites and blogs but also in internet stores. You don`t have to jump on every idea or suggestion or shop for the newest trendy gizmo or trinket. Choose only the elements that really appeals to you, suit your needs and house`s overall character. Ultramodern apartment in the skyscraper and vintage cottage in the suburbs require different solutions. you can also broaden your search, including remotely connected inspirations like color / pattern swatches or even unrelated things that have some interesting characteristics (think honey comb shape, pearl luminescence and so on). With Pinterest inspiration board you can organize those snippets of information to design a new look for your home.
- As they say, less is more. Nowadays minimalistic design is in demand, so you can join that trend without paying hefty sums for new furnishings. If you are worried that from now on you`ll have to live like a monk, then you can stop fussing. Minimalistic designing is all about clean lines and open-space feel. It doesn`t have to be bare and black and white unless you want to. Think about all those Scandinavian style projects, prominently displayed in lifestyle magazines. They are warm and homey as well as highly functional. So instead of adding new things to your interiors, try to take away some and see how you can organize the rest.
- A Can of paint can go a long way and is the best friend of remodeling on budget. If your furniture looks worse for the wear but it`s still perfectly usable, consider doing some renovation. If your dressers, chest of drawers, chairs and the like aren`t vintage then you won`t need help of ebéniste (that`s the guy who takes care of antique furniture). Bit of putty to fill chipped elements or scratches and paint in your desired color will do. Just to avoid disappointments, start with invisible areas or better yet, with the pieces you won`t feel particularly sorry to throw away if something goes wrong. And voila, you can enjoy brand new look of your home.
Home remodeling in Chicago doesn`t always require plenty of effort and hefty sums of money. Small measures can do wonders, when it comes to improving your home looks and refreshing its décor.
Sometimes however, home remodeling is not only about esthetics but also about increasing functionality or upgrading interiors so that they could suit your changing needs (children arrive, grow up or move out; elder relative moves in and so on). In such a case, little things that you can do yourself might not be enough. You should consider securing larger budget and hiring professional contractors. They will deal with heavy-duty tasks like bathroom or kitchen remodeling, basement makeover, floors replacement and so on. However, experts` assistance will not only provide you with knowledge and quality workmanship but also can help with designing perfect interiors and obtaining all of the necessary permits (if any are needed). You won`t have to guess whether particular change to your home requires some additional paperwork or not. On top of that, remodeling companies, doing renovations day in and day out, use plenty of materials, so they can buy them in bulk (which means - cheaper) . And they know where to find the best products for your purpose. All in all hiring professionals is reasonable option, when you plan serious changes to your house`s interiors. Good home remodeling contractors will help you with every stage of your project.
Take care of your brickwork
Brickwork can make an esthetic and durable addition to your house`s exterior. Of course, as long as its properly maintained and repaired if necessary. If you don`t aim for ruined medieval castle look, deteriorating masonry should be taken care of as soon as possible. There are some basic maintenance that you can easily do by yourself and more demanding tasks, which require assistance of professional masonry contractors Chicago. So let`s start simple with the thing, which you can perform without expert help that is cleaning. You don`t have to do this very often, as bricks are very resilient and fare well even in unfriendly conditions but occasional washing would be welcomed. Most of the time for that purpose you`ll only need a garden hose and spray bottle, as Sprinkling bricks` surface is the easiest way to get rid of lose dirt. For more stubborn grime, use brush and a splash of appropriate detergent. Keep in mind though that not all of the brushes will do. Chose those that are made of natural or synthetic bristle and avoid wire, as it can leave traces of metal behind, which in turn can rust and discolor bricks. If you have problem with lichen, moss or mold growth, instead of surfactant use solution of bleach and scrub thoroughly problematic area. Brickwork cleaning is very helpful to maintain its good looks but unfortunately, that`s not a panacea for keeping your masonry in top shape. At some point or another you`ll probably face the necessity to deal with old, crumbling mortar or broken bricks. At this point, you should call professionals, who will remediate your problems. In case of missing mortar, the solution is tuckpointing Chicago. Masonry contractors remove damaged mortar in such a way, so they don`t disturb surrounding bricks. Then they apply fresh layers to the uncovered area. Such simple solution can do wonders both to the integrity as well as to looks of bricks. But what if they are in a bad condition themselves? You don`t have to knock down whole structure and rebuild it anew to tackle the problem. Good masonry contractors can cut out and replace broken or otherwise damaged bricks. If the negative changes are superfluous, masons can remove just external part of the brick and make up for it with tinted lime mortar, which mimics the real thing. Thanks to professional help, your brickwork in no time will look as good as new.
