Home Remodeling

Home Improvement can be a job that requires the talents of high-priced professionals like architects – or just the creative imagination of the homeowner. An imaginative homeowner can be an effective do-it-yourself home remodeler with a little planning and some time spent at the local home improvement store - completing a project in no more than 2 or 3 days.

An effective remodeling job might be as involved and complicated as a major build-out, or it might be as uncomplicated as changing the drapes and carpeting.

For simple remodeling jobs, like, for example, changing the color schemes in a room, planning might be a simple task. Relatively simple jobs require relatively simple planning. If your project consists of giving your home a fresh look by changing the color schemes in a few rooms, it involves basic tasks that most homeowners can accomplish without too much effort. Putting together a small list of supplies, carving out a few hours of free time, picking up a paint color chart, and making a visit to the local home improvement store is about all that is needed to get the project going. Pick a color from a chart, buy the paint, the brushes or rollers, a tarp – maybe even a little paper hat to prevent accidently changing the color of your hair. Simple tasks require simple plans, and offer little danger of running seriously over budget.

Larger remodeling jobs, such as building an addition to your house, are major projects that require professionals of many stripes, and may include architects, engineers, licensed contractors and applications to the local government for construction permits. What if you wanted to change the look of a room by changing not just the wall color, but also the furniture, flooring, lamps and drapes? You can see that as more and more elements are added to the project, more and more time and planning is necessary.

As your project becomes bigger in scope, it naturally becomes more complex. You will find many sites that give you a brief, but comprehensive, overview into the world of remodeling. Some of the advice may be obvious; many things you might already be aware of.

Additionally, larger projects will require more decision-making. Drapes or blinds for the windows? Should you carpet the floors, or re-stain the hardwood? Should you re-paint the walls, or choose an expensive wallcovering? These questions may sound easy, but with so much money at stake, and so many choices at your disposal, there are times when you can experience a brain-freeze and not want to make any decisions at all. Stick with it!

Building an addition to expand your home, or raising the roof to create more living space – jobs like this demand the use of several different professionals. Quite likely you will need to employ the services of an architect or engineer; you will need to hire a licensed contractor for the construction. You will have to deal with the local government for permits and inspections.

Frank Sarntarpia
Home Remodeling Blog