Centurion Home Improvement – The Louisville Roofing and Roof Repair Specialst – (502) 298-8825

The question of how to remodel a kitchen is not one to be answered in one page. In fact the contractors have gone to school and read many books to finally understand and be able to do it properly. However I will make an attempt to provide the fundamentals on this subject.

One thing is certain, you will have to keep reading and researching on this subject. Alternatively you could just hire a kitchen remodeling contractor to do the job for you.

Where should you start?

You need to start by assessing your kitchen usage patterns. This will enable you to determine the quality and extent of the remodeling task. For example, ask yourself the following questions; do you entertain a lot? Do you have a large or small family? And do you need a lot of dishware or glassware. You should also consider the amount of storage that you desire and the style of appliances that you want.

To help you find the appropriate design you can look through some magazines. Compile the cut outs and keep them all together for the next stage.

This would be deciding on the material to use. You could go with light wood, dark wood, painted cabinets, contemporary or traditional style etc. In fact you could simply choose to reface your kitchen cabinets and do minor replacements. Other things to consider include, flooring and countertops and backsplashes.

The next stage is to find a kitchen designer to populate a 3-d version of what you are looking for. When calling up the designer you need to have taken all the necessary measurements for your kitchen i.e. floor, cabinet, doors etc. You should at least have a floor plan based on the cut outs from the magazine and your own vision of the kitchen. The last stage would be hiring a kitchen remodeling contractor. This is the last stage on remodeling of the kitchen. Not unless you want to do it all by yourself.

The time has come, the time is now…my bathroom needs a makeover! I can’t look at my old rusty and old shower one more day, and the vanity looks like it’s ready to be put to pasture. I’ve always wanted to get a double sink bathroom vanity, and the old daily fight with the shower curtain is about to end. I decided I should narrow down exactly what I wanted before getting out there and becoming overwhelmed by so many choices I don’t know which way is up anymore. Since I don’t remodel my bathroom everyday, I want to make sure I get exactly what will fit and what I want because I’ll probably be looking at it for years!

I decided to tackle the shower first, because well, I don’t want to shower in it any longer than I have to. I can’t stand it! I didn’t want to go with the old standard tub and shower combo with a rod and curtain for my new and improved bathroom. I’ve always wanted a gorgeous glass sliding door shower in my bathroom, that sparkles with chrome trim and clear glass. I think this would be a very classy upgrade from what I currently have, and make me feel a little bit like a movie star in my own home. It’s also easy to keep a glass shower clean, as long as I put a little water squeegee in there and quickly wipe off the excess water after every shower.

Next, I will replace that little decrepit wooden bathroom vanity with a nice new stone countertop one. I decided that with my chrome and glass shower enclosure that a white marble countertop would look absolutely fabulous. I wanted to go with a darker wood, to contrast the white and the shiny metal, so I found a beautiful mahogany base double vanity with a white marble countertop to complete my bathroom remodel and make it an entirely different space.

Now that I’ve narrowed down exactly what I want, it will be much easier to find it. I think I’ll get new towel rack and toilet paper holder fixtures in chrome to match my fantastic new sliding door shower. Nothing like a remodel to make you feel like you have a completely new home, at least in one room!

There are three possible scenarios involved in that question:

1. Stay where you are and renovate

2. Move to an existing house and renovate

3. Build a new house for you to move into

There are numerous considerations, not the least of which is how you feel about your existing location. That word – LOCATION – should be your primary focus. Do you prefer to remain where you are, or not? Is staying where you are an option, or are you forced to relocate due to a job change, or other issues?

If you wish to stay where you are, there’s no reason to read this article. Remodeling and/or expanding the place where you now live is the least expensive alternative – by far.
Your aggravation levels will increase during the construction, but they will do that with either of the other choices as well. If it gets to be too much, you can move to a motel for 2 months, eat dinner out every night, and still come out cheaper than either option 2 or option 3. If you want to be in your present home, case closed.

So let’s assume you have to move, and we’ll concentrate on option 2 vs. option 3. There are two important aspects of this topic which apply to both.
• In both cases you have to research the property with the building department to make sure you will be able to do what you wish. Verify zoning, lot size restrictions, and access to utilities.
• You will have unknown costs (moving, insurance, taxes, financing costs, etc.) in either case.

Advantages of remodeling an existing house:
• Fewer hidden (or unknown) costs. New homes often have impact fees, ground preparation fees, and higher permit fees than those imposed for remodeling.
• Hard construction costs will be less (usually, but not always).
• You can move into the house much sooner. If you have to leave your existing home quickly, you may not have the ability to wait for a new home to be built.

Advantages of building new:
• Unrestricted design potential, allowing you to end up with a more modern, better insulated home, with better traffic flow than you would have in an older building. Also, older homes have less closet/storage space than new ones.
• Your long term energy costs will be lower because all of your equipment will be running more efficiently.
• Less disruption to family routine. While construction is happening, you’re still living in your present house. Then you move into a finished product (possibly with some decorative items to complete).

I’m sure you noticed that I haven’t listed costs in either list. The determining factor is going to be the extent of the renovation to the existing building. Depending upon the condition of the house, age, building codes and other factors, it can actually be more costly to remodel than to build new.

In either case, allow an extra 20% in your budget over and above any quoted costs you’ve obtained. 10% is for upgrades that you decide upon after initial pricing. The other 10% is for the rising costs of material and labor. If the price of oil goes through the roof again, 10% might not be enough.

If the older home was built between 1950 and 1978, there might be issues having to do with asbestos and lead paint. Make sure you get a professional inspection performed. You may also be required to bring the plumbing and electrical systems up to date.

In conclusion, renovating a home might be very rewarding, as well as the cheaper alternative. However, you have to do your homework before making the commitment, in order to insure that you’re not stepping into a money pit. Every situation is different. Your decision will probably come down to what your sixth sense tells you. Regardless of how you choose, anticipate that moving into a new home will take more time and more money than expected.

The trend of home improvements has extended to one of the most important rooms in a home. Through the ears, the bathroom has evolved into just a room to clean yourself up It has become an ultimate place for relaxation, judging from products and fixtures which are now marketed to make your bath time more pleasurable, beautifying and relaxing. Creating a more comfortable ambiance and a beautiful bathroom is a great concept to have as bathroom remodel ideas.

Bathroom Remodeling Example

Before Remodel

After Remodel

Bathroom remodel ideas may be simple or a little bit complex depending upon the budget and design that you want. Based upon the size of the bathroom, changes may be made from its accessories, fixtures to remodeling an entire bathroom.

For example, adding a shower or bath heater or maybe a tub in your bathroom are top-on-the-list bathroom remodel ideas. This may be a small remodeling task as a bath heater or shower heater may be installed immediately. However, having a tub might take a bit of time as you have to consider your floor space if a bath can fit into your small bathroom. If you have a large bathroom, then it shouldn’t be a problem. Still, a little bit of reconstruction or re-arrangement will have to be made to fit the tub.

Another one of the many bright bathroom remodel ideas is to install a range of lights or lighting system. Lights set the mood in the room. Lighting fixtures whether put on both sides of the mirror, over the sink, spot lights, decorative lights or installing a centralized lighting system will instantly create a whole new look to your bathroom, lightening up the whole area, making it more pleasant and relaxing.

Installing shower accessories like a glass shower door or new shower curtains is a simple but an instant perk up to your bathroom remodel ideas. But make sure that the glass fits the standards of safety so that in cases of accidents or any calamity, it will not break easily or will just crystallize to reduce injury or damage.

Better yet, another one of the cool, wonderful and innovative bathroom remodel ideas is to install a sound system in your bathroom. Even a small sound system will do. Make sure to ask help from your contractor or appliance sales man how to waterproof your gadget or install it in a high shelf or place. Having a stereo in your bathroom is an ultimate blast to take a bath. While starting your day or just simply relaxing in a tub, having soothing music or danceable tunes will surely make your bath time a truly wonderful and enjoyable daily habit.

These are just a few colorful bathroom remodel ideas to brighten up the one of the most essential part of your home. It may just be simple but it sure is worth achieving to beautify our home and have a clean and fun environment.

By Peter Ottowitz

A recent survey of home inspectors resulted in a list of the most frequently found problems in the homes they have inspected. It is significant that within this list of ten categories, at least four are directly related to the damaging effects of water. Thus, keeping water out – is the homeowner’s most important and continually challenging objective.

1. Improper Surface Grading/Drainage
This was by far the most frequently found problem, reported by 35.8% of the survey respondents. It is responsible for the most common of household maladies: water penetration of the basement or crawl space.

2. Improper Electrical Wiring
A significant number (19.9%) chose this item as the most common home defect, which includes such situations as insufficient electrical service to the house, inadequate overload protection, and amateur, often dangerous, wiring connections.

3. Roof Damage
Although reported by only 8.5% of the respondents as the most common problem, roof leakage, caused by old or damaged shingles or improper flashing, was considered by CAHPI members to be a frequent problem.

4. Heating Systems
Problems in this category include broken or malfunctioning operation controls, blocked chimneys, and unsafe exhaust disposal.

5. Poor Overall Maintenance
Even the novice home buyer is usually aware of this situation, demonstrated by such signs as cracked, peeling, or dirty painted surfaces, crumbling masonry, makeshift wiring or plumbing, and broken fixtures or appliances.

6. Structurally Related Problems
Many houses, as a result of problems in one or more of the other categories, sustain damage to such structural components as foundation walls, floor joists, rafters, and window and door headers.

7. Plumbing
Though never ranked by the respondents as a Number One problem, plumbing defects still rank high among the house problems encountered, and include the existence of old or incompatible piping materials, as well as faulty fixtures and waste lines.

8. Exteriors
Flaws in a home’s exterior, including windows, doors, and wall surfaces, are responsible for the discomfort of water and air penetration, but rarely have structural significance. Inadequate caulking and/or weather-stripping are the most common culprits.

9. Poor Ventilation
Perhaps due to overly ambitious efforts to save energy, many home owners have “over-sealed” their homes, resulting in excessive interior moisture. This can cause rotting and premature failure of both structural and non-structural elements.

10. Miscellaneous
This category includes primarily interior components, often cosmetic in nature, which were not found frequently enough to rank individually in our survey.

Obviously the age of a home plays a significant role in these findings. In older, urban houses, problems such as heating system failure, inadequate electrical service, and worn plumbing can be found with much greater frequency than reflected in this survey.

The survey response percentages were given only for the first three categories because they were so high and statistically meaningful. Items 4 through 10 were ranked significantly lower than the top three, and vary regionally.

Winterizing your home shouldn’t stop with the part you can easily reach.  You need to consider your roof as well.  Centurion provides resources so you can make the right choices for your home.

Roofing Tips For the Winter Season
By Edie Pastis

Preparation for the changing seasons involves a lot of work. In Spring, that means packing away the long johns, breaking out the gardening tools, putting in extra gym hours to prep for swim season, and tackling the infamous spring cleaning. When Fall rolls around, the long johns resurface, we surrender to that comforting layer of “holiday weight” (what are bulky sweaters for?), we quietly cry over the loss of long, sunny days, and we moodily begin winter-proofing our cars and homes to ward off the snow-filled months to follow.

When winter approaches, the condition of our roofs is pretty easy to overlook in the hullabaloo of new tires, snow mats, antifreeze rationing, and new wardrobes comprised solely of fleece. But investing in a good roof plays a large part in protecting everything underneath that roof which we hold dear: our children, family heirlooms, pet sea monkeys, vintage Beatles albums etc. Here are some things to keep in mind about roof maintenance, whether you’re trying to protect grandma’s quilts or your favorite Fab Four vinyl.

Most roofs under 5-years-old should be in pretty good shape, but these simple tasks can sufficiently maintain a healthy roof for approaching winter:

• keep the roof surface clear of debris
• clean out the gutters regularly
• check for leaks, rust and rot
• trim overhanging tree branches or shrubbery
• replace damaged shingles

While these preventative methods will ensure you the most mileage out of a good roof, if you’re building a new home or in need of serious roof repair, a roofing contractor is often the best bet. A roof that’s over 15-years-old and suffering from heavy leakage and other damage might require a brand new roof installation. While it can certainly save money to tackle the job yourself, a rookie mistake could subject you to further costs down the road, and then you couldn’t afford those cool, new ear-warmers that everyone’s rocking at work.When purchasing new roofing for your house, you’ll want to do some cost analysis based on three main criteria: roofing material, the area size of the roof, and removal of the existing roof.

Some common roofing materials include:

• copper
• fiberglass
• metal
• rubber
• galvanized steel

Once you’ve picked out your material, measured the area, and gotten an honest roofing cost assessment from a reputable contractor, you should have a pretty good handle on how much you’ll shell out to maintain your “home sweet home” until the day you and your pension can run away to Fiji…and banish unflattering, fleece vests for good.

A swanky and beautifully done up dream house surely tops the wish list of each one of us. As we go around building are materialistic possessions, we develop visions of how are abode should look like and continuously strive to achieve the same. However, we are sure all will agree, the costs and expenses involved remain the biggest dampeners.

Remodeling your home can involve enormous costs, which can spiral out of your moderate budget, very often leaving you exasperated and helpless.

The Way Out!

So, in face of shooting prices and staggering amounts, do you just sit back and let your dreams dissolve into thin air? Or are you wise enough to sit down with a calm mind and astute vision to develop a plan of your own? If in the latter category, we might just have some useful tips for you. Smartness and lifestyle do not come as much from money as it comes from class and your own sense of style.

Take a keen look at your surroundings. Analyze what minor and major changes you can make that might not cost that much, but can indeed give your house that much required look of class and elegance. Experts suggest beginning with small but significant aspects of your house such as the countertops, kitchen fixtures, bathroom sittings and floor coverings. The catch here is to add a touch of renovation to those parts of the house which come in direct vision of an onlooker and add strategic value to your house.

Another easier way to save on the costs is to try to take on a majority of remodeling tasks yourself, without allocating or outsourcing the jobs. This not only saves you an ample amount of money but also enables you to directly apply your vision. However, especially when doing it yourself, make sure you invest only in the best quality raw materials and fittings for a good experience later. You’ll also want to make sure you have the right tools, such as table saws or air compressors for the job.

The Added Benefit

Now, the newly done up and remodeled house might make you feel like a king, with all its royalty, but there is another added benefit to it. A remodeled home with a contemporary touch is likely to fetch you a much higher price when you decide to put up your house on sale. Buyers are most often interested in purchasing a property that will require the minimum amount of remodeling and renovation. The new owner will rather want to add another classy touch to the house than spend his hard-earned money on merely renovating an older property.

Small bathroom remodeling requires some solid plans when you have little space to work with. You should focus on one or two main areas if you’re looking to improve the look and feel of a small bathroom. This article will look at a couple of ideas you might use in your next remodeling project.

Sinks Rule

If you’re limited in space, you may want to focus on the sink and cabinet area of your bathroom. Sinks can add an incredible value and convenience to any small bathroom. You can find many wonderful ideas by looking online ad different plumbing supply companies. If you’re lucky enough to live in or near a larger city, you can find many displays already set up.

One of the things that really complete the sinks look is the faucet that you choose. This is an area where you should not spare any expense. It really is true that you get what you pay for when it comes to faucets and sinks.

Think about the Toilet to

The next area that you should focus on is the commode or toilet. In today’s world there are so many unique designs that a toilet is no longer just a toilet. If you are thinking in this direction than you would want to be able to marriage up your toilet in your sink choices to be a nice combination.

Get Some New Ideas

If you’re fresh out of ideas for your small bathroom remodeling project you can often times find wonderful ideas in your local home improvement store. Memo often have free brochures right at the front of the store when you first go in, and most of your home depot or Lowes department stores.