Although home remodeling may be different for every project, there are critical aspects that definitely must be done correctly.
In general, home renovation can be tedious as there are often many hard choices to make.
In this guide, we will explain important factors to help you make better-informed decisions regarding your home renovation.
1. Structural Repairs
You should keep an eye out for any cracks appearing on the walls of your home since they are the signs of the possible structural damage.
This can happen for a number of reasons such as ground movement, failed building materials, mechanical impact, water ingress, timber decay and so on.
Foundation Cracks
A crack in your home’s foundation means you have a problem, but the severity depends on the type:
Vertical Cracks
This one actually doesn’t pose as much of a threat. It’s the most common type of foundation crack that often occurs due to concrete tension but is also caused by the heavy rains that create water pressure.
It is easier to manage since you only need to mend the crack and protect against water intrusion to prevent further cracks.
Diagonal Cracks
Diagonal cracks indicate a differential settlement and lead to more serious structural issues.
Differential settlement means that there is both vertical and horizontal tension building up due to the foundation moving in different directions.
It can be repaired similarly to vertical cracks using more material but it is also important to determine where the foundation is located to prevent further damage to your home.
Horizontal Cracks
There are different types of horizontal cracks but all of them point to a serious structural problem. The most common cause is an uneven pressure from the soil to the foundational wall. Often the cracks will be near the center or towards the top of the wall.
There are a few different ways to repair a horizontal crack varying from bracing the wall with steel columns to installing yard anchors depending on the wall and the severity of the issue.
2. Hardwood Floors
Repairing or replacing the floor will definitely change the quality of your home for the better.
Solid vs Engineered Hardwood
The first choice in picking the right hardwood floor is between solid and engineered. Both of them add value to your home and are available in variety of species, stains and styles.
Solid hardwood is made from pieces of one species of wood. It is authentic and extremely durable. If it’s installed and maintained correctly it will last a lifetime.
Constructed from several layers of wood, engineered hardwood is less susceptible to moisture. It is also very versatile and can be used in the basement as well as the upper floors.
Solid Hardwood
Pros:
Authentic
Durable
Cons:
Expensive
Susceptible to moisture
Constructed
Pros:
Versatile
Less expensive
Less susceptible to moisture
Cons:
Less durable
Can’t be sanded and refined
Wood Species
Bamboo Flooring
Ecologically friendly, bamboo flooring is made from natural and highly renewable vegetation. It is easy to maintain, a bit more water resistant than a regular hardwood floor and can be extremely strong, depending on the type.
Pros:
Easy maintenance
Natural
Less expensive
Eco-friendly
Durable
Cons:
Susceptible to scratches
Susceptible to humidity
Lack of grading system
Hickory Flooring
A popular choice for those looking for quality hardwood floor, hickory is unique for its style and colors. It is also very durable and resistant, domestically manufactured from trees grown in the U.S. it is one of the hardest floors available.
Pros:
Durable and resistant
Variety of colors and style
Easy to maintain
Cons:
Difficult installation
Can be prone to warping
American Cherry Flooring
While one of the most reliable types of hardwood, American cherry isn’t one of the hardest. However, it is durable, so it’s used even for the under-flooring.
American cherry hardwood has a solid resistance to gradual warping and offers light colors that complement a more traditional home.
Pros:
Durable and versatile
Easy to repair
Helps prevent allergies
Cons:
Requires frequent cleaning
Less pet-friendly (smooth)
Brazilian Cherry Flooring
Due to its durability Brazilian cherry is one of the most widely used exotic hardwood floors. Brazilian cherry can be used to “warm up” your home with its bold and rich color while being able to endure harsher conditions than most hardwood floors.
Pros:
Unique color and style
Very durable
Water resistant
Cons:
Gets darker over time
Bad in high humidity areas
American Walnut Flooring
Also known as Black Walnut, this hardwood has a rich brown color and a straight, very fine grain. Even though it is portrayed as one of the softer hardwood floors, the dents in Walnut flooring are hardly recognizable due to its natural colors.
Pros:
Durable
Easy to install
Hides scratches and dents
Cons:
Can increase noise
Prone to scratches and dents
Oak Flooring
Beautiful, stable and versatile, it’s no wonder Oak flooring is the most popular choice for homeowners. There are two main types of Oak floors: white oak flooring and red oak flooring. Some technical differences do exist but the main thing to consider is they have different graining and colors and will stain differently.
Pros:
Stable
Less expensive
Very good for staining
Cons:
Softer
Bad for modern design
Maple Flooring
Being one of the hardest domestic hardwoods, Maple flooring is often used in bowling alleys and foot traffic heavy areas. Aside from its hardness, Maple’s color is relatively light and warm and as such it will fit in almost every room in your home.
Pros:
Very hard
Good color
Widely available
Cons:
Prone to humidity
Marks and scratches are more visible
Ash Flooring
Similar to Oak in appearance, Ash flooring has large grain which intensifies the stain color. Ash also has a very light natural color and is the third hardest domestic hardwood floor.
Pros:
Stain options
Active wood grain
Comfortable surface
Cons:
Maintenance
Comes in shorter lengths
Mahogany Flooring
Mahogany hardwood is famous for its rich color and long life. It’s one of the hardest materials used for flooring. Apart from flooring, it is used in making the guitar bodies and even yachts due to its outstanding features.
Pros:
Strong
Durable
Rich color
Cons:
Expensive
Hard to cut
3. Windows & Doors
It’s scientifically proven that sunlight makes human beings healthier so upgrading your windows and doors to let more natural lightning inside your home will definitely improve your quality of life.
Additionally, better door and window frames offer superior heat isolation so improving them will also contribute in lowering your energy bills.
Timber Frames
Timber frames are one of the favorite building materials suitable for both traditional and modern style homes.
They consist of timber stud work usually fixed in place with plywood or OSB.
Although generally higher maintenance, requiring refinishing over the years, timber frames excel at providing a natural warmth to your home.
Aluminum Frames
Today’s aluminum frames have improved a lot since the 70s and are one of the most used type of framing in the contemporary interior design.
Due to its strength it isn’t necessary to use as much material to hold the glass as in other types of frames available which allows the creation of larger windows and doors to expand the glass area.
Furthermore, it leads to better wind resistance as well as an exceptional water and air isolation.
Steel Frames
Used both in traditional and modern home design, steel framing offers an elegant solution that stands the test of time.
Well made steel framing includes thermal barriers that prevent heat conduction which ensures a good degree of heat insulation.
Though a bit more expensive than the other types of framing, steel frames present sturdy and graceful solution for your home.
4. Decks & Sunrooms
Some of the most enjoying places in your home aren’t necessarily inside the house and that’s why upgrading decks and sunrooms definitely matters.
Wood Decking
When choosing a wooden deck there are two options: softwood and hardwood.
Softwood decking is made from fast growing trees such as Pine making them cheap and quick to replace. But the drawback here is that they need a lot of maintenance and don’t last as long.
Hardwood decking, on the other hand, comes from the slower growing trees like Oak which makes them more expensive but also more durable. Additionally, they require less maintenance and look gorgeous.
Plastic Decking
Plastic decking may not look as good as wood but it offers much in return.
It’s the best for resisting the elements without staining and also being lightweight, it is much easier to install and manage. Choices include PVC and polyethylene.
Aluminum Decking
Offering the best weather resistance, aluminum decking won’t rust, rot, warp, crack or splinter. Its finish is extremely long lasting and with aluminum you won’t have wood-boring bugs, it can’t catch fire and is resistant to even cold temperatures.
Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive decking options.
Sunrooms
If, on the other hand, you prefer the feel of the outside deck but without the drawback of having to worry about weather, you should consider adding a sunroom to your home.
There are four main types: a classic sunroom, four-season room, attached greenhouse and a screen room.
A classic sunroom is usually well lit by the natural light coming through large and numerous windows designed to function as an additional living room but may be too hot or cold depending on the severity of the climate.
A four-season room is similar to a classic sunroom constructed with heating and cooling in mind.
Using the same basic principles as the sunroom and four-season room, the attached greenhouse is primarily made for plants.
Less expensive and with the advantage of fresh air but no insects, a screen room forgoes the glass and uses mesh instead. Also, like the classic sunroom it’s usage is limited by weather.
5. Painting
Though some may not notice it right away, a good paint job brings another dimension of clarity to your entire home.
When to Paint a House
The best time of day to paint the outside of your home is around mid afternoon as the morning dew will already evaporated and there will still be plenty of time for paint to dry.
Watch out for moisture and the humidity as it will make paint dry slower. Also, the temperature will affect the paint curing process and direct sun may cause the paint to dry irregularly. Further, with temperatures below 34 F the paint is less likely to dry at all.
Picking A Color
Choosing the right color for your home is the most important, but also the most enjoyable part of the project.
If you are planning to sell your house try to find the color that fits the best in the neighborhood but otherwise pick the color that you like which matches with the rest of your home and boosts its visual integrity.
For a free estimate with excellent service Contact Us today!