Day: April 17, 2014

Doing a historic home renovation is not an easy job. Unlike with new homes, where builders can construct from scratch, thus giving them the freedom to follow their own designs, heritage home restoration comes with many restrictions. The most obvious of which is that the builder has to follow the original design of the home. Should there be any changes, it will have to be minimal, or else, the home may lose its original character. To understand it further, here are some of the steps that a home restoration builder has to take.

First, he has to make a thorough inspection of the property, from top to bottom. This will give him an idea of the true physical state of the home so that he can then create a list of the things that he has to do for its renovation. Things that need to be checked, for instance, are the integrity of the foundation, presence of infestation, physical condition of the different parts of the house, and the state of the utility lines, just to name a few. Since it is an old home, there is a good chance that the builder will see multitudes of problems. However, he cannot just tear down a rotting wall to replace it if he has to keep the original heritage home design, especially if it is an exterior wall. He may have to find ways to fix or replicate it.

Second, he has to do an extensive research on the original heritage home design of the structure. This means that he will have to dig up its blueprints, which would include the initial plans and subsequent plans if the home has already undergone some prior renovations. As a builder, he would need all these data when he builds on the existing structure. Another piece of information that he has to know is whether the heritage home is listed in the historical society. If so, there may be restrictions in place regarding the amount of renovation that he can do.

Third, here comes the hard work. During the heritage home renovation process, a builder will have to make maybe hundreds of decisions. For example, should he reposition and change the style of the windows? Would that have a big effect on the exterior look of the home? Which parts should he discard? Which should be preserved? Although most of the concern would involve maintaining the exterior design of the home, there are also clients who would want to have most of the interior preserved. He must also face the challenge of upgrading the plumbing and electrical system, or building a modern kitchen on old structure. This is why a builder who specializes in historic home renovation should be very skilled and has a thorough knowledge of architectural arts.

In summary, a heritage home restoration is a task that can only be successfully done by an experienced builder. Such a project takes time and it usually involves a huge budget too. Hence, both the client and the builder should brace themselves for the long work that looms ahead when restoring a historic home.

Is your kitchen desperately in need of a kitchen remodel? If your cabinets seem like they are about to fall off or your appliances no longer function as well as they should, then it is indeed time for some serious renovations. The first thing that you should do is to find a contractor who specializes on kitchen renovations Calgary, more specifically someone who has previous experience on building luxurious custom kitchens. Before you worry about kitchen renovation costs, you should understand that having an elegant kitchen could greatly improve a home’s appearance, not to mention that it increases a home’s worth. So if you plan to sell your home in four or five years, you can be sure that you can ask for a higher price for it. Besides, a luxurious kitchen does not necessarily mean that you will go bankrupt. With the right contractor, you can implement the right strategies to get the high-end look without spending too much.

After finding a contractor, ask him to show you several kitchen designs. You can both then do some modifications to suit your family’s needs. For example, if your family loves to stay in the kitchen and if you have several kids, then the material for your kitchen floor should be able to withstand heavy traffic. If your current kitchen is a bit dark for you, you may also ask your contractor to enlarge your windows or add some lighting fixtures. Another good example is if your current cooking range only has three burners and you often find yourself cooking several dishes at the same time to host parties, then it is time to get a 5- or 6- burner range. This is why you should never hesitate to air out your concerns when you are talking to your contractor while designing your new kitchen.

Now, how do you make your kitchen look elegant for a reasonable cost? The ways are endless. For instance, since granite stone is expensive, you can opt to use granite shell to lay over your existing countertop. You can get the same finish, but since you will not be buying a whole block of granite, the cost will be significantly slashed down. Here is another tip, use wood laminates on your floors instead of real wood. You can hardly distinguish the two unless on close inspection. Wood laminates may cost less but they are resistant to water and they do not scratch easily, which makes them a great alternative. Further, a kitchen renovation does not always necessarily mean that you should throw the old stuff away. Good contractors can find ways to restore your old wooden cabinets to give them a new look. Sometimes a paint job is all they need and they can then meld easily with your new kitchen theme.

A builder who is experienced on kitchen renovations Calgary can definitely suggest more ideas and designs to help you achieve that luxurious kitchen for a quarter of a cost. Once the job is done, you will realize how a change in a single room can drastically give your entire home a brand new look.