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Home Renovation Ideas that Are Worth It

Home remodeling projects can increase the value of your house, but knowing which projects return the most value can help you prioritize your wish list. Below are ideas and tips for home improvement that are popular and will improve the market value of your home.

add a deck1. Adding a Deck
A Deck addition returns the greatest value among the major popular remodeling projects. Owners can recoup nearly 80% of the investment at resale by adding a deck. It makes the house more aesthetically pleasing, increases outdoor living space and increases the value of the house. Decks made from wood have slightly better cost-value ratio than composite decks. But you also have to consider the maintenance on a composite deck is less time consuming and costly than wood.

2. Adding a New Room
Try converting an already existing space into a bedroom. You can convert your basement into a new bedroom, or you can add a room above the garage that can be used as an apartment. Create an Attic Bedroom for the best for cost vs value, owners can recoup up to 77% of the cost at resale. Think of creative ways to use your new space. For example, an attic can be used as a TV or game room. A basement can be used as a playroom for your children.

kitchen renovation3. Kitchen Renovation
Renovation in the kitchen can pay off because it is such a centrally important part of the house. The payoff is expected to be 67 to 79% of the cost in increased value of the home. One of the most budget-efficient ways to give your kitchen a new look is to change its color. Ask your contractor to use environment-friendly low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints that are free of harmful chemicals. Give your Kitchen a simple facelift by replacing old appliances with modern energy efficient ones. Since the appliances use less energy, your bills go down and you end up saving money.

bath remodel4. Bathroom Remodel
Remodeling the bathroom can recoup 60 to 72% of the initial investment (see last month’s blog post for the latest trends in bathroom remodeling). Look at unoccupied spaces in your house that can be turned into a bathroom. Consider the space you have versus the space needed before investing money. A bathroom with a bathtub and other accessories needs at least 35 square feet of space; a full bath needs 30 square feet; however a half bath needs only 18 square feet.

Smaller Projects

5. Adding Energy Efficient Windows
Investing in good quality energy efficient windows can save you up to $500 per year in energy costs, and will recoup up to 78% of the cost in home value. Not only do windows save money, they are eco friendly as well. Think about it, the more you use natural sunlight to light your rooms the less you spend on electricity.

6. Proper Insulation
Make sure you invest in energy efficient insulation. The initial cost is low, but can save you several hundred dollars per year in energy costs. In order to increase the value of the house, you need to add extra insulation, repair cracks, and look for air leaks around the house. One last tip is to replace old furnaces and air conditioners with new energy efficient ones.

7. Small items, big payoff
Other smaller improvements with big payoffs include Entry Door Replacement (101% recoup), Garage Door Replacement (88% recoup), Backup Power Generator (59%
recoup) and Siding Replacement (up to 80% recoup).
Items with the lowest recoup valuation include Sunroom addition (48%) and home office remodeling (38%)

Valuation estimates for this article were for mid-range projects sourced from Remodeling Magazine’s Annual “Cost vs. Value Report”. Weston Construction is a general contractor in Charlottesville, Virginia that can help with home remodeling projects to add value and enjoyment of your home.

Latest Trends in Bathroom Remodeling

bath trendsFrom the public baths of Mohenjo-daro to the luxurious individual models, bathrooms have come a long way. As we continue to evolve, so do our tastes and preferences when it comes to the comforts of the home. This article discusses the latest trends in bathroom remodeling; we hope you will find at least one idea that you absolutely must try!

Bathtubs

Lately, bathtubs have become a hot topic. Some bathroom enthusiasts want them; others hate them. This year, the top trends for this bathroom accessory are:

Removing Them
It could be the fact that bathtubs waste more water or that busy lifestyles do not allow lounging in one, so why have it in the first place or even considering them too expensive, bathtubs are on their way out. The money and space can be allocated to something else that has more utility. A shower, perhaps?

Substituting Them
There still exist bathtub lovers and they are not ready to give them up just yet. For those who still love the bathtub, in 2015, stand-alone tubs that save space will be the “it” thing. Options like the spa-jet tubs and serene soaking tubs are present.

bathroom remodel contractor

Replacing Them
A busy schedule means popping into the shower more often than soaking in a bathtub for hours. If you are not taking baths, you probably do not need a bathtub. This frees up a whole lot of space for a shower that can be as ginormous as you want it to be.

Walk-in or doorless, curb-less and no-threshold showers are just some of the luxuries that you can sample while accommodating this trend.

Tiles

Tiles can make or break it, when it comes to good-looking bathrooms. The tile trendsetters for 2015 suggest these would be big this year because:
bathroom tilesStyle
A staggered pattern of 12-inch by 24-inch rectangular tiles on bathroom floors and shower walls will make for a smooth flow throughout the room. They do not swell when wet or need refinishing like wood does. Feature floor tiles add style to a bathroom without overwhelming the available space in smaller bathrooms while bringing elegance to larger ones. These stunning tiles provide a great design opportunity for challenging bathrooms with no clear walls to be made into a feature wall.

Color
Gray has become the new neutral and the new beige. Consumers are tiling everything gray –from their kitchens to bathrooms. The trick is to pick a gray that is earthy rather than cold or sterile. A splash of bold colors will work ideally to accent the neutral.

Radiant Floor Heating
The secret to the tile’s growing popularity is in radiant floor heating. Once only available to high-end clients, it has now become more mainstream. Residents of areas that are cold for much of the year are thrilled at the idea of not having to walk around on cold tiles.

Miscellaneous

The current remodeler’s bag of tricks is chock full of intelligent solutions for the modern bathrooms. Given below are some of the trends that are hot for this year.

bathroom fixtureMetallic Fixtures
Chrome, brushed nickel, and oil-rubbed bronze – different warm coppery, brassy, and bronze-y colors are in this year. Out with the plain old stainless steel to explore the interesting possibilities.

Smarter Toilets
Low-flow and dual-flow toilets not only save energy but are also cost-efficient. People want to be smarter about water control. Thermostatic mixers, multiple-use mixers, and touch screen-operated showers are also in high demand. Double showers used by more than one person can benefit from multiple mixers.

Customized Vanities
A his-and-hers double-sink vanity or two-sink vanities for bathrooms shared by siblings are just two examples of the customization that people now want for vanities. Mass produced is out and tailor-made is in!

LED Lighting
LED lighting is being used almost everywhere – in the bathroom, in and under cabinets.

We hope you found one or two ideas in this article that you will want to try out when considering a bathroom remodeling project, or planning your new custom home. Give Weston Construction a call to discuss your next bathroom remodeling or new home building project. We will be happy to accommodate you!

Weston Construction is a General Contractor in Charlottesville, Virginia with more than 20 years experience building new homes and renovating historic properties.

Checklist for Hiring a Contractor

new home construction
With property prices rising, many people are opting to turn their home into the home of their dreams by renovation or remodeling. If you have decided to turn your home dream into reality, either by renovation or by building a custom house from scratch, you may want to hire a trusted home builder to do it. Building a home is a serious affair because your home is one of your most valuable assets. Therefore, it is good to hire professional builders or contractors who have experience in building custom homes. You need to do a lot of research before hiring a contractor to renovate or build your home. Choosing the right contractor is the most critical step in the process of home building or renovation. This basic checklist of questions can assist you in finding the contractor who is best suited to build your dream home.

How Many Years Have You Been In The Business? How Many Clients Have You Served?
You need to find a contractor who is experienced and has an established presence in your locality. It is best to go with people who have been in the industry for more than five years. Longevity is an indicator of work quality and happy customers.
Can You Provide Any References From Your Recent Clients?
Any honest and qualified contractor will be willing to provide you references from their previous customers. Client references are probably the best way to find out about the reliability and work quality of the contractor. You can also check the company’s website and social media pages to read reviews by their clients in order to get more information about the company.

kitchen remodeling

Can I Have A Look At Your Portfolio?
Make sure to have a look through the contractor’s portfolio of recent projects. You should look for projects that are similar to yours.

Can You Provide Me With A Timeline Of The Project?
Before you hire a contractor to renovate or build your home, ask them if they can provide you with a timeline. Ask the company if they can provide you with a start date and a completion date. The contractor should be able to provide you with a schedule of the project, so that you can see progress of work once it is initiated.

Do You Have All The Required Licenses? Are You Insured?
Make sure that you work with a licensed builder. Ask about the insurance status, and make sure that both the contractor and you are covered during the project.

How Much Will It Cost?
For some people, price might be the most important aspect of home renovation or building process. It is important to discuss the budget to save yourself from any hidden or extra costs at the end of the project.

These questions can help you choose the right contractor to build or renovate your home. Hiring the right contractor can lessen the stress, cost, and time in the process of building your dream home; and a wrong decision can turn your dream home into a living nightmare. Make sure to choose vigilantly!

Weston Construction in Abode Magazine

Abode Magazine Mar 2014Todd Buck and Weston Construction were featured in the March issue of C’ville Weekly’s Abode Magazine for a renovation project they did for Interior Designer, Sandy Muraca. You can see the article on C-ville Weekly’s website here (or click on the image at left to download a pdf). Weston Construction worked closely with this client to create “an all-new kitchen with the same old cabinets”.

Rather than gut the entire kitchen, the original cherry cabinetry remained, although some of it did get replaced with open white shelving, to display the homeowners collection of beautiful objects. The original countertop laminates gave way to black soapstone, offset by grey-white marble backsplashes and a white granite countertop on the center island. The desktop now extends around the corner and becomes a shallow countertop inside the pantry. Over the stovetop, a new white vent hood is clean and bright, yet rather monumental, and echoes the fireplace on the opposite end of the great room. A farmhouse sink completes the look.

Article by Erika Hawsare, photos by Andrea Hubbell.

12/13/14

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Welcome to the Weston Construction Blog. Here you can find information and photos about our latest construction projects in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. If you are looking for a builder for your custom home or renovation project, please give us a call for a consult and estimate. Call Todd Buck at (434) 531-8597.

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