Are you looking to add more space to your house without an addition? Do you want more light and more sitting room in your living space? Maybe it’s time to install a new bow or bay window!

The Difference Between a Bay Window and a Bow Window

Keep in mind, there is a difference between a bay window and a bow window, even though they are similar.

In fact, they are so similar that many people get them mixed up. They both have the potential to create an extra seating space, and they can both add dimension and light to your house.

A bay window, however, is three separate window panes. Usually, there is a picture window in the middle set away from the wall of the house with smaller windows on either side, angling from the wall to the picture window.

A bow window is multiple windows – four or more – that form a bow out from the main structure of the house. Usually, none of these windows is a fixed – or picture window.

Pros of a Bow or Bay Window

More Space

Both bay and bow windows create more space inside your home. There is a potential seating area for reading books or a display area for decorations.

Soft cushions and blankets can create a cozy nook, or make your window into a mini-atrium where your plants will thrive. There is also more storage potential if you create shelving or drawers underneath.

Maximized Space

A bay or bow window brings in more light and lets you see more of your yard. Who doesn’t want to be able to access all the hard work they put into their garden or landscaping?

Indoors, a bay or bow window makes a cramped room feel bigger without the investment of adding square footage.

Curb Appeal

A bow or bay window gives a considerable advantage to the outside of your house as well. If your home is flat in the front and lacking curb appeal, this will provide it with an instant boost. Bow and bay windows stand out – literally!

Cons of Bow and Bay Windows

The one big negative of installing a new bow or bay window is that if they are installed incorrectly, they can develop structural problems over time.

That can mean air and water leaking in and potential damage to the wooden elements that are used to construct the unit.

In addition, bay and bow windows cost more to install than regular windows. It is much less in cost than a room addition. However, it’s a much bigger project than a simple retro-fit new window.

Bow windows cost 10-15% more than bay windows due to the multiple windows that have to be purchased and installed.

Bringing it Home

We think the benefits of a new bow or bay window outweigh the costs! Installing one of these beauties will add more view, let in more light, create more storage and seating space inside, and give the interior and exterior of your home more dimension.

More dimension on the outside means more curb appeal!

If you are thinking about adding a bow or bay window and live in Southeast Michigan, please give us a call. We would love to talk with you about the different options and help you achieve your home goals.

Call Now

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Does your house feel small and dark? Does your room seem to need something, but you are not sure what that something is?

Do you sometimes wish your windows were bigger? Did you ever wish you could move a window from one place to another for convenience?

Today’s post is all about the cost and everything that factors into creating a new window opening in an existing wall. What I’m going to cover should also apply to moving a window or enlarging your windows.

How Expensive is Adding a New Window Opening?

Most people get critical of the idea of putting holes in their walls. Mostly, because they assume it will be too expensive.

There’s also the annoyance factor: how long will the hole stay there, and how long will the outdoors be coming in?

Others may worry that a bigger window or a new window will be a more significant drain on their HVAC system and consequently create more energy bills.

New window openings are not necessarily expensive or inefficient. It all depends on how well the job is done and what’s inside and on the outside of your walls.

What Goes Into Making a New Window Opening?

Any time you want to put in a new window, you should definitely consult with a licensed contractor.

We never recommend busting into walls by yourself. You never know what kind of ductwork, plumbing, or electricity is running behind that drywall.

A licensed contractor can tell you where these things are located, and if your wall is a good candidate for a new window opening. Of course, if you just want to enlarge existing windows, it’s more likely the plan will work.

Depending on the size of the window you want to install, your wall may need to be fortified with a larger header. The header on a window helps to support the frame of the house over that gaping hole you just made in your home. Your contractor can talk you through all of your options.

Next, the siding in that area has to be removed. Your contractor will cut through the sheetrock and sheathing and then frame the new window opening with studs.

Here’s obviously where it gets tricky with moving things in the interior of your wall and repair around the opening once it’s finished. A general breakdown of costs includes:

Once the window is in place, it has to be shimmed, trimmed, and sealed to make sure it does not leak.

Bringing it Home

Adding bigger windows or more windows can dramatically change the appearance and character of the inside and outside of your house. Plus, it’s much more cost-effective than building an addition onto your home.

If you have any questions about adding a new window opening or other window subjects and live in Southeast Michigan, call our office today. We would be honored to help.

Call Now

The post Creating a New Window Opening to an Existing Wall: What You Want to Know appeared first on Renovations Roofing & Remodeling, Inc..

We’ve all seen it: the Smurf blue house in the middle of a block of tan or white houses.

If that is not your house, you immediately wonder how they landed on such a bold color, and why.

Did they paint the whole house before they realized how it would look and then it was too late to go back?

Most of us could avoid making that mistake, even if we live in places where local codes don’t dictate our color choices.

However, let’s face it. It is much easier to make a mistake choosing your home exterior color than it is to choose a color scheme that will make your neighbors say, “Wow, that looks amazing! How did you do that?”

Often, homeowners stay on the safe side with a palette of browns and tans, but some may say that’s boring.

It might take the eye of a professional designer to bring out all that your house has to offer and make it shine. However, here are a few tips to help you get started.

Look at What You Can’t Change

The next time you drive home, look closely at the houses on your block.

Consider how many trees are around your house, and how tall they are. How do they interact with your view of your home?

Look at more permanent architectural elements: roofing shingles, sidewalks, driveways, brick or stone features, and more.

Unless you plan to do a whole renovation, or you are re-roofing your house at the same time, your new house color will need to consider these things.

Is your roof tan or brown, or is it gray or charcoal? A brown roof has warm undertones, but a gray one has cool undertones. Your new color palette should be chosen accordingly.

Take a close look at the other houses on your block. Are they safe beige, tan, and brown?

If so, consider how much you want your home to stand out. Remember: it can stand out in a good way or a bad way.

Maybe you would like to keep to a more neutral palette for the sake of your neighbors, or perhaps you want your house to pop. It’s possible to do both!

Such things as trees, or how far back from the road, your house sits will affect the color as well.

If your house is in deep shade, you might want a brighter color to make it stand out in the shadow.

If your house is close to the street, you might not want something as bold and imposing.

Architectural Style Matters

Many types of houses support a wide variety of color choices. However, some styles look better with the colors meant to go with them.

Do you live in a Queen Anne Victorian? How about an American Foursquare, Colonial, Midcentury Modern Ranch or Cape Cod?

Paint companies offer historically accurate paint palettes many architectural styles, and that’s an excellent place to start.

It’s not always bad to think outside the box for a new color. However, it is also a good way to bring down the value of your home if you get it wrong.

Think of a Palette Rather Than a Color

There is a reason I say palette rather than color, and it’s also the reason it’s often worth the investment to hire a designer.

To make your home pop, you need more than just one new color on every surface.

A home’s exterior has many elements to it:

Often, houses have challenging elements to work around – like a chunky split level or a garage that sticks out.

Basic Design Principles: Best Color for Your Home Exterior

Here are some basic design principles:

Contrast 

Home exteriors often benefit from some sharp contrast in color. Contrast is fashionable right now with the modern influence in design, which is why muted palettes are looking dated.

The contrast could be achieved as easily as having white trim with a grey exterior. However, there is a wrong way to contrast, such as painting your front door, trim, and shutters all the same bright yellow.

Harmonious Whole

A neutral or natural palette can still look contemporary and beautiful. If staying conservative is your thing, look for softer colors and creamier whites to complete this look rather than stark white and black.

Update your tan exterior with a shade between grey and tan, often called “greige.”

Three Parts

Think of your paint job as three separate areas:

The most significant contrast should be between the trim color and one of the other primary colors. If you are opting for a neutral field color and a white trim, it’s okay to go a bit darker for the accent color.

Or let’s say you have a white house or a brick house. Let the trim color frame your home and choose one other color for the front door or shutters.

Bringing it Home

Hopefully, this little guide helped inspire you in your search for the right house color. If you have any questions about new siding, roofing or windows and live in Southeast Michigan, we will be happy to help!

Call Now

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Is it time to replace your sliding door? Are you tired of working around a slider that stopped working years ago?

When it comes to patio doors, nothing can create the instant feeling of summer and relaxation quite like them.

Sometimes, nothing could be more frustrating than an old or cheap sliding glass door that doesn’t work anymore.

You want to step out onto your back deck or patio easily or bring some more fresh air inside.

However, you have to get the door replaced first. If it’s time to replace that door, you are probably thinking about what kind of door you would like to choose, and which doors are in your budget.

Any style of door can be called a patio door these days. Generally, patio doors are built to be more like windows to let in light when they are closed.

However, in the past, patio doors were synonymous with sliding doors.

Choosing a New Door: French Doors or Sliding Doors

Should you stay with a sliding door, or opt for French doors?

French doors have had resurgence in popularity lately. However, they are not for everyone. There are different benefits and drawbacks of each type.

Sliding Doors

There is a good reason sliding doors have remained popular. Sliding glass doors can span much greater openings in their standard widths than French doors.

In addition, sliding doors are great for use in restricted space when there is no room to open a door either inward or outward.

One drawback is that only 50% of the opening can be open to the outside at a time.

Sliding doors are at the lowest price point if you choose vinyl or aluminum.

However, with the lower price point comes the frustration of this type of door beginning to stick or not run smoothly along its track after only a few years.

Sliding doors tend to expand and contract more with the heat and cold. And cheaper materials do tend to look cheaper too.

The style itself can be a good one for midcentury modern homes with clean lines. There is no reason you shouldn’t choose a slider just because it’s a slider if you like the style otherwise.

Several manufacturers make a high-quality gliding door that will last as long as the house itself.

And don’t be fooled by those big box prices! Often the price you see advertised is for the door without hardware, additional treatments to the glass, or installation.

Once you price all that out, that good deal doesn’t seem so good, especially if the door isn’t going to last very long.

French Doors

Traditionally, French doors are hinged double doors that open outward. They can be designed to open inward according to the homeowner’s desires.

The great thing about French doors is that they allow you to use the entire opening.

The drawback is that they are limited by their maximum leaf size, which isn’t as large in the standard range of sizes as the sliding doors.

This can be perfect for smaller homes with smaller openings where you want to maximize the opening you have. They are also popular for more traditional style homes, and they can accommodate several different styles of window.

One factor to consider is cost.

French doors are more expensive than sliding doors, especially the bigger the size you are getting. If you are ready to make a more significant purchase for a home you plan to stay in forever; French doors are a good option.

For a quick upgrade before you sell your house, a sliding glass door is probably a better option.

Installation

It’s always a good idea to get a quote from a professional contractor for things like a new patio door.

Contractors can get wholesale pricing on patio doors, and their quotes will include hardware and installation.

Unless you have a lot of experience, it’s not a good idea to try to replace one of these yourself, as there are many ways to mess up and only a small margin for errors.

Bringing it Home

There are great options for both sliding glass doors and French doors for every style and price point.

Is your home located in Southeast Michigan? If you need any help finding what fits your needs, please give us a call! We would be happy to help with your new patio door.

Let’s get started

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Are you dreaming about replacing your windows but are confused about all the different window styles?

There are many aspects to choosing new windows for your house or business. You want to make sure they are the right style, fit, and functionality. Additionally, there are hundreds of options out there.

Which frame material do you choose? How about glazing or energy efficiency?

If you don’t know what is out there and what to look for, you might feel overwhelmed with making this choice.

Pros and Cons of Popular Window Styles

Let’s explore several of the most popular window styles and what they have to offer.

Double-Hung Windows (with or without muntins)

Double hung windows are the kind most people are familiar with. They don’t open in or out; they slide up and down from the bottom or the top.

In old houses, the frames are made of wood, and the windows are counterbalanced by a weight and pulley system in the wall.

Unless that system is broken, as many of them are, the window either sticks or slams shut suddenly.

However, in modern windows, muntins – or the illusion of muntins – may be added with strips of framing material. Moreover, these strips or grids make it appear as though the windows are made of individual small panes of glass.

Pros:

Cons:

Casement Windows

Effective at harnessing cool breezes to cut down on the need for air conditioning, casement windows crank outward on hinges.

In addition, casement windows can be effective at harnessing cool breezes to cut down on the need for air conditioning. 

Pros:

Cons:

Sliding Windows

Instead of sliding up and down using a pulley or spring mechanism, slider windows slide horizontally.

This style is popular in mid-century modern homes. They are often installed in hard to reach places including laundry rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens.

Pros:

Cons:

Fixed Windows

A fixed window is one that doesn’t move in any direction.

A picture window is a feature in many homes built in the mid 20th century.

In addition, fixed windows are a staple of modern architecture.

Pros:

Cons:

Bringing it Home

With each of these window styles, you will still have many framing material options to choose from, as well as glazing and energy efficiency.

Do you live in Southeast Michigan and have questions about these popular window styles? If you are interested in new windows for your home, please give us a call. We would be honored to help!

Call today

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When it comes to choosing the right news windows style your home, you might be at a loss.

You may realize that you don’t pay much attention to window styles.

Do you suddenly wonder if you know the architectural style of your house?

Do you want to preserve the original lines and value of your home when you replace your windows?

What if you think it doesn’t matter very much?

It does matter, more than you might realize!

Architectural Styles

There are many different architectural styles, in many different variations; most of which you can find right here in Michigan.

These homes come from all different eras, and most of them were designed intentionally, windows included.

Most of them wouldn’t look the same with the “wrong” style of window.

In addition, some of them will be de-valued if you don’t stay true to their style. Think your mass-produced ranch-style house has no design? Think again.

Here’s a list of some of the most popular architectural styles around the country:

Typically, these homes can be grouped into a few categories, according to window style.

The Right New Windows for Your Home’s Style

Traditional Style

The oldest homes you will find in this area of the country are all a variation on the same shape: a square box with two stories.

Whether a plain farmhouse, a Colonial style with pillars, or a Victorian with ornate millwork, they all need double hung windows with or without muntins.

Muntins are dividers made to look like the old style when glass didn’t come in large sheets.

The same form applies to most bungalows and cottages which were built slightly later – in the early 1900s. Window style and materials are a significant consideration for these homes.

If you choose to replace the old wooden windows with vinyl, you may bring down your home’s value.

Craftsman

Another older-style home is the Craftsman or American Foursquare.

These homes are coveted for their built-in wood details and clean lines. They often feature a single-pane picture window with a three-panel detail at the top.

This style is the forerunner for what would become an American staple, the ranch / prairie style.

Ranch / Prairie Style

Ranch style homes may have been mass-produced in the 1950s, but they were not designed without style.

Frank Lloyd Wright began designing his unique homes and buildings to mimic the long, horizontal lines of the prairie and many western dwellings were built in this style before it came to be everywhere.

If you own a ranch-style home built mid-century, you may have the original aluminum windows. You should replace them.

However, don’t let a window salesman talk you into double hung windows. Casement windows (the kind that cranks outward), fixed windows (like a big picture window), and awning windows (which open outward from the bottom) are the style original to this architecture.

Modern & Contemporary

After prairie style came modern architecture and then contemporary style.

Both of these styles feature flat roofs, stark lines, and many windows. Modern style often has floor to ceiling glass in many places, with fixed windows (that don’t open and close).

Tudor & European 

Many of the luxury homes being built in the last ten years are in these medieval European styles.

They call for specific style windows with muntins to mimic the glassless windows of a 16th-century building.

Tudor style homes can be found dating back to the early 1900s and late 1800s in America. Those homes may feature some fixed windows with stained glass muntin. However, they will also have double paned windows.

Coastal / Rustic 

Coastal / rustic homes are all about the views. If you are lucky enough to have a house that overlooks a lake or wooded area – which is common in Michigan – your home may have been built with a whole wall of windows to maximize the view and the natural light.

Bringing it Home

Although some expensive homes are built with particular styles, many of them have standard-sized window openings, and their style may seem up for grabs.

Hopefully, this guide helps you pinpoint your own house’s style so you can move forward with the right new windows design.

If your home is located in Southeast Michigan, please give us a call. We would be honored to help you with your new windows.

Call today

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When was the last time you stepped back and took a good look at the outside of your house?

Even though we all know by now that curb appeal increases the value of a home; sometimes the house exterior is the last place we want to spend money.

So, if your house needs updating, is there anything you can do to make a difference?

The good news is, yes!

Read on to find out how you can have an updated home exterior with a few simple steps.

How to Have an Updated Home Exterior in 5 Easy Steps

Step One: Clean Up

The first thing to do if the entire exterior of your house looks unattractive and you don’t know where to start is to clean up.

Use our home exterior spring cleaning guide and get started. You would be surprised by how much more you will like your house when it’s clean.

Here are some simple ideas:

Step Two: Replace the Small Things

You might not think to replace or repaint your front porch light or to do the same for your front door, but those are the things that actually can make the most significant impact on your house’s value.

Other ideas for updates include hardware like your doorknob, house numbers, and door knocker, and your mailbox.

In addition, you could consider planting a flowering bush or two in the right place. All the details add up!

Step Three: Update the “Trim”

If you can’t replace your siding right now, why not paint everything around it?

You can make a house look new by adding or replacing old shutters or repainting or replacing the trim around your windows and the soffits and fascia.

Just make sure you prep it correctly to avoid having to repaint in a year.

Swap out a dated color for bright white, and it looks like a new house. Window boxes are another way to add value and interest without spending much money.

Another way to update the trim on your house is by replacing your gutters and downspouts.

Are they old and falling apart? Then you need to do it anyway.

Do they blend in with your house? Sometimes this is desirable. However, sometimes you can make your home look top notch by adding new gutters.

Step Four: Windows

Dated aluminum windows aren’t just inefficient. They are not aesthetically pleasing. In addition, they are the surest way to keep your house exterior looking dated.

If you are thinking about improving your energy bills, replacing your windows may be just the thing you need to give your curb appeal the boost it needs.

Talk to one of our professionals today about styles and pricing and how to qualify for rebates!

Step Five: Consider Adding Value

Are you in the market for new siding? Perhaps you are tired of repainting your house every year. You may also want to change the entire look of your home. There are many options out there for every budget.

Vinyl and composite siding comes in many different colors, shapes, and styles so that you are less limited than ever before.

Do you want to add value as you replace your siding? Consider adding some stone elements to the front of your house. Stone is timeless and also popular right now. Adding stone will help you get a high return on your investment.

Bringing it Home

With some cleaning and a few new elements in the right places, it’s a good bet you will be a lot happier with your home’s exterior for years to come.

If you are interested in new siding, windows or gutters and downspouts and live in Southeast Michigan, please call. We would be honored to help!

Call today

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It’s that time of year again. The trees are starting to put out their buds here in Southeast Michigan, the sun is coming out, and the temperatures are rising.

It’s time many homeowners begin to think about home exterior spring cleaning.

Spring is a traditional time for cleaning. This is because you can see the dirt and grime that has built up after the long winter.

However, not all spring cleaning is equal. See the tips below for how to clean the exterior of your house to prolong its life without doing any damage.

Home Exterior Spring Cleaning Tips

Don’t Go In Without a Plan

If you are a new homeowner or you have never attempted a spring clean of your entire house exterior,

Improper cleaning can damage valuable property. Additionally, if you attempt something unsafe, you could end up with a severe injury.

Gutters

Don’t attempt to clean your gutters from on top of your roof, and don’t lean your ladder against them. They are most likely made of material that isn’t made to withstand this pressure. You could end up bending or breaking them.

We encourage homeowners not to go up on their roofs themselves.

Do lean your ladder against the side of your house and use your hands or tools made for the purpose of cleaning out your gutters.

Disconnect the downspouts if you suspect them to be clogged with debris. Garden hose attachments made for blowing debris out of your gutters can be found at a home and garden store.

Pro Tip #1: The Importance of Gutter Cleaning: What You Need to Know

Pro Tip #2: Warning Signs Your Home’s Gutters Need to be Replaced

Siding

Don’t do your chores out of order. Cleaning your gutters may end up making your siding dirtier. It is best to work from the top down.

Don’t use a power washer on the wrong setting. The same nozzle and pressure applied for every job could end up damaging loose siding.

Don’t just use any detergent for washing your siding before checking with the manufacturer. When in doubt, only use plain water!

Do consult with a professional before using a power washer on your siding. Find out which water pressure can safely be used on which surfaces. Otherwise, you may have to prepare yourself to repaint your house!

Do use sponges and brushes designed to remove dirt and mold build-up to make your house sparkle and prolong the life of your siding.

Pro Tip: How to Deep Clean Your Vinyl Siding

Windows

This one might be a no-brainer, but don’t wash your exterior windows without washing everything else first. You will end up undoing your work.

As with siding, make sure you know how much water pressure your window frames can withstand and don’t go beyond it. You may have to use a sponge or a brush to remove stubborn grime.

Do remove each window and clean inside the window frames, then using a solution of vinegar and water, spray each window and wipe with newspaper.

This will not only make your whole house feel new. In addition, it will significantly prolong the life of your windows.

Pro Tip: 12 Warning Signs You Need New Windows [Homeowners Guide]

Roof

Don’t get up on your roof! You can prevent doing damage to your roof and hurting yourself by following this one simple rule.

Don’t ever use a power washer on your roof! Algae may make dark stains on shingles sometimes. However, this can be cleaned by a professional company with an appropriate cleaning solution.

A power washer will take off your shingles’ protective granules and significantly reduce the life of your roof.

Do take a moment to check out your roof from the ground with a pair of binoculars.

Do call a professional roofing company for an inspection if you suspect damaged flashing, missing shingles, a leak or any other problem while it’s still a small problem.

It is much cheaper, in the long run, to fix those problems while they are small.

Pro Tip: 3 Reasons You Should Have a Regular Professional Roof Inspection

Bringing it Home

The main thing to do this spring, to take care of your house and reduce significant expenses in the future, is to put this maintenance plan on your yearly to-do list.

A simple twice-yearly cleaning of your gutters will go a long way toward preventing problems with your roof in the future.

Do you live in Southeast Michigan? Are you interested in having your gutters, siding, windows or roof replaced? Please give us a call. We would be honored to help!

Call today

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Have you ever done an internet search on contractor or construction horror stories?

If you have, it wouldn’t surprise me if you could never trust another contractor again. There are many horror stories out there. Unfortunately, they are surprisingly common. Here are a few:

These are just a few examples of how home improvement projects can go wrong, and a bad contractor is to blame.

Do you want to avoid the messes you read about on the internet or hear about through the grapevine?

Here are five ways to make SURE you will hire the WRONG contractor:

Shop for the Bargain Price

It’s tempting to look for a deal wherever you go. Aren’t we trained from a young age to look for the best deal you can get?

The problem is one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to a home renovation. The variation in cost for a home project isn’t as wide as you think it could be.

If one contractor seems to promise he can get your job done for several thousand less than the competition, it’s almost guaranteed one or more of these things will happen:

Take a Contractor at His Word – Don’t Do Any Research

Another great way to shoot yourself in the foot is by failing to look into your contractor’s credentials. Additioanlly, taking the word of a family member or friend in favor of a more objective resource.

Good contractors who deliver what they promise will have a reputation with manufacturers whose product they work with. Many manufacturers have a certification program for contractors at the top of their trade.

In addition to this, your contractor must have proof of insurance to cover potential damage to your house and liability for workers.

Lastly, any reputable company will have reviews online through one of the many available. For example, sites like Angie’s List or HomeAdvisor. Yes, you can take these with a grain of salt. One irate homeowner is enough to ruin a whole list of good reviews.

However, these reviews can be invaluable for showing where the same problems come up time and time again.

Settle For a Rough Timetable

Although there are unforeseen circumstances in any job, any contractor worth his salt is going to both know how much time a job will take. He will build into your estimate any extra time he thinks he will need to deal with problems that may come up.

If you’re walking into a deal without a timeframe in writing, you are asking for trouble.

Assume a Ballpark Estimate is Enough

If your contractor won’t give you a detailed cost breakdown for every aspect of the job, there’s a good reason for this.

Any reputable company is upfront about using the right materials and what they cost, and about their fee for completing the project.

It should all be there in black and white with a detailed cost breakdown for any additional work after the initial estimate was written.

Proceed With a Handshake Deal

The project you are going to hire a contractor to do requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a large amount of money to be invested initially.

The only person who is protected by a verbal deal is an unscrupulous contractor. If you fail to get everything in writing, you may end up having to do it all over again.

Takeaway

From shopping for bargain prices to settling for verbal agreements, there are ways to end up with the wrong contractor. Your chances are much better, however, of hiring the right one if you avoid making one or more of these big mistakes.

In conclusion, are you considering a home renovation? If you live in the Southeast Michigan area, please give us a call. We would be honored to help!

Call today!

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Do you, like so many Americans, love to watch HGTV or other home improvement shows?

It’s satisfying to see an outdated home get a facelift, in fast-forward. It’s a little bit like going through your own remodel without any of the hassles or waiting.

One problem with watching a remodeling project on TV, however, is that these shows rarely take into account all of the “boring” projects that add more value to your house than the cosmetic fixes you see.

One example of what some may feel is a boring project is a new roof. Another example is adding insulation to your attic.

These shows are made to sell fancy design and a lifestyle, not to provide expert guidance.

Most Common Home Remodeling Myths

Myth #1: Any Home Remodeling Will Add Value

Many homeowners assume, because of how trendy it is to “fix up” homes, that any project will add value to their homes. They use this information to decide to take down walls or add expensive light or bathroom fixtures.

However, home projects aren’t fool-proof. If you are taking down walls to fit your own needs for the house, you need to consider how a future buyer would want to see.

If you combined two bedrooms to make one big one, did you really add value? Or suppose you took down a wall in the kitchen but also took out cabinet space. That remodeling decision might work against you if you try to sell your house in the future.

Myth #2: Expensive Materials Are Always Best

This myth goes hand-in-hand with myth #1. Expensive materials don’t always add value.

In other words, you may not get your money’s worth. Or worse: you may have potential buyers walk away because they can’t afford your house with all the expensive upgrades.

This myth-buster goes for indoor and outdoor materials. We encourage our clients to choose materials that aren’t too far outside of what their neighbors have for roofing and siding. Selling the most expensive house on the block can be challenging.

Myth #3: Always Go With the Trend

Materials and designs that are too trendy can work against you in the same way down the road. Color, style, and shape trends change surprisingly quickly.

Hiring a contractor to help you through a remodel with many design choices can be remarkably helpful. You might think you are up for designing a whole project yourself.

However, your contractor has done a number of these. He or she knows the entire scope of the project. He or she can also shield you from pressuring sales tactics by guiding you toward more classic designs and long-lasting materials.

Myth #4: Always Go For Interior Cosmetic Improvements

When it comes to home value, both interior and exterior design and updating should be a priority.

The exterior of your home says a lot about how well your home is maintained. You might be surprised by how much your roof matters to a potential buyer in comparison to that trendy bathroom design you thought would be a big seller!

If you’re trying to decide where to invest your money in your home, you can never go wrong with updating the functional aspects first including:

• Attic insulation
• Roof and gutter system
• Windows
• Siding

Not only do most of these things add value and improve the functionality of your home, but replacing them can update and freshen the look of your home immediately.

Myth #5: You Can Do It Yourself

Not everyone thinks they can do a home remodel by themselves. However, there are more and more shows and blogs devoted to the idea that you can do most home remodeling projects on your own.

The companion to this myth is that it’s always cheaper to do it yourself. The truth is that most home remodeling projects are significantly more time consuming and expensive than you ever thought possible.

In addition, you are much more likely to make a costly mistake and hurt yourself than an experienced and trained team.

A good contractor can do the work faster, more efficiently, and cheaper than you can do it yourself (unless you happen to be a skilled contractor).

Even better: when you sign a contract with a professional, you are protected in case of mistakes and your contractor’s insurance will cover the cost of injuries. This is not the case when you attempt to go it alone.

Bringing it Home

If you are thinking about a home remodeling project, it’s always best to talk to a professional contractor in person. Often, a contractor can save you money and make clever suggestions to make sure you’re getting the best value for what you spend. This expertise is something a TV show will never be able to equal.

If you are considering a home remodeling project and live in Southeast Michigan, please give us a call. We would be honored to help!

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