The building process is a two-way street and relationships that start out great can quickly become strained and deteriorate when communication breaks down or expectations are not met. Plenty has been written about the crooked contractor but as with any service industry those providing the service can also vent about their customer from hell but it looks like the consensus in the comments to this article by the New York Times is that there are plenty of contractors out there who are still not doing what's required and taking shortcuts.
We've been enamored with Seattle houseboats since Sleepless in Seattle but the majority of houseboats we've seen up close look a bit dated and more charming than cool. Our opinions have changed after seeing this houseboat remodel in the Seattle Times.
Pardon our Dust raises a good question about contractor markup costs. The homeowner feels 22% is way overboard but from the comments and through a bit of research it looks like 22% is actually quite reasonable. Despite what people think or talk about there is no industry standard for pricing remodeling jobs. Successful contractors run their business at the margins that suit them and what the market will bear.
A new renovation project takes a lot of planning, whether you're doing it yourself or not. You have to coordinate the schedules of the contractors, gather the materials, and prepare your home. But don't forget one last important preparation: bracing the family for the disruptions that will ensue.
Hansa Stella Faucet
The K/BIS 2008 conference and show in Chicago has wrapped up and we've pulled together a list of the best coverage. Some of favorite new products include the Fisher and Paykel "gas in glass" range and we welcome a new kitchen countertop material, glass, from ThinkGlass.
K/BIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) is under way in Chicago and the cancellation of more than 1000 American Airlines flights hopefully won't damper the launch of the show although we do know of some folks who are scrambling to find alternative transportation. If you are one of the unlucky booked on American Airlines here are some tips for sorting out your situation.
Regardless of how you get out there, as usual this year's show is primed for new product announcements as well as a focus on ways to beautify your home through design and decorating.
Need a new door for the entryway? Or maybe one to replace an existing bedroom or closet door? If you aren't schooled in the differences between interior and exterior doors, you could end up purchasing the wrong type of door, only to have to go out and purchase another one.
Exterior doors should be heavy duty and weatherproofed. Insulated metal or steel doors offer long-term wear and help keep out the cold. They're also more secure. Wood doors don't last as long, as they can warp, rot,
and shrink.
When you get professionally installed carpet, you know it comes with padding underneath. But did you know just how important that padding can be? If you're thinking of installing wall-to-wall carpet yourself or are buying a large area rug, read these tips before you do it.
If you're new to a fixer-upper, or even if you're just considering remodeling your old house, you've probably addressed the renovate vs. tear down question. If not, now's the time to do it. Of course it's a personal decision, but there are pros and cons to each one but it's worth further scrutiny.
According to this article by CNNMoney, now is a great time to build your dream home. Cost of materials, land, and skilled labor is at it's lowest in years. For example, Framing lumber is now 18% cheaper than it was 18 months ago, while drywall is selling for 40% less. Also new home starts are down 34% so contractors are willing to bid much lower to keep jobs coming in as they ride out the downturn.
May 16, 2008 | Comments ()
