Unfortunately, it is very difficult to compare pricing when looking at a proposal from a home remodeling contractor. Regardless of whom you hire, we recommend against design-build for large projects and instead recommend simultaneously involving a design professional and a builder. This way there is a detailed set of specifications to bid to ensure you’re getting a quality remodeling project for a fair price.

Construction Overhead

Home building is one of the oldest professions, and is very competitive. Margins are not as high as manufacturing or other businesses. There are “chuck in a truck” contractors with very little overhead, but the odds of a successful, quality, professionally run project are not in your favor. In order to avoid a headache, we always recommend a professional remodeling contractor.

Hiring a professional contractor does not mean you should be paying for unnecessary extras. Avoid companies that have commissioned salespeople, selections coordinators, or who offer design-build on large projects. These “services” can add more than 10 percent to the cost of your remodeling project. A professional remodeling contractor has the following:

• A dedicated website with information about their company and professional pictures of their work.
• Online, verifiable reviews on multiple platforms that read as authentic and not paid for or written overseas.
• Full insurance including workman’s compensation for their employees and all subcontractors have workman’s compensation for their employees as well.
• An office with a physical address that you can visit and where your personal information is safe.
• Professional project management software that provides you with a schedule and a dedicated way to communicate with your project manager.
• Trucks and vans with professional graphics that are permanently attached (no magnets).
• A typed contract with a start and end date.
• Company uniforms the present a clean appearance. The way they maintain their equipment is the way they will maintain your home.
• Accountability and follow-up. If someone does not get back to you, does not show up on time for an estimate without calling, or if you have to chase a contractor for a bid…walk away, because it is only going to get worse once you hire them.

Remodeling Quality

There are thousands of ways a contractor can rip you off. Hiring a professional with references can help you avoid this. Additionally, a written agreement regarding the materials used and the timeline for their installation that is as detailed as possible is key to success. It might seem like senseless construction jargon, but a longer, more detailed contract shows that the builder cares, and specifies exactly what you are paying for on your remodeling project.

A contractor could write “supply and install a door” in the contract. You might have talked about the door, but if there is no plan that the proposal references, we would recommend you see details like “supply and install one solid core flush door (36”x80”) to be painted with Sherwin Williams Pro Classics in Dover White semi-gloss. Hinges are to be 3.5” in black with a Kwikset 91550-029 Halifax Door Handle,”. To avoid needing this amount of specificity, you can also have an architect or interior designer draw a plan with an interior finish schedule to define the materials used.

With details you can make sure you are comparing apples to apples. A trick often used by unscrupulous contractors is to give you allowances for materials selected that is out of line with the quality of your home and your expectations. When you compare your bid to a competitor, it could be thousands of dollars less, which seems like a value. However, when you add back in the material quality expected, the price may change significantly.

Home Building Experience

Experience costs money. The longer a craftsman has practiced their trade, the more they usually charge. Make sure your project has a dedicated project manager with at least a decade of experience in residential construction. Residential remodeling is the most difficult of the building trades and requires significantly more experience than new construction of the same price point.

Is someone just starting their own company? Even if they have been in the building trades for years, running a business and cash flow management are skills not taught in the trades. Make sure your down payment is safe and that the company managing your project is professional and organized.

Home Warranty

It is standard practice for a builder to provide you with a limited warranty, on top of the warranty provided by subcontractors and material manufactures. Unfortunately, if the company is neither reputable, nor financially sound, the warranty is not worth the paper it is written on.

Remodeling projects never go perfectly, and a company defines itself by how they handle those problems. Making sure to read as many reviews of a company as possible, and making sure you have read the contract completely is essential to remodeling success.

Construction Contract

A detailed contract protects both the remodeling contractor and the homeowner. Make sure to read and understand the building contract.

• Ask the builder questions in writing.
• Make sure all of the materials are specified if they are not on the plan.
• Get assurances on the start and completion dates for your project in writing.
• Understand the price of change orders and make sure there is a fixed charge for any additional work. This way you are not stuck paying outrageous change orders if there is a surprise behind the wall.
• Understand the draw schedule. No professional building contractor should ever ask you for complete payment up front or offer a discount for an aggressive payment schedule. This is always a red flag.
• The contract clearly states how to mediate disagreements.

Finding the Right Home Remodeling Contractor

Remodeling can be stressful, but hiring a professional should alleviate as much stress as possible. Home building is a low margin, competitive business, so examine a bid that is significantly lower. Generally, the low bid forgot something, omitted something, or unfortunately has plans to make up the difference through change orders. By doing research, asking friends, employing a third party designer, and having a firm written contract, you can be sure you have the best chance of success with your next home remodeling project.

Not all of our clients need to completely gut remodel their homes. Sometimes simple upgrades can free up hours of your time or greatly improve the quality of your life. We have compiled a list of upgrades that we are commonly asked to incorporate into a remodeling project, or in parts of the home that we were not otherwise working on.

Home Humidification

We recommend that all of our home remodeling clients add a whole home humidification system. During our Milwaukee winters, the lack of supplemental humidity can cause a variety of issues like nose bleeds, dry skin, static shocks and damage to millwork.

Adding humidity has also been shown to reduce the number of airborne viruses and make life easier for those with asthma. The most popular systems are made by Aprilaire.

Some humidification systems are standalone, while others attach to your furnace. There are two main technologies used in humidifiers: steam and evaporative.

Evaporative technology dispenses water across a panel while pushing air across it to form humidity. This technology produces one gallon of water vapor for every fourteen gallons of water put into the system.

A steam humidifier produces humidity in the form of steam by using two electrodes in a canister to boil the water. Steam humidification is more efficient than evaporative humidification. Steam humidification produces one gallon of steam for every gallon of water put into the system.

Add Kitchen Cabinet Organizers

Even if you are not doing a full-scale kitchen remodel, add organizers to your kitchen cabinets. Doing this can make better use of your space, save time and prevent lost or damaged kitchen items. Big box stores and online retailers sell a variety of organizers such as spice racks, plate storage systems, lazy Susan systems, trashcan pullouts, shelf risers, pan racks and hooks.

If you are doing a kitchen remodel, your remodeling contractor will have access to options only available to the trade that will be of a higher quality.

Upgrade To Solid Core Doors

Some new home builders use cheap hollow core doors. When renovating your home, upgrading to solid core doors can be a great option. Solid core doors are perfect for adding security and resistance to the wear kids can often cause. Since a solid core door lacks the hollow air pocket in the middle, it takes more force to damage the door.

Another advantage of solid core doors is they have a slightly better fire rating, taking longer to burn. The biggest benefits to a solid core door is sound suppression and a feeling of quality.

Natural Gas Grill

Most of our home remodeling clients in Southeastern Wisconsin have natural gas service to their homes. If you already have an ongoing remodeling project at your home, it is usually not much trouble or expense to stub out a natural gas line to the backyard for hooking up a grill.

By tapping into your home’s natural gas line, you have an unlimited, affordable gas source that does not require refilling a tank.

Smart Locks

You don’t have to replace your doors to upgrade your locks. Adding a smart lock can give you enhanced security, as well as additional locking features that make your life easier. Smart locks have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, allowing you to lock and unlock the door from your smartphone.

If renting out your home on AirBNB, you can send e-keys for visitors, or remotely unlock the door if a child or elderly person is locked out.

New Toilets

If you have an old or cheap toilet installed by a new construction home builder, installing a new toilet can change your daily routine for the better. Chair height toilets are taller than a standard toilet and allow for a more comfortable seating position for adults and those with disabilities. Some new toilets are dual flush, allowing you to save water based on which button you press. Upgrading to an elongated bowl toilet is especially beneficial to men. This gives them a bigger target at night and allows them to avoid the tuck when sitting down.

Mount Your TV On The Wall

Mounting your TV on the wall is a DIY project for some, but others may prefer to hire a handyman service. By mounting your TV, you can hang it at an optimum height and hide unsightly wires. You can also increase viewing area if you add an articulating wall mount.

Upgrade Your Bath Fan

Many bath fans are loud and connected to a switch you might forget to turn on. Upgrading your bath fan can be a great way to add function and prevent the accumulation of moisture on the walls. Additionally, you can select a quieter model that moves more air, is more efficient and has motion or moisture detection.

Backup Generator

If you have unreliable power, live in a climate prone to natural disasters, or have a health condition that requires that you always have power, a generator is a must have. Standby generators can be sized to maintain power to part, or all of your home in the event of a power outage. We are lucky to have two major generator manufactures in Wisconsin, Generac and Kohler.

Add Specialty Outlets

Our home remodeling clients often ask for specialty outlets. The most common outlets include USB charging ports so you do not have to use a wall wart. Additionally, clients request GFI outlets with built-in night light functionality for bathrooms.

Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats are not new, but they can be a great addition to your home. They allow you to track your energy usage and potentially lower your utility bill. Additionally, they allow you to control your thermostat remotely. This feature is popular for people with more than one home, those who travel for work and for those who keep an irregular schedule.

Add A Sprinkler System

A home with green grass, healthy trees and colorful flowers can increase curb appeal. Most people manually water their plants and greenery. However, adding an automatic sprinkler system makes taking care of the plants and greens less of a hassle. Additionally, and perhaps surprisingly, an automatic sprinkler actually uses less water than watering by hand.

Automatic sprinkler systems can be time consuming and difficult to install. We recommend including this in a larger remodeling project.

Soft Close Cabinets

Even if you are not remodeling your kitchen, you can add quiet close hardware to your cabinets to give them some of the functionality of new, premium cabinetry. There are many quiet close hardware products that can be retrofitted with a weekend and a screwdriver.

Soft Close Toilet Lids

Slamming a toilet seat is noisy. It can wake up your family, make it difficult to fall back asleep and damage your toilet. Installing a premium soft close seat improves comfort, and stops the loud bangs from the seat and lid closing.

Curved Shower Rod

Shower rods are not always seen as luxury options. However, adding a curved shower rod during a bathroom remodel can give you more room in the shower, and help avoid the shower curtain sticking to you.

Upgrading Your Home to Improve Your Life

Adding any of these upgrades to your remodeling project can give your home more functionality and quality. Please contact us at LaBonte Construction to discuss adding any of these upgrades to your next home remodeling project.

 

At some point, most families feel like they need more space in their home. While we would love to be the home remodeling contractor you call for your home addition, there are some less expensive ideas that you can start with while planning your perfect space.

Organization

Having an intentionally designed space for everything can make a small space feel bigger. One of the most common requests we get as home remodeling contractors is to add built-in storage. From bookcases, to custom closets, we have done it all. In your closet, innovative racking systems from companies like REV-A-SHELF can help us design your perfect wardrobe storage.

If you do not have the budget for a builder to create a bespoke closet and bookshelf, there are lots of websites devoted to IKEA hacks. This can be a good place to start while saving for an heirloom quality closet or library.

Full-Height Kitchen Cabinets

Only in the last decade or so did 42” upper cabinets become commonplace in the kitchen. Incorporating increased storage in your kitchen remodel adds more space to decrease clutter on your kitchen countertops. Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry draws the eye upward, making the ceilings feel taller than they are.

Light Paint

While dark paints can make a room feel intimate, light paints can do the opposite. Lighter colors reflect light, making a room feel larger. Whites, grays, creams and yellows all contribute to a feeling of airiness. Remembering that your ceiling is a wall that benefits from light colors, will also keep your room feeling spacious.

Mirrors

While light paint colors can make your small home feel larger, wall mirrors can do an even better job of reflecting light or giving the illusion that a room continues. Placing a mirror opposite a window can make a room feel much more expansive. If you don’t have a window placed conveniently for this trick, you can use a lamp to similar effect.

Another trick that new construction builders use is full wall mirrors in the bathroom. However, you likely do not want to put a huge piece of glass on the wall. Building a custom frame for the mirror to match the vanity and cutting in sconces can make the room feel larger, while making the mirror feel custom.

Unique Storage Systems

While adding custom closet organization can help you utilize the space you have, custom home remodelers have the ability to add storage where there was none before. Examples include a bench seat that can function as a place to read or put your shoes on, but that also opens with a piano hinge to store blankets and items you do not use often.

Another example is to continue custom bookshelves over the door. Most home libraries stop before you get to the door. Continuing the bookshelves over the door not only adds more storage space, but also make the room feel cozy and luxurious.

Using The Space Under The Stairs

The space under the stairs is often forgotten and covered over. Opening up and incorporating that found space into your living area can recapture lost square footage and make your home feel larger. In our years as luxury home remodeling contractors, we have seen lots of creative uses for this space. Our favorites include: bookshelves, reading nooks, and area for a dog to sleep, a home office, a panic room, a wet bar and display shelves.

Lighting

Lighting is one of the most useful ways to make your room feel bigger. If you are not adding more natural light, make sure the artificial lights are well spaced. If you are stuck with a single overhead light, you should supplement this light source with lamps around the perimeter of the room. Consider adding these lamps to switched outlets to more easily control them. If there isn’t a corner that will take a lamp, a wall sconce might be a good option.

Lights are also important in emphasizing or distracting from ceiling height. Pendant lights can emphasize the height of the room. However, using can lights on a shorter ceiling in traffic areas can avoid people feeling like they are going to bump their head on an obstruction. During a bathroom remodel, consider adding a backlight bathroom mirror or medicine cabinet.

Landscaping

Clearing overgrown shrubbery and overhanging limbs not only protects your home’s exterior from nature and increases safety, but also allows more light in. As we learned above, the brighter the room, the larger it feels. When at the garden center, consulting the tags for the mature specimen size will help you select plants that will be appropriate for your home.

Upgrading Doors

Changing solid doors out for doors with windows, also known as “lites”, can add light to your home. Also adding glass transom above doors can help flood the space with natural light or light from adjoining rooms. When adding glass doors, it is important to be cognizant of safety, and consider adding a double cylinder lock.

Another door trick that can be borrowed from new construction home trends is increasing door heights from the standard 80” to 96”. Taller doors draw the eye up and make the ceiling feel taller.

Stripes

Using stripes can trick the eye into thinking a room feels larger. Vertical stripes make a room feel taller, while horizontal stripes make a room feel wider. You can add stripes by using paint, moldings or wallpaper.

Making Your Small House a Home

Having a small house is not ideal for many. A competent interior designer combined with a home remodeling contractor can help you best utilize your existing space and plan for an addition. If you are ready to incorporate some of these ideas or would like to add on to your home, please contact us at LaBonte Construction to discuss your options.

New construction homes are almost always built to a price point. Some of the fixtures and finishes may not meet your quality standards. This is where the phrase “builder grade” comes from. If you would like to upgrade your home, our list may help you replace some of those inexpensive finishes with higher quality options. When you are ready to redo the entire room, hiring a professional home remodeling contractor like LaBonte Construction will be necessary.

Paint Your Cabinets

Cabinets are the first thing most people see when they enter your kitchen. Painting your cabinets can have a huge impact, and help you avoid a costly kitchen remodeling project. Not all cabinets are good candidates for painting. Laminate or thermofoil doors, doors with loose or chipping veneer and cabinets with particle board carcasses are usually not worth saving. Dated cabinets with quality construction are the best candidates for refinishing. If your carcasses and doors are in good shape, but you want upgraded hinges, many stores sell quiet-close hinges that can be retrofitted to make your cabinets feel brand new.

Surface preparations are the most important part of painting your cabinets. We recommend stripping the cabinets and doors to bare wood. If that is not possible, washing the cabinets with TSP and scuffing them with sandpaper is the bare minimum. After the wood is prepared, make sure to use a high quality primer before you pick a topcoat.

We recommend oil based paints on cabinet doors because of it’s longevity. Unfortunately, oil based finishes can be harder to work with and give off noxious fumes. Make sure to follow the instructions on the can and wear PPE to ensure your safety. Spraying the cabinet doors will give you the most uniform finish, but brushing on the paint will give you old-world charm and be easier to touch up if there is a nick or scratch.

Add Crown Molding

Adding crown molding is inexpensive compared to other projects, but can have a huge impact. Installing crown molding is more advanced than some of the other upgrades on this list. It might be advisable to hire a qualified home remodeling contractor to assist with the project. Having the proper tools, ladders and insurance is important when working on the ceilings of your home.

Crown molding is the molding that transitions from the flat surface of a wall, to the horizontal surface of the ceiling. Most commonly, our home remodeling clients request crown molding in their master bedroom, on their kitchen cabinets, in their powder room and in their dining room. To achieve a custom look without the expense of a custom molding, consider stacking two stock moldings together to make the molding wider and more complex.

Replace Hardware

While brass has made a comeback in recent years, low quality lacquered brass hardware has not. Replacing the old cabinet hardware, door knobs and hinges can make a huge impact. This helps avoid replacing your homes doors or needing to remodel your kitchen. Popular replacement finishes include antique brass, oil rubbed bronze, chrome and brushed nickel.

When ordering new kitchen cabinet hardware, consider the spacing of the existing holes so you do not need to do any patching or refinishing. Entry door handles can feel more luxurious if you switch from a knob style to a handle style.

Create Accent Walls

Often, new construction home builders will paint all of the rooms one color to save money. Adding an accent wall can transform a room. An accent wall is a wall that is a different color, material or design than the other walls around it. The three most common types of accent walls are painted, wallpapered and paneled.

A painted accent wall is the least expensive. Generally, the first symmetrical wall that you see when you enter the room should be the accent wall. Avoiding walls with a lot of windows, doors, or other architectural details is best. Because paint is inexpensive and relatively fast, it can be low risk to try a bold color or even a pattern such as stripes or chevrons.

Wallpaper allows you to create an accent wall with a big impact. While most wallpapering is best left to the professionals, there are companies with peel and stick wallpaper that make installation more DIY friendly. Remember, wallpaper is only as smooth as the surface it is applied to. Make sure your wall is smooth and primed before installation.

Paneled walls are more permanent, but also can make your space feel luxurious. Using solid wood or MDF, you can mimic a classic design or create something new.

Upgrade Lighting

Often, new construction home builders put in the least expensive lighting and bath fans they can. Upgrading your light fixtures can have a huge impact on the aesthetic and even the energy efficiency of your home. Many new construction homes use flush mount bulk pack lights in the center of the room. Replacing these fixtures with a decorative LED light fixture will change the room drastically, for the better.

Converting old style, incandescent can light bulbs and trims to LED models can save energy and make the room feel more modern. Our favorite trims are adjustable for color temperature so that the user can pick the perfect warmth for the room. Consider priming and painting the trims the color of the ceiling, if you want the lights to disappear into the ceiling.

Upgrading your bath fan not only lessens the moisture and smell in your bathroom, but is also quieter and consumes less energy. Consulting a licensed electrical remodeling contractor for this replacement is strongly recommended.

Add Closet Organizers

According to Century 21 Real Estate, “If you’re looking for a way to increase the value of your home, consider looking not in the kitchen, but rather in the closets,”. Not only do closet organizers help with resale, but they also improve function and organization in your daily activities. Common trends in closet organization include adding a dresser in the closet, adding an island, creating his-and-her closets and adding accent lighting to show off a collection.

Closet makeovers can range from mild to wild. There are organization systems available at big box stores and at organization stores. You can also hire a home remodeling contractor to create custom cabinets for your clothes.

Paint Your Front Door

Painting your door can be a involved process, but it can change the look of your home and increase curb appeal. Make sure you prepare the door well, like you would with any painting project. Most people select gloss paint. Common colors include black, red and yellow. Using an oversized sample card from your local paint store will help you decide on the color before you take the door off the hinges and have the paint mixed. While you are painting the door, consider updating the hardware or adding a smart lock.

Replace Cheap Countertops

Builders often install laminate countertops to save money in areas like the basement and laundry room. Many builders commonly install low grade granite countertops in the kitchen. Upgrading these countertops to quartz or marble not only makes them more beautiful, but also more functional. This can make your home more valuable to buyers. When selecting new countertops, remember that you will most likely need a new sink. Additionally, you can use this opportunity to upgrade your faucet and food waste disposal.

Replace Flooring

Laminate flooring and cheap carpeting are hallmarks of budget new construction builds. Upgrading your carpeting and pad to something nicer can feel better on your feet, make your home quieter and improve the appearance of your space.

Hardwood or tile would be great replacements for laminate flooring. Hardwood gives you the option to have it refinished as it wears over time. No matter how realistic your vinyl is, tile looks much better in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms.

Add A Stair Runner

If you were lucky enough to get hardwood stair treads in your new construction home, consider adding a stair runner. A runner is a bound piece of carpet that breaks up the monotony of the wood, and can provide a pop of color and texture marking the pathway upstairs. Stair runners can also help reduce the noise from going up and down the stairs. A runner makes the stairs safer by offering padding and traction over the hardwood.

Conclusion

Small upgrades may buy you some time before doing a major home remodel. Implementing some of the ideas we discussed can be inexpensive and be done in a weekend. When you are ready to fully renovate the space, call our experienced home remodeling contractors at LaBonte Construction.

 

 

Hiring a remodeling contractor for your next home remodeling project is a big decision. In addition to price, there are many other considerations before you decide whom to use for your project.

New construction housing and remodeling are different trades. Many remodeling contractors can build a new home. However, few new home builders are qualified to do complex remodeling projects. Asking the following questions can save you headache, time, and money.

Can I See Your Portfolio?

Looking at a builder’s portfolio will tell you if the builder is capable of working on a project of your caliber. If a builder is used to doing kitchen remodels with laminate countertops, and you envision a kitchen with book-matched Carrara marble countertops, then it would be important to make sure that the builder is comfortable with the materials and quality your project will require.

Most builders have digital portfolios on their website, as well as a Houzz.com account. This allows you to view past work as well as get inspiration from other builders around the country.

Can I See a Copy of Your Contract?

A contract is a legally binding agreement between two parties. It is important to read the contract and understand what the obligations of both parties are. The contract should state how long the project should take, what is included, spell out any allowances for materials to be selected by the homeowner and include information on the builder’s warranty.

Are You a Member of a Trade Organization?

Membership to a trade organization shows the builder cares enough to spend the money to be a member. Additionally, most reputable trade organizations ensure all members’ licensing and insurance is up to date. Finally, many trade organizations offer discounts to members though buying co-ops. These save clients money, offer continuing education opportunities and mediation if a problem arises during your project.

Do You Have a License and Insurance?

While being licensed and insured (including workers’ compensation) might seem like it should be a given, some contractors do not follow the rules. It would be a red flag if the home remodeling contractor asks you to pull the permit or if they can not produce a proof of insurance.

How Long Will My Project Take?

Having a defined start and end date are essential to a successful project. There are consumer protection laws in many states governing project durations. You should expect any professional to give you a details schedule in a paper or PDF form. This schedule should have the major dates, draws and substantial completion date.

How Long Have You Been in Business?

While we all start somewhere, selecting a home remodeling contractor who has been in business for a long time should provide some assurance that your prepayments are safe, they have a track record of success through positive reviews and that the builder will be around should you need to use your warranty.

Will I Have a Dedicated Project Manager?

Reliability and consistency are the keys to success in life, and remodeling is no different. Ensuring that there is a project manager who is your point of contact, and that he will be on your project every day is very important.

Some contractors have a reputation for jumping from job to job in order to take on more work or for financial reasons. Asking your contractor about when to expect their firm on your job will set expectations before the job starts.

What Is the Best Way to Contact You, And Do You Use Any Technology to Track Job Progress?

Construction is one of the oldest professions, and many firms have not embraced technology. We have found that clients who hire a builder with a robust project management software are happier. These software packages allow customers to see pictures of their project, make sure all communications are in a centralized location, track the schedule and understand when selections need to be made.

What Steps Will You Take to Protect My Home During the Project?

If you are remodeling your home and the renovation is confined to part of your home, it is important to ask how your remodeling contractor is going to segregate that part of the house and protect the part not encompassed by the project.

At minimum, contractors should be using HEPA air scrubbers during demo, always be using HEPA vacuums for daily cleanup, using ZipWalls to isolate dust, and protect flooring with a product like Ram Board^®. A remodel should not destroy the rest of your house.

Is There Somewhere Where I Can Look At Your References?

Most contractors will have their references online, but if your builder does not have an online presence, you should cautiously ask for phone numbers of past clients. No builder is going to give you the number for someone who would give them a bad review, so online reviews are best. We suggest checking Google, Houzz, Angie’s List, and Yelp. Recommendations from friends, community Facebook groups, and looking for that builder’s sign in your neighborhood are the best references.

Maintain Good Communication with Your Contractor

Construction can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Hiring the right home remodeling contractor can alleviate much of the stress and ensure your project goes as smoothly as possible. If you have a kitchen remodel, bathroom project or addition, please contact us at LaBonte Construction for a quote.

Renovating your home can be costly and comes with many decisions. Hiring a qualified home remodeling contractor is essential to a successful project. Incorporating these ten tips into your next remodeling project can make your space feel luxurious and reduce the impact on your building budget.

Adding Ceiling Detail

During a home remodeling project, adding visual interest to the ceiling can set your home apart from others. Commonly, remodeling clients request coffered, tray and coved ceilings. These details can affordably make a statement in living room, dining room and kitchen remodels. While we often think about adding details to walls, ceilings can be even more dramatic. Adding detail to a ceiling can sometimes be less expensive because there is only one ceiling versus four walls.

Coffered Ceilings

Also known as caisson ceilings, coffered ceilings date back to the Ancient Romans. Many designers and architects will tell you they make your room feel larger by drawing your eye upwards. Coffered ceilings take the form of square, octagonal, or rectangular sunken boxes in the ceiling. The least expensive way to add a coffered ceiling detail is to do so with rough framing and drywall. More commonly, we create coffered ceilings in home remodeling projects by building a grid of wooden box beams with applied moldings.

Tray Ceilings

Tray ceilings are similar to coffered ceilings, but are a single shape and typically the least expensive of the ceiling details. This ceiling detail usually follows the contour of the room, as well as having the center of the ceiling raised up several inches from the perimeter. Additionally, this detail gives the appearance of an upside down tray, hence the name.

Coved Ceilings

Coved ceiling were commonplace prior to 1930, when many of Milwaukee’s historic homes were built. This ornamental detail was usually used in the public areas of a home like the living room or dining room, but is also seen in bathrooms in more stately homes. With CNC technology, we can now purchase kits to assist in getting the perfect ceiling without the expense of cutting it by hand. This detail is best left to professionals with access to specialty flexible drywall.

Upgraded Switches

Upgrading the switches in your home can have a huge impact. Most of your guests interact with your home with their eyes, but when they interact with their hands, it’s often to use a switch. Upgrading the switches can turn an eyesore into a noteworthy detail.

Air Switch

In the kitchen, our remodeling clients frequently opt for an air switch. An air switch is a countertop-mounted pressure switch that activates your garbage disposal. By moving the switch to the countertop, there are fewer visual distractions in a tile or stone backsplash.

Push Button Switches

Reproduction push button switches are a great addition to old homes and to your historic home restoration project. These switches have the look of an original switch, coupled with the functionality and safety of a modern dimmer. This relatively inexpensive upgrade would be a great addition to your next remodeling project. If your budget does not allow for retrofitting for all of your switches, consider doing the rooms that guests most often see.

Dimmer Switches

Dimmer switches, and now Wi-Fi enabled smart switches allow our remodeling clients to create a mood with lighting. Having the flexibly to control your lighting beyond on/off can affect your mood, help with security, as well as make your space feel more luxurious.

If you want to hide your electrical controls to focus on your wallpaper, try a switch from Forbes & Lomax. While expensive, using this switch in a dining or powder room can have a big impact while not requiring the entire house to be re-switched.

Pocket Doors

The older and more sophisticated cousin of the barn door, pocket doors sometimes get a bad name because they can be finicky if not installed by a professional remodeling contractor. Pocket doors are a self-storing door system where the door hides inside of the wall when not in use. Additionally, using a quality track system that features smooth rollers and a quiet close system ensures function for generations to come.

Pocket doors are great for small spaces like a powder room or a closet where a swinging door could interfere with the space or traffic patterns. The only place where this door system can create problems is where plumbing, HVAC, or electrical systems interfere inside the wall. When installing a pocket door, we suggest using only solid core doors.

Upgrade Moldings

Adding moldings to a house makes a huge difference. Defining spaces, adding elegance, and making a space look historically correct all contribute to the functionality as well as the beauty of a home.

Crown Molding

Crown moldings are a great addition to your home. We install crown molding between the wall and the ceiling. Most clients want to add crown molding to their kitchen cabinets, common areas, and master bedroom. Off-the-shelf moldings can be made to look like custom moldings by stacking moldings to create an additional profile. This common method uses a baseboard in combination with a crown molding profile to create a larger and more complex design.

Chair Rail

Chair rail is a molding that can make a simple space feel more elegant, but is often installed incorrectly. A professional home remodeling contractor can help you get the proportion right. Historically, builders positioned chair walls lower on the wall to make the room look and feel taller. Many people assume that the rule for a chair rail is that it should be 36 inches off the ground, however this is not always the case. A good rule of thumb is that the chair rail should be about 1/5 of the room height, usually somewhere between 28-32 inches.

Wainscoting

Wainscoting is a molding applied to the walls that extend partway up a wall’s face. This molding dates back to the 1300’s and can be a great way to guard your walls from scuffs and scratches while adding a classic look to the room. Wainscoting can also create a feeling of height within the room. Traditionally, most manufactures make wainscoting  from solid wood, but these days they also make it from milled plywood, plastic and medium-density fiberboard (MDF).

Wider baseboard and casing are great replacements for builder grade moldings that came with the house. Adding larger moldings can give a home a feeling of quality and history. Make sure to consult your builder before deciding on oversized moldings. Moving light switches and outlets may oftentimes be needed to accommodate the new millwork package.

Painting Vents, Grills And Light Trims

The need for HVAC systems, recessed can lights and bath fans creates eyesores. One of the easiest ways to hide these is to have them painted to match the wall or ceiling they are attaching to. Painting these vents, covers and trims is typically a cost-effective way to seamlessly integrate them with the rest of the wall or ceiling. Our qualified painters prepare these plastic and metal surfaces, then apply paint that will help them vanish.

Sound Deadening Insulation

Soundproofing is a very complex topic in construction science and best left to expert builders. However, there are some basic steps which can be cost-effective and make a huge difference. Insulating walls between bedrooms and other rooms helps kids sleep when adults want to entertain later at night. Adding insulation between bathrooms and common areas can confine the sound of running water to the bathroom.

Art Lighting

Art lighting is usually reserved for galleries and very expensive homes, but if the wall is open, it is not expensive to add. By adding an outlet connected to a switch, you can highlight your favorite painting or your kid’s latest creation. Some specialty art lights even incorporate a hook to hang your painting from.

Adding Shutters

Adding shutters to the windows in your home remodeling project is a great, cost-effective way to add curb appeal to your home. While shutters were originally made for functionality, these days they are more often an aesthetic choice. When adding shutters, it’s important that the shutters you select should combine to fit the entire width of the window, so when closed, they fit the window shape. Shutters can add depth and character to your windows as well as give your home a classy, elegant feel. Some of the main types of shutters include:

• Louvered
• Flat Panels
• Raised Panels
• Board & Batten

Insulated Garage Door

According to HGTV, many homes have a garage that occupies up to thirty percent of the façade of the home. With such a large surface area, it is important to have the highest quality door you can afford. Upgrading from a single-layer door to an insulated door can increase the R-Value of your door by 4-15+. Even if there is no heating in your attached garage, the residual heat from your home will linger much longer with the addition of a new, properly installed garage door. Not only will this heat help melt the snow off of your car in the cold Milwaukee winters, but also makes going to work on a cold, dark winter morning a little more tolerable.

Adding Wallpaper

Beautiful wallpaper can be prohibitively expensive, but if you are remodeling a small space like a powder room, you can use an expensive paper for big impact without a huge price tag. Picking the right wallpaper can be a challenge best left to the professionals. However, if you want to pick your own, we recommend keeping the following rules of thumb in mind:

• Price and quality are usually directly correlated in the wallpaper world
• Handmade wallpaper should only be hung by the most experienced installers
• Stripes and vertical patterns can help a room feel taller
• Ceilings can be wallpapered too
• Small-scale patters make a room feel larger
• Walls must be free of imperfections for a seamless installation.

Upgrade Your Home with LaBonte Construction

Remodeling your home can be expensive, but with an experienced contractor and careful selections, you can get more for your money. Contacting LaBonte Construction allows you to take advantage of our decades of home building experience to incorporate these, as well as other cost-effective upgrades into your next remodeling project.