Remodeling Blog

Refinished vs refurbished: what's the difference?  There are many terms that contractors use when discussing home improvement. If you're new to working with contractors, trying to find the right language to use when talking about your home improvement project can be challenging.  Talking to your contractor shouldn't be intimidating or difficult, so we're writing this article to give you some confidence when speaking with contractors. We've covered topics like this before on our blog. One thing is for sure: no matter what you know about these common home improvement terms, your contractor should be able to understand what your project is if you know your goals, and you're ready to talk about them.  We'll provide some communication tips that can help you at the end of this article.

Low-cost home upgrades can increase your property's value and make your house easier to sell when it hits the market. Knowing the cost of your home upgrade before getting started on the project is important. When you're on a budget, low-cost upgrades can make all the difference. Low-cost upgrades boost curb appeal and make your house more attractive, which can make your house a better place to live, if even in small ways. By changing the space where you live, you can solve any number of problems. You can bring order to chaos, brighten dark spaces, improve storage and organization, boost efficiency or just make coming home at night that much more satisfying.  These small home improvements are low cost, so they're easy to do when you've got the time and some extra funds. Whether you're planning to sell your home sometime in the near future, or you just want to make life at home a little better and a little brighter - here's what we recommend. 

Very few homes are perfect, so most homeowners have a remodeling wish list. On lazy afternoons, they daydream about their wish list, and which big items they'll tackle next. Such lists can be motivating. Every time you cross another item off the list, your home gets a little closer to perfect.   If you're a new homeowner who doesn't have a wishlist yet, it's time to make one. You'd be amazed how many things about your home need to be changed, once you start to think about it. After the list is made, it becomes easier to tackle home improvement in a way that is organized and logical. To learn more about how you can start a home improvement project, download our free guide, How to Choose a Home Remodeling Contractor. To learn more about making a home remodel wishlist, keep reading.     

Summer and late spring are the busiest times of year for home improvement projects, but some projects just make a lot more sense to complete when the weather is still chilly and the construction business is slow. If you're hoping to finish some last-minute home improvements projects before the busy summer season, we've got some suggestions that can help you decide. To learn more about how to hire a home improvement contractor, download our free guide to hiring a home improvement professional. If you're not sure which winter remodeling projects are best, check out our suggestions below. Get ready to make your home more beautiful and functional! 

While we want to help with your projects at home, sometimes it's easier to just do it yourself. As a homeowner, you should have a good set of tools on hand for little and big things as they come up. Whether you're hanging new curtains in your home, fixing those shelves, or assembling that swing set in the yard, you're going to need some basic tools for getting the job done. For the simple stuff, here are the tools every homeowner needs. 

General contractors typically work with two types of professionals during a standard remodeling project: subcontractors and partners. The relationships with partners and subs can be delicate. It takes years for a general contractor to learn how to manage these relationships effectively, to ensure that everyone gets what they need at the end of a construction project.  Whether you're new to the industry or simply seeking some information about construction industry functions, it's important to know how these three distinct groups work together as they create beautiful buildings, additions, and remodels throughout the state of Connecticut. Litchfield Builders has been in business for over 25 years, and we've learned a lot about how to maintain balance and good communication with partners and subs. We thrive on these relationships. Here's what we've learned in our time as a general contractor. 

Some people hire a general contractor when it's time to remodel. Some people do the work themselves.  ...And still others hire subcontractors to coordinate their own remodel like a general .  Which one are you? We've seen all three approaches. While there's no one right way to perform a home improvement project, there can be disadvantages to not hiring a general contractor. If you can recognize those disadvantages, you can avoid some of the common mistakes that homeowners make when they decide not to hire a general . 

The home buyer market is hot right now, and all over Connecticut, homeowners are preparing their homes for sale. One of the ways to make your home competitive in the real estate market is to update old or dated features with a beautiful remodel. During the project, it's important to research pictures of materials and potential layouts. Having these props makes it easier to communicate with your contractor, and more importantly, make decisions about your home improvement project. There seem to be endless home remodeling websites designed to inspire homeowners and help them throughout their home remodeling and decorating process, but not all websites are created equal. In this article, we'll cover some of the most useful and inspirational websites on the Internet. 

Many office-based Connecticut businesses changed their work configurations in 2020 allowing employees to work from home. While some of these businesses may maintain a permanent work from home configuration even after the pandemic ends, others are planning to come back to the office when it is safe to do so.  It's hard to know what the workplace will be like after COVID-19, but most people agree, it will not be the same. Now is a good time to plan for a safe office reopening - whether a portion of or your entire workforce is coming back. If you're considering a reopening sometime in the near future, this is also a good opportunity to remodel and reconfigure your business operations to create a safer and healthier work environment. Many things are changing. The world around us is taking a new form. With good planning and visionary thinking, your business can be more agile, more resilient and more prepared for whatever is coming tomorrow. 

Years ago, the top-mount sink, also called drop-in or self-rimming sink, was the most common sink type found in residential kitchens. Drop-ins were popular because they were practical, relatively inexpensive to purchase and easy to install - even if for a DIYer. Tastes have changed in recent years. Homeowners rarely purchase drop-in models for their kitchen renovations. In this article, we'll talk about the most popular sinks being installed in kitchens around Connecticut. It can be tough to pick the right one - especially if you're a new homeowner with little experience choosing new kitchen features. We'll go over their pros, cons and costs, so you can decide which type of sink is right for your home.