Remodeling Blog

Imagine you're a homeowner with an out-of-date bathroom or a business owner with a bathroom that hasn't been remodeled in many years. Your countertops are made of stained, scratched cultured marble. Your toilets are inefficient, and you don't have the appropriate storage space or counter space for your needs. Your bathroom floors have stained grout. The caulk around fixtures needs to be replaced. If you're a homeowner, you may even have a bathroom with pink wall tiles. Your bathroom looks its age, and it's difficult to clean. It's the wrong color for the current decade, and it might even be devaluing your property. Were you to sell sometime soon, buyers might see your bathroom and cringe.

For most homeowners and commercial property owners, their satisfaction with their kitchen comes from their ability to move about efficiently, prepare meals easily, and interact with others without having accidents or difficulty. Unfortunately, too many kitchens were designed without help from a certified kitchen designer. Kitchens that are poorly designed can slow down food preparation while causing accidents and ruined meals.

Remodeling can be costly. From labor to materials, a typical commercial remodel can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Although the end results are worthwhile, some commercial property owners stumble on the price tag. Knowing of commercial contractor fees, those on a tight budget may even try to save money by hiring their own workers to do portions of the job, which can have unintended consequences.

Custom and semi-custom bathroom vanities range in cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars. These units typically include a separate countertop and faucet. Putting the separate pieces together in one integrated whole is relatively time consuming and cost-inefficient. While some homeowners with very particular bathroom vanity needs may choose to purchase customized bathroom vanities made from separate parts, there are many ways to save money on this process. Read on to find out more information about how to get the most out of your bathroom vanity and cabinetry budget.

Affordable, eco-friendly materials can be hard to find. In this article, we'll touch upon some of the most popular, environmentally-friendly materials found in commercial properties around Connecticut. The following affordable/cost-effective materials can help you make your commercial building more sustainable, all while saving you money (or at least not costing you extra).

Exterior home renovations are important because they improve curb appeal and increase the value of your home. Over time, landscaping, home siding, and garages can start to look dated and old. Making home improvements, remodeling and making home repairs can attract buyers when trying to sell a property.

Remodels are complex projects, with many chances for error. Most homeowners conduct remodels only occasionally, and are not experts in the remodeling process. It's easy for homeowners to make mistakes when beginning a remodel, because they haven't done it enough to learn from their own mistakes.

Compared to the cost of buying a home or a condo, the cost of constructing an in-law addition is relatively low. This affordability makes a home addition an attractive option for young homeowners helping an older relative maintain independence. Just how affordable is an in-law apartment? You might be surprised. Costs vary depending on finishes and features, but often an in-law apartment can be purchased at a fraction of the cost of a condo.

Have you ever walked into a historic property and been blown away by the custom woodwork and details? Custom millwork such as wainscoting, coffered ceilings, hand-carved banisters and built-in cabinets used to be a standard feature of any home, but those traditions have fallen by the wayside with the rise of factory-made cabinets and other mass-produced installations. These new innovations may be less expensive, but they also lack the "one-of-a-kind" custom millwork installation.

There are many reasons that a restaurant owner might choose to renovate their restaurant. Outdated fixtures, old appliances, and general wear and tear can lead to fewer customers and a decline in profits. Staying up to date is important. Engaging in regular remodeling and building improvement can help keep your restaurant a beautiful, functional, enjoyable place to visit. Remodels are big endeavors, and even the best-planned project can be disruptive. Knowing what to expect can help you be prepared and can minimize the disruption. At Litchfield Builders, we work with Connecticut business owners to ensure that their restaurant remodel goes smoothly. To learn more about remodeling your business, download our free guide, Sustainability & Green Building in Commercial Construction. To learn more about restaurant renovation expectations, read on.