Remodeling Blog

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.

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.

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.

In 2017, US census data indicated that work from home positions made up approximately 5% of the U.S. labor force. By June of 2020, that number had grown to over 40%. For many, this change happened suddenly, without planning, and in the midst of a pandemic. Some worked from the dining room table, while others set up their home office in a closet, in their living room, or in their garage. Though the work-from-home phenomenon seemed temporary at first, it is clear now that we were witnessing a sea change. For many positions and many companies, working from home will be permanent. For those who were a part of this sea change, the time has come to make the home office a comfortable and intentional part of the home design. Below, we've listed the elements of home office design that make working from home possible. Whether you're carving that space out of an existing room, or building an addition onto your home, you're going to want some of these elements in your home office.

Last July, we posted an article about how we were keeping our clients and employees safe during COVID-19. At the time, we were just learning the rules of sanitation, social distancing and mask-wearing to prevent the spread of the virus. The safety measures we put in place last year were successful, and we were able to operate safely throughout 2020. Now, we're writing about COVID again - this time in regard to its impact on materials and the supply chain. These changes can affect your home improvement timeline and budget, but you can avoid delays with proper planning. To learn more about remodeling your home in Connecticut, download our free Guide to Choosing a Home Remodeling Contractor. To learn more about remodeling during the COVID-19 pandemic, read below.

Of all the places you can think of remodeling, the kitchen happens to be one of the most expensive rooms. Not only do you have to focus on fixtures that will ensure a perfect workflow, but you also have to factor in the right appliances that will blend in with your design. These expenses will quickly accumulate if you finish the kitchen remodeling only to find out you need to redo the process. For instance, it can be frustrating to choose your kitchen appliances once you finish remodeling, as this means you probably did not factor in size and location.

Most people get better at remodeling over time - often after making more than a few remodeling mistakes. First-time homeowners in particular are likely to make mistakes when remodeling their house because they're often on a tight budget, and they're new to home remodeling. If you're a new homeowner, or even an experienced homeowner who has little experience with home improvement projects, here's what you need to know about the most common home remodeling mistakes. Knowing the pitfalls to avoid will help you increase the likelihood of success in your home improvement project.

Home remodels take months to plan and implement, and there are many steps along the way. If you don't know all of those steps, you could easily miss something that drastically impact your home remodeling down the road. Skipping steps could result in a failed home remodel project, or expensive repairs after the remodel is over. Most of your home remodeling checklist will involve planning, preparing and researching. Although every home improvement project is different, the checklist stays the same. In this article, we outline each of the steps to include in your home remodeling checklist so you can prepare for your project!

We’re well on our descent into a New England winter -- and as the temperatures plummet, your energy bill is probably going up.