Home Renovation 101-

 

We understand that a home remodel can seem like a daunting task, even from the perspective of initial consideration and particularly if you've never done a remodel before. In this section we’re going to tackle some common questions my clients have had if they’ve never done a remodel or aren’t even sure of where to begin. Questions like why remodel? Where do I start? What should I consider in my layout/design? And finally, what are the steps involved in a remodel. If you have some, any or all of these questions, then this section is for you!

 

Firstly, why?

There are a number of reasons people renovate their homes. Perhaps to fix a safety issue, or prepare the property for market to list it for sale. In my opinion the two most important considerations are;

1. For your own personal comfort and enjoyment, and

2. To improve the home's overall value.

 

Your personal comfort and enjoyment are important factors that shouldn’t be overlooked. If you renovate solely based on how it will impact the future sales price down the line, you may end up living in a showplace that doesn’t feel like a home. Your comfort and enjoyment are more important than what improvements will make the most money when you eventually sell.

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That said... For every dollar you spend, you should expect at least that in the return on investment when it does come time to sell in the next few years, which makes the idea of a renovation all that more appealing. Smart money... 50%-60% of your budget should be awarded to kitchen and bathroom remodels, those areas of home improvement give you the highest yield of ROI for major projects.

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Secondly, where to start?

The first step is budgeting. Knowing your budget is a requirement in order to determine the overall scope of your project.​ A client may have the impression that they may not be able to afford a renovation. When I did commercial work, we often fell back on what's known as "Value Engineering" (sometimes called value analysis). It sounds fancy, however value engineering is nothing more than substituting materials (and sometimes methods) with less expensive alternatives, without sacrificing its function.

 

Some examples of value engineering as it relates to the residential market are; Pre-fab cabinets instead of custom cabinetry. Pre-fab cabinets are generally are about 50% less than custom cabinets. Even less expensive is refacing existing cabinets or painting existing (although I don’t recommend painting outdated cabinet designs from the 70's). Another example is laminate or LVP instead of hard wood. Anyway, you get the idea, there are many options available that work for all kinds of budgets.

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Thirdly, are you happy with the current size, layout and design? Let's use the kitchen area as an example here. Many of the older homes here in the Portland area have a "galley" type of kitchen layout. If you're interested in a more open design for your home and making more space available, some considerations may be opening up a wall and renovating your kitchen into an L-shape or U-shape design, or perhaps a peninsula.

 

​The overall style should compliment the original architectural style of the home. Aside from that, go with what you love!

 

Some popular styles are; 

 

Modern- Large multi function island, flat panel cabinet doors, hidden door handles, built-in appliances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional- More enclosed and smaller, more ornate cabinets and curved drawer posts.

 

 

 

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Farmhouse- also very popular, use of natural finishings like wood countertops, farmhouse sink, often use open shelving.

 

 

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Once the overall style you are considering is determined (which should include your cabinet style as well), you'll want to consider the countertop style that best suites your overall design: Quartz, Granite, Marble, Porcelain, Wood?

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Appliances are a very important factor in a remodel. Do you cook a lot? Would you prefer a separate vent hood or a microwave that doubles as a vent hood? What kind of fridge do you want? 3-4 compartments, French Door, Built-in?​ Oven or stove and cooktop?

And then lighting to tie it all together. For a 150sf kitchen, I would recommend 6-8 recessed lights and perhaps some pendulum lights over the island or peninsula.

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These are the major considerations and should provide an excellent starting point for your project.

 

Steps involved in a remodel;

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1. Planning and Design

2. Demolition

3. Rebuilding/Framing

4. Mechanicals/Plumbing/HVAC/Electrical

5. Walls

6. Flooring

7. Cabinets

8. Appliances

9. Final fixtures

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