George Scott Stevens Renaissance Realty Group Dallas, TX 214-458-1647

A well built home can go for years with little upkeep from the owner, but that isn't to suggest that the house doesn't need attention along the way. A contractor experienced in complete home renovations knows that failure to take basic steps to protect your home investment will lead to problems down the road.

Some of the home maintenance items you should consider are:

1. Yearly Termite Inspections - Most of the chemicals used today to control termites do not provide the long lasting defense of those from years past. This is because many of them have been banned for environmental reasons. It is very important to have thorough inspections performed annually because a home can be destroyed by these pests.

2. Caulk as Necessary - Although some caulk materials are guaranteed for twenty years, most of them don't hold up even near that long because of conditions when applied and the quality of the application. Caulking is needed to seal out air and water, and a small breech can allow water into critical areas where it can cause mildew, rot framing, and present other moisture problems. Additionally, air intrusion can add to heating and cooling costs.

3. Check HVAC Equipment - Not only is the heat pump or other heat and cooling equipment expensive to operate, it is expensive to replace. The compressor unit is generally guaranteed for five years, but other parts may only be covered for a year. Maintaining an annual service contract with a qualified technician can often identify any issues that may be inexpensively repaired if caught early.

4. Maintain Soil Moisture – The soils in many areas around North Texas are extremely expansive depending on the level of moisture in the soil. If the soil moisture around the foundation is allowed vary significantly from season to season, it may cause the foundation to flex beyond the tolerances for which it was designed causing it to fail. Maintaining consistent soil moisture around the foundation can prevent this from happening.

5. Trim The Trees – Another way to protect the foundation is to keep trees and shrubs trimmed to a manageable level. The bigger the tree the broader the root structure to feed it. One of the places tree roots like to grow is under the foundation as there is more moisture there than in the surrounding soil. Eliminating the tree’s need for additional moisture can protect your foundation from damage in the years ahead.

No matter what a home may have been valued at when it was built, one that is allowed to deteriorate may not be worth much without extensive renovations. Protecting the investment through the years reduces the risk of expensive improvements that may have been avoided with proper care and maintenance.

One of the latest trends in remodeling today is in increasing the energy efficiency of homes in established neighborhoods. This is being done for two reasons. One, the cost of these improvements can be recouped over time through reduced utility bills and two, more and more they are being perceived as adding value to the property as the cost of energy goes up.

Most of these properties were built when energy was much cheaper and the building codes were less strict than they are today. Lower-efficiency HVAC systems, less insulation and single-pane windows were commonly used to keep the construction cost down. What this means to the homeowner today is higher heating and air conditioning costs. Here are a few things that can be done to significantly reduce your utility bills.

Whack Those Single-Pane Windows!

More conditioned air passes through windows than any other place in the home. Metal-clad, single-pane windows are the main culprit. Simply making a building more airtight can save as much as 20% or more on heating and cooling bills. Replacing single-pane windows with vinyl or wood-clad, double-pane, low-E glass windows will cut energy consumption significantly. This can be a rather significant investment, but it will pay for itself through lower utility bills within 5 to 7 years.

More Insulation, Please!

Most older homes have no more than R-13 levels of insulation in the attic space, when R-30 is the code today. Adding the additional insulation will accomplish two things. It will fill any spots where openings in the sheetrock, like recessed lighting, may be radiating heat into the conditioned space plus, it provides an additional layer of protection from the attic heat. Also, in many cases interior doors, which have very little insulating ability, have been used between the home and the garage in these older homes. Replacing them with a rated exterior door will also provide a more efficiently sealed conditioned air space.

Out With The Old, In With The New!

Unless HVAC equipment is maintained regularly, it loses efficiency and costs more to operate. If your furnace is more than 15 years old, it may need to be replaced. To see how energy efficient your HVAC system is, visit the Energy Star website listed below and input your gas and electric usage into their “Home Energy Yardstick”.

Home Energy Yardstick

Floor It!
Hardwood and travertine marble are two of the more popular flooring materials being used in remodeling today, but they are probably not the best choices for the kitchen area. Any kind of significant leak from the sink or dishwasher can cause extensive damage to hardwood floors and make for a rather expensive repair and travertine, though stunning, is very soft and brittle and probably won’t wear well in a high-traffic area like the kitchen. There are a number of ceramic tile products on the market today that are just as stylish as natural stone but are a lot more durable.

Bon Apetit!
The “commercial look” is in! Stainless steel finishes on the appliances is, and has been, the finish of choice for quite some time now replicating the look of a professional kitchen. Following this same trend, many people are going for cleaner lines in their choice of trim and cabinetry in the kitchen, as well.

No Man Is An Island
Since most parties end up in the kitchen, one of the more popular amenities in kitchen remodeling is an over-sized, dual-purpose island that can be used for entertaining as well as food preparation. This is somewhat of a throwback to how homes once had a kitchen table. Now, the kitchen table has become an island. Though, the island is a much more functional part of the kitchen than the table because it typically has cabinetry for additional storage and built-in appliances.

Wide Open Spaces
Another significant trend in kitchen remodeling is in opening up the kitchen space to make it more interactive with other entertaining spaces in the home, like the living room and dining room. One of the more popular conduits being implemented to link the living room and the kitchen is a cabinet unit that doubles as a wetbar and a serving bar as seen here.

Whatever your personal design style is, Traditional, Mid-Century Modern or Country French, Quality Craftsman Inc can execute your kitchen remodeling project utilizing the latest in design trends, materials, finishes and fixtures on the market today...on budget
and on time!

Two homes can look very much the same from the outside, be in the same neighborhood, and have similar amounts of air-conditioned square footage, and yet one will bring a better selling price than the other based on its amenities. This is true even though an appraisal might have the two houses valued about the same. Houses sell based on what purchasers are willing to pay, and that is why small remodeling projects can make a big difference when a home is marketed.

What Homebuyer’s Consider Important

Bathrooms and kitchens are at the top of the list when buyers are touring homes for sale. While it may not make or break a deal, the homes with the best interior finish-outs have a much better opportunity of being sold than those in need of remodeling work.
Even for homeowners who do not want to sell their homes, bathroom remodeling adds comfort and aesthetic appeal. It is also a way to upgrade to more modern and functional fixtures, make better use of space, and update cabinets and countertops. This is one reason why many homeowners place bathroom remodeling at the top of the list when they want to improve their living space.

Bathroom Remodeling On A Budget

Remodeling the master bathroom doesn’t necessarily need to be a major undertaking. Needless to say, demolition, enlarging the room, and rearranging all the bathroom fixtures is more costly than simply removing fixtures and installing new ones. Plus, new wall and floor treatments can be a relatively inexpensive update. If replacing the countertops with something more elegant, like granite, is a priority, shop the surplus stores for smaller pieces so you’re not investing in an entire slab. Since bathroom countertops tend to be smaller surface areas buying an entire slab of granite would only generate additional waste.

No-Kitsch Kitchens

Similarly, remodeling the kitchen space doesn’t need to be an arduous endeavor either. Changing the cabinet hardware and adding a glaze to the finish on the cabinets (as pictured here) can give the kitchen a more contemporary look without a lot of coin. If you do choose to “go for the gusto” with granite, buy it direct and then hire a fabricator to finish and install it. That’s the most economical way to go.

When Less Is More: Reducing Your Utility Bills

Another valued remodeling trend is toward making a home more energy efficient. The value of these improvements is attributed to the cost savings on utilities, any available tax incentives, and the positive impact it has toward prospective buyers. New windows and doors can save on energy consumption as can upgrading to more efficient HVAC equipment. Simply making a building more airtight can save as much as 20% or more on heating and cooling bills. If you are looking to increase the value of your home in anticipation of selling it, remodeling to improve the home’s aesthetic appeal generally has more impact than energy efficiency upgrades. But, if you plan to continue to living in the house, it might be more gratifying to remodel elements that will pay for themselves through cost savings on utility bills.
Plus, increasing numbers of people are becoming more energy conscience and consider energy efficient home features a big plus when it comes to the value of a residence they are considering for purchase.

The 2011 Remodeled Home Tour is coming to North Dallas Saturday and Sunday October 22nd & 23rd. This year’s tour features nine remodeled homes from six award-winning Dallas remodeling contractors serving the greater Dallas area.

The Remodeled Home Tour is put on annually by the National Association of The Remodeling Industry (NARI) Greater Dallas Chapter and benefits The Nova Center for health and wellness.

Projects range from single room enhancements, like master bathroom or Kitchen makeovers to complete home renovations. Event details, maps and previews of the participating properties can be found on the NARI Greater Dallas website.

The homes will be open from 11am to 5pm each day and tickets can be purchased at one of the participating homes or through the website.

So, if you are looking for remodeling ideas and would like to see first-hand the works of some of the premier Dallas remodeling contractors this is a great place to start.

Pass the word and we hope to see you there!