Fall 2001 Remodeling Tips   Select an Issue Spring 2002 Winter 2002 Fall 2001 Summer 2001 Spring 2001 Winter 2001 Fall 2000 Summer 2000 Spring 2000 Winter 2000 Fall 1999 Summer 1999 Spring 1999 Winter 1999 Fall 1998 Summer 1998 Spring 1998 Winter 1998 Fall 1997 Summer 1997 Spring 1997 Winter 1997 How To Survive Your Remodeling Project Eisenhower vs. Flower Power Networked to the World The Value of Maintaining Your Home Countertops: Slate & Soapstone How To Survive Your Remodeling Project The contract has been signed and your remodeling project has begun. It's 7:00 in the morning. The Lead Carpenter has now arrived. The excitement of finally getting the job started helps you overlook the following realities: · you didn't really want to get up at 7:00 to let strangers into your house · cooking breakfast on a campstove because your kitchen's getting all torn up isn't really as easy as zapping coffee in the microwave · you have your own schedule to keep and now it has to be adjusted to the workers who are under your feet · construction is noisy · construction creates a lot of dirt and dust, not only in the construction area, but throughout the house · your living room has become decorated with cardboard boxes · people are now asking you to make on-the-spot decisions. You must respond immediately or you'll delay the job. Unfortunately, the state of bliss lasts only through the beginning portion of the remodel. The rest of the time, you're acutely aware of the minor annoyances and nerves can get shot. We want your remodeling project to go as smoothly, carefree and fast as you do. Still, we understand the stress involved when workers are sawing and hammering in your home. Here are some tips from Coastal Builders on how to better SURVIVE THE PROCESS · Know the schedule of the project. In advance, candidly assess how you expect to react to each part. This will give you 2 defenses with which to sustain yourself during the project. (a) When things really start getting to you, you'll be able to say, "It'll only be a couple more days (or weeks) and this phase will be over." (b) When you see yourself acting irrationally, you can say, "Yes, this is the part in which I expected that I'd probably go crazy." Being able to get outside of yourself that way helps you cope, and can give you the ability to look for solutions. · Remember that contractors and construction workers are human. They can make mistakes just like anyone else. For those times, store up an extra dose of patience and discuss your concerns with Coastal Builders' Lead Carpenter. You can be assured that we want you to be happy when the job is finished -- our livelihood depends on it! · The first stage of the remodeling process, such as framing, drywall, etc., usually goes quite fast. This may awake some false expectations about when the job will be completed. The final stages usually require a lot of detail work requiring complicated scheduling which can make the job seem like it will take forever. We can not rush through these stages -- doing the detail work right is what gives the job its quality. · Realize that other members of the family may have different perspectives on how the job is to proceed (e.g., She wants it done right, no matter how long it takes. He just wants to get it done.) These differences can lead to family tension. Take time, not only to talk about the remodeling job itself, but to discuss how the family is reacting to each other during the remodeling process. Discover the differences and allow them to strengthen the family. · If you are not satisfied with something, tell the Lead Carpenter (not the electrician or plumber) right away. Don't let dissatisfactions build to the point of a blow up -- that won't help anything. · Be sensitive to the signs your body gives indicating excess stress. If the remodeling process significantly disrupts your normal routines, design pressure release valves, such as a weekend away, dinners out or a party. · Sometimes during a remodeling job, something will go wrong in an unrelated part of your house. Stay cool. If it is caused by the work being done, we will take care of it. If not, it's your responsibility but, chances are, the Lead Carpenter can help you solve the problem. After The Remodeling Is Finished · When the job is finished, plan something special as a celebration. · If a problem occurs with an element of your completed remodeling job, determine how it has come about. Has it happened because of something you've done, or is it a defect in the product or workmanship? · If the problem is a product or work defect, please put your complaint in writing and mail it to us. Make sure you explain the problem. If the product is covered by a manufacturer's warranty (and often it will be), we'll help you gain satisfaction. If it is a work-related problem, we'll do our best to make it right. · Coastal Builders stands behind its work. We rely on your satisfaction for the future of our business. Even after the job is over, we want you to remain happy with the work so that, when your friends talk with you about remodeling, you'll recommend us. · If you've appreciated our work, please remember to call back when your next project comes up. And please refer us to your friends, relatives and neighbors.   To Top Eisenhower vs. Flower Power Adapted from an article by Georganne Derick, President of Merchandising East The fastest growing market in the country today for remodeling and new home construction is the Baby Boom generation, affectionately dubbed the Zoomers. It is interesting to note that the choices these active seniors make do not mirror those of their parents generation. After years of research, Georganne Derick has found that seniors from the depression era have different values, lifestyles and tastes than those of the expression era. The older seniors (between 65-80 years of age) are frugal, take time to buy, and are reluctant to part with their cash. They like formal, traditional interiors in light, bright colors with matching suites of furniture. Seating should be firm and upright. They choose patterned fabrics and wallpaper, and decorate their homes with an abundance of collectibles and smaller accessories. Overall function and ease of maintenance is very important. The new senior buyers (between 50-65 years of age) grew up in affluent times. Their style tends to be status driven. They are extravagant and more likely to spend to get exactly what they want. The new seniors lifestyle is characterized by information overload and high stress. As a result they seek serenity in their home environment; and, therefore, choose warm and serene colors, such as silver, copper and bronze. For wall treatments, they prefer textures and paint rather than wallpaper, which they see as being too busy. They choose comfortable seating covered in richly textured, sumptuous fabrics with few patterns. Their surroundings are a vehicle for their individualistic self expression. They are not afraid to be different and will select stylized modern design over traditional. However, because they travel a lot, their homes often reflect an eclectic blend of furnishings collected from other countries. Also, the blended families of this generation bring to their homes a unique mix of furniture. The new seniors want gourmet kitchens and luxury baths, with the master bath having a spa quality. In the bedroom, lush bed dressing and large, plentiful pillows soften the boxy look and appeal to emotions. Much attention is paid to ambient mood lighting created by recessed lights on dimmers. Their accessories make a large graphic impact, with artwork that is larger than life. New seniors desire two of everything, his and hers. Each needs a separate home office. In the kitchen, there should be two sinks in two separate work triangles. There must be two baths, one for her and one for him. What really matters to this age group is having a vital, active lifestyle. Their homes usually include separate rooms for creative activities such as gardening, music or art. At the top of the list are rooms designed for spending time with others such as friends or grandkids!   To Top Networked to the World You are running late from work, but it is not a problem because your home is fully networked through the internet. While at the office, you have already accessed your home system and instantly, miles away, the lights and air conditioning come on to make the house more comfortable for your arrival. A quick check of your online calendar reminds you that the bridge club is meeting at your house tonight. Once home, you search the Web Tablet mounted on your refrigerator in order to select a quick and easy recipe to serve your guests. Once you press the start button in the recipe, your oven begins to preheat. When the meal is well on its way, you head for the bathroom to freshen up. While there, you access your home system, and in a flash the beautiful sounds of cellist Yo-Yo Ma begin to fill your great room. The mood is finally set for a wonderful evening. A few years ago this kind of technology was only science fiction. But things are rapidly changing. In the not too distant future practically every home will be connected by a high speed network from room to room and by broadband connections to the work outside. Already, over 20% of households in the country are equipped with multiple PCs. The non PC Internet access market, which includes Net TV, Web phones and gaming consoles is rapidly growing. Other household appliances, including kitchen appliances and entertainment equipment, are being manufactured with built-in intelligence and networking, designed for the mass market. The beauty of a home that is fully networked through the internet, is that it gives you the ability to integrate all of your home systems through one convenient command central. These systems include security, lighting, hvac, utilities, audio/visual, entertainment, computers and communications. The control of all of these systems is accessible through the internet, whether you are on the road, at the office or at home. So, you want to take advantage of this innovative technology? It is then necessary for you to be sure your home has a structured wiring system installed. Conventional wiring found in most homes consists of one or two twisted pairs of wires. and is adequate for basic voice or fax communications. Structured wiring is more advanced. It can also handle sophisticated video and data signals from computers. Regardless of the cost or size of your home, adding even a basic structured wiring system will insure your access to developing home security, entertainment, control and communication technologies. It will definitely add value to your home at resale.   To Top The Value of Maintaining Your Home If you have lived in your home long enough to watch the seedling your son brought home from a 1st grade field trip turn into a towering pine, then you probably feel as though your home is more than just a house. It is an extension of yourself a member of the family. And the neighborhood surrounding you is as comfortably familiar as a favorite old sweater. However, have you ever considered whether or not you are currently getting as much value out of your home as you would like? As families grow and change, their needs change. Is your home out of sync with your present lifestyle? Now that your kids are older, they may be wanting to use your kitchen more often as they entertain their own friends. Do you have space for more than one cook to work at a time, or does it frustrate you that your kitchen feels so crowded? Readjusting the space so that you can add an island with a second sink could give you just the elbowroom you desire. If you are an empty nester, you may not be needing all those extra bedrooms. Think how much better that space could be utilized if you were to bring it up to date by remodeling it into a media room , a home office or even an exercise room. Another thought to consider is whether or not your home has good market value, should you decide to sell it later on. Despite how important your home is to you right now, realtors report that every 3 to 5 years, on the average, Americans move and sell their homes. With statistics like that, it also makes sense to maintain your home with possible resale in mind. Attention to a few pointers from the realtors will make it so that you can sell your house for more when the time comes and in the meantime, enjoy it more! When people choose to buy an older home instead of a new one, they usually select this option because of the convenience, value, and charm of an older home. However, they may shy away because of concerns about functional room layout and potential maintenance costs. Your home can be especially attractive when it offers the best of both worlds: an older home with its charm, plus well planned and remodeled living areas, a well maintained exterior, and reliable mechanical systems. Future buyers will pay well for the peace of mind and meanwhile you'll have it for yourself. The two areas in the home that impress buyers most, either positively or negatively, are the kitchen and bathrooms. If your kitchen is dark or bathrooms dingy, the real problem may have to do with the layout of the rooms or their lighting plan. As you look at your bathroom, is it cluttered because storage space is inadequate or inconvenient? Or maybe your kitchen countertops stay dirty because the surface material is of vintage quality. With forethought you can make planned changes now that will eliminate the necessity of last minute patch ups at the time of sale. Not only that, the remodeling expenses may actually pay for themselves when you sell the house. So even though you plan to stay in your home well into your Golden Years, keep in mind that we do live in a transient society. For your own sake now, and for the sake of selling your home later, take a good look around. Make sure it is the home both you and a future buyer would like it to be.   To Top Countertops: Slate & Soapstone Slate is a natural stone which people tend to associate most often with flooring. However, it is an excellent choice for countertops, and in many ways better suited for that purpose than granite or marble. Slate is fine grained, relative to granite, and also much more uniform in composition. This results in a very durable and nonporous material. capable of withstanding heat and chemical abuse. It is softer that granite, so it is important to round the edges to avoid chipping. On the plus side, scratches can be easily rubbed out. It is easy to maintain simply by cleaning with a dishwashing detergent. Slate does not have the glossy shine of granite and marble. Even so, the rich matte appearance of a smooth hone finish has a luster all of its own. This can even be enhanced by a light coating of mineral oil, which also acts as a sealer. Certain types of slate require an impregnating sealer. Natural slate is available in colors ranging from black, grey and purple to subtle red and green. Soapstone is a natural stone that was traditionally used in colonial New England for fireplace hearths, sinks, countertops and wood stoves. Most people recognize it as the material used for decades as work surfaces in laboratories and science classrooms. Its dense and durable composition makes it chemically and thermally resistant to stains and burning, characteristics that also make it a popular choice for countertops. Acids and alkalis will not etch soapstone, as they will granite or marble. It is primarily composed of talc, giving it an especially warm and soft feeling to the touch. Soapstone has a unique soft color with light flowing veins. When it is cut, it oxidizes from a light grey to a dark charcoal color. A silky-smooth honed finish and a protective coating of mineral oil, applied periodically, will enhance the color. Soapstone is much softer than granite, or even slate, and will acquire a lustrous patina over time. © 2003 Coastal Builders, Inc.