Spring 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 What Is the Right Remodeling Company for Me? Recapturing the Past: An Arts & Crafts Kitchen State-of-the-Art Lighting Countertops: Granite & Marble What Is the Right Remodeling Company for Me? This is a very common question among homeowners considering home remodeling work. Let's face it, you have hundreds of choices when considering remodeling, but how do you know which company is right for you? To answer that question, we need to examine the different types of remodeling companies out there. ALL remodelers will call into one of the following four categories: 1) Handyman: Just as the name indicates, these companies handle small, mostly repair type work. They are typically one-man operations, lacking both expertise in any one area and proper insurance. 2) Specialty: These contractors "specialize" in one type of repair or replacement work. Good examples of these companies are window replacement and siding firms. These contractors are typically very good in their field. The only area of concern for homeowners is to make sure they are not "testing" new areas of construction because their core business has slowed down. Window companies should not be building additions. 3) General Contractors: Also called General Remodelers. This is probably th largest group of contractors in our industry today. They tend not to specialized in any specific areas, but rather have a "General" ability. These firms often say they "Do-It-All". Generals tend to be very limited in two main areas: Design and Project Supervision. With most of these firms, the owner wears many different hats; carpenter, sales person, estimator, accountant, project manager, and designer. This often limits their ability to coordinate and supervise YOUR remodeling project in a manner You desire, or even return your phone calls in a timely manner. They do not have in house design capabilities other than maybe producing a simple 8x11 computer drawn sketch. This leaves many homeowners who need more of a visual design often "hoping" the contractor produces what they want. Homeowners who hire General Contractors always seem to have the most job headaches, usually claiming that "I didn't know that wasn't included" or I didn't realize it would look that way" or the ever popular "Why won't someone return my phone calls?" 4) Design/Build Companies: This type of firm is the evolution of the General Contractor. Design/Build companies are actually two companies in one. First is the design aspect. These remodeling companies actually employ full time designers and draftsmen who can bring your dreams to life on paper. Your designer can produce large (blueprint sized) scale drawings showing different views and elevations. You will be able to see how the finished product looks with your existing home. Once accurate plans have been developed a real cost estimate can be made for your project (not one just based on square footage). The second arm of the company is obviously the Build side. This is where you take the drawings and plans and turn them into reality. Most professional Design/Build firms employ full-time supervisors, or project managers, whose sole responsibility is to coordinate your project. They are not side tracked by other company distractions, they just make sure your project goes as planned. The best part of Design/Build firms is that your can "one-stop" your project. No need to run out and hire an architect, interview multiple construction firms, pull permits, etc. Just let the Design/Build firm handle it all for you. So now that we have examined the different options available to homeowners, which company is right for you? Well actually it's quite simple: 1) If you need some small repair type work done, contact a handyman. 2) If you need your windows replaced or home re-roofed, a specialty company is for you. 3) If you are considering something larger than a repair job, feel that dealing with a professional firm is not a necessity, are willing to invest many hours of your own time into the project, and most importantly, if when all is said and done you are probably going to award the job to the lowest bidder, a general contractor or general remodeler is your best option. 4) Are you the type of homeowner who thinks that when you spend money for a project, it should be done in a professional manner? Do you think it should be handled by the company you pay the money to? Do you want to work all the details out up front instead of rolling the dice and hoping it comes out right during construction? Do you want your calls returned? I think your selection is clear...choose a professional, quality oriented, Design/Build firm such as Coastal Builders. If Coastal Builders sounds like the type of company you want to talk to, please pick up the phone and call our office at (410) 461-9908 for a Free, No Obligation, Project Consultation.   To Top Recapturing the Past: An Arts & Crafts Kitchen by Rick Moyer There were numerous steps I took in coming up with the final design considerations for my remodeled kitchen and dining room. Over a period of a couple years, I watched several shows, such as This Old House and Showtime on PBS, to see various features of homes that I liked. I also looked at numerous remodeling magazines to find ideas that I was interested in. I am a Data Analyst with a background in accounting, so naturally I found that the clean, simple, geometric lines of the Arts & Crafts style kept drawing my eye. I purchased four books that had not only pictures of 1900-1930 style homes, but also described the philosophy and thought behind the design from this period. As I looked through the books, I realized that many of the furnishings I already had in my home would have fit in homes from this period. There was an oak kitchen table, built in the late 1920's, which had been handed down to me from my grandmother. I also had several pieces of pottery from the family which had been produced in this time frame. I discovered in reading about some of the philosophy from the Arts & Crafts period that the designers were attempting to get away from the industrial excesses of the time. When people came home from work, they wanted to enjoy the simpler things in life. The personally crafted quality of the kitchen reminds me of this ideal, with the oak wainscoting, hand thrown backsplash tiles, and ceramic tile floor with the look of limestone tiles. I tried to keep the kitchen and dining area as true to the early 1900's as possible. The lights over the dining table and kitchen island are reproductions of period pieces. The wallpaper was crafted at Bradbury and Bradbury from originals from the period. Even small details, like acorn cabinet knobs, were included. The dining chairs are reproductions of Stickley 1903 originals that are very similar to the original chairs that were in my family. The reproduction oriental rugs are much the same thing as would have been in the dining room at the time. The dining area bay window overlooking the landscaped backyard is very typical of the way designers from those times would have tried to bring the outside indoors. The one real compromise I did make was to use a lighter stain for all the oak wainscoting and trim than a true Arts & Crafts period craftsman would have used. I wanted a more open and brighter look. The way I feel today as I returned from work is as if I have entered a different age...and age of a slower and more relaxed pace of life. My house has become a place I can truly call "home".   To Top State-of-the-Art Lighting The number of lighting options to choose from today is often mind-boggling. When all is said and done, however, the only true energy-efficient lighting choice is fluorescent. Should the thought of fluorescent light serve up images of a flickering tube, annoying humming sounds, and a sickly blue light, you've got a big surprise coming. Todays 32 watt 1-inch diameter tubes have electronic ballasts, which provide quiet operation and no flicker when turned on. Also, you have a wide range of choices for color temperatures, some just as warm and inviting as incandescent. Best of all, fluorescent lighting uses one-quarter the electricity of incandescent lighting, last up to 10 to 15 times as long, and emits less heat, not bad on the pocketbook or the environment! When it comes to fluorescent lighting fixtures, most people still envision those flat, rectangular boxes hanging from the ceiling as the only option. For design flexibility, the new compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) with an integral ballast and a screw-type base can be used to replace incandescent bulbs in most of your favorite existing decorative fixtures. One disadvantage, however, is that this type of CFL does not yet work with dimmers, although that is changing in the very near future. Another drawback is that sometimes the retrofitted fixtures, which were not designed specifically for CFL's, trap the light inside the fixture rather than reflecting it outward. In this case, using CFL's of a slightly higher wattage can solve the problem. Better yet, choose a fixture that is designed and wired specifically for a CFL. These days, concerns for green building products and state code requirements have resulted in a whole new generation of fluorescent fixtures, created for beauty as well as efficiency. These fixtures include a ballast, so the CFL won't need an integral one and will therefore be less expensive to replace. They also work with dimmers. Whatever you do with your lighting, be sure to plan ahead. Check out your options and choose wisely. A little extra thought now could result in many attractive monetary and environmental savings later on!   To Top Countertops: Granite & Marble Granite is formed deep beneath the earth's crust at temperatures in the thousands of degrees. Its broad range of elegant patterns and mineral-rich colors has made it probably the most popular natural stone available today. It is the most versatile, durable and maintenance-free of all stones, making it ideal for kitchen countertops. Granite is impervious to damage from household kitchen acids such as vinegar, citrus drinks and sodas. It also handles heat extremely well. A hot pan taken from the stove and placed on a granite countertop will not damage the surface. When granite is used for countertops, large polishing machines are used to progressively grind the stone to a mirror-like finish. After installation, the granite countertop should be sealed with an appropriate penetrating sealing product so that it cannot be darkened by oils or stained by certain liquids. Once sealed, regular cleaning with warm, soapy water is the only maintenance required. Marble is formed from limestone, a sedimentary rock that is formed at the bottom of lakes and seas as silt and organic matter settle to the bottom. When the limestone undergoes enough heat and pressure, it metamorphoses into a crystalline structure known as marble. Marble is usually polished to a mirror-like finish, and is valued greatly for its rich palette of beautiful colors. It is perfect for use in the bathroom. However, it is a more porous stone than granite. Special care must be taken when choosing it for kitchen countertops so that it is not subjected to etching substances. Like granite, marble should be sealed with a penetrating sealer. Marble can be damaged by acidic substances, which if not wiped up promptly can dull its polished surface. For regular maintenance, use a stone-specific cleaner that is formulated to be gently to stone surfaces. © 2003 Coastal Builders, Inc.