Tag: Remodel

10 Things to Ask Your Contractor or Remodeler Before You Start Your Project

Remodeling or building a new home is a big financial and emotional investment. You’ll probably be seeing quite a lot of your contractor, depending on the size of the project and the amount of subcontracting involved, so it’s important to find someone you can get along with who’ll do the job right. In order to make a solid choice, there are some key questions you should ask potential contractors or remodelers to ensure you’re getting a good match, in addition to protecting your family. This is your home, after all; you want someone who’s dependable and determined to see the project through to the end. Knowing what to expect before the project gets started will help you better prepare for the process. We’ve compiled a list of 10 questions you should always ask your contractor before starting a home remodeling or building project.

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Lundberg Builders Recent Job Site
  1. Are they licensed and can you obtain copies: Maryland requires home improvement contractors/builders to be licensed and all Sales employees to be licensed as well. Lundberg Builders is licensed by MHIC license #11697 and MHBR#749.  Our consultant is also licensed by MHIC #93307. We will be happy to provide you a copy of our license upon request.
  2. Are they insured and can you obtain copies: Maryland requires home improvement contractors/builders to be insured. Lundberg Builders is insured and we will be happy to provide you a copy of our insurance upon request.
  3. How long have they been in business: 50% of small business will go out of business in their first four years. Companies that have been in business for more than 10 years have less risk and more stability. Lundberg Builders has been in business for more than 30 years founded in 1977.
  4. Can they provide you a list of references: Lundberg Builders feels that our references should be given to you as per your specific project, we also feel that while our past clients are our best voice we also respect their privacy. With that in mind we will provide you up to 3 references per your project upon request while also trying to preserve our clients’ time and privacy.
  5. Are they a member of the Local Better Business Bureau: Members of the local BBB adhere to a strict code of business ethics, honesty and integrity. You can research the status of each business thru BBB’s website at bbb.org. Lundberg Builders is an accredited A+ business.
  6. Are they a sole proprietor: Ask yourself, how much risk am I willing to take by hiring a contractor that preforms all the aspects of their business with no other points of contact? What if something happened? Who would fill in? Does the project get finished?  Lundberg Builders provides you with multiple contacts throughout your project. We have eleven carpenters, four project supervisors, and one project manager in the field.  We also have a full office staff and our owner Brad Lundberg is always available to answer questions and address concerns.
  7. Who manages your project: Lundberg Builders has a staff of four project supervisors. Our supervisors are in charge of the day to day operations of your project. Supervisors are required to visit the site daily as well as conduct the coordination of the job.  They are also required to do weekly progress meetings with the clients.
  8. Do they offer any warranty: The state of Maryland requires all home improvement contractors to offer a one year warranty. Lundberg Builders offers this one year warranty, however we feel that this period should be proactive instead of reactive.  Twice during your one year warranty we will conduct a full comprehensive evaluation of your home inside and out.  Any issues we find in this evaluation that pertain to the project will be repaired free of charge.   This service is available after your first year for a fixed fee, should you desire to continue the program.  Any repairs after the first year will be billed accordingly.
  9. Can they provide documentation that they are qualified: Qualification of the trade is not required by the State of Maryland. Outside organizations such as NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) and NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) provide to willing contractors qualification courses to educate them on how to properly build, design and maintain residential homes.  These courses are intensive and require testing to get qualification.   Lundberg Builders has employees on staff and that are certified by these organizations to include Graduate Master Builder, Certified Graduate Remodeler, Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler, and Certified Aging in Place Specialist.
  10. How do they screen and hire employees: The old adage good help is hard to find is very true. Lundberg Builders preforms a background check on all of our employees.  We also have an introductory period for our employees, where we place them with our experienced crew and supervisors to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

Garage Remodel and Spring Cleaning

 

 

Garages aren’t just for cars and storage anymore. Before beginning your garage transformation, ask yourself what your goal for this space is. A man cave, a craft space, play area for your children or even a dance studio are all within reach when remodeling your garage if you plan and coordinate properly. Even if you want to stick with the traditional use and use it for storage and parking, implementing a cleaning and remodeling strategy can drastically change the useability of your garage.

First things first Sort, purge and sort again.

Ask yourself these basic questions as you go thru the items in your garage:

  • Do I need this?
  • More importantly: Do I use this?
  • Is this something I can inexpensively replace?
  • Will I have the space to store this?

Organize three piles: trash, keep and donate and make plans on following thru to get rid of the trash and donate piles.

Next on your list…Zone the areas in your garage. If you do intend to use your garage for multiple purposes decide which areas you want to utilize for what. For example car parking zone, workshop zone, holiday storage zone, everyday item zone etc.

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http://www.easyclosets.com/blog/6-garage-zones-for-maximum-organization/

It isn’t necessary to use the exact demographic above but something similar can come in handy when deciding where to place things and what shelving and cabinets are necessary for implementing your vision.

Before placing items back in your garage or installing cabinets, you need to decide what to do about the floor. When considering flooring for your garage it is important to consider how you and your family use this space. Most consider their choices for garage flooring to be limited however there are several options that are convenient, durable and fairly inexpensive.

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This chart shows the extent of the color choices and flaking that are available with an epoxy coating

1.In terms of durability, protection, and cost compared to the duration of the floor an epoxy coating is a very good investment. Garage floor epoxy is a durable, thick paint-like product applied directly over the concrete flooring.The finished product is actually 3 – 10x stronger than the concrete itself underneath. This type of coating is stain proof, water resistant, resistant to road salts and resistant to chips from dropped objects. Perfect for a garage right? A bonus is that this coating comes in tons of different colors and has several mix ins that can help make your garage one of a kind.  It can become more costly if the concrete in your garage is heavily cracked, damaged or wet, as this will need to be repaired before proceeding with application.

2. You could also choose to install tiles on top of the concrete. Scrubbing the concrete is necessary in order to allow the tiles to stick properly and stay in place. Garage floor tile is extremely durable, but if some tiles do get damaged it’s an easy fix. Instead of replacing the entire floor, you just need to replace the damaged tiles. Considering the extent of the colors, shapes and sizes that are available using this choice also gives you the opportunity to easily design a custom floor. The down side is that this option is one of the more expensive options compared to other choices available.

3. If your garage just needs a quick touch up, painting the floors can be a very inexpensive option especially if your garage is not used often. This option allows you to just supply a fresh look and is very affordable.

After the flooring you can decide on what cabinets and shelving is necessary for your garage. Adding custom cabinetry can give your garage a very high end look while making the space more functional. When choosing cabinets make sure that you choose ones that reach all the way to the floor unless you intend to store items underneath. Considering the durability, material and weight baring ability of the cabinets will also be useful since they will be used in a garage. Making this decision carefully will allow you to increase the lifespan of your cabinets.