Featured Articles
LONG ISLAND PAINTERS’ CONTRACTS:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU SIGN!
LONG ISLAND HOME INSPECTIONS: KNOW WHAT
YOU ARE BUYING!
LONG ISLAND GENERAL CONTRACTORS:
YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT MANAGERS
KITCHEN REMODELING: WHERE TO START?
FINISHING YOUR LONG ISLAND BASEMENT: CONSIDERATIONS
FOR CREATING USEFUL LIVING SPACE
LONG ISLAND MASONRY FOR DURABLE AND BEAUTIFUL
HARDSCAPES
LONG ISLAND BATHROOM ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS:
ADDING RESALE VALUE AND LIVEABILITY TO YOUR HOME
LONG ISLAND PAINTERS’
CONTRACTS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU SIGN!
So, you’ve been shopping around and comparing
Long Island painters. Now you’ve found one that you trust and
believe will do a good job. You’re eager to get the job underway.
Before sealing the deal, however, you should know that there are laws
in place to ensure consumers are treated fairly in all Long Island painters’
contracts. Here are some of the provisions all contracts with Long Island
painters must contain.
Are Long Island Painters Contractors?
In Long Island, the Department of Consumer Affairs
(DCA) defines a contractor as anyone who solicits or does home improvements
that will cost more than two hundred dollars. All such contractors or
salespeople must obtain licenses from the DCA.
General Tips For Long Island Painters’
Contracts
Regardless of how much you might trust the contractor,
remember that ALL contracts with Long Island painters MUST be in writing.
These must include exactly what work is and what is not to be done.
The law requires that all Long Island painters and their clients both
must sign the agreement.
When the contract is signed, Long Island painters are
required to provide their customers with a complete and legible copy.
As contractors, Long Island painters are required to make sure the agreement
is written clearly and in the same language in which the deal was negotiated.
What Your Contract Must Include
The Home Improvement Business Law rules in effect in
Long Island require contracts to include specific elements designed
to protect the consumer. While the consumer is free, and encouraged,
to include any further provisions in their contract with Long Island
painters that they feel are needed or desirable, the following must
be included.
• Long Island painters’ names, telephone
numbers, addresses, and DCA license numbers
• The date when the contract was signed
• The schedule of payments. If partial payments
are to be made as the work progresses, the contract must state how much
each payment is to be for, and also make clear what specific portion
of the work each payment is for. Note: If progress payments are to be
made, New York State law requires Long Island painters to deposit them
into an escrow account
• State that the Long Island painter is required
to produce a valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance
prior to starting work
• All claims advertised by Long Island painters,
as well as warranties, guarantees, and charges must be included
• The estimated date for beginning and largely
finishing the work. List factors that could interfere with these projections.
State if parties have agreed completion date is “of the essence”
• An accurate and full description of work the
Long Island painters will be doing. Include materials, and their cost,
as well as labor costs
• Include a “proof of payment” clause
to protect you should a Long Island painter for any reason fail to pay
their suppliers or laborers. Include a “lien waver”
• Long Island painters should be required to
thoroughly clean the worksite when finished
• State that Long Island painters must be in
compliance with all appropriate codes, laws, and regulations
• Include a clause allowing you to cancel the
contract up to 72 hours post signing
Although it might sound like it goes without saying,
be sure to read the contract (not just with Long Island painters, but
with anyone) carefully before signing. A few minutes of caution here
can prevent long hours of confusion.
Make shopping for Long Island painters fast and
convenient by visiting LIHOME411.COM.
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LONG ISLAND HOME INSPECTIONS:
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE BUYING!
Your new home is one of the largest purchases you will
make in your life. At Long Island prices, a home is a significant investment
of your hard-earned money. As average buyers, we can only see part of
what we’re paying for in a home. A Long Island home inspection,
sometimes called an "engineer’s report", represents
a small price to pay for peace of mind.
Why Get a Long Island Home Inspection?
A Long Island home inspection can identify problems
and pinpoint repairs and maintenance that may be needed now or in the
future. According to the U.S. Census’ 2005 data, over 85% of Nassau
County homes were built before 1970, and over half of Suffolk County
homes are also over 35 years old! That’s a long time in the life
of a structure with working parts (heating, ventilation, water), features
that are exposed to weather and pests (roofs, windows, doors) and elements
that bear heavy stress (foundations, joists). Even newly built houses
can have unpleasant surprises, but with the average age of homes in
our area, a Long Island home inspection is a way to avoid big unexpected
expenses later.
Who Can Perform Long Island Home Inspections?
As of January, 2006, New York State (NYS) requires
a license to perform Long Island home inspections. The New York State
Home Inspection Council requires that a Long Island home inspector have
completed 140 hours of study, including 40 hours were unpaid field-based
inspections performed under the direct supervision of an NYS-licensed
home inspector. Architects and engineers, who are generally licensed
under stricter standards, are exempt from the home inspection licensing
requirements.
Should You Use a Home Inspector Recommended
by Your Realtor?
It’s a good idea to find an inspector on your
own for your Long Island home inspection. Your realtor is motivated
to make sure your purchase happens, or s/he won’t make a commission.
If an agent has developed a list of ‘recommended’ service
providers for Long Island home inspections, they may be recommended
because they’ve been easy to work with in the past – they
have not turned up a lot of issues that made the sales transaction more
difficult. This doesn’t help you, the buyer. You want and deserve
a thorough Long Island home inspection that helps you protect your investment.
What Should a Home Inspection Cover?
A Long Island home inspection should cover:
• Exterior (roof, siding, doors, grading of property)
• Foundation (structural integrity)
• Interior (walls, floors, ceilings, windows, doors)
• Plumbing system (water supply and waste water removal)
• Electrical system
• Central heating and air-conditioning systems, and insulation
Findings should be in the form of a detailed, written
report. You, the home buyer and client of the inspector, should participate
fully in the inspection. A good Long Island home inspector will explain
thoroughly what s/he sees and will answer all of your questions. The
written report provides support to assist you in requesting needed repairs
from the sellers or negotiating a lower ‘as-is’ price.
The cost of a Long Island home inspection is a tiny
fraction of the purchase price of your Long Island home, helps you avoid
surprises and plan and budget for future maintenance, and may give you
needed leverage to negotiate, or the knowledge to avoid a mistake. Why
buy without one? And make sure the person performing your Long Island
home inspection is licensed to perform home inspection by New York State,
or is a licensed engineer or architect.
Find licensed Long Island Home Inspectors at
LIHOME411.COM.
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LONG ISLAND
GENERAL CONTRACTORS: YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT MANAGERS
Whether and when to hire a general contractor, and which one you hire,
are among the most important decisions you will make for your Long Island
home building or home remodeling project.
What is a General Contractor?
A general contractor is a specific type of contractor. Architects design
the plans for major renovations, additions or new homes. Specialty contractors
handle particular jobs such as cabinet or countertop installations.
A Long Island general contractor manages the entire project, working
with architects, and often hiring and supervising specialty contractors
as his subcontractors. A Long Island general contractor, as project
manager, will also obtain permits and coordinate the associated inspections
to keep the project on schedule.
When Do You Need a General Contractor on Long Island?
A good general contractor will ensure that your home, addition or renovation
is completed with the quality you expect, on time and within budget.
If you are undertaking major renovations, it is wise to consider hiring
a Long Island general contractor. If you are knowledgeable about local
Long Island building regulations and obtaining building permits, handling
legal paperwork and hiring, managing and paying subcontractors, and
have flexible time for these activities, or if you plan to do much of
the work yourself, you may save money by acting as your own general
contractor.
When and How to Hire a General Contractor
If you decide to hire a general contractor, start well before you want
your remodeling project to commence. Contact as many Long Island general
contractors as possible – you want to get at least 3 estimates.
Also, you will learn from each conversation with a prospective Long
Island general contractor, which will refine your plan by helping you
select and eliminate specific options, materials, etc. By talking with
general contractors, you will able to not only obtain a bid from them,
but will also be able to assess their knowledge about local Long Island
regulations, their competence in the building process and their approach
and perspective on your particular job. This is important – having
a good ‘fit’ between you and your Long Island general contractor
will help ensure you are pleased with the final job.
Before approaching Long Island general contractors:
• Plan your project: Be specific about what you want, including
any plans, drawings, names of any specific material choices you have
in mind; and know what you are willing to pay as well as how you will
finance your project
When you are ready to approach Long Island general contractors:
• Get more than one estimate or ‘bid’
• Research the general contractors before hiring: Ask for references
and follow up with them directly; check with New York State licensing
boards; check the Better Business Bureau for complaints, ask local business
owners the contractor deals with about the contractor
• Interview contractors: Make sure they have general liability
insurance policy; ask for the info (policy number, issuer) of their
insurance for worker’s compensation; make sure they are licensed
and bonded
Long Island general contractors should submit written bids for your
project. These bids should include:
• Start and end dates for project
• A list of work that will be sub-contracted and the cost of each
job
• Explanations of materials and associated warranties
What Does the General Contractor Do?
The general contractor functions as a project manager, so that you,
the homeowner, don’t have to. Among his/her responsibilities are:
• Schedule subcontractors
• Oversee and coordinate all work
• Pay subcontractors
• Purchase materials
• Obtain permits and handle the associated paperwork
Long Island general contractor compensation may be based on a fixed
fee, or a percentage of the project’s total cost, usually 10 to
25%.
Once you have selected a Long Island general contractor, based on bid,
references, qualifications, and your level of comfort with the general
contractor, you will want a written contract. The contract should include
start and finish dates, full price of project, payment terms, who will
do what work and at what cost.
Home building, additions and even renovations are detailed, exacting
processes requiring skills and expertise in building and in management
of contractors. A Long Island general contractor, carefully selected,
can help you by easing the burden of details and time, and by helping
to filter through choices to make the best available according to your
budget, thus making the process much less stressful.
Find licensed Long Island General Contractors at LIHOME411.COM.
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KITCHEN REMODELING: WHERE TO START?
There are thousands of books, periodicals and articles
available on kitchen remodeling and design. If you are considering remodeling
the kitchen in your Long Island home, you will find no shortage of materials
to read or view to help plan your dream kitchen. This article is intended
save you time and provide insight with a high-level overview of the
process involved in kitchen remodeling and to point out some resources
and considerations to help narrow down the topics that you need to research.
Getting Started
The most important and first step in a kitchen remodeling
project is to develop a detailed and well thought-out plan. Planning
the overall physical layout for your new Long Island kitchen means thinking
about several kitchen functions: Food preparation, clean-up and storage.
If you desire an eat-in area within the kitchen, that is an additional
functional consideration.
Layouts
1950’s research determined that efficient kitchens
contain a ‘work triangle’, represented by the foot traffic
pattern required to reach the sink, stove and refrigerator. The locations
of these three kitchen elements with respect to each other impact the
ease of working in a kitchen, by reducing the number of footsteps required
to move between elements (for example, with a pot of boiling water and
pasta, as one might do to drain spaghetti), and by creating natural
work areas and counter space between work elements.
Since the late 20th Century, most kitchen designs are
variations on three basic layouts: The Galley kitchen, the U-shaped
kitchen or the L-shaped kitchen. The three basic kitchen layouts are
different configurations containing this imaginary work triangle.
Changing Times
In fact, the way in which we use our kitchens has changed
significantly since the 1950’s. The duties for meal preparation
may be shared by two or more people in the home. The introduction of
the microwave oven has changed the ‘work triangle’. In many
Long Island homes, all adults may be busy working outside the home and
weekday meal preparation is more likely to involve the microwave than
the stove. We also have many more appliances and utensils, all of which
require more storage than the 1950’s kitchen and cook required.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) is
the leading source of information for kitchen and bath design and construction
professionals. The NKBA has researched kitchen uses and created thirty-one
(31) guidelines to provide professional kitchen designers and remodeling
contractors with modern minimum standards for countertop and cabinet
space and heights, as well as distance between elements, lighting and
other standards to develop convenient, efficient kitchens.
The Division of Labor in Planning and Remodeling
Reading, absorbing and incorporating these standards
into your new Long Island kitchen is a task in itself. Kitchen design
and remodeling can be done in a number of ways:
• You may design and construct the kitchen yourself or with the
help of individual contractors, or;
• You may work with a cabinet distributor or home center and their
contractors (possibly requiring also that you employ additional contractors
directly when plumbing or electrical considerations are involved), or;
• You may work with a kitchen designer who subcontracts the physical
work to one or more kitchen contractors, or;
• You may choose to design your own kitchen and employ a general
kitchen contractor to execute your design.
As with any significant home improvement project, division
of labor involved in planning and construction can make the most of
your financial resources and time constraints, and ensure a finished
kitchen that you love.
You and your family are the only participants in your
kitchen remodeling project who know how you want to use your kitchen
space and what elements you require – the requirements stage of
your kitchen redesign can only be done well by you and your family –
since it is you who will use and enjoy the kitchen. While your budget
may dictate some choices, the design and construction of your dream
kitchen for your Long Island home may be most effectively delegated
by you to certified kitchen designers and contractors. These participants
can focus on how to execute the principles of design most effectively,
incorporating your ideas and offering solutions to your needs in order
to create a finished product that meets and even exceeds your requirements,
and makes you feel great about your investment.
Materials Matter
Kitchens involve many elements, and there are safety
considerations in addition to design principles due to the heat sources
required for cooking.
Among the materials that you will need to plan for
and select that are unique to the kitchen or have special kitchen qualifications
are:
• Cabinets
• Countertops
• Flooring
• Sinks
• Appliances
In addition, there are standard design elements that
apply to any room and may have special considerations in the kitchen.
Lighting the kitchen involves special task-lighting considerations.
Some wall finishes (semi-gloss paint, scrubbable wallpaper) may better
lend themselves to kitchens and some should be avoided due to the presence
of moisture and grease, and the need to use fire-retardant materials
for safety.
Imagining Your New Kitchen Starts with Your
Requirements
Start your kitchen planning with a list of your needs
and wants. If you entertain frequently, you likely have special needs
that may or may not be met in your current kitchen: A refrigerator large
enough to accommodate party platters, storage for large serving pieces,
counter space or a bar suitable for a self-service drink station, an
island to allow guests to accumulate in the kitchen (why fight it!)
without impeding the work of the cook(s).
If you enjoy all of the modern conveniences and gadgets
available for cooking today, you may want to include an appliance “garage”
in your cabinet layout to store the cappuccino maker or indoor grill.
If you and your family love the taste of grilled foods but have to forego
them during Long Island winters, a cook-top with an integrated grill
may be just the ticket for your new Long Island kitchen.
Flipping through kitchen design idea books is recommended,
and will generate all sorts of additional ideas about what is possible
in today’s kitchen. Writing down your requirements, needs and
wants is a great way to start the kitchen remodeling process. It will
help you determine the magnitude of the project and determine what type
of help you need to approach it. By knowing what you want, you will
find it easier to eliminate what you don’t want and spend time
and money on the elements that matter most to you and your family.
Licensed kitchen remodeling contractors at
LIHOME411.COM are available
to help you create your dream kitchen.
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FINISHING YOUR LONG
ISLAND BASEMENT: CONSIDERATIONS FOR CREATING USEFUL LIVING SPACE
There are two nearly foolproof ways to add value to
your Long Island home. The first is by refreshing it inside and outside
with new paint, lighting, fixtures, cabinets, countertops and landscaping.
The second is by adding space.
The least expensive way to gain living space in your
Long Island home is by converting your basement. Good basements are
inherently great spaces – naturally cool, quiet and private. Also,
since much of the equipment for water and heat is located in your basement,
it’s relatively easy in a basement to add connections to take
advantage of both. A professional Long Island basement finishing contractor
can often finish your basement for $20-25 per square foot, which is
much less than an addition would cost.
Form Follows Function for Basement Refinishing
Deciding how you will use your finished basement is
the first order of business, since that will determine materials as
well as design.
Popular Long Island basement conversion goals include
creation of additional living and play spaces, such as:
• Playrooms
• Living space for guests or long term visitors (older parents,
teens)
• Home Theatres
Often, Long Island homeowners choose to convert or
finish their basements to create dedicated space to pursue one or more
interests, which may include one or more of the following:
• Home Office
• Home Gym
• Game Room
• Hobby/Crafts Room
• Wine Cellar
Why is it so important to know in advance how you want
to use the space? Consider a basement conversion to add a home theatre.
In addition to space and layout considerations, less obvious design
and practical issues come into play with home theatres. Wire management
needs advance planning – those hanging wires from electronics
are not only ugly but can be dangerous. For built-in shelving, extra-depth
shelves (at least 22 inches) are necessary to accommodate many electronics
components. And electronics components can get quite hot – special
ventilation systems are a good idea and may even be necessary in a basement.
Finishing the Basement is Small-Scale House
Building
Complete finishing of a basement requires skill in
wiring, plumbing, carpentry, insulation, and dry-walling, as well as
painting and possibly waterproofing. On Long Island, building permits
may also be required, based on local codes. It is worth finding a Long
Island builder who specializes in basement conversions. Basement finishing
is a complicated project, and only a professional basement finishing
contractor has the knowledge and experience to do it all well.
To help put this in perspective, here are the major
steps required to convert and finish basement space:
• Clear out current basement contents
• Repair cracks and leaks and moisture-proof floor and walls
• Install sub-floor
• Locate and frame walls and install ceiling
• Rough-in plumbing an electrical connections (and possible cable
and telecommunications connections)
• Install insulation and vapor barrier
• Install drywall
• Install flooring
• Install lighting
• Install baseboards and trim
• Paint
Making Your Basement Suitable for Finishing
Aside from space considerations such as adequate headroom,
making sure your basement is suitable and ready for finishing is mostly
a matter of moisture control, especially on Long Island. According to
the American Society of Home Inspectors, about 38% of homes have mold
and fungus growth due to elevated moisture levels. Molds thrive on moisture,
and basement walls and floors are often great sources of moisture.
Basement moisture must be dealt with before the rest
of your finishing project can begin. A Long Island basement contractor
will best be able to determine the source of new moisture, which may
be poor grading (soil around house not sloping away from foundation),
lack of gutters, or drainpipes inappropriately placed to direct water
too near the house (less than five feet may allow water back against
the foundation). Often one or more of these conditions is at fault if
your Long Island basement walls leak only during heavy rains.
There is an easy way to check your basement for existing
moisture. Tape a piece of aluminum foil or plastic wrap to the basement
floor, sealing all edges tightly. Check it after a couple of days. Moisture
on the exposed surface (the surface away from the floor) is condensation.
A licensed Long Island basement contractor will add insulation and ventilation
during finishing, solving or reducing condensation issues. If there
is moisture under the foil or plastic, however, it is coming up through
the cement. This may necessitate application of a concrete waterproof
sealer before flooring is installed.
Controlling molds, fungi and other contaminants can
only be accomplished by controlling the cause. To do that, you must
eliminate the source(s) of moisture in your basement. Water-proofing
and moisture-proofing are tedious and involved jobs when done correctly,
and a professional Long Island contractor has the skills and knowledge
to get into and seal all of the pores that can cause surface moisture
and leaks, getting it right the first time. This is an essential beginning
to your Long Island basement conversion project, to make the space livable
and to protect the investment of materials you will be adding during
the basement finishing process.
An interesting side note: One way to reduce moisture
and humidity in the basement is to install radiant floor heating during
your basement renovation. A heated floor in the basement may sound extravagant,
but it’s actually quite practical. In addition to the benefit
of drying the environment to inhibit molds, fungi and even dust mites,
a heated floor will help keep the ambient temperature in your basement
rooms warmer, and it feels great underfoot. A licensed contractor can
install this feature. A thin electric mat is laid over the sub-floor,
covered with a layer of thinset, and then covered with your choice of
flooring. Temperature is controlled by a programmable thermostat. Cost
is roughly $10 per square foot.
Find licensed basement finishing contractors
at LIHOME411.COM.
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MASONRY FOR DURABLE AND BEAUTIFUL HARDSCAPES
The landscaping around your property is made up of
two categories: Trees, hedges and plants that are together known as
“greenscape”. With the exception of evergreens, greenscape
on Long Island changes with the seasons. The other category is known
as “hardscape”. This includes the driveways, walkways, patios,
walls and fences that are permanent structures.
Because hardscape elements provide a backdrop for your
other landscaping, planning and creating durable hardscape elements
that you love will create a foundation that enhances maturing greenscape
elements and the accents you add as the seasons progress.
What is Masonry?
Masonry is the basis of many hardscape elements. Wikipedia
describes masonry as the building of structures from individual units
laid in and bound together by mortar. It is a centuries-old trade, memorably
perfected by Romans in the construction of such structures as the Coliseum
and the roads of the Roman Empire. Many of the structures survive today,
at least in part, underscoring the durability and lasting beauty of
the craft.
The solid permanence of masonry elements, and the artistry
of the many great masons working on Long Island, can improve the resale
value of your home. Masonry can, however, be an expensive part of your
landscaping plan. Artistic and durable execution requires skilled craftsmen,
so plan and choose wisely your contractor and the features that you
incorporate into your landscape.
Many Materials
Brick and rock are the masonry materials that most
often come to mind, although skilled Long Island masons also work with
quarried and cut stone, glass blocks, poured concrete and mortar-less
concrete blocks.
Masonry for Function and Accent
There are many ways in which masonry can provide functional
and beautiful accents in your Long Island landscaping:
• Driveways and walkways – pavers, bricks,
stonework such as Belgian block curbs and poured concrete create driveways;
brick, slate and other stone make walkways that curve through your yard
and garden, and steps that carve paths into the slopes of your property
• Architectural elements and accents – much as columns and
crown molding add architectural interest or “bones” inside
your home, curving fieldstone walls and brick or stone patios can create
and delineate outdoor rooms for dining and relaxing, and can highlight
greenscape features such as specimen trees. Ponds, fountains and even
waterfalls constructed of stonework can add planned ‘natural’
beauty to your Long Island property
• Draining and irrigation – retaining walls that serve to
prevent erosion can be executed in stone to look also be architectural
elements, and water from Long Island rainstorms and melting snow can
be ushered along a desired path (and away from the house) with stone
drains
• Concealing – masonry can create structures to hide unattractive
but necessary elements like air-conditioning units and trash receptacles
in a subtle way that integrates with the rest of your landscaping
Pros and Cons of Masonry
Use of masonry has few disadvantages. These are primarily
the need to build on a firm foundation and structural requirements due
to the weight of masonry building elements. These are usually more than
offset by the advantages for Long Island homeowners: low maintenance
(no painting!), heat resistance and fire protection, versatility of
the crafts many materials and methods, and beautiful, natural appearance
of well-executed masonry projects.
Find skilled Long Island masonry contractors
at LIHOME411.COM.
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BATHROOM ADDITIONS AND
RENOVATIONS: ADDING RESALE VALUE AND LIVEABILITY TO YOUR HOME
For improvements that add value to your Long Island
home, bathrooms are second only to kitchens as rooms to improve. Bathroom
additions or renovations can also add tremendously to your own enjoyment
of your home as well – ask any couple who have shared a bathroom
with their children, or shared a single bathroom sink with each other!
Are You Adding or Improving?
If you have a one-bath home on Long Island, adding
a second bathroom is a great home improvement project provided you have
room for it or can make room for it. Locating the new bath right off
the master bedroom is best, if possible.
If you aren’t adding a bath, but rather upgrading
an existing bath, your choices are really limited only by the space
available and your budget.
Features Make the Bath
Here are some interesting features to consider adding,
some of which are luxuries and conveniences that we have discovered
outside, in spas and hotels, and brought into our Long Island homes:
• Custom bathtubs, Jacuzzis and soaker tubs –
these comes in every imaginable shape, size and depth, with or without
jets, molded seats and other options
• Multiple or luxury showerheads – double heads, massaging
settings, adjustable spray settings
• Steam showers – relaxing and soothing after a hard day
at work or a tough workout
• Heated floors and heated towel racks – keep your feet
and bath linens warm in winter
• Electronic faucets – great germ-control and water management
tools, and not just for public places any more!
Even the lowly bathroom sink can be a work of art today.
Beautiful models in hand-painted porcelain, glass, metals and virtually
every surface imaginable are available to create a focal point in any
Long Island bathroom.
A Little Can Sometimes Go a Long Way
Bathrooms are typically among the smallest rooms in
the home – although less so in new Long Island homes - so a little
luxury in materials can be quite affordable. Gorgeous tile and stone
options can be used generously or sparingly to great effect. And because
bathrooms have so many fixed elements, it is possible to achieve a look
of complete renovation whether or not you change everything.
A Great New Bath Starts with Planning
Before contacting Long Island bathroom contractors
for bids, consider the following:
• Decide what you require: It is a new bathroom,
an expansion of an existing bathroom? A rip-out and re-build? Cosmetic
improvements only? An additional sink? A window to let in more light?
What does your perfect bath have in it?
• Get ideas: “Tear sheets” ripped from magazines are
a great way to build ideas for your new bath. What does your perfect
bath look like? If you are having trouble deciding just what you want,
consider using a Long Island bath design and execution company to help
you plan using the ideas you love.
• Incorporate additional features: Now is the time, during the
planning stage, to include or exclude special features and fixtures.
Budget and space may limit some of your choices, but if you feel you
cannot live without some feature, chances are you can find an affordable
version of it in a size that will fit into whatever space you are working
with.
• Develop your budget: Be realistic. Also, determine how you will
finance the renovation. Keep in mind that in addition to materials choices,
cost will be impacted by the current structure and water supply and
waste removal elements, and how well you can conform to them. Relocating
fixtures that require additional plumbing work will almost always increase
total cost.
General Principles to Keep in Mind
There are several general considerations for any bath-remodeling
project to keep in mind as you plan.
• Add space, if possible
• Add light, if needed
• Add storage
• Use easy to clean and maintain materials
• Make it relaxing – even a small bathroom can function
as a retreat to enjoy.
Find licensed Long Island bath remodeling and
design contractors at LIHOME411.COM.
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