Advice

The top trends of 2016 have given you ideas and you’re anxious to prepare for your kitchen remodeling… Before you go about finding a contractor and ask for a quote, you should take enough time to get ready for that first meeting. A lot of work and money go into such a big project. The better you are prepared, the more successful the renovation will be.

worker-stock-photo-istock Summer in southern California is associated with the beach, BBQ, pool parties and, of course, the break out of wildfires. Wildfires and home evacuations are as synonymous with summer in southern California as Santa Claus is with Christmas. The record drought currently bearing down on California is not making things any safer either. In fact, it’s making the conditions for fire breakouts perfect, and their frequency much higher than normal. with fire season looming just around the corner, Collom Construction Inc. is asking the residents of La Mesa if their homes are ready.

Bearing these facts in mind, the second question our staff often asks residents and homeowners is “did you know there are a number of things you can do to increase the safety of your home against fire?” These precautionary measures can be added you your existing home, or included in the construction during a remodel. As a convenience to anyone interested in boosting their homes defenses against fire, Collom Construction Inc. has decided to put together a checklist of suggestions for home fire safety.

If you are currently embarking on any kind of remodeling adventure with your home, make sure your contractor is using ignition resistant construction for exterior windows, walls, roofs/roof assembly, gutters, and vents. Using these types of fire resistant materials during the building process is a must for any resident of southern California looking to boost their home's fire safety standards.
Make sure that the undersides of eaves, balconies, and above ground decks are enclosed with fire resistant materials. If you are not sure how to go about doing this, Collom Construction Inc. would be happy to assist you in these endeavors. Just give us a call!
If you are currently making plans to build a brand new home, make sure that the plot of land you are going to use is away from canyons, ridges and any areas that are in between the high points of a ridge. Also, make sure when plotting out the land space for the yard of your new home you include 100 feet of Defensible Space around the structure of the house. If you are not sure what the “100 feet of Defensible Space” rule is, then Collom Construction Inc. can help you employ this useful landscaping tool into the construction of your new home. Feel free to ask us!
Consider installing residential sprinklers. Installing both smoke alarms and residential sprinklers can reduce the risk of a home fire by 82%. Residential sprinklers are yet another aspect of home improvement that Collom Construction Inc. can help with. If you are interesting in installing a residential sprinkler system in your house, then give us a call.
Make sure that all the fuse boxes, circuit breakers panels, and electrical service lines in and around your house are installed per code and maintained as well.
If you have any electrical repairs or maintenance that needs to be done around your house, then contact a qualified individual to perform these tasks. Tampering with electrical equipment is not only an easy way to injure yourself, but it is also one of the common way household fires are started. Household fires can quickly spread and turn into a major disaster which has the potential to affect numerous other homes. Collom Construction Inc. has such qualified individuals who are able to perform any electrical maintenance you might need. Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions about electrical maintenance.

We hope some of these hints have helped you prepare your home for fire season. Again, if you have any questions about remodeling a home and including fire safe and resistant materials in the building process please give us a call. Good luck this fire season and stay safe!

You have been looking forward to your San Diego home remodel project for months, maybe even years. So what do you do when your contractor actually calls and schedules your remodel? Stress can be overwhelming and remodeling of any kind can be challenging, so here are some basic strategies designed to help you prepare yourself for your home remodeling project:

1) Be Mentally Prepared

If you intend to stay in your San Diego home during a remodel project there are many things you should consider. Remodeling is uncomfortable. Remodeling is dirty. Remodeling is loud. Part or all of your home may be inaccessible during some or all of the renovation process.

Your schedule will also very likely be disrupted by workers showing up early in the morning and at times working late at night. The more you prepare yourself and your family, the more realistic your expectations will be and the easier it will be to cope.

2) Be Realistic

Construction areas will be dirty, dusty and noisy. And despite best efforts, dust will likely cover every surface of your home. Construction teams can cover doorways with plastic to keep dust in check. However, you should consider staying in an alternate location if your project is large or will take a long period of time.

Keep in mind that a remodel project takes time. A perfect product will not typically be visible until the job is done. Allow your contractors to do their job and impress you when the project is done.

3) Be Prepared To Pack Up And Remove Your Belongings

To prevent damage, remove all personal items from the areas surrounding a remodeling project. Additionally, remove fragile items or anything that might impede traffic in work areas. Experts also recommend that you remove everything in the immediate work area, empty out cabinets, remove clothes from closets, take down loose items from the wall, put away anything on surfaces and carefully cover furniture. The right contractor will secure the area, including building temporary walls to section off the work area from the living space.

4) Get Extra Storage Space

Construction areas will have all kinds of heavy tools, materials, and expensive equipment. If you decide to stay in your home during a remodel, be sure there is ample room for your contractor to store their construction materials and tools. Areas for tools and materials should be secure, safe from the elements and inaccessible to children, pets and strangers.

5) Be Sure Pets Are Out Of The Way

Most people consider their pets close family members. For this reason, it is best to keep them safely away from all construction areas. Falling items, materials and tools can be very dangerous to your furry, feathered or four-legged family members. Additionally, pets can consume dangerous products and should be watched at all times for safety.

Experts recommend finding a quiet, secure area like a laundry room or back bedroom away from the remodeling space to keep your pet during construction. A separate room, crate or kennel away from the dust, noise and mess is the best place for pets during remodeling projects.

6) Prepare All Your Family Members

Remodeling projects can be hard on children who sometimes have trouble with changes in their surroundings. Make sure your children are aware of what is going on each day. Consider creating a chart with daily changes to help prepare your kids for dramatic changes or even small ones.

Help children stay safe by helping them stay out of work areas. These places can seem appealing and interesting with tools and products laying around, but having kids in these areas can cause accidents and do damage to expensive and detailed work. Pay attention to where your children are at all times in the construction zone and carefully close off dangerous areas.

Call Collom Construction Today For Your Home Remodel Project

Want to make your dream home a reality? Collom Construction wants to help you complete your home remodel project and love your home again. With construction plans and project styles to fit any budget, we are confident that our exceptional team can get you the room, design or outdoor area that you have always wanted. Our professional, efficient and experienced staff can't wait to use their exceptional skills for your home remodel or construction project. We will always strive to get you the amazing project results you expect and deserve. Call us today for a no-obligation consultation and start loving the look and feel of your home again!

Choosing the right contractor can make all the difference between a successful project and a dragged-out, over-budget undertaking that may never see completion. Finding a reputable, trustworthy contractor may seem like an intimidating task, but there are a number of easy steps you can take to make sure your project runs as smooth as silk. While the bottom line is “do your research,” knowing what to look for will make the mission of finding the best contractor for the job as easy as pie.

1) Figure Out Your Main Purpose For Remodel

Take a moment and consider the true purpose for your remodel. Are you remodeling to make your house more livable? Are you remodeling to sell? Are your preparing for a larger family? All of these reasons can impact your decision to remodel, as well as the amount of money you set aside to pay for the remodel. If you plan on selling your home within a year or two, then a major remodel may not be worth the time and expense. You should be aware that it can be difficult to recover costs of a remodel if you sell quickly after putting a significant amount of money into a home remodeling project. Additionally, design planning, obtaining permits and the construction process can take months and sometimes a year or longer.

2) Decide What Your Remodel Budget Is And Stick To It!

Sit down and figure out what a realistic budget is for your remodel. Ask friends who have remodeled what their budget was and do some internet research. Ask yourself the following questions:

How much money do you have to spend on your remodel?
What are your remodel goals?
- Is it realistically possible to accomplish your goals within your budget?
- Will the remodel increase your current home value?
- If so, would the increased value make your home the most expensive in your neighborhood?

Consider that it may be difficult to sell your home in the future if you complete a remodel that increases your home value beyond that of the surrounding homes. A general rule of thumb is that you should plan on staying in your home for at least ten years in order to justify the expense of a major remodel. A smaller remodel, such as one room or the kitchen makes more sense if it increases your home value and matches with the rest of the home. Remodeling one room when the rest of the house needs major renovation does not make sense if you plan on selling within the next couple of months or years.

3) Know Your Neighborhood

Do your research. When was your home built? Is the design custom or was it one of many built in cookie cutter fashion? What do the surrounding houses offer? If you do decide to remodel, too many changes or upgrades could make your home hard to sell if the rest of the houses in your neighborhood are modestly built and designed.

4) Know The Existing Conditions Of Your Home

Most areas have limitations on what can be done with your property. These limitations are dictated by local codes which specifically list what can be done with your property. It is important to find out if your house complies with Land Use Codes, or if it was built to less restrictive standards. It is also important to be sure than any plans you make to remodel also comply with appropriate codes. To find this out, you will need to check with your local building department to determine zoning implications, restrictions for setbacks, height, lot coverage and grading. You should also have a title report for the house which includes a legal description, dimensioned plot plan and a list of any easements or covenants on your property.

You may have parts of your house that do not conform to existing code. This does not necessarily mean that that you have to modify these areas to conform with current codes. However, be aware that any new modifications you make must comply with current code.

5) Obtain As-Built Drawings

All renovation projects require as-built drawings as a basis for design, permits and construction. Drawings of your home as it was built are a critical part of figuring out what you can do with your home. Your home should have appropriate structure to support major renovations and remodeling projects should be accommodated by your existing conditions. In some instances you can easily find as-built drawings for your home. However, if your house was built before 1950, it may be harder to find these. You may need to spend money to have these created.

6) Hire A Design Build Firm

Although it may be tempting to try and cut corners to save money, resist the temptation if you are embarking on a major renovation. If you are concerned about the expense, you can hire an architect for a one hour consultation. This will help you quickly assess the feasibility of your project. Before you meet with the architect, compile a list of problems and inadequacies you see with your house, and a "wish list" of improvements to would like to use. Your architect can use these prior to your consultation to get the most out of your time. Walk the architect through your home and explain what you want to do. Most architects love to creatively solve problems, so allow your architect the opportunity to respond with ideas and options.

Once you have toured your home together, your architect will draw up plans and present your options. By the end of this session a preliminary design will be created and the architect will explain what can and cannot be done with the structure. Next, a “master plan” for all renovations, additions and changes will be created for your house. This piece is very important since the carefully measured drawings will depict the proposed changes, and include specific detail for builders to use for cost estimates.

7) Be Sure You Have A Formal Written Home Improvement Contract With Your General Contractor

It is easy to get carried away with a remodeling project, but staying grounded is important when it comes to your general contractor. When interviewing general contractors, be sure to choose one that specializes in residential remodeling. Ask for references from projects your contractor has recently completed. Look at the projects and speak to the homeowners about the contractor. Make sure they are licensed and insured! And above all, trust your gut instincts, if something seems shady, don't hire them.

8) Get A Detailed Written Estimate Before You Start

Before you start, you should obtain a written estimate from your general contractor for the project, indicating everything that is included or excluded. This is not a bid! Look over your estimate carefully and ask questions. If it seems excessive then do not start the project until you are comfortable with all aspects.

While your plans are being reviewed by the appropriate authorities, have your selected general contractor finalize bids and commitments with your subcontractors. Subcontractors are the workers that will complete smaller parts of your project like the flooring, tiling or dry-walling. Go over your budget again at this time to make sure it is adequate to pay all of the subcontractors and for the materials. Once you have a solid estimated cost of all of this, create a formal written agreement with your general contractor. This written agreement should include the architect's drawings and specifications. Your agreement should also include a week-by-week timeline of what should be done to complete the job.

9) Develop A Scheme For Your Remodel

Once you determine the total project cost, narrow the scope to select the work you plan to do immediately. For this part of the project, select your preferred materials, components and finishes. Have back up choices in case something is not available or is on back-order. Be sure your choices include products that are appropriate for your house and style. Your architect can assist with this if you have hired one. If not, your general contractor can help.

10) Things To Do During Construction

Construction can be extremely messy and noisy. You may think that staying in the home during the remodel is the best option. But consider the repercussions. There is a reason that many owners decide to move out during construction. Noise can be disruptive and construction dust typically covers everything in the house. If you decide to stay, dust can be minimized by carefully closing off the construction area entrances with sheets of plastic. Noise cancelling head phones are helpful, as well as being prepared for a symphony of noisy tools. If you decide to move out for the construction, store your furnishings or be sure they are protected. Cover surfaces that you do not want covered in dust.

11) Be prepared For The Unexpected

During your renovation, things like walls, floors and ceilings will be opened and explored. Once this happens, plumbing, insulation and wiring is exposed and may uncover unknown problems that need to be resolved. Experts recommend keeping 10% of your budget aside to deal with unexpected issues.

The unexpected does not only mean cost. Time can also be an unknown factor during renovation projects. In preparation for this, set a regular day and time to meet at the site with your contractor and architect. Meeting once every other week should be sufficient to keep your project on tract. Your contractor should prepare an agenda for these meetings with questions and issues that need to be resolved.

Collom Construction Inc. Offers Outstanding Service And Quality

Here at Collom Construction Inc. we strive to offer all of our clients the highest quality with the friendly service you expect and deserve. We don't just complete projects, we strive to make all builds we create last a lifetime. We know you have many choices for your building needs, so we have created streamlined design-build processes to get you done efficiently and keep you on budget. We listen to our customer's needs, use the best quality products and work with the top professionals in the industry. This formula allows us to help you add value to your property and quality to your life! Contact us today for an estimate. Let us help you get the home you have always dreamed of today!

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