TCB Tips Blog

So, your custom remodeler has installed skylights as part of your new bathroom or kitchen remodeling project, and you’re wondering how you’re ever going to keep them clean? Cleaning your skylight doesn’t have to be a dirty job. You should be able to reach it from the inside with a long-handled mop or duster, or by safely using a ladder or scaffolding. From the outside, rain should keep the glass relatively clean, but you will need to use a ladder or get on the roof if you want to wash it. The folks at Velux, a reputable skylight and roof window manufacturer used by custom remodelers, offer cleaning tips on their website at www.veluxusa.com. Here’s a summary of a few we liked:

• Avoid cleaning the skylight during the hottest part of the day.
• Use clean water and soap first, followed by a mild glass cleaner. Use a soft brush or cloth to apply the cleaners and to remove them. You can also use a squeegee.
• Avoid using metal scrapers or blades because these will scratch the skylight glass, which is not repairable or covered under most warranties. If it’s necessary to remove tree sap, paint or adhesive, scrape carefully with a razor blade only in one direction in a small spot.
• Clean other areas of skylights (frames, sashes, etc.) with a damp cloth or soapy water.
• Inside, use a long-handled mop to remove any cobwebs or dust from corners.
• Condensation on skylights is common and natural. It occurs when humidity is too high in the room. You can solve this by ventilating the room a few times a day for about five minutes.

With the warmer weather coming in Manassas, Fairfax, Alexandria and Arlington, VA, if you can’t be outdoors, try bringing the outdoors inside. One way to lighten up a room naturally is through a skylight. But, you say, aren’t they a lot of trouble? We say, no way! They’re worth it.

If you’re doing a bathroom or kitchen remodeling project, this is an ideal time to add a skylight. This way, it can be installed by your custom remodeler, who will make sure it is properly positioned for maximum light as well as mounted securely. The custom remodeler will work with you to evaluate your roof pitch, decide whether or not the skylight must be accessible for opening, choose glass type and accessories, and select a manual or electronic control option. Then, the custom remodeler or installer will choose the best mounting method based on your geographic location. Skylights can be deck mounted directly to the roof deck, curb mounted to a site-built curb, or pan-flashed, also mounted to a site-built curb. Skylight manufacturers like Velux provide many choices and their products are warrantied for guaranteed satisfaction. Any of the options provide heat and light naturally, so they are considered “green” home additions.

A solar tube is a less expensive way to achieve light in a bathroom when you are remodeling. A cylindrical tube that comes from the roof and lets light in like a small spotlight, the solar tube doesn’t require electricity. It uses reflective material inside the tube and a diffuser on the end of the tube to spread light in the room. Ask your custom remodeler about tax credits in your area for both skylights and solar tubes.

If you’re worried about cleaning and maintenance of your skylight or roof window, check back next week for some tips.

A recent article from US News and World Report names the top three “recession remodeling trends.”  Despite the recession, people are still doing custom remodeling.  In fact, the article reports that the National Association of Home Builders’ Remodeling Market Index (RMI) hit a five-year high in the fourth quarter of 2011.  But the custom remodeling projects are taking on a different twist.  People are opting to stay put and make their homes more livable, both for themselves and for extended family.

Top trends include suites for long-term care at home, outdoor retreats, and smarter kitchens.  The need for in-law suites or room additions is prevalent – many are thinking about “aging in place” designs.  These custom additions can be second-floor additions, but more often they are bump outs from the original home in order to avoid stairs for the new occupants.  If stairs are not an issue, they can even be apartments over the garage.  The point is practicality and convenience, both for the aging person and the care giver.  

In addition, decks, sun rooms and Florida rooms have seen a strong demand in the custom remodeling business.  People are trying to get back to nature and spend more time outdoors.  

Finally, the “wow” kitchen is probably the most popular custom remodeling job – both for the homeowner and the custom builder.  We spend so much time in the kitchen, and socially, we gravitate to the kitchen.  The US News and World Report article contends that people are customizing their kitchens more, with more emphasis on pantries and utility rooms.  They are also opting for larger eating areas and family room areas.  A kitchen addition becomes an extension of the living area – open, airy, and friendly.   

If you decide to remodel, your custom remodeler can give you tips and ideas on how to meet your lifestyle needs and get the most for your money.

One of the biggest home remodeling trends is creating a lifestyle space.  Gone are the days when we had a formal living room that housed mom’s crystal vases and was off-limits to children.  Custom remodelers are literally tearing down walls to make more open, airy spaces -- spaces designed to fit your personal lifestyle.  For most of us, that’s multi-tasking:  cooking dinner while watching the news while helping with homework.  Or, it’s entertaining guests while serving appetizers while watching the big game on TV.  Thus, we’ve discovered the open floor plan of the kitchen, eating area and family room.  

Add a lifestyle space that includes the computer and a built-in desk/office area.  It’s out in the open so that parents can supervise computer use.  The family can interact with each other.  It’s also a home for the family’s electronic gadgetry – from cell phone chargers to iPod docking stations.  Some people need an exclusive electronics room.  So, if it fits your lifestyle, go ahead and have your custom remodeler build it!

If you're looking for a home remodeling project that will add value to your Alexandria, Fairfax, Manassas or Arlington, VA, home, think kitchen, attic bedroom, deck. Do your research for your region first. Often, it depends where in the country you live that determines what is the best asset for you.

For interior projects in the Washington, DC area for mid-range homes, the kitchen ranks high on the list. The return on investment for a minor kitchen remodel is about 85 percent in this region, according to Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report 2011-2012. That's higher than the 2011 national average of 72.1 percent. What's a minor remodel? Replacing cabinet faces, appliances, countertops and flooring -- what might be major to you is really considered a minor project.

Consider why the kitchen remodel is so well accepted by buyers. The kitchen is the gathering place in the home. It's a fact that most home purchase decisions are made by women. Where do they look first? The kitchen. You can sell a house on the "wow" factor of the kitchen.

Attic bedrooms were the only area that grew from last year in ROI. In local mid-range homes, the return was 89 percent, vs. a 2011 national average of 75 percent. Remodeling Magazine attributes the popularity of this particular remodeling effort to the fact that it is the most cost-effective way to add a bedroom and a bathroom (frequently creating a large master bedroom suite) within the home's existing footprint.

Finally, how about a deck? Adding a wood deck was among the highest cost returns for outdoor remodeling projects at 91.3 percent. A composite material deck returned 78.8 percent of the cost. Much of the most valuable remodels were in siding replacement, window and door replacement, and anything that improved curb appeal for the home. Sensible -- if the house doesn't look good from the outside, you'll never get inside to see that new kitchen remodel.

More choices are on the docket this week for your kitchen remodel. When choosing your flooring, which comes first, beauty or function? While we are now gathering where we live and making the kitchen the focal point of entertaining, we certainly want it to be beautiful. Why do we entertain, anyway? To show off to our friends, of course. However, function is important for all the traffic that results in a gathering space.

Ceramic tile is stunning and is low-maintenance. It can be swept, vacuumed or mopped, and a light color does not show the dust or dirt. The grout must be kept clean, though, and this can be a tedious task – picture yourself on the floor with a toothbrush. Ceramic tile flooring is not for the clumsy – it’s an unforgiving surface. Glasses and dishes shatter in thousands of pieces if dropped, and falls on a ceramic tile floor are quite painful.

Wood flooring offers a uniting presence, as well as a softer touch on your feet. It contributes an element of warmth to the room and is also easy to clean. It does, however, scratch easily or become marred from dropped glasses or utensils. Dog owners might think twice about hard wood maintenance, due to scratches from the dog’s nails. Although, if scratches and dents are not deep, they can easily be made to look new with another application of a poly sealant.

For the softest touch on your feet and warmth – cork anyone? Cork offers a resilience unmatched by other flooring, as well as versatility and durability. It’s priced between wood and tile, and cleaning is a bit more challenging. Cork can’t be wet mopped, and spills must be cleaned promptly so they don’t stain or get absorbed by the cork.

All in all, we need both beauty and function in any area of a home addition. With the right materials and design, your kitchen remodel can be everything you hoped it would be.

Are you keeping a file of all your remodeling ideas? If so, you've probably made a section just for countertops. Whether you're doing a kitchen remodel or bathroom remodel, countertops can be the focal point of your room. But what to choose? Granite, Silestone, solid surface, laminate... the choices can seem endless and confusing. If you consider your habits and family lifestyle, you'll be able to narrow the material choices.

For your kitchen, evaluate the extent to which you actually cook. If you do a lot of food preparation, you may want to consider material with antimicrobial protection, like Silestone. If you hate using pot holders or trivets, preferring to put hot plates or pots directly on countertops, look for heat-resistant surfaces like granite, concrete or Silestone. For both kitchen and bath countertops, low-maintenance and stain-resistant surfaces are often a good choice for families with children. Cambria, Silestone, Lexton solid surface and laminate are all scratch-resistant and stain resistant for families who are hard on their countertops. These are, for the most part, low maintenance and easy to clean.

After you've chosen the material, there are still more decisions - edging, color, consistency. For color and design, you can actually go to the top fabricator to choose your slab of material that will become your countertop. If you see inconsistency in a piece, you can request that the pattern not cover that particular part. Edging finishes your countertop, reflecting a little personality. From flat or bullnose to beveled or triple waterfall, the edge makes yet another design statement.

The best words of advice: Consider what compliments your home best, and choose what you'll love when your remodeling project is complete.

The latest trends in kitchen remodeling aren’t Jetson-esque robots or pop-up appliances in a cold, stark environment. They do include concealed appliances for a sleek look, or stainless steel in the newer, finger-print-free finish. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Design Competition, kitchen remodeling includes color that makes a statement in backsplashes and paint. The designers also showed trends in dark cabinetry – espresso and chocolate – detailed ceilings, inlaid floors and walk-in pantries.

Although you can get many different opinions on “trends,” in our kitchen additions and kitchen remodels throughout Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Manassas, we’re seeing dark and natural-finish 42-inch tall cabinetry and wood floors surge in popularity. Countertops in natural stone and quartz continue to be in demand, and customers are asking for more lighting and electrical outlets. Most importantly, your kitchen should be functional for your family’s lifestyle – trends notwithstanding.

So you've decided to remodel your kitchen -- one of our reasons hit home for you! Before you get started, look at your schedule and get in sync with your custom remodeler. Ask for a time line so you can plan ahead! Don't get caught having to choose your faucet or appliances within 24 hours. A good schedule will start from step one -- design -- and go all the way through finished construction.

Once the physical kitchen remodel starts, you'll have to find creative ways to get through each day. Here are a few of our tips:

1. Be prepared to remove everything if you are replacing the kitchen cabinets. If not, consider removing all your plates and glassware to prevent them from getting dusty during the construction process. Otherwise, you'll be washing everything before using your new kitchen.
2. For meals, think EASY. Prepare dishes in advance and refrigerate or freeze them, or scour your local supermarket for prepared foods that require only re-heating.
3. Relocate the old refrigerator, microwave and toaster and use them to store and cook prepared food.
4. Hang up your dish towel for a while. Buy lots of paper plates, cups and plastic utensils.
5. Eat out or order in. Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Manassas all offer great options for every budget.
6. Use your outdoor grill. Meats, vegetables and potatoes can all be done on the grill.
7. Plan your first meal in your new kitchen and look forward to the finish date!

5. It's winter in Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax, VA, and you need a project. This is a great time to do an indoor project like a kitchen remodel. Many people shy away from remodeling near the holidays, but contractors and painters still need to support their families. See if anyone is offering a discount to fill a slow period. Or, if you are taking a winter vacation, have the work done and then and voila! You arrive home to a brand new kitchen!

4. Your counter space still consists of three square feet of bright orange 1970's plastic laminate. It's time for an update. Not only will it increase the value of your home if you ever sell it, but it will also give you a new look -- worth the price, if your kitchen has given its all. Be humane and put it out of your misery!

3. You can't open the refrigerator and the oven at the same time. You have space issues. Consider letting a remodeling contractor redesign the space to add features and accessories that stretch the space. Often, opening up a wall is surprisingly economical, and the effect can be a huge "bang for the buck" move.

2. You had a party and everyone ran to the living room. You're missing the boat on hospitality. We all live in the kitchen and family room. We gather at the table and islands, we cook dinner while helping with homework, and we watch the toddler while we wash lettuce. If your kitchen doesn't welcome this multi-tasking or entertaining guests, maybe it's time to get a home addition.

Number 1: When you say "island" you mean that far-off summer vacation. A kitchen island or peninsula can greatly change a space, directing traffic flow and adding storage cabinets. It draws people into the area, and also adds extra counter space. You can even get a food prep sink to share the load.

Let us know your top reasons for kitchen remodeling by calling Thomas Custom Builders for information on home additions and remodeling .