Monthly Archives: October 2008

Bathrooms and Basements!

Posted on by Scott
Abba\’s Service

Complete basement and Bathroom Renovations can be very expensive! Installing a bathroom in your basement costs about $3000 more because there is a lot of extra work involved for drainage.

The average basement can be completed including walls, laundry, bedrooms, bathroom for around $30,000 and up. $10,000 for a bathroom and $20,000 for the rest. This should include plumbing, wiring, lights, carpentry, labor and much more.

What most people don’t seem to understand is there is a lot of work involved. Quality work cost money and not always the big name companies deliver what you are looking for.

I Michael Keel from Abba’s Service have learned this the hard way. Trying to give the people what they really want plus a little extra. People ask for what they cannot afford always. More always cost more.

You are better to start with about $30,000 and have some extra laying around because changes to the original plan will change the outcome of the price.

Example I am working on a bathroom and the customer wants a complete gut job. No Problem. for people in our field. This is not some guy who has a lot of money just some average Joe. It would about $12000 for a complete gut with marble tiles new vanity, toilet, whirlpool tub, window, sub floor, plumbing, wiring.and don’t forget the extras.

When I first talked to him he told me straight out Tiles because he said he could not afford marble. He thought it would cost about $5000.00 to do this type of work. Maybe through some bathroom fitters or some thing.

They would have came in and covered up the shabby stuff and you would never see what was behind the walls. For me to do all the work in tiles it would be around $10,000 we talked about the price and we agreed he could afford to spend about $8,000. So we have a deal.

I decided on myself to give this guy the best. Nice vanity, cedar walls, New toilet, whirlpool tub, Fancy chrome a matching throughout,  the tiles an expensive Black Marble!

Why this guy worked hard his whole life and he need some help. I didn’t wont somebody to rip him off. His wife needs a nice tub that she could relax in with a really nice shower head for him. small bathroom, top of the line stuff. It will probably cost me a lot but i just made a new friend and a life long customer.

He already told me he wishes to do the kitchen after he pays off his credit card and saves some more money. Know you see how this works!

I will be finished next week and then get back to a couple of other jobs on the go! Keep in Mind you should always think what you want to spend first. then let me see what I can do for you Go directly to our web site at http://abbasservice.ca

Basics of Bathroom Remodeling

Posted on by Scott
Sarah Johns

To live in a beautiful home is a dream of every individual and during the home renovation process we are completely filled with an energy that boosts us up to make the process of remodeling more effective and gainful. Bathroom renovation requires loads of planning and a great deal of thinking involved in it. The different areas for which the planning has to be carried out are the layout, decoration and the other essential safety concerns. This article provides you with an overview to develop an ideal restroom that sets it apart from the other restrooms.

It is a well known fact that bathroom is a place of personal importance; personal hygiene and it should facilitate the function of personal retreat and comfort. Bathrooms are developed to meet varied functions and the facilitation of these functions widely depends on availability of space and the entire layout of the house. It is in particular an area which requires deep and insight planning so that it can function for a longer time and provide you better service satisfaction.

It is important to consider the option of fitting a new bathroom when you have a bigger family. It is a wise move incase you are considering to install a washing area and separate shower cubicles. This is one of the best options incase you have shortage of place. A new restroom will reduce the morning queues and even the wear and tear of the previous restroom.

It is of vital importance to understand that any bathroom requires a well functioning bathing area. The decor of the restroom must coordinate with the rest of the room. Another very attractive option which you can consider to install is that of the sunken baths, however they can act as a pinch on your pocket but they are one of the most attractive options. If you are short of space then you can consider having a bathing area in the corner, this will render you with the benefit of saving space.

The type of bathroom you are selecting will play an integral role in the determination of the feel of the entire house. It is essential that you design the bathroom in such a way that you can have the long term benefits. It is essential that you keep in mind that you need to save the excessive wastage of water so that you can be relieved from the shooting water bill. All these factors are the signs of a well designed bathroom. While you are in the process of designing bathroom it is important to understand that once you have installed, it would be difficult to take it out as it will prove to be an expensive idea. So it is very essential that you need to understand the impact of the decisions that incase there are any changes once the bathroom fittings have been installed then it can act as a pinch on your pocket.

Miley’s new shower pic scandal! 6 new photos+explination

Posted on by Scott
Th3TrutH4U

UPDATE–5/9/09–what do you guys think of the “fake asian” pictures she took? i think that being sued for that is taking it wayyy too far…. thank you for all the responses, to those of you who care, my opinion of the jbs is neutral i really dont care about them, i like their music (I have it on my iPod) but yeah…im not a diehard fan. CORRECTION-ITS SUPPOSED TO BE VANITY FAIR NOT VOUGE. SORRY GUYS Disclaimer-I dont own any of these pics. Song-Good and Broken by Miley Cyrus sorry for all …

Relocate or Renovate?

Posted on by Scott
Timothy Clark

Should I stay or should I go? Inevitably, most homeowners are forced to ask this question at some point in time. The decision to sell their house and move away or to stay in their home and remodel can be very tough indeed. Many factors certainly influence whether you decide to move or whether you stay and remodel your home.

Move or Remodel?

Location, location, location. It’s usually the mantra of real estate agents, but it applies here as well. Where your home is located is usually the most important factor because a home improvement project will never change the location of your house. You may be forced to undertake a move because of external forces you cannot change, such as:

You may not like the quality of your local school system.

You may not have many local options for shopping or lifestyle choices.

The size of your current lot or piece of land may not handle an increase in size or expansion.

A neighborhood association may prevent additions or expansions because it changes the look of the area or subdivision.

Legal or zoning restrictions in your city might prevent any changes.

Your subdivision may only have identical housing plans (“cookie-cutter houses”) and adding a second story or home addition could make it less valuable than the others in the neighborhood.

It may cost too much to renovate.

Because you cannot change these factors, you and your family may find that a move to a new location is absolutely necessary. Take a look at your home location and decide if it meets your needs, if it can be improved, whether or not it is too old, and whether or not you can deal with the stress of a remodeling project.

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Another factor in your “relocate or renovate” decision could be that your house is already the nicest in the area. An extensive renovation or improvement of the best house in the neighborhood might be fine if you’re planning on living there for an extremely long period of time. However, if you have plans of selling in the future, such a renovation might prevent you from getting a decent return on your investment. If your house is already the nicest, spending more on it won’t make the value go up even higher.

Taking the Plunge?

If you’ve decided to stay put, you may have made the best choice. If you ask people to list the costs involved with moving, most will only talk about the price for a moving company to come pick up their furniture. It can actually cost more to move than to take on certain remodeling work. There are costs associated with selling your house, buying a new house (realtor fees, closing costs), cleaning services, transporting your family (hotels, meals, gas), repairs and renovations needed to sell the old house, and many, many more.

If you’re going to renovate, keep these tips in mind to make sure your home improvement projects will go a lot smoother:

Decide whether you’re improving your home for you or for a future sale – If you want to remodel your bathroom or paint your interior walls, the choices you make can affect the value of your home. You might love the color red or a modern sink design in your master bath. However, home buyers are not always fond of exotic designs and it may do more harm than good when you’re ready to sell your home.

Decide whether you’ll move out during construction – You and your family may not be able to deal with the noise, debris, dust, and extra workers in your home. You might need to temporarily relocate to a hotel, apartment, or house. However, it might be a good idea to stay. Some like to be close to the action and be able to oversee the work being done. It’s also important for someone to be there to receive deliveries. If you stay, it’s important to make sure you ask workers clean up at the end of each and every day. Make arrangements to replace the room being worked on (for example, set up your kitchen appliances in a spare bedroom during a kitchen remodel.)

Arrange for sufficient financing to be able to cope during any project – There could be many hidden costs in a home improvement project, so it’s good to budget for surprises. Plan for problems that a contractor might discover during the renovation. Plan for extra time (which increases your budget), beyond your projected completion date. Plan for changes you might decide on, too – it might look good on paper, but you could change your mind during the remodeling job and those changes cost extra. Think about adding at least 15% to 25% to your expected budget… for emergencies. Consider the little things, as well – other hidden costs could include: ordering more takeout food during a kitchen remodel, paying for coin laundry services when your water is shut off for extended periods, or even hotel stays during heavy construction.

Plan to do it all-at-once or project-by-project – Many homeowners decide to remodel a kitchen and, while that job is underway, will then decide to add on a bathroom renovation. This can cause delays and extra expense. While it’s true that there are already construction workers on the job site, it takes careful planning to arrange for permits, materials, designs, and the subcontractors’ schedules to complete a project on time and on budget. It’s best to plan for your kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, and new patio installation to happen all at once or you should plan for them to take place individually, over a period of time. It will cut down on cost overruns, delays, and headaches.

Make it Happen

As the real estate market continues to slow down, and in some areas drop dramatically, it is an important time to consider staying put and remodeling your home. Housing prices may continue to level out so one sure way to improve property value is a proper renovation. Consult a designer or architect in your area to determine which changes will be best for your home in your neighborhood (Find a local architect or designer-builder here.)

If you’re planning to stay in your current house for a long period of time, make sure that any renovations you do are truly for you. It’s your home and you’ve got to live in it and be comfortable. Whether you convert your basement into a recreation room or you want a spa tub installed in your master bathroom, go with the products and designs that work with your lifestyle. If your tastes are more exotic, you can always remodel or renovate again when you’re ready to sell.

If you plan and finance your renovation appropriately, you should be able to “make over” your home to suit your needs with little or no problems. ConstructionDeal.com is a great resource for finding the right expert to make your renovations dreams a reality. Don’t forget to bookmark our main page and we’ll be ready to help with your next project.

http://www.constructiondeal.com/pub/customer/article/RelocateRenovate.pub

Discover Hot Design Concepts for your Bathroom Renovation Project

Posted on by Scott
Tomer Harel

Surly you remember your bathroom when you were a kid. A shower, toilet and not much more. Today, the bathroom has become our little piece of heaven where one can escape from the busy day schedule and enjoy luxurious moments of privacy, relaxation and rejuvenation.

Here are some of the best new bathroom ideas out there!

Retreat to a Spa

A long, luxurious bubble bath, aromatic oils, lit candles, soft music. Is this a two hour spa treatment? Or is it perhaps your very own bathroom, in your very own house? Do you like the luxurious spa atmosphere? Why not apply it to your bathroom so you can enjoy it without having to go out? Soothing colors, niches for candles, a large bath, and an overall atmosphere of pampering and self indulgence is the key. This bathroom, with its towel racks, separate Jacuzzi bath and glass shower, the double sink and soothing lighting, is a masterpiece of “spa” feeling. Just lie back, and enjoy!

Turn Up the Warm

Give cold, uncomfortable bathrooms a break, and warm them up! Avoid chilly colors like snow white and blues, and go for the creams, browns, and golds to give your bathroom the warmth it deserves! Color can make a huge difference and turn your bathroom into a completely different experience. A bathroom can be instantly transformed to a more inviting place, just by changing the color palate. And since it’s your bathroom, shouldn’t you feel cozy and warm in it?

Tile it Up

Tiles are back, but not in the way you think… usually, when people think tile, the first thing that comes to mind is that weird floor from the 70′s with all the different colored stones. Yet tiles can provide beautiful design elements for your bathroom. Since tile was originally designed by the Romans specifically for their baths, it makes sense to use this element in creating our own modern bathing rooms. Bathroom tiles are back! Whether you decorate the entire walls with decorative patterns or just use a subtle row design – it is definitely back in fashion. A certain ancient world feeling comes to mind, and you may just imagine yourself reclining in a Roman bath with slaves feeding you grapes…

Modern Sharp

For those who like stark looks, clean comfort, and straight lines, this is THE look to have. The black counters and stainless steel sinks, the stainless steel cabinets, the glass and high sheen of the black counter, all give this bathroom a kind of bachelor pad look (only a lot more comfortable!). Clean lines often create a sense of spaciousness and luxury.

The Asian Invasion

Still clean lines, but with an Asian touch, as the Buddha statue serenely emphasizes. The bowl-like sinks have a distinct feel of rice bowls, the large jars, and the open space give it a Zen feel. This is not the opulent East, rather the calm, insightful, Zen feeling underlying so much of modern Asian design. Truly, all that’s missing is a rock garden outside the French doors…

Romantic

Sometimes, a romantic, softly lit, fantasy inducing bathroom is all a girl really wants in life.

A haven of light, warm and inviting, and an overall feel of warm fuzzy butterflies, give this bathroom a lilt in its song. A room designed for sensuality and softness, the romantic bathroom can be a place to share, and just as importantly, dream of love.