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Start your remodeling project on the right foot by selecting
a licensed and insured, professional remodeling general contractor.
The complete process of kitchen and bath planning, design and
installation requires a tremendous amount of expertise. Not only do
planning and space requirements have to be met, but plumbing, electrical,
lighting and construction issues must also be addressed. Ultimately, the
kitchen and bath must be aesthetically pleasing and, most importantly, be
functional, safe and satisfy the needs of the homeowner.
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Ultimately,
the kitchens and bathrooms must be aesthetically pleasing and most
importantly, be functional, safe and the needs of the home.
Selecting a professional contractor proper planning is important.
Contact
your state or local licensing agencies to insure the contractor meets all
licensing and insurance requirements.
Proper planning is
important. Think your project through from start to finish. Design and
function are of prime importance and a professional remodeling contractor
will see to it that your needs are met.
"I
want to remodel my kitchen & bathroom. Where do I start"
So,
you've decided to create your dream kitchen or bathroom. Great idea. Yes,
there is a process you should follow to assure your project becomes a good
investment. Careful planning and attention to design, cabinets, equipment
and fixtures are needed to create a kitchen or bathroom that is not only a
good investment in a family's life style, but a good investment in a
family's real estate property. With so many decisions to make and so much
to think about, you need a professional to design, organize and plan this
project, someone who understands all the complexities involved. That's
where Merotile comes in.
FIRST
and foremost you need a budget. This is the starting point for any project.
It's not. "what will a kitchen or bath
cost," but "what are we going to invest in our new kitchen or
bath."
How to Choose a
professional Remodeler
If
you own a home, no matter what it's age, sooner or
later you may join the millions of people who remodel their homes each
year. The reasons for remodeling are as varied as the projects themselves.
Generally people choose remodeling to add comfort, convenience, space, and
ultimately to enhance their investment in what may be their most valuable
asset. Your home is too important to entrust to anyone but a professional remodeler who can.
- Save
you money by doing your job right the first time.
- Understand
that your comfort during the project and its successful completion
depend on effective communication and follow-through.
- Maintain
a safe job site to prevent damage to your home or injury to household
members and pets.
- Provide
the best possible materials with in your budget.
- Ensure
your job meets or exceeds applicable building codes and regulations.
- Guarantee
the quality of the work with a warranty.
Before
you meet with a remodeler , develop an idea of what you want to do. Write a list
of your needs and wants. Look at magazines and collect pictures of what you
like. (the more clearly you can envision the
project and describe it on paper, the more likely you can convey a clear
image of your project to a professional remodeler.)
Now it's time to begin your search:
When
interviewing prospective remodelers, here are
some questions you may want to ask. Does the remodeler.
- Maintain
in a permanent mailing address, phone number and paging or answering
system?
- Carry
insurance that protects you from claims arising from property damage
or jobsite injuries?
- Have
a trustworthy reputation among customers and the business community?
Ask for a list of building suppliers and call them to see if the remodeler has an account or pays for materials on
delivery. (Most suppliers are willing to extend credit to financially
sound companies.)
- Specialize
in particular types of projects?
- Arrange
for the building permit?
- Offer
a warranty? If so, what kind and for how long?
- Agree
to begin and complete your job with in your timetable?
- Respond
promptly to your questions?
Interview
previous and present customers. And before you sign a contract.
• Ask the remodeler to
share names and phone numbers of some customers.
• Ask the homeowners if the would hire the company
again. Did the company maintain a responsibly neat jobsite? Did they keep
delays to a minimum? Did they find the remodeler
easy to talk to? Did the remodeler keep the
informed as the job progressed?
How to Live With Your
Remodeling Project
With
remodeling, your home becomes the work site. You live side by side with the
project from start to finish. You have to adjust your daily routines to
make way for the construction that will transform your dreams into reality.
Successful remodeling projects depend upon mutual trust and consistent
communication between you and your remodeler.
Before
you begin, make sure you know how you will communicate with the remodeler. Be sure you know to contact the remodeler for daily decisions as well as after hour's
emergencies.
Plan
ahead to keep your project on schedule. A bathroom project may take just a
few weeks while a two-story addition may take 6 months or more. Ask the remodeler to provide you with a schedule for each phase
of the project. Realize that changes you make after work has begun may
affect schedule and budget.
In
your pre-construction meeting, be sure to ask about the following:
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Jobsite Signature
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Will you allow the remodeler to place a sign on your property?
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Jobsite
Access
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Have you agreed upon a pathway for workers, equipment,
and vehicles?
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Off
Limits Areas
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Will areas of the house be off limits to workers?
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Security
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Does the house have an alarm system?
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Safety
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What precautions will be taken to ensure safety during
the project?
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Salvaging
Materials
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Will some items be saved from demolition?
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Debris
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Where will the Dumpster be located?
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Utility
Interruptions
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Clean-UP
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Who is responsible for daily and final clean-up?
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You
will also want to discuss guidelines for workers, such as:
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Work
Hours
• Parking
• Phone Usage
A kitchen and bath professional can offer sound advice
and suggest solutions to any problems that may rise or better yet prevent
problems from occurring. They also understand the ways families and
individuals relate to their surroundings, and therefore may be able to
troubleshoot and meet needs in ways that may not occur to those who don't
specialize in kitchens and bathrooms.
Merotile is able to
coordinate every aspect of the design and installation. We are experienced
licensed, residential general contractors as well (license # H0513110000)
and most important, we're experts at working with you, the client. We
listen to your needs and translate them into the kind of room you want.
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