Home remodeling can be a great opportunity to freshen up the look of your home, but many homeowners don’t know where to start when they approach a remodeling project. From budgeting to the stages of construction, here is a guide to simplify the process and help you reach your remodeling goals. You will also find plenty of tips to help you through each phase of planning. For further remodeling information, design consultation, or even contracting work, contact Legacy Remodeling with any of your project needs.

2. Home remodeling projects are fun
opportunities to update the look,
energy efficiency, and usability
of different areas of your home.
Starting out the project right,
though, is key in keeping this a
positive experience. It can be easy
to be overwhelmed with all the effort
that goes into even a basic home
remodel. However, if homeowners
can keep in mind a few basic steps,
they will be well on their way to
stress-free home improvement.
PLAN YOUR REMODELING
BUDGET
Every home remodeling project starts
with two crucial steps: budgeting and
planning. Budgeting should come first.
Before looking at what you want to do,
look at what you can do. How much
money do you already have set aside for
the project? Do you need to wait to save
more? Whatever amount you ultimately
budget toward a project, make sure you
have some in reserve in case last minute
expenses or changes are needed. This
also lets you have some flexibility for
choosing between different products.
Your budget will help guide you through
the rest of the project, especially
when determining which remodeling
tasks you should prioritize. Starting a
project you don’t have the money for
could leave you stranded in a halffinished home until you can come up
with the money to finish the job.
SET YOUR PRIORITIES FOR
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Now the fun really starts. First, make a
list of all the updates you’d like to make.
It could include replacing the insulation
in the attic, installing an island unit in
the kitchen, redesigning the kitchen
shelves for a better arrangement,
installing replacement windows for
better insulation, knocking down a
couple walls to create an open floor
plan, and so on. Take some time making
this list, and think of as many ideas
as you can. Are you tired of looking at
anything? Are some rooms always cold
or hot? Do you have trouble accessing
certain rooms or storage spaces?
Now’s your chance to fix all of it.
With your exhaustive list of potential
updates, pick out the ones you’d like
to see happen most. Make a new list
putting them all in order. You can
also group them by size or expense.
If you don’t have the budget to
make everything happen in one run,
this list will help you parse out the
changes that you could keep living
without for now. Start researching
how much it would cost to make
each of these changes happen. Ask
friends and family how much they’ve
spent on similar projects and start
getting quotes from contractors.

3. RESEARCH POTENTIAL REMODELING
CONTRACTORS & AGENCIES
If you are going to need expert help for technical remodeling
work, make sure to check the references of anyone you are
considering for the job. Be sure to ask if contractors are part
of a building or trade association and have manufacturer’s
certification for the products they would be installing.
The same applies to remodeling agencies. If products fail
or underperform later on, warrantees may not hold up if
the product was installed by an unlicensed contractor.
Get multiple quotes for your project from different remodeling
contractors, at least three. First, it is always a good idea to
shop around for remodeling services. It will also give you a
baseline for how much the project should cost. If a contractor
gives you an outrageous deal, it may not be on the up and up.
CARRYING OUT THE PROJECT
After the budgeting and planning stages, the rest of the remodeling process has a fairly specific order to it:
• Demolition:
The old stuff has to
come out before you can put in the new
walls, appliances, flooring, etc. Pulling up
tile, stripping wall paper, knocking down
walls, etc. are the first steps to getting a
room ready for an upgrade.
•
Framing: Any new walls that are
being built will first require the framework
of studs to be installed.
•
Rough Electrical: For the
first stage of electrical wiring, cables and
electrical boxes are installed between the
studs while the walls are still open.
• Rough Plumbing: For the initial
plumbing stage, hot and cold water as well
as drainage pipes are installed between
the walls and connected to the municipal
system. All pipes should be properly
insulated and protected from the elements.
• Drywall: After the cables and pipes
are installed, the framing is sealed up with
drywall.
• Cabinetry: Cabinets will be installed
from top to bottom so that lower cabinets
aren’t in the way when hanging upper
cabinets.
• Countertops: Countertops should
be fastened securely to the cabinets with all
corners joined tightly and the back sealed
against the wall. Counters should also
be trimmed and laminated at the ends to
prevent sharp overhanging edges. The sink
opening should also be appropriately sized
to prevent gaps.
•
Flooring: The process behind
flooring will depend on the type of flooring
you decide on. Laminate, hard wood,
and tile all have different installation
procedures. Generally, you have to clean
and prep the subfloor before installing the
topside flooring.
• Trim Work (Millwork) : Crown
molding, baseboards, and door casings
follow the flooring, giving rooms a finished
look by hiding where the ceiling and floor
meet the walls.
• Paint: Painting can be done at several
different stages depending on when it’s
most convenient. Lay down sheets of
plastic to protect flooring, carpet, and
furniture. Use painter’s tape to protect
the edges of window sills, trim work, and
existing outlets. Keep in mind that the later
you paint during the remodeling process,
the less chance there will be of damaging
the new paint job while other items are still
being installed.
• Finish Electrical: Outlets and
switches are finally installed.
• Finish
Plumbing: Fixtures, like
faucets and showerheads, are installed.

4. GENERAL TIPS
• Check contractor work at the end of every
construction day to make sure you like all
the changes while they’re still in progress.
• New designs should be ergonomic. Be
sure of counter heights, the usability of new
arrangements, and other measurements
before finalizing the remodeling plans.
• It is cheaper to keep windows where they
are in a remodel, but you can still make
small spaces appear larger by installing
replacement bow windows instead.
•
If you are planning on moving or
selling your home, even in the distant
future, think about how major changes
will affect the value of the home. Ultramodern installations, specialized rooms
(e.g., home offices, saunas, game rooms),
ornate fixtures, and designs that don’t
seem to match the neighborhood may not
be a hit with buyers.
Legacy Remodeling has been
serving the Pittsburgh area for
over 25 years as a full-service
remodeling contractor. From
installing replacement windows
to custom kitchen remodeling,
Legacy can help homeowners
update the look and feel of
their home with energy efficient
fixtures. For more information
about how Legacy can help you
redesign your home, contact
a Legacy remodeler today.