remodelingbyhughes.com

At Friendly Plumbing , our expert technicians are highly skilled and have over 80 years of work experience. Our mission is to provide the highest quality products and craftsmanship, with complete client focus, in an effort to exceed customer expectations. We have a Master Plumbers license in Massachusetts.Our services Include;  Plumbing Repairs / Plumbers Middleboro / Water Heaters / Tankless Water Heaters / Boilers / Furnaces /Air Conditioning / Indoor Air Quality /  Sewer Cleaning / Duct Cleaning / Gas Piping / UV Purification  / Radiant Heating  / 24 hour Emergency plumber / in Middleborough Massachusetts

Ah the kitchen! The most dreaded remodel, and yet the most valuable. Value - as in, 80-90% of your remodel dollar will be returned at re-sale. Value - as in, the satisfaction of cooking and entertaining in the kitchen of your dreams - both aesthetically and functionally. So, consider the following things before you begin… and maybe you can remove the dread and enjoy the process.

When considering a full-blown, change the size and shape of your kitchen remodel, do you need an architect? This decision depends on 1) can you find one who will be willing to work with your contractor and vice versa; 2) are both parties simultaneously planning the most workable, efficient, most cost effective project? Do not allow yourself to be sold a fancy, complex project when all you really needed was a few more feet in the dining area. You do this by making sure both parties are cooperating, providing you with legitimate reasons for their ideas and designing something that can actually be built into your home. Architects have great ideas, but contractors know if they will work - that is why I think you need to have both parties working on this at the same time. Also, insist that they hear what you are saying. If you want a traditional farm house look, don’t settle for the latest contemporary European styling.

If this sounds too complicated, then go with a design build contractor who will have in-house designers and access to architects that they have already worked with.

The biggest cost in the kitchen remodel is in the cabinetry. I felt a shudder through the web! Determine early on what you are willing to tolerate.

Option 1: If you select a local built from scratch cabinet company, expect time delays. These delays will be from design issues and quality control efforts. Several ways to accommodate these delays: after designing the kitchen, order the cabinets and have them onsite before construction begins. This way, the special cabinetry is not causing a crisis for the contractor or for you. Another way to avoid crisis is to insist that the cabinet maker be apart of the design process too. The final, most important way to avoid trouble is to thoroughly research the cabinet company. Build successive payments into the contract - do not pay the next invoice until you have personally inspected the process and verified that the reality matches the schedule. Finally, have a penalty clause built in - a day or 2 delay for a quality control issue is one thing; several unaccountable weeks is unacceptable. Just know that with penalty clauses, be prepared for that company to counter with a proposal where you pay them more if it is done sooner.

Option 2: There are many big name cabinet companies out there.  Working with their reps and with the other members of the design team, you should be able to avoid too much hassle with the cabinetry issue.  The big name companies have the quality control, ordering and delivery systems automated.  They also have a wide enough selection of choices that you can still customize your order.  Customizing comes from you being able to get what you want, the way you want it.  Insist on this throughout the cabinet process – it can be done.  Payment with these companies will normally be 50-50; do not make a payment until you feel that everything is right.  Do not make the final payment until the cabinets have been delivered and inspected.  As with option 1, research the company placing your order.

Trust your guts in the selection of architect, contractor and cabinet company, they will not let you down.  After all of the fact finding has been done, and you are considering similarly qualified candidates, you have to rely on personality choices.  If one just feels right, select that candidate – they will be the right one for you.  And you must be able to enjoy this process – it is too much time and money not to.

It really is true! Bathrooms do expire! Usually they wear out and fall apart at the most inconvenient times! Fortunately, when you are facing a bathroom remodel, remember that you will get at least 80% of your remodel dollars back at re-sale. The other exciting thing is that today there are so many wonderful products available for the bathroom. This room can be much more than functional - it can be a sophisticated retreat!

Following are some things to remember when preparing to do this type of remodel. Every city and county varies slightly in permit requirements that they will have for the bathroom remodel. Check with your building department, or make sure that your contractor does this for you.

Remember when comparing bids to have each contractor give “allowances” or your bid budget for plumbing and electrical fixtures, cabinetry, countertops and flooring. This is the easiest way to keep track of what each contractor is selling you. Also, it gives you the ability to either buy a more/less expensive item than what that contractor had in mind.

Design building is the norm in this industry, but, only select a contractor who will listen to you. It takes experience and listening closely to be able to share mental visions and turn them into reality. And though there are legitimate reasons for why things can not be done, there are also ways to explain them clearly. Don’t just accept “no”, and do not be afraid to ask “why not”.

Asking for a schedule will help alleviate your biggest concerns. When time allows, it is always better to pre-select and order the fixtures before construction begins. If not possible, make sure that the schedule allows properly for this task.

Finally, ask for proof of licensing from the electricians and plumbers that your contractor will hire. With very few exceptions, these 2 trades are subcontractors to your contractor and will be licensed separately. Protect yourself from liability by requesting this simple documentation. Have Fun! Helping your contractor custom design this room of your house should be the greatest of fun.

Additions are very expensive – yes, financially, but also in time and inconvenience to your family.  Before you spend money and time on architects, engineers or contractors, consider the following options:

If you re-configured hallways and closets, changed door openings and switched door swings, would this give you more functional use of your existing space?  If you combined several smaller rooms into one bigger one, would you get the area you need?

When considering a kitchen or bathroom addition, is there any way that you can combine existing rooms to get the size that you want?  Remember, the costs do not go down just because it is a smaller addition.

Do you have a covered porch that could be enclosed and re-finished?  Do you have a basement that can be finished out?  If you live in an older home, where part of the basemen may have been finished, could you be happy if this was modernized and updated?  When considering the basement, the cost of creating a code size egress window is substantially less than building a room addition.

If you can not get what you need with any of those suggestions, then start visualizing an addition.  Every homeowners association, city and county are going to have guidelines on how you go about building this addition.  Check these things out on your own, or make sure that your architect, engineer or contractor is familiar with these requirements.  Then consider going up, going out, and going down. Please work with professionals that will help you determine what look will fit best in the neighborhood and on your home.  After spending all of the money and time that you will spend, you don’t want your addition to look like it fell from the sky and landed accidentally on a corner of your house.

Finally, please, please, please buyer beware!  If you can not afford to do this addition right now – wait until you can.  I guarantee you that if you shop long enough, you will find someone who is willing to do it for the budget that you have set aside.  But, if this person is not in the range of the other bidders, why is that?  On the other hand, the contractor that was more expensive might not be wrong either.  Why is that contractor higher/lower?  Are all estimators bidding on the same scope of work, with equal quality products?  Can you even tell?  If you are confused, don’t automatically reject a bid – ask questions.  Ask questions until you get the answers you need!  No remodeling company is so big that they can absorb losses from your project – they need to know of a mistake too.  No legitimate remodel contractor is out to make a fast buck and run – we are all hard working professionals who truly care about your happiness.  Before, during and after the project, your happiness and sense of well being will affect the final outcome of your remodel.  Good luck and have fun with this addition.

Our fine craftsmen are available to lend  you their skills. This can be as simple as customizing an existing closet with shelves to building a whole new cabinet. It includes removing old walls and replacing them with a beautifully stained rail.

It could mean removing an old set of box steps and installing
a custom spiral staircase. Do you have a few blank walls!  How about building an entertainment center/mantel? Dress out the opposing wall with wainscotting and similar trim, add a mirror and it now looks like you have doubled the size of your rooms!

There is no limit to your imagination!  Think it and we can build it!

Faux and Oh So much more!

As you can see from our decorative painting web page, so many wonderful paint techniques are available to customize your home. So, just what is faux?

To us, faux is using paint to create a look very close to reality. Listed are some of the your top choices:

Marble; Granite; Wood Grain

So, almost reality is not your thing? How about spoofing with what we call
our “faux-faux” line of products?

Why paint it instead of just having the real thing installed?

The Cost

The availability of the product and the skilled installer when you need them.

Maybe the product match is not available in your colors, or maybe your favorite tile was discontinued last year?

Maybe you want to have a lamp base, table top or candlestick holder to match, but can’t find one available in that finish.

Let your imagination go wild! You think it, we can paint it

Click on the picture above to see a larger version of the use of Artistic Panels with a vertical layout — from floor to ceiling.

Artistic Panels: To the Rescue!
That’s just great you say. You agree that this faux thing is really something that you could use. But, you live in a very remote chalet at the top of the world! We would love to come out and paint this for you - but, it probably would not be cost effective.

We do have the solution!
Introducing the “artistic panel”! Available
in any of the decorative paint finishes, these artistic panels can be customized, painted and then shipped to you.

This panel will install directly over any existing drywall condition, texture or wallpaper. This means no costly, messy and time consuming wall prep!

With a few basic tools and some patience, follow our easy installation directions and install these artistic panels yourself!

Each 4′x8′ panel is pre-primed, painted with 2 base coats; the finish is applied; and is then sealed with 3 coats of water based polyurethane for walls, or 5 coats for flooring.

Applied horizontally or vertically, they can be used instead of the traditional wall paneling or wainscoting. The colors of natural marble are many and vary in shading and intensity.

With paint, any of these colors can be adjusted to match your personal decorating scheme. This matching can be done by sending us color and fabric swatches.

Shading, veining and cracks: In natural marble the shading, veining and cracks can vary dramatically within the same 12 inch square.

In faux marble, we can continue this or we can adjust these things to fit your needs.

This customizing can be done by viewing photos, discussion and sampling.

Decorating and Oh So much more

Redundant? Isn’t that what paint is supposed to do? Decorate? Yes, and oh so much more!

Right out of the can, this colorful liquid can soothe nerves, warm the heart, excite the mind! Color shades can be combined for elegant subtlety, or they can be defiantly contrasted. Adding to these first colors will be the beginning of an exciting creative journey! We can add calming textures, romantic shadows, fluffy clouds, bold stripes, textures and patterns. All with paint ( You might want to take advantage of our creative carpenters and drywall artists as well)!

Before we open the first can, we want to work with you in selecting the colors, defining the true purpose of the room and its mood. Let us help you design your whole house colors/ paint. Then let us paint our way through each room, to create a uniquely personal, forever evolving work of art.

Imagination knows no limitations! Call or email us today to get started on your own work of art!

Artistic Panels: To the Rescue!

That’s just great you say. This whole decorative painting thing sounds real neat. But, you live in a ver remote island at the edge of the world! We would love to come out and paint this for you - but, it probably would not be cost effective.

We do have the solution!

Introducing the “artistic panel”! Available in any of the decorative paint finishes, these artistic panels can be customized, painted and then shipped to you. What is even more exciting, is that we can combine the decorative paint finish with any of the faux finishes to create a very rich, elegant panel! Do one wall, do one room, do the whole house!

This panel will install directly over any existing drywall condition, texture or wallpaper. This means no costly, messy and time consuming wall prep! With a few basic tools and some patience, follow our easy installation directions and install these artistic panels yourself!

Each 4′x8′ panel is pre-primed, painted with 2 base coats; the finish is applied; and is then sealed with 3 cts. of water based polyurethane for walls.

Applied horizontally or vertically, they can be used instead of the traditional wall paneling or wainscotting.