Home Improvement Questions?
Question:Hello everyone. I needed to have my whole house re done, ie...Flooring, Kitchen, Bathroom, etc. My question is...I always walk around Home Depot and see all the different samples. For the best price and quality, should I go to a place like Home Depot and Lowe's or should I find independent contractors( in the Yellow Pages) that specialize in certain jobs? I've never done anything like this before so I would definitely appreciate the advice. Thanks guys!
Answers:
Unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing---going to Lowes or Home Depot for the DO-IT-YOURSELF home improvement supplies COULD end up costing you MUCH more then hiring a professional contractor to complete the work.. So, unless you know how to rewire electricity, put up drywall, tape, measure flooring and install it, place tiles, replace fixtures, etc etc etc... HIRE SOMEONE. because if you make a mistake (and you probably WILL), it will cost you more to keep trying to get it right...just make sure you hire a REPUTABLE CONTRACTOR with references...and you will have a LOT fewer headaches, you'll have the work completed MUCH quicker then if you attempted to do it yourself AND, you will have a professionally done job.
Are there new houses being built in your area? You can walk in there pretending you are a prospective buyer. That is a good place where you can get ideas not only about flooring in the different parts of your house but also modern decorations.
Honestly,if I where going to have work done on the house,(and we have use both the Depot and a independent) I would use either Lowes or the Depot. Not because of the products available,but because of the warranty. An independent contractor can get the same products,but raise the price higher because they have to pay more. The main thing is, what if something goes wrong? Like at our house for example, we had a new roof put on,and used a independent contractor. Boy ,sorry we did! We now have to put a new roof on because the guy fuc~ed it up! Yeah,we could take the guy to court,if we could ever find him again!And we also had another guy(this is a separate incident)put new wood flooring down,and re-tile the bathroom. Well, I don't even want to go there ,I'll just get mad. The point is, use some one that you know is going to be there when the job is finished. In case something goes wrong after the work is done. You know Lowes or The Home Depot will still be there. I won't use a Independent ever again. Bye
First step. Get graph paper & measure exactly the entire main floor using 1 square for 1 foot measurement then also write the measurement along that wall. Add the doorways & which direction the door swings, window, outlets, a circle for where the vent heading to roof. Once done, retrace each line in ink that the measurement will not be changed (wall, window). This one time accurate measurement will be used many times from amount of paint for wall, wallpaper border for a room, footage for floor to even what furniture will fit in what corner.
Start from the top & move down. Ceiling, walls to floors. If you are going to have plumbing or electrical work done, call in the experts. If any project you plan to have contractors do and a building permit is required, have each one (that requires permit) get the permit & add it to your bill. If any project not passing inspection, whoever gets building permit is required to fix problem. We started with lifting the house & put in full basement (needed new foundation), then roof, ceiling, windows (different size), siding, walls & new insulation, to floors. Then to cupboards, sinks, toilet, etc.. & finally landscaping. Installed ceramic tiles, laminate floor, & carpet. Have some ceiling tiles & did our own sheetrock.
If exposing interior of any outside wall, you will need a permit & city inspection, also. Changing cupboards, flooring, painting, etc... you will not need a permit. If in doubt, ask the city building permit dept. You get permit (if needed) for projects you do yourself.
Questions on any particular project - - email me. Each project we found time & $ saving tips including making our own baseboards.
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