Home Improvement Archives - Page 18 of 32

General Contractors Keeping You Safe During COVID-19

By Inspired Remodels / Home Improvement / Comments Off

When Governor Gavin Newsom revised the stay-at-home order back in April he designated construction as “essential”. So, general contractors went back to work. Since it’s impossible to remodel your kitchen or bathroom digitally or email you a new fireplace, workers must have access to your house. Inspired Remodels, a popular Orange County general contractor provides tips to keep you and workers safe.

Utilize On-line Resources

Nope, can’t install that new granite countertop via Zoom. But, other tasks can be moved online. Where possible, hold project meetings by phone or teleconference. Any video call that can replace a trip to the house just keeps everyone safer.

Instead of trading paper contracts and signatures, use digital signing resources. Instead of using paper checks for payment (yes, people still do that) use debit, credit, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or any of the other digital payment methods.

Sanitation and Hygiene

Hand washing slows the spread of disease. COVID-19 is no different. All workers should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You can set up a hand washing station, allow workers access to your sinks, or ask the general contractor to set up a hand washing station. No matter what job is being performed, running water must be available.

Regularly disinfect high-contact surfaces like countertops and doorknobs for your protection and the protection of workers

By the way, hand sanitizer may help you out in a pinch, but it is no substitute for good old soap and running water.

Use of Personal Protection Equipment

Here’s another one that’s not hard. Since most remodeling creates dust and debris, most workers are accustomed to wearing PPE for their respiratory protection.

If you cannot maintain an adequate social distance from workers, you should wear your PPE for your protection. Workers want to be safe too.

Move Outdoors if Possible

Luckily, our Orange County weather makes more time outdoors more comfortable than other parts of the country. Take advantage of it.

Work from the patio, balcony, deck, or backyard when possible. When workers are in the home, take frequent walks or read a book outside.

The more space you keep between yourself and your general contractors and subcontractors the safer everyone will be.

No Sick People!

If you have a fever, feel ill, or have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 contact your general contractor right away. Work will need to be halted until you are well or the danger of infection has passed.

The workers coming to your home will extend you the same courtesy. So, be prepared to be flexible. A worker might be exposed and need to self-quarantine. This means the contractor could possibly assign another person or crew to your job or delay the schedule.

General Contractors Want to Keep Lines of Communication Open

Be sure to speak with the contractor regularly. If you have concerns about your safety or the safety of workers, share them.

When factories shut down, cabinetry and hardware didn’t get made. Suddenly lead times are longer than usual. Also, don’t be surprised to find that the work you had quoted in the Spring may not be performed until the Winter.

If you have questions or concerns about the work Inspired Remodels is doing at your home, reach out to Jason or Joe at (949) 716-1938.

Renovation Contractor with an Eye for Detail

By Inspired Remodels / Home Improvement / Comments Off

Sometimes when you make a big change, it’s the little things that make the most difference. Inspired Remodels is the Orange County renovation contractor gets this. Having an eye for detail is the difference between “whatever” and “Wow”!

Just take a look at these little touches that add elegance, style and personality to rooms.

Molding Makes a Difference

It doesn’t matter the room and it doesn’t matter where it’s installed, but the right molding in the right place makes all the difference. Imagine a tuxedo without a bowtie or cummerbund, it would just be another suit. Molding provides the same effect when its used properly.

In this room, molding not only provides a finishing touch, it sets the tone. The most informal space gets a little more formal with molding. While many would have installed chair rail and called it a day, Inspired Remodels finished the look with wainscotting made from picture frame molding. Wainscotting was originally designed to hide damp areas, now it’s used for decorative purposes.

Picture frame molding isn’t just for walls either.

On this fireplace, the picture frame molding finishes the illusion of columns. Columns were quite popular in Greek and Colonial architecture. Today, they fit perfectly with many different architectural styles. And with creative use of molding, you don’t even need columns to get the look of columns. Molding makes a difference.

Touches with Tile

Tile is another place where you can incorporate just a small touch to make a huge impact. Sure, most contractors will one tile on the floor and a matching tile in the shower. That’s nice, but not eye-popping or jaw dropping. Inspired Remodels knows that just a drop of color is the kind of touch you can add with tile to make a big impact.

See these bits of blue? It completely changes the look of the tile and once you see those blue tiles you just can’t stop looking at them. Now they aren’t large, but they are certainly in charge of style.

How about these little mini mosaics? Setting this tile isn’t easy, but it’s certainly worth the effort. The contrasting color adds interest, but it’s the mosaic design in the contrast tile that really makes the difference. And stair-stepping the larger tiles provides a visual interest you won’t see elsewhere. This is a floor you’ll remember long after you leave the room or house. Those little touches with tile aren’t reserved for floors either. While decorative tile looks great on the floor, it really makes an impact when you install on walls. Just take a look at this installation!

In the bathroom, the border tile in the shower adds texture. The color matches flawlessly so the eye is drawn to the delicate design. Speaking of design, notice how the curves on the vine match the swirl on the marble. Now that’s an eye for detail you normally only see in multi-million dollar mansions. But Inspired Remodels shows it’s completely accessible for the average homeowner.

Renovation Contractor Creates Inspired Remodels

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel or thinking of updating the bathroom, why settle for anything less than an inspired remodel? An inspired remodel incorporates those little touches. It produces a room that’s pleasing to the eye and functional to use. Maintenance is easy. Inspired Remodels is the renovation contractor to use if you want inspired design. Schedule your consultation today.

How to Hire a Home Remodel Contractor

By Inspired Remodels / Home Improvement / Comments Off

Earlier this month we looked at hiring a kitchen remodel company. The skill set for remodeling a kitchen is similar, but there are some specific things you need to know before you hire a home remodel contractor. Chances are, your home remodel contractor will be working in more than one room. They might even add a room to your house. Here’s how to hire a home remodel contractor in Orange County.

Understand the Regulatory Requirements

Some jobs require permits and others do not. Failing to get permits when permits are required leads to problems down the road. Your insurance company may refuse to cover your house if it violates code and the costs to bring your home into compliance will probably be greater than if you had followed code in the beginning. That’s because engineers may be brought in to assess the structure.

So, just start by finding out what work requires a permit and what does not. Then when talking to your home remodel contractor, find out if they will be responsible for pulling the permits. If the contractor asks the homeowner to get the permits that’s a warning sign. The contractor may have problems with their license or insurance that will be uncovered during the permit application.

Be Honest About Your Budget

You know how much to have to spend on your remodel project. Be honest with the contractor about it. A seasoned contractor knows that you should include a contingency amount in the total budget. An experienced home remodel contractor can also tell you if your budget is realistic.

Get the work to be covered by your budgeted amount in writing. In other words, make sure you have a contract and the contract specifies the amount budgeted. You will also want to include a change order process. If during the project changes are required to the scope of the work (such as discovering a load bearing wall), the contract should include a process for approving these changes.

If the contractor excludes items from the contract, find out the value of these items to make sure you are still on budget. For example, if the project includes the installation of barn doors but the contract doesn’t include the actual cost of the doors, you need to make sure they are in your budget.

Also, remember that when it comes to home remodeling materials and workmanship the cost reflects the quality.

Connect with the Contractor

Don’t hire a home remodel contractor that you can’t personally connect with. This company is going to be in your house and they may be there for weeks.

You need a contractor with a personality and style that meshes with your own. You also need to know you can connect with the contractor when you have questions or a problem occurs. A reputable home remodel contractor like Inspired Remodels will provide you with a point person for the entirety of the project. Make sure this is a person that works well with your personality and style.

Home remodeling is stressful. Dreading a conversation, text or email with the contractor only adds more stress. So, select someone you can communicate with.

Check those Credentials and References

This is so obvious but it must be said. Check the references and credentials of the contractor. It’s easy to check a license online with the State of California and with sites such as Google and Yelp, it’s easy to find references. Be like Nike and just do it.

Orange County Home Remodel Contractor with Integrity

You won’t go wrong if you go with Inspired Remodels. That’s the home remodel contractor with integrity and a long list of happy customers and successful projects.