There are really only disadvantages and risks involved when you hire a general contractor that isn’t fully licensed, and if you want your home remodeling, renovation or addition project to be a success, hiring a licensed contractor is the only sensible solution.
If you’re considering a home renovation or construction project, you might be wondering whether to use the services of a general contractor, or you may not even be sure what their role is. The following information should help you decide whether your project requires a general contractor, and when you hire them, what you can expect them to be responsible for:
When beginning a new commercial building project, many phases are involved and it’s critical to get all of them right for a successful build. Perhaps the most crucial phase of any commercial project is the design, and once you’ve got one in place that matches the building’s intended function and the project’s budget, all that remains is for the design plans to be put into action.
There are a multitude of general contractors out there, all vying for your custom, and all claiming to be professional, qualified, licensed and fully insured. But how can you be sure that you’ve chosen the right one for your building project?
With the very name itself open to ambiguity, it can be difficult to know exactly what a general contractor is responsible for, and when they might be required during a construction project.
Whether you own and live in your own apartment, or are a landlord with a tenant-occupied apartment, unless the space is new and has been designed to match your tastes and needs, you’ve probably thought about having it renovated.
Whether you’re undergoing a commercial or residential construction project, it’s imperative that you work with a general contractor whom you can not only trust, but communicate effectively with. The better the relationship between you and your general contractor, the better the chances of the project being carried out successfully i.e., within budget, on time and to an appropriate standard.
As a way of refreshing your home, giving it a new lease of life, and even increasing its value there are a number of home improvements you can make. However, one surefire way of decreasing the value of your home and making it a space you no longer enjoy spending time in, is by attempting to carry out the work yourself. Unless you’re an experienced individual with construction qualifications and plenty of know how related to the subject, attempting to carry out home improvements yourself, is a recipe for disaster, and while you might believe you can save money in this way, you’ll likely end up spending more to correct your mistakes.
Finding a trustworthy and experienced general contractor isn’t always easy, but if they show any (or all!) of the following 9 signs, then you should probably start your search again and try to find a contractor who will be better suited to the job:
Unless you’re skilled and experienced at handling some of the more complex elements of an apartment renovation project, it’s always best to hire professionals to ensure that the work is carried out properly, and perhaps more importantly, safely.
Masonry structures are typically extremely durable, hardwearing and long lasting, but as with most construction materials, time and general wear and tear can cause them to become damaged. In fact, there are a number of different factors that can contribute to masonry damage, either directly or indirectly:
Roofs that are between 15 and 20 years old are generally considered to be older, and oftentimes, when roofs reach this age, they can start to show signs of wear and tear. While some of these signs may not give immediate cause for concern, many can lead to bigger, costlier problems as time goes by, and are worth addressing early on.
Roofs that are between 15 and 20 years old are generally considered to be older, and oftentimes, when roofs reach this age, they can start to show signs of wear and tear. While some of these signs may not give immediate cause for concern, many can lead to bigger, costlier problems as time goes by, and are worth addressing early on.
If you’ve had construction work carried out on your home and the project was kept in check by an experienced general contractor, then there’s a strong chance it will add to the value of your home. However, some projects are more effective than others for increasing a home’s value, and below are some that generally give a great return on an investment:
If you’re having your home built by a professional construction company or general contractor, you’ll need to sit down together and have a conversation about what your home will be built from, and how it will be constructed.
There can be a number of causes for a leaking roof, such as improper installation, damage from a storm or a lack of general maintenance, and any one of them can cause significant damage to a home if left undetected and unrepaired.
While building your own home can be a fantastic idea, there are few individuals who are capable of doing so without the project becoming a disaster, as they’re simply not qualified or experienced to act as their own general contractor, or GC. Hence, for most, it makes sense to hire a professional, licensed contractor.
An asphalt roof can last for many years, and provided its maintained well and repairs are carried out in a timely manner, it might even outlive you! However, there will come a point in time when every asphalt roof needs to be replaced, even if only due to general wear and tear, and when the time is right, it doesn’t pay to hang around and postpone it.
Adding dormer windows to your home could help bring in natural light to upper floor rooms, attics and lofts, or indeed, any room with a vaulted ceiling, and is a remodeling project that more and more Americans are choosing to undertake. That said, they of course don’t undertake it as a DIY project, instead enlisting the help of a local general contractor.
Whatever type of construction project you’re undertaking, the company that you choose to carry out the work can be the difference between a successful project, and one that is an expensive failure. Below are some of the most important things to look out for when hiring a general contractor, and what you should expect from a reputable, professional one:
More and more Americans are choosing to add on to their homes to increase their value, increase their livable space and make their homes big enough to meet their needs for many years to come. However, while an addition is a great investment, it’s only ever as great as the plans you make, and the contractors who build it for you.
One of the most important things you can do to help any renovation project go smoothly, is to select the right general contractor. By choosing someone who can prove their level of experience at handling such a project, and who is qualified, skilled and licensed, you’re already well on the way to getting the home you’ve dreamed of, but there are a number of other factors to consider before construction gets underway.
Crowded and full of tall buildings with busy streets, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) has created several laws to ensure the many buildings and properties are maintained well and remain safe for the general public, along with the owners of the property of building, at all times. But what happens when a building or property isn’t compliant with the DOB regulations and provisions?
While a couple of years ago, many homeowners might have decided to sell their smaller home and upgrade to a bigger one, nowadays more and more people are choosing to remodel and invest in home additions. However, while a home addition – when carried out professionally – is undoubtedly going to add value to your home and give you more space, it is still a significant investment, and it pays to consider the following points before you engage with a general contractor:
A well-constructed and maintained driveway can make a real statement about a home, and as such, investing in them makes a lot of sense. If your existing driveway is less than impressive, or you want to create one from the space outside your home, it’s important to make the right choices when it comes to the materials you use. The following brief guide will give you a basic idea about the different materials available, but a conversation with your local paving or general construction contractor, will help give you a much more detailed understanding:
As a significant investment – possibly the biggest most will make during their lifetime – owning your own home can be both satisfying and lucrative, but with professionally carried out renovations or additions, you can add to the value of your home, and make it a more exciting and functional space to live in. However, before you start calling contractors and arranging for walls to be knocked down or spaces to be gutted, you should think carefully about what would be the right kind of project for your home, and what might give you the biggest return on your investment.
House flipping has become increasingly popular in recent decades, and with the profits some homeowners go on to make when they buy run down properties and renovate or remodel them, it’s easy to see why.
Most construction projects require careful planning and execution, and while the structure’s design might be one aspect of the project, there are a whole host of other factors to be accounted for, too.
Patios are a great addition to any home, and having some outdoor space to enjoy and upon which to entertain friends and family, is something most homes would benefit from.
When mortar joints found between masonry materials such as brick and stone are finished, this is known as ‘pointing,.’ While masonry materials are typically long lasting and strong when used in construction, the mortar, however, isn’t quite as indestructible and needs periodic maintenance to ensure and maintain structural integrity.
When laid and maintained professionally, bricks and mortar can remain standing for many, many years – centuries in fact! However, despite their extreme durability, it’s not unusual for bricks to become dulled over time, and lose their original color that made them so visually appealing.
When laid and maintained professionally, bricks and mortar can remain standing for many, many years – centuries in fact! However, despite their extreme durability, it’s not unusual for bricks to become dulled over time, and lose their original color that made them so visually appealing.
While a lot will depend upon the scale of the bathroom remodel, most can be completed within a month, and even as little as 3 weeks for a smaller project.
Whatever type of construction project you’re planning, from a full house-build to a home renovation, engaging with the services of a general contractor right off the bat, can help ensure that everything goes smoothly.
In-law suites were initially designed with the purpose of giving senior relatives a safe and comfortable place to live alongside their family, while still being able to maintain a degree of independence. Over the years, however, they’ve morphed into a popular type of home addition with myriad uses.
Like everything else, the structure of your brick walls eventually deteriorates. The brick mortar between the mortar joints eventually tends to wither away, and atmospheric agents play a major role in this. It’s even possible to find some bricks breaking off when water seeps into the joints. For this reason, you will need to use brick pointing to revitalize the structure of your bricks. This involves using cement mortar or lime mortar to repair or finish the brick mortar joints.
Like everything else, the structure of your brick walls eventually deteriorates. The brick mortar between the mortar joints eventually tends to wither away, and atmospheric agents play a major role in this. It’s even possible to find some bricks breaking off when water seeps into the joints. For this reason, you will need to use brick pointing to revitalize the structure of your bricks. This involves using cement mortar or lime mortar to repair or finish the brick mortar joints.
Like everything else, the structure of your brick walls eventually deteriorates. The brick mortar between the mortar joints eventually tends to wither away, and atmospheric agents play a major role in this. It’s even possible to find some bricks breaking off when water seeps into the joints. For this reason, you will need to use brick pointing to revitalize the structure of your bricks. This involves using cement mortar or lime mortar to repair or finish the brick mortar joints.
Like everything else, the structure of your brick walls eventually deteriorates. The brick mortar between the mortar joints eventually tends to wither away, and atmospheric agents play a major role in this. It’s even possible to find some bricks breaking off when water seeps into the joints. For this reason, you will need to use brick pointing to revitalize the structure of your bricks. This involves using cement mortar or lime mortar to repair or finish the brick mortar joints.
Even if you’re having minor remodeling work carried out at your home, it pays to be properly prepared for what you might expect. But when it comes to gut renovations, the scale of the work is far greater, therefore the amount of costs, designs and timescales are far more extensive, too.
Having played a significant role in architecture over the centuries, parapet walls were once an essential feature on many buildings, as people tried desperately to protect themselves from the enemy. Made from a variety of different materials and forming a defensive layer of additional protection, parapet walls and parapet roofs were included in the construction plans of some of the world’s most well known historical forts and castles, and yet they are still being used by architects today.
Ever since the pandemic, people working from home has become more and more common, and for many nowadays, it has become a permanent change. Whether their employers have requested that they continue doing so, or whether they have chosen to work from home as it presents the more convenient option, either way, people are wanting to create office spaces in their homes to help them fulfil their roles professionally.
With any type of project involving a construction or renovation process, cost will likely be a key factor in determining whether you can go ahead with the project or not, or to what extent you can add on to, or renovate your home. However, while many homeowners are deterred by the seemingly high price of professional masonry services, it’s important to understand why their work is priced the way it is, and what factors can impact their final estimate.
Any structure with lintels professionally installed is likely to last a lot longer than one without them installed, and they can help buildings of all shapes and sizes maintain their structural integrity for many years. If you’re having a home or commercial property built for you, your construction contractor will likely be planning to insert lintels throughout. And while plenty of structures don’t have lintels installed, those that are big or which have foundations designed to support a significant weight, would almost certainly benefit from their installation at the point of construction.
As a way of covering both the outer and inner walls of residential and commercial buildings, stucco continues to prove immensely popular, thanks in part to its affordability and its smooth, practical and attractive finish. Also able to be tinted so that it dries to a particular color, homeowners can tailor the exact shade of stucco to make their home stand out from others in the neighborhood.
Achieving an energy-efficient home that saves you money on your utility bills as well as reducing your carbon footprint, is the dream for most people, but did you know that by maintaining your brickwork, you can make that dream a reality? Brickwork is typically overlooked when homeowners consider energy efficiency, but when masonry is kept in good condition with no cracks or gaps, it can significantly improve a property’s insulation values.
With the ongoing pandemic having turned many industries upside down, the construction sector has suffered greatly, and as a homeowner with plans to remodel or have a new home constructed, you may be wondering whether it’s safe, or even possible, to go ahead with the project. Thankfully, restrictions have eased in many parts of the country, and work has been able to recommence as vaccination programs are accelerated. However, if you still have concerns as to whether your construction project can go ahead, the following information should help put your mind at ease:
Keeping your brick home looking neat, tidy and visually appealing, can be challenging, particularly if you live in an area of the country that frequently experiences extreme weather conditions.
Bump out additions are a fantastic solution for many homeowners to increase the space within their home, without breaking the budget, and if a full on addition project isn’t quite within your reach, then one of these 5 great bump out ideas, might be:
Used in all manner of construction projects throughout the world, whether for residential, commercial or industrial purposes, masonry structures are typically sturdy, durable, energy efficient, resistant to fire and even sound-proof. That said, while nothing beats masonry in terms of longevity in the construction world, it can still be prone to damage that if left unrepaired or unrestored, can pose a serious threat to the very integrity of a building or other such structure.
While they might look attractive hanging from the edges of a roof in winter, icicles can actually be a sign of something much more unpleasant and potentially harmful, to come: ice dams. These ridges of solid ice known as ice dams, form during snowy, freezing weather, and are often very thick. Forming along the eaves of a roof, they are more than capable of tearing off gutters, loosening shingles, and causing water to back up and start permeating your home.