Monthly Archives: February 2010

How to find the right general contractor in San Diego

When you decide to remodel any aspect of your home, whether it be your bathroom, kitchen or multiple rooms, you are likely to be faced with the tedious chore of choosing a contractor. To start you need to be sure that any contractor you’re considering has a valid contractor’s license, valid workman’s compensation and valid liability insurance. In order to verify this you need proof from the contractor. Furthermore, you’ll want to get as many references from the contractor as possible.

There are many important questions to ask these references. Here are just a few important questions to ask:

  • Did you have an opportunity to see and approve the plans prior to the start of the job?
  • Did the job start on time?
  • Did they clean the work area before leaving for the day?
  • Did the quality of the work live up to your expectations and what they promised?
  • Did the job get completed on time?
  • VERY IMPORTANT: Did they ever ask for money before the phase of work was completed and before they were entitled to be paid? Did workers or sub contractors make asides or complain they were not being paid on time or were worried about getting their money at all? This is a huge red flag.
  • For your next home remodeling project consider a well respected San Diego general contractor with an impeccable record.

    San Diego home construction ideas

    The first step any homeowner should take before remodeling their home is determining what their budget is. It’s a good idea to have a rough budget in mind before bringing out a contractor to give you an estimate. Often times a contractor may come out multiple times in order to fully understand the scope of the work. In fact, this is essential for almost any project. For many remodeling projects blueprints and permits are required. Once you do get an estimate from a contracting company make sure that they give you a fixed price and they take the time to clearly go through the scope of the work.

    The next step after determining your budget is to analyze exactly what you want upgraded. If you’re hoping to remodel your kitchen and you’ve determined your budget then you can think about the layout that you’d like, the materials that you want and appliances that you’d like. For counter tops you’ll want to consider granite, stainless steel, marble or engineered stone if you have a bigger budget or if counter tops are high on your list of upgrades. Even more inexpensive alternatives such as laminates, wood and tile can get pricey if they are customized. For any material used it is important to understand the pros and cons for its potential to chip, stain, scratch, or dent, as well as how much maintenance they require. The same thought process should be applied to the appliances that you choose. Make sure your contractor offers you a variety of choices of materials and appliances, and is well versed in the pros and cons of each.

    If you’re opting to remodeling your entire home or add on to it then you have many more options. One option to consider is whether or not to go solar. Any new room or addition will likely require a new roof. Placing solar panels on your roof will cost more up front, but will save you a lot of money in the long run. Another idea to consider if you’re remodeling your home is repainting the entire house. Often times construction companies will simply paint the newly built area, but neglect the rest of the house. However, there may be problem areas with paint chipping or peeling, stucco cracking or worse, wood rotting. Even if the last paint job was within 5 years you may want to consider adding another coat of 100% acrylic paint for wood or elastomeric paint for stucco.

    No matter how big or small your project, you’ll want input from the contractor you choose. If you are in need of a contractor who can help you through this process then look no further than Greyhound General. Contact
    Greyhound today for a free estimate.

    Outdoor Kitchen Remodeling and Design- the newest trend

    The newest trend in home remodeling that has become very popular as of late is creating or remodeling your outdoor space. Families looking to spruce up their backyards are opting to design and install outdoor kitchens with nearly all the amenities of their indoor kitchens. Grills, refrigerators, stoves, and sinks are becoming more and more common. While installing pools and hot tubs can be very costly, outdoor kitchen spaces can be done for well under $10,000, depending on the scope of the work.

    There are a few key things to consider before remodeling your backyard living space and installing an outdoor kitchen. First, the materials that your appliances are made of must be taken into account. Stainless steel appliances are usually a good idea as they hold up well against the elements. Just like granite is popular material to use for counter tops indoors, it is also great for outdoors because it is easy to clean and it holds up well over time without ever wearing down. Concrete counter tops is a cheaper alternative to granite that is also very durable. Keep in mind that since concrete counter tops use colored dyes they are susceptible to lightening when exposed to the elements, so make sure to cure and seal these counter tops. It is also a good idea to incorporate some shade into your outdoor kitchen area to protect against the sun and the elements.

    Finally, have some fun with your space. Personalize it to fit your interests and lifestyle. Stereo systems, bars and fire pits are other great ideas to spruce up your outdoor space.