Bedroom Remodeling Ideas

Whether you’d like to add on to your existing home or remodel your master suite, bedroom remodeling can be quite a chore. Thankfully, if you hire a professional the job can be timely and stress-free. Since the bedroom should be one of the most relaxing and comfortable places in your home, you need to make sure that everything from the ground up reflects this comfort.

Here are some areas to focus on with your remodeling contractor in order to ensure maximum comfort in your new bedroom:

1) Size of the room: If you’re adding on to your home you’ll need to talk to an architect about how much room around your house you can sacrifice to add this new bedroom. If you’re simply combining two bedrooms or enlarging a second story bedroom you’ll still need the help of an architect to make sure the dimensions are accurate.

2) Flooring: Carpet or Hardwood? This can be a tough choice because carpet provides a softness and warmth, while hardwood provides style and elegance. Your might base you decision on the flooring for the rest of the house, or you can simply disregard the rest of the house and make your newly remodeled room different. Your contractor should advise you on the best options.

3) Crown Molding & Trim: Nothing says style and elegance quite like very nice crown molding and trim. You can review all the styles and options with your contractor.

4) Walls: Paint or wallpaper? Or both? Like flooring, this can be a difficult decision. Remember that lighter and softer colors make the room appear more well-lit and inviting, which is exactly what you want in a bedroom.

If you considering a bedroom addition or remodeling an existing bedroom there are a lot of tough choices to make. However, if you have the right general contractor to help these decisions can be a lot easier to make. More importantly, a full service general contractor will walk you through all the steps for the project, including permits, architectural analysis, and much more.

If you’re in the San Diego area and you’re considering a bedroom addition or a bedroom remodel then contact Greyhound General today or call 800-568-7108.

Looking to Build Yourself a “Man Cave”?

Super Bowl Sunday is only a couple days away, so naturally people are making party plans. If you’re hosting one of these NFL season-ending bashes then you need to prepare. In addition to the food and drinks you’re going to have to think about where to host these guests. In your living room? Den? Chances are the room with the biggest TV will be the area your guests are congregating. Maybe your living room just isn’t cutting it? Or maybe you have formal room or basement that just isn’t being used? Man cave anyone?

Wikipedia defines a “man cave” as “a mantuary, or manspace, a male sanctuary, such as a specially equipped garage, spare bedroom, media room, den, or basement. It is not a cave but rather a metaphor describing a room inside the house, such as the basement or garage or attic or office, or outside the house such as a wood shed or tool room, where “guys can do as they please” without fear of upsetting any female sensibility about house decor or design.” Now that we’re clear on the definition, let’s discuss the essentials of your man cave, so that you can get working on it for next years’ Super Bowl…

1) Pick your space: You’ll need to find a room with enough space for a big screen TV and at least a couch and recliner. More importantly, you’ll need to find a space that isn’t currently being occupied by your significant other (or this could cause a lot of trouble). Consider the living room, family room, or den. However, if these spaces are all occupied then you’ll want to look at step 2…

2) “Fix up” or remodel the space: If you have a space that could be expanded on or a basement that needs finishing, you’ll need to help remodeling these spaces in order to get them ready to become  your man cave.  Consider hardwood floors (to help with beer spills) and sound proof walls. You’ll want to consult with a general contractor to explore all of your options.

3) Pick out a TV: The TV is the centerpiece of any man cave. Some would argue that the location of the TV should be taken into account for steps 1 and 2. A good idea would be to invest in a 50 or 60 in. TV (which you can find for under $1,000 now), and utilize other older models that you might be looking to get rid of, as “extras” in case you want to have multiple games on at once.

4) Pick out your furniture: Popular furniture items  for “man caves” are La-Z-Boy chairs, mini fridges, and recliners are man cave staples. No need to splurge on furniture, just make sure everyone invited over has a seat!

5) Decorate: This is where you hang every piece of sports memorabilia you own. Posters, autographs, and old street signs are just a few cool items that will help you “snaz up” the place.

6) Enjoy: Crack open a beer and enjoy the fruits of your (or your general contractor’s) labor!

Obviously the biggest, and most important, step in you getting you man cave completed is the remodeling phase. For many, your potential room may already be ready for a big screen TV, furniture, and all the other man cave essentials. However, many of the best man caves are specifically remodeled as such. Consider a room addition or basement remodel for your future man cave. Of course, you’re going to need help with the remodeling, and San Diego home remodeling contractor Greyhound General can help. Contact us today for a free man cave estimate, or call us at 800-568-7108.

Adding an attic bedroom to your home

So you have some extra money to invest in your home and you’re wondering which part of it to upgrade? Well, according to Remodeling magazine’s most recent survey, renovating your attic into a bedroom or spare room packs a bigger resale payback than any other room remodel. This may come as news to some, but the resale payback for an attic remodel is 83%, compared to 71% for a mid-range bathroom remodel and 72% for a major kitchen remodel.

With interest rates at an all time low, refinancing your loan can save you thousands monthly, which can ultimately be reinvested in your home. The attic is a great room to remodel, not simply because of its return value. It allows you to add an extra room to the house without having to add on to the structure (which can cost significantly more). Also, if you’ve been storing Christmas decorations, old children’s toys, and other “storage” items in your attic, remodeling can help you get rid of junk and organize items that you want to hold on to.

If you’d like to learn more about renovating your attic then contact Greyhound General today for a free consultation. Greyhound will thoroughly discuss all your options. Feel free to call us today at 800-568-7108.

Tips for adding a second story to your San Diego home

So you’ve determined that it is better for you to remodel your home vs. move. Maybe you have an elder loved one moving in, a son or daughter moving back in or you just want to upgrade your master bedroom or add a hobby/rumpus room. Whatever the case, there are a few things to consider before you make any decision.
1) Make sure you have the space: Map out in your head, or on paper, roughly the area that you’d like to expand on. You’ll surely go into much more detail later with the help of an architect, but you can at least make sure that the project is feasible.
2) Get approval from local authorities: In most places, a permit is required to add a second story to your home. You’ll have to submit a design plan, so you might want to swap step 2 and 3 if you don’t have a detailed plan in place.
3) Find a general contractor: A very important step. Consider general contractors with architects and plenty of references. They will be able to tell you right away if the project is doable, and then help you get the permit if you haven’t already done so.
4) Structural considerations: Your general contractor will need to assess the foundation of the house to verify if it can hold a second story.
5) Creating a detailed design: This is where an architect is essential. They will need to consider everything from the stairway to the plumbing, electrical wiring, and heater/AC duct placement.
6) Choose the materials you’d like to use: This is where you determine all the costs for everything, including new slab, flooring, roofing, plumbing, and everything else.
7) Pick a date and get started: You’ll want to pick a time frame where there’s little to no chance of rain because the roof will be the first thing removed from the home. You may want to consider relocating during construction, depending on the size of the project.

The steps mentioned above can be switched around a bit, depending on your home and the scope of your project. The important thing to remember is that you will need to budget for this, you’ll need a permit, you’ll need a detailed blueprint of the project, and you’ll need a highly qualified general contractor with an architect.

If you’re in the San Diego or Orange county area and considering a second story addition, contact Greyhound General to learn more about your options. Or call 800-568-7108.