NARI TODAY - A Guide to Remodeling Right - Summer 2012

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE REMODELING INDUSTRY’S

GUIDE TO REMODELING RIGHT

INSIDE

CREATING A 3-D HOME THEATER FRESHEN YOUR HOME DEFINING YOUR STYLE photo courtesy of

J.S. BROWN & CO.

VISIT TRUSTNARI.ORG FOR TRUSTED PROFESSIONALS IN REMODELING a guide to remodeling right

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Building your vision

Davidson Builders Custom Remodeling and Design Build

Additions, Master Suites, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Basements Whether it’s one room or the entire house, let our experience be your guide on your next home remodeling project.

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Experience the difference with NARI During the past 26 years, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) has been connecting central Ohio consumers with top remodeling professionals.

NARI has grown to more than 250 trusted professional member companies since it was founded as a not-forprofit trade association in 1985.

We invite homeowners to see for themselves why consumers say NARI members are making the difference in their remodeling experiences.

For those who have had

difficulty locating a skilled contractor, NARI is the best resource in which to turn. NARI contractors undergo a thorough background check and are screened using stringent criteria for experience and craftsmanship.

NARI contractors also must display a commitment to the NARI code of ethics.

By reading this and future issues of NARI TODAY, homeowners can learn more about locating and working with the most trusted professionals in the remodeling industry.

Without fail, this special

feature introduces homeowners to the professional members of NARI and serves as a guide to remodeling right.

In this issue, homeowners will find tools to help them feel comfortable with making decisions about their remodeling projects.

Using these guides will give peace of mind and help produce winning results with your home-remodeling project.

Hire a NARI professional and experience the best.

We hope you enjoy the content of NARI TODAY. Look for the NARI logo — a symbol of trust.

If you have questions about

NARI or how to locate a NARI member who can help with your remodeling needs, visit www.TrustNARI.org to get started.

We look forward to serving you.

Todd Schmidt, CR, UDCP

President, NARI of Central Ohio Owner, Renovations Unlimited renovationsunlimited.com

Ourintegrity, Valuesfamily, honesty, respect, education

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PHOTO COURTESY J.S. BROWN & CO.

Freshen Your Home Spruce up the exterior of your house with these quick and easy tips

W

ith the economy the way it is, you may be considering ways to add more character to the front of your home instead of moving. What you can do depends on your budget, as a complete facelift is much more

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expensive than just freshening up the entry. The following tips apply to a variety of budgets, and all of them will spruce up your house in no time.

TIDY UP Basic clean-up can be achieved with little effort and minimal cost:

• Clean windows and gutters.

• Pressure wash walkways to remove mold and mildew.

• Edge sidewalks and remove vegetation growing between concrete and bricks.

• Make your lawn look great: fertilize, de-thatch, get rid of weeds

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PHOTO COURTESY FINISH LINE BUILDING INC.

and reseed.

• Trim trees and shrubs. Make certain you can see the front door from the street.

• Plant colorful annuals, and put ground cover around trees.

• Garage your cars. Many of us turn our garages into storage rooms.

Parking cars in the driveway can clutter the view of the house.

A FRESH COAT • Add fresh paint to siding and/or trim. A bolder color will make a huge difference.

• Don’t forget the shutters. Semigloss paint in a complementary color adds sparkle.

• Refinish or repaint the front door, and add new or refinished hardware. Nothing looks worse than a weathered brass kick plate.

• Repaint or replace your mailbox,

a guide to remodeling right

if needed. It’s usually the first thing guests see.

LIGHTEN & BRIGHTEN Lighting makes a big difference.

Most lighting projects can be accomplished on your own.

• Don’t forget about how your house looks at night — add lighting for evening appeal.

• Most landscape lighting is low voltage, with a transformer that plugs into an exterior weatherproof outlet.

However, if you don’t have an available outlet and you’re not comfortable working with electrical wiring, hire a licensed electrician.

• Add low-voltage lighting along your sidewalk to the front door for guests. Many types of decorative fixtures are available to enhance the walkway.

• Add up-lighting to illuminate trees, corners of the house or important landscaping elements.

• Add a decorative post lamp or replace that worn out light fixture on your front porch. Match your existing fixtures as much as possible so they look cohesive.

ENHANCE YOUR HOME’S IMAGE There are many things you can do architecturally to enhance the image of your home. Some are simple and inexpensive, while others require a larger budget.

• Add flower boxes to your windows. Many styles are available online or at a local home center.

Consider adding a drip-irrigation system to keep the flowers blooming and conserve water.

• Make a front porch inviting by

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adding a planter for extra color, or chairs and rockers if you have a large enough area.

• If you don’t have a porch, consider adding one.

Nothing says home like a covered entry. Check your local zoning regulations to see if you have the space to add one.

• Adding additional trim such as crown molding or porch railings increases the level of exterior detail, which adds to curb appeal.

• Consider adding shutters. They should be equal to half the width of the window, and they come in many styles and materials. The most common are raised panel or louvered, but plank and cut-out are available, too. Shutters can add great accent color to the front of the house.

• Create visual interest with front-yard gardens, fences, stone walls, arbors or water features.

• Sometimes changing cladding materials can upgrade the look of your home. If you have a vinyl-sided home, adding some stucco, stone or even vertical board-andbatten siding can significantly upgrade your home’s appearance.

More substantial renovations will be specific to the design and style of your home.

It’s possible to add roof dormers or cupolas, or to even completely change roof lines in the process of remodeling or adding on to your home.

Now is the time to get started. Decide what you want to tackle first and get ready for a new look for your home.

By NARI Member Jim Wright, CPDB, AIBD, Residential Designed Solutions, Inc. rdshomedesign.com

614.459.7211 www.davefox.com nari of central ohio

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A REMODELER YOU CAN TRUST When you hear a nickname, an image of someone comes to mind. Does a person come to mind when you hear Lefty, Hopalong, Sweetness, Blue Eyes?

Do you have a nickname for your contractor? Are Trust, Old Reliable or Mr. On-Time any of those nicknames? It seems many of us have stories about the contractor who did not finish the job on time or within the quoted price. For every negative story we have heard, there are hundreds of satisfied homeowners with remodeled kitchens, bathrooms and finished basements who couldn’t be happier.

When you are ready to start your remodeling project, contact NARI to find the perfect match for your ideas, budget and lifestyle.

NARI of Central Ohio is a local source connecting homeowners

with trusted contractors.

Shari Bates, executive director of NARI of Central Ohio, offers these tips when searching for a professional contractor.

• Hire a contractor who is local.

Check with past customers, some who might be your neighbors, for a reference. Call references and ask whether the homeowner was happy with all aspects of the contractors performance. Ask to see the finished project, if possible.

• Interview contractors until you find one you are comfortable working with. They will be in your home a lot, and you will want to trust your intuition when you are interviewing them.

• Budget. Should you always go with the lowest price? Always ask why the price is the lowest or highest. Are they quoting all the

materials and permits required?

Is there a large range in quality?

Are you comparing apples to apples?

Finding a contractor doesn’t have to be a burden. You can research on NARI’s Web site, www.trustnari.org, where you’ll find project planning articles, a directory of members by specialty, award-winning projects and educational and idea resources.

This way, when you have completed your dream addition or remodel, your word association for Trust, Integrity, On Time and On Budget will be NARI.

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Define your home style in

three simple steps

A

rticulating your design style is key to creating a room that truly reflects it. Most people like more than one style of décor.

Different styles can be combined to create a unique space in your home. Learning how to do this first requires defining your style.

Start by saving pictures you like from magazines and Web sites. These pictures will all have something in them that you are attracted to — a color, a cabinet style or an overall look.

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IMAGES THINKSTOCKPHOTOS.COM

Highlight what you like, and once you collect a few, look for a common thread or theme. You will also want to look at what you already own, with a focus on the items that bring you joy.

Next, think about places you love and what your dream home would look like if there were no limit to your budget. This takes your imagination out of your current home and into a realm of endless possibilities.

Write down everything you think would add beauty to your

space — colors, styles, various types of furniture. Even consider where you would live if you were given the opportunity to live anywhere.

Ask yourself what you like about an area and what could make your home evoke the same feeling.

The final suggestion to help define your style is determine what makes you feel the most comfortable in a room.

Your style encompasses more than a particular type of furniture.

It is how you dress, the music you

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enjoy and how you live.

Does the earthiness of a stone fireplace appeal to you with wooden beams along the ceilings?

Maybe you would like to add some contrast to a room with your other favorite style, which is contemporary.

Maybe the intricate details of European architecture influence your choices, and you like antiques. You could call your style “European elegance.”

The mixing of styles is what makes your home unique, and it’s what makes you and your family most comfortable in the space.

There are many personal styles and no limits to imagination when creating the spaces you love.

By NARI Member Angela Bonfante, Angela Bonfante Kitchen Designs abkitchendesigns.com

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CREATING A 3-D HOME THEATER

PHOTO COURTESY OF BUCKEYE BASEMENTS

H

igh gas prices, rising movie-theater ticket costs and advances in technology just might make this your year to invest in a home theater rather than a summer vacation. Whether you’re creating a home theater from scratch or upgrading an existing one to incorporate the latest 3-D technology, you should keep a few considerations in mind.

LOCATION “Utilizing the space in the basement/lower level of a home is an excellent and cost-effective avenue in adding on a media

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room,” says Jon Smith, vice president of Buckeye Basements.

“What’s a common element in all movie theaters? They are dark.

In general, basements tend to be dark as well, making them a prime location for that optimal movieviewing experience, and no doubt a major reason why media rooms are becoming one of the most popular requested items in basement finishing,” Smith says.

EQUIPMENT Items needed typically include a video projector, 100-inch fixed screen, receiver, speakers and a Blu-ray player. Designing a truly

dedicated theater entails some additional steps, such as ensuring the theater room is completely closed off from other living space. Additional soundproofing, a platform for elevated seating, authentic theater seats and accessories also help create that magical cinema experience.

TECHNOLOGY The availability of 3-D-enabled equipment and content is making the transition easier, says John Premec of Premiere Home Technologies.

“At this point, 3-D viewing is an occasional experience for the

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homeowner. Viewing movies and sporting events in 2-D high definition is still the dominant use in home theaters,” Premec says.

Customers should keep in mind that watching 3-D material requires 3-D glasses for everyone in the room, he adds.

“That can add up to six to eight pairs of glasses (or more) when entertaining family and friends.”

This factor should be considered prior to investing in the additional expense of 3-D integration. Although autostereoscopic display technologies are being pursued (which eliminates the need for 3-D glasses), this approach to 3-D viewing is still being perfected.

Whatever type of theater you choose, remember that spending time in family leisure activities increases emotional bonding.

“My favorite place in the world is on our comfy chair in the theater with all of the kids and me piled up together,” says Benjamin Hilton, father of three children, who recently had a new home theater

a guide to remodeling right

PHOTO COURTESY OF PREMIERE HOME TECHNOLOGIES

installed.

“Movie night quickly became a huge family hit.

Don’t forget the popcorn,” he says.

By NARI Member Jonathan Smith Buckeye Basements Inc. buckeyebasements.com

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Don’t settle for ordinary.

Expect extraordinary.

Peter A. Robinson Remodeling, LCC design/build | additions | kitchens and baths | basements | outdoor spaces Serving Central Ohio for over 30 years | 614-855-2914 | www.parremodeling.com

Call to schedule an appointment by July 1, 2012, and receive 25% off your design fee.

A tradition of impeccable design, fine craftsmanship and enduring relationships Ohio’s first NARI Master Certified Remodeler

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