What to expect of a room addition project
By METRO CREATIVE
There are many reasons homeowners consider adding a room to their current homes. Some outgrow an existing space, while others take up new hobbies or have different needs that were not apparent when purchasing the home. Indeed, a room addition can remedy a host of issues affecting a home. Those considering adding a room may wonder what is involved in this type of project. According to The Spruce, no home improvement project is more complicated or expensive than building an addition. The National Association of Realtors says building an addition can cost between $90,000 and $270,000, depending on the size and intended purpose of the room. An addition structurally changes a home, which requires the work of professionals whether homeowners plan to build upwards or outwards. With so much to ponder when considering a home addition, here’s a look
at what homeowners can expect of the process.
• Design and planning: Homeowners must determine the purpose behind the addition and how it will integrate with the existing home. A bedroom design likely will be different from a garage addition or family game room.
• Hire an engineer and contractor: An addition changes the footprint of a home. Homeowners will require professional contractors and structural engineers/architects to properly design the addition and ensure that it will not compromise the existing structure. Detailed architectural plans will be drawn up considering the layout, size and integration with the existing structure. The home may require a new property survey as well.
• Comply with building codes: The project will have to meet with local zoning regulations, building codes and homeowners association rules.
• Timing involved: Adding a room is a major overhaul of a space. It may
require months of a home being in upheaval. If the renovations are particularly extensive, homeowners may need to temporarily move out of the space. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC must be considered, and drywall and finishing the interior are some of the last steps to make the room habitable.
• Demolition: Adding a room may
involve taking down walls or modifying existing spaces, necessitating hiring a dumpster to remove debris. This is an added consideration and expense. Putting an addition on a home is a complex process that will take time and money. Such a project requires careful planning and consultation with an array of experts.
FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
Tips to maximize closet space
By METRO CREATIVE
Who couldn’t use a little more closet space at home? As individuals accumulate more belongings, they need places to store all of these items. While modern homes may be built with extra storage in mind, older homes often place a premium on closet space. Homes built earlier than the 1980s may have small closets in bedrooms and only one or two additional closets around the home for linens and other items.
The most obvious solution to a lack of closet space is to build more closets. But too often home floor plans cannot accommodate new closets. Therefore, homeowners may have to get creative to maximize their space.
Sort and discard
Individuals can take some time to empty closets and assess what is in them. Sometimes more space can come from
simply thinning out belongings that are no longer used. Take off the plastic coverings on dry cleaning and discard bulky shoe boxes.
Invest in thinner hangers
Clothes hangers come in all types, but the thinnest and most durable ones tend to be the no-slip velvet variety. Such hangers keep garments from slipping off and feature an ultra-thin design, says Real Simple magazine.
Use storage containers
Grouping items together and condensing them can free up space. Tuck belts, handbags and other items into storage bins that can be labeled and stacked. Loose items can look more cluttered and even take up more space when spread out.
Pair shelves with rods
For those with enough space, hanging a few shelves in unused areas in the closet can provide more storage space.
If there is sufficient space above the rod, install a shelf and place seldom-used items up high.
Get a closet system
A customized closet system will certainly provide the best chances to maximize closet space. These companies will measure the closet and assess the contents to draw up a design that will give homeowners what they need. Closet systems also can adjust and grow with lifestyle changes.
Choose other storage solutions
In addition to closets, people can identify other spaces to store items. This can include bins under beds, storage benches or ottomans, the back sides of doors, or in furniture with built-in drawers. Individuals also can purchase free-standing closets or armoires that can fill in when rooms do not have enough closet space or no closet at all.
Maximizing closet space comes down to some creativity, de-cluttering and utilizing additional furniture to meet needs.
FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
How to keep overwintering bugs out this season
By METRO CREATIVE
Fall is here, which means temperatures are cooling and some insects are gearing up for their version of hibernation, called overwintering. Now is the time to be thinking about how to keep bugs out before leaves and snow cover the ground. First and most importantly, start by inspecting your home with a watchful eye and sealing any possible entry points. By removing these tiny entrances, overwintering insects won’t be able to get into your structure.
Entry points for overwintering pests can include:
• Cracks or gaps around windows, doors, or foundations
• Holes in window, door or vent screens
• Holes/cracks around electrical outlets or switchboxes
• Gaps/cracks where utility lines or water spigots enter your structure
• Gaps/cracks where any materials meet (brick, siding, carpeting, flooring)
Types of Overwintering Pests
• Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSB)
• Boxelder Bugs
• Cluster Flies
• Asian and Domestic Lady Beetles
What you can do
• Remove clutter from both inside and outside your home, as pests often use these areas for shelter.
• Ensure that your home’s drainage systems are functioning properly to avoid creating moisture-rich environments that attract pests.
• Store firewood and other outdoor materials away from the house to discourage pests from seeking refuge nearby.
• Pay extra attention to the South and West sides of your structure, as those areas receive the largest amounts of sunlight. Before attempting to break
in, overwintering pests will sometimes gather on these sides of buildings to soak up those last rays of sunlight.
What if they’re already inside?
If you come across an insect invader inside your structure, no need to panic! One of the best ways to take care of these pests is to vacuum them up! Don’t forget to remove the vacuum bag or clean out the filter after, though. They may be able to escape.
FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
The most popular rooms to remodel
By METRO CREATIVE
Home improvement trends come and go. In a testament to that reality, the wildly popular open floor plan concepts that have dominated homeowners’ desires over the last decade-plus could be falling out of favor, a shift that Rachel Stults of Realtor.com linked to the COVID-19 pandemic in a 2023 interview with Business Insider. Stults noted open floor plans will likely exhibit some measure of staying power, but linked the shift toward more traditional layouts to COVID lockdowns and the desire for more privacy among residents.
The shift away from open floor plans is a testament to the fleeting nature of home renovation trends. But trends still deserve a place at the table among real estate investors and homeowners who want to renovate their homes with an eye on projects that could be most appealing to pro-
spective buyers. As homeowners balance their own preferences with those that might help them sell their homes down the road, they can consider this list of the most popular rooms to renovate, courtesy of the “2024 U.S. Houzz & Home Study” from Houzz Research.
1. Kitchen 2. Guest bathroom
3. Primary bathroom 4. Living room
Guest bedroom 6. Primary bedroom 7. Laundry room 8. Closet
9. Dining room 10. Home office
When considering renovating these or other rooms, homeowners should know that Houzz researchers found that the median spend increased for most interior room upgrades compared to the previous year. However, the median cost to upgrade living rooms and home offices remained unchanged.
FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
Warning signs a bathroom needs work
By METRO CREATIVE
Homeowners know that the work involved to maintain a home is never done. The end of one project has a tendency to roll into the planning of another, and so it goes for years on end.
Fortunate are the homeowners who get to choose when to begin a renovation project, but it’s far more common that homeowners spot an issue and then realize it’s time to renovate. When it comes to bathrooms, which can be among the more expensive spaces to renovate in a home, homeowners can keep an eye out for various signs suggesting the room needs a remodel.
Mold and mildew
Mold and mildew is perhaps the most glaring sign a bathroom needs to be renovated or remodeled. Mold and mildew pose a notable threat to human health, as the United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that molds can cause allergic reactions. Individuals sensitive to mold may develop symptoms that mimic reactions to outdoor allergens like pollen, including sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and dermatitis (skin rash). Mold also can trigger asthma attacks in people allergic to mold who have the condition. Mold can grow in poorly ventilated bathrooms, such as those without a fan or ones in which fans are not working properly. Mold and mildew will return if it’s merely scrubbed away, so the underlying cause of mold must be addressed to prevent its return.
Small signs of fading
Stains, peeling paint, cracked paint, and gaps in grout are small signs of fading that indicate a bathroom is in need of renovation if not a complete remodel. These issues also can serve as warning signs of larger issues, such as water issues and structural problems, so they should not be merely written off as minor problems or eyesores.
Rising water bills
Some signs a bathroom could use a little TLC are not necessarily confined to the room itself. If water bills are rising significantly and do not align with price increases or an uptick in water consumption, homeowners may have leaking
pipes. Such pipes might be beneath a bathroom sink or behind tiled walls. Discoloration on the walls, peeling paint or wallpaper and/or a musty odor may indicate leaks inside a bathroom wall. If coupled with rising water bills, these signs could be indicative of a significant issue that requires immediate attention.
Issues with tiles
Cracked or damaged tiles in the shower and bathtub or even on the floor are unsightly and also pose a safety hazard. Cracked floor tiles can lead to slips and falls, which can be especially harmful to older residents. And cracked tiles within the shower and tub area can indicate water problems behind the walls or general disrepair. Such issues should be addressed before they escalate into something larger.
A dated vibe
Of course, some issues affecting a bathroom are not necessarily health or safety hazards but more an affront to homeowners’ grasp of current styles and trends. If walking into a bathroom unintentionally feels like stepping backward into a bygone era, then it’s probably time to consider a renovation or remodeling job.
Various signs can indicate to homeowners it’s time to consider a bathroom renovation.
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