BLOG

Embarking on a home remodeling project? Choosing the right contractor can be both exciting and challenging. At Russell Room Remodelers, we understand the importance of finding a partner who aligns with your vision and values. In this blog series, we dive into the crucial considerations that will guide you to the perfect contractor – one who not only meets your expectations but exceeds them.

Series Overview: Navigaing the Maze of Contractor Selection

If you are feeling the weight of selecting the right contractor, you’re not alone. Our blog series is designed to demystify the process, and provide you with the insights and advice you need to empower your selection.

Part One: Service, Experience, Reputation & Licensing

Discover the building blocks that form the foundation of a reliable contractor. We explore the significance of service excellence, the importance of experience, the power of a sterling reputation, and the assurance that comes with proper licensing.

Part Two: Budget & Cost Analysis

Navigating the financial aspects of your project is crucial. Part two delves into creating a realistic budget, understanding the difference between value and cost, and what financial transparency means and how to understand them from your contractors perspective (hint: it’s not the same as HGTV).

Part Three: Communication, Trust & Transparency

Effective communication, trust, and transparency are the lifeblood of any successful partnership. In part three, we guide you through assessing a contractor’s communication style, building trust, and ensuring you understand what’s happening throughout your remodeling journey.

Part Four: Products, Subcontractors, Expertise

The devil is in the details. Part four dissects the importance of quality products, the role of subcontractors and trade partners, and the value that comes when hiring an experienced professional contractor that will deliver exceptional results.

Part Five: Portfolio, References & Site Visits

The proof is in the pudding. In the final installment, explore how a contractor’s portfolio and client references serve as tangible testaments to their ability. A personal visit to one of their projects may be the key to envision the potential for your own transformation.

Stay Tuned for Midweek Insights!

As each post unfolds midweek, we invite you to join the conversation. Share your thoughts, ask questions, and let us know if there are additional considerations when selecting a contractor. Together, let’s turn your remodeling aspirations into reality.

Your dream space awaits, Russell Room Remodelers

(Or… how to fill free time when not remodeling)

This post is a departure from our usual remodeling post, and we hope you enjoy learning about one of the side-projects I have been working on. Remodeling is both an an art and a skill, and I have found after doing this for thirty plus years that most of the people drawn to remodeling love it because it offers a chance to work with your hands, learn to do construction well, gain skills with wood and a variety of products. But most enjoy remodeling because it involves learning and problem solving. My family likes to tease me because of the the wide range of projects and hobbies I take on, and this will give you a small window into one of those projects.

Early in our marriage I had the opportunity to go on my first Boundary Waters trip with a good friend, Kevin. Kevin introduced me to the BWCA and we enjoyed an annual trip to the Boundary Waters for almost 10 years. But child rearing took over our lives and that chapter closed for a season. During those years I discovered a love for quality built canoes and paddles, so in 2020 when my now high-school daughter asked me about cedar strip canoes, I think she stirred a long dormant desire to build my own boat. We began to research options and plans, and we settled on kayaks instead of canoes. If we were to each build one, we could enjoy them together or take them out on our own. So the journey began…

Chesapeake Light Craft has been making kits and products for boat building for more than 50 years. We settled on their Shearwater hybrid design which combines the quick, strong plywood hull construction, and still allows you the freedom to design your own kayak, with the cedar strip top construction. We ordered our kits, and soon a couple of boxes of parts arrived.

It looked a little daunting as we unwrapped the parts.

The kit came with all the epoxy, fiberglass, and parts needed. We had to supply the labor, a design, woodworking tools, and some misc. items, like paint brushes and rollers.

This design starts with the hull pieces that are assembled using the stitch and glue method. You use small pieces of wire threaded through holes and then twisted together to stitch the hull.

Then the seams are glued with epoxy. After the glue dries, the stitches are removed and the entire hull is sanded and then fiberglassed. The fiberglass is fabric that is spread smoothly on the hull, and as the epoxy covers it, it becomes clear. The hull has one layer of fiberglass inside and three on the outside.

Once the hull is complete, forms are installed for the top construction, and the strips are installed by carefully cutting and shaping them one at a time.

Each piece is glue and clamped, and then tacked in place to dry. This is where the artistic side comes through. Different colors are created by using different wood – nothing is stained, it is all clear coated. I learned a great deal about using a block plane and various sanding and shaping methods to fit each strip into the top. When the last piece is in place, the top is sanded until it looks perfect, then removed, sanded on the inside, and fiberglassing begins again. The forms are removed, and the top is fastened to the hull. More finishing, sanding, varnishing, and more sanding, and more varnishing. Last on the list is installing the seat and hardware. I opted for a design using rare earth magnets to hold down the hatch covers, so that no fasteners are seen. It added a lot of time, but I’m very pleased with the results.

My kayak is complete, and now I’m helping my daughter complete her kayak. Senior year and first year of college have made it hard for her to invest the time into construction, but we have managed to make some good progress this summer, and hopefully she can finish hers and get on the water next year.

Spring is finally here. Take a look at some of our projects in progress this week.

February may have you dreaming of a fire in a warm cozy basement, or maybe it is wishing you had a place to send the kids to play with their friends. If you are considering finishing your lower level, you may wonder “Where should I start?”

The first and most important item to work through is purpose. You may know exactly why you want to remodel or finish your basement, but take some time to discuss what the key purpose of the finished project will be. You may find that family members have vastly different views on how the space should be used. Let this discussion bring you to a list of key purposes for the basement, and then pare the list down to two or three main items. Here are some of the purposes we see most often:

• More space for the family or kids
• Additional bedrooms
• Additional bathrooms
• Entertaining or entertainment space
• Storage
• Specialty room: Music, sauna, office, or school room

Your purpose(s) for the project, and the priority of those purposes, will then dictate the design of the space. While it might be more fun to jump right into choosing colors, products or specialty items to add, you will be wasting time if those items don’t fit into the purpose for the project. What’s more important, “Form” or “Function?” We have found that with basements, this classic question is best served when “form follows function.” With only a limited space to work in, the purpose, or “Function” must be settled before working on the “Form.”

If you are struggling to nail down the purpose, these questions may help –

Who will use the space most? Adults, kids, teens, groups,…

What types of activities do you want to host or use it for?

Is there a specific focal point you want draw people to within the space?

What activities will occur? Family events, games, entertaining, food prep or buffet space, movies, work/office, book clubs or small groups, home school, guest visits, etc.…

This is just a smattering of options to consider. We would love to help you work through these questions, and then with the purpose in mind, ask the questions about how we can best design the space to accomplish that purpose. The layout and final floor plan will be needed to start an accurate estimate of the building materials and labor for the project, and it is also needed to inform the quantities of finish items, like tile, paint, countertops, etc.…

With the finished plan we can help guide you through the selection process. Some clients prefer to let us choose products, or give them a few suggestions, while others like to dive deep into visits to showrooms to view the various options available. Our process is designed to help you through the plans and selections in the way that best serves your style. Take a peek into our showroom and then call us when you’re ready to discuss your project. We’re happy to guide you through the process at the level of involvement you want participate at.

The cost of the project is always another key factor, and the selections will drive much of the final price. We can help you weigh the options and guide you to selections that stay within your budget. If you are curious about more information on basement finishing, including the cost of a basement remodel, check out our other blog posts on that subject.

This blog post is similar to a two part series we did in 2021 on basements.

This great recipe is featured in our latest newsletter. Try them, they are amazing!

AUTUMNAL COOKIES

(Cinnamon Roll Cookies)

Mix together:

1 Cup butter

1/2 Cup sugar

1/2 Cup brown sugar

Add and mix:

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine and mix in:

3 cups flour 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons backing powder

Bake 8 minutes at 375

Frosting

Whip together:

4 oz. cream cheese

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

One of the most common questions we are asked is, “Why is it more expensive to finish an unfinished basement after you’ve moved in than when you are building?”

Many people who have built a new home have told us that their builder quoted a price that was half the cost of what they are hearing from remodeling contractors. To help you better understand the process, we want to break down several reasons for this difference.

A new home builder will offer homeowners very limited choices, allowing them to keep their costs low and their production process consistent. Additionally, for builders who offer basement finishing, tacking on a basement during the construction process is relatively simple. It may only add a few days to the process because they are just adding to the scope of the trades who are already scheduled to be onsite. They don’t have to add additional steps in the process, just extend it slightly.

If you decide to finish your basement after moving in, there are additional factors involved, including extra time prepping the worksite, protecting the existing home, new permitting process, and the challenge of getting materials in and out of the home.

The process is more complicated in a finished home that’s lived in. There are nuances that need to be considered: for example, carrying the sheetrock through a space that is already finished can be tricky. Each of the subcontractors will need to visit in order to prepare a bid.

The trade partners involved may include:

• Framing
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
• Painting
• Drywall
• Cabinetry and Countertops
• Flooring (could be a couple different types of flooring)
• Other items like fireplace/stone and shower glass

Each of these subcontractors will charge more to remodel than a new build contractor because they need to visit your home multiple times. More care is required because you are living in the home, so the scheduling of their staff and product delivery is more complex.

While finishing a basement with a new home builder is certainly cheaper, there are advantages to finishing your basement after you are in the home.

One notable advantage is the unlimited creativity and customization you will be able to have. You aren’t limited to the builder’s choices and can pick create a design that fits your family, your style, and your choices much better. You don’t have to settle for the ‘builder-grade’ materials, and the minimum heat and electrical that are typical with new builds.

In short, buying a basement from a new home builder is like adding the super-sized fries to your order. It’s quick, cheap, and efficient. However, contracting with a home remodeling company, like Russell Room Remodelers, is like ordering a quality dinner. You have many options and are starting from scratch, so you can take your time selecting items to create a beautifully unique and well built basement.

Looking to finish or remodel your basement? Click here to read through the different items to consider as you dream up the space.

Magic corners are one of the best kept secrets.

Click below to watch and to see how to utilize your corner cabinet, while adding organization, accessibility, and convenience.

Cabinet door colors and designs create a unique look and feel for your kitchen. Click below for a quick inspiration video on a variety of cabinet door styles.

There are many ways to utilize cabinet space, and rolling cabinets make access especially easy. Check out some of our ideas in the video below!