Home Renovation Trends that Are Here to Stay

Home décor trends change constantly, which makes it hard for designers and homeowners to keep up with the latest trends. It is, however, not difficult to find the right balance between eternal and stylish,when decorating your home. There is no dearth of experienced home renovation contractors in Dallas, and other areas of Texas who exactly know what homeowners want and come up with design ideas that never go out of style. Let’s look at the top four trends that are prevalent among the renovation experts:

Four timeless and stylish home renovation trends

1. Brick wall

Homes constructed between the 80s and 90s were squeaky clean and nobody appreciated the idea of a brick wall. Leaving exposed brick wall has become the latest home decor trend. Designers, nowadays, deliberately leave the old brick wall exposed as it adds more value to the room. Brick walls add textural and visual contrast, making the entire space look more appealing and stylish.

2. Tile flooring

Tile flooring has moved from bathrooms and taken a center space in the living areas. Tiles add to the aesthetic appeal, are easy to clean and durable. There are several options available to match the taste of the homeowner and blend well with the style of the property. Those prefer wooden flooring, but want to stay away from maintenance and cleaning hassles, can opt for tiles with wooden looks.

3. Stand-alone shower and tub

Remodelers have designed baths with a combination of bath and shower set-ups. The trend is, however, changing slowly, as there are more options available in stand-alone showers and freestanding tubs. Homeowners prefer fitting showers with multiple sprays and jets options. A freestanding tub has become more of a style statement and it is easy to move inside the bath (if the homeowner wants to change the positioning).

4. Open kitchen

New homeowners and people planning to renovate their property want the kitchen, living and eating space to have a connected feeling. Open kitchen makes the room look more spacious and the cook doesn’t feel isolated, while everyone else is chatting in the living space.

Many of the home decor trends keep changing frequently. There are, however, certain styles that stay for longer than others. When it comes to renovating a house, better stick to minimalistic design and contemporary ideas, so that the space never looks boring.

Essential Factors to Consider in a Roofing Maintenance Plan

Roofs, if not maintained properly and serviced on a regular basis may drastically deteriorate.  In fact,many roofing companies in Dallas, Texas withdraw the warranties they offer if the roof maintenance is not done properly. Therefore, it is advisable to invest a little more on maintenance every year, instead of spending a large amount on a major repair that you may undertake due to lack maintenance or negligence.

The following the factors you need to consider when initiating a roof maintenance project:

1. Regular inspection 

Carry out regular inspections of your roof. Doing inspection at least twice a year is what every roofing contractor suggests. Most damages usually occur before and after the season, and therefore, this is the time when you need to get your roof inspected. The harsh winter and the scorching summer are seasons that post maximum challenges. Besides doing the required maintenance work for these two seasons, it’s imperative to get your roofs inspected after heavy storm. 

2. Periodic cleanups

Keeping your building’s roofs and gutters clean helps prevent any dirt or debris from piling up on the roof or inside the gutters. If you are one of those people who believe in following DIY techniques, can easily clean it on their own. If you can’t, then hire the services of a professional roofing contractor in Texas to do the job. They would look for dirt, leaves, and traces of debris in the gutters and also check if there is any damage on the roof caused by ice damming.

3. Flashing inspection

Flashing is a metal piece used around vents, exhaust pipes, and chimneys, or used at joints in wall construction or roofs. It prevents water from trickling through the joints and causing damage. Mostly water seepage in a house happens due to damaged flashing. A faulty flashing allows snow meltage to enter the interiors, causing damage to the internal walls and infrastructure rot.

4. Attic check

Attic problems are hard to identify and needs regular inspection. Due to this reason, even if your roof apparently does not look damaged, may still need your attention. Attic molds are usually caused by issues such as roof leaks, ventilation problems, and others. To ensure that your roof is free from attic issues, get it inspected on a regular basis to find damage or leakage. If there are any signs of streaks or stains in any unfurnished areas of your attic, you need to resolve them immediately. 

5. Ventilation check

Proper ventilation is necessary to ensure that the roof does not get damaged because of freeze or thaw cycles that occur during the changing seasons. It also helps to maintain the temperature, preventing the attic from getting too hot during the summers as it may lead to the de-lamination of roof sheathing and loosening of the shingles.

6. Drainage system check

Clogging of water can damage your roof severely. In order to prevent water logging or standing water issues, your roofing system must have a proper drainage system. If there is a water logging issue despite having a clean drainage system, it may be an indication that there is a sagging issue.

Conclusion

Every roof inspection needs to be followed by a corrective action plan, or else the roofing issues would aggravate in the long run. If you are, therefore, spending your time, energy, and money in inspecting or getting your roofs inspected, also make sure that the necessary repair work is done on time. If you neglect it, it would only turn into a bigger issue later, and would also burn a hole in your pocket.

5 Essential Checks when Hiring a Home Renovation Contractor

There is a strong possibility that before you embark on a journey to renovate your home, you will be tempted to go the DIY route. While DIY home renovation tips may look simple in a book or video, it's not that easy when it comes to reality. It is, therefore, recommended that such projects should be left to home renovation contractors who have the knowledge and expertise to bring your home renovation dreams to life. Hiring the services of a home renovation contractor gives you complete peace of mind as you do not have to face the day to day challenges of procuring material, managing labor, dealing with critical issues related to structural changes, and more.

In this post, we discuss the checks you must perform before hiring a professional home renovation contractor.

1. Check Legal and Financial Status

You can check the financial status of a company by reviewing its credit history and their statement of claims. A company that is unable to meet its liabilities faces bankruptcy issues, and you must therefore, stay away from such service providers. Similarly, you must check if the company is facing any legal issues such as lawsuits that may be a hindrance in the continuation of business. The internet is your best source of information if you want to check the legal status of any entity before engaging.

2. Check Licensing

There are licensing requirements for running different businesses that differ depending on the state. Before you hire a independent home renovations contractor, ask for valid proof of licensing to ensure that the company is legitimate and complies with all relevant laws and regulations.

3. Check Qualifications

Check the qualifications of the contractors and see if they have earned any professional degrees such as Certified Bath Designer or Certified Graduate Remodeler? While experience is a reliable barometer when it comes to hiring a contractor, professional qualifications also present a great opportunity to be certain about the caliber of prospective service providers.

4. Check Insurance

Check if the company has valid business insurance to protect it in the event of peril or legal issues. Home Renovation contract companies must have personal liability, property damage coverage, and worker’s compensation cover. You should never settle for oral assurances, promises or agreements but rather, see everything in black and white. Request copies of insurance certificates and ensure that they are current. It is important for you to perform this check to avoid the risk of being held liable in case of any injuries or damages that might occur during the project.

4. Verify the Contract’s Terms

Make sure you have gone through and clearly understood the terms of the contract before you sign above the dotted line. Some of the points you cannot afford to miss include payment terms, warranty terms, sequential schedule of primary construction tasks, dispute resolution terms, and more.

Word of advice

Costs should never be the prime determinant of your choice of a home renovation contractor or firm. For example – never pay the contractor in full before the job’s done. While it is okay to pay an advance amount before work starts, it should not exceed 10% of the project cost.  Make sure you get the receipts for all the payments you make to avoid any confusion in later stages.