[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our team just finished a kitchen design and build in Arlington, MA and boy did it come out nice. This high-end kitchen features beautiful hardwood floors, a huge island (great for entertaining), detailed wains coating, stainless steel appliances, glass lighting, and two sinks. Take a look and let us know what you think about this newly designed kitchen.
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Curious as to which home remodeling projects are the best if you’re looking for a solid return on investment?
Here are 3 fairly easy projects that will help ensure your home will be worth more come selling day!
1. Flex Rooms: First off what is it?! A Flex room is essentially a space that can be easily changed or used for a number of functions, also known as “several options within the same square footage.” One month it could be used as an office, and the next, it could be transformed into an elegant game room or spare bedroom (If you live in a smaller home, flex rooms can come in handy). Our favorite is The Guest-Friendly Living Room… Try incorporating a couch that doubles as a fold-out bed in your home office room, so you can create three different spaces as needed!
2. Mother-in-law Apartments: We know what you’re thinking…but these “accessory dwelling units” are perfect for extra space and rooms for additional family members. ADUs can either be attached to the original house, or detached, which may be an additional building outside. Converting a garage into a separate living space could cost as little as $40k, while building a detached structure tends to be more expensive, with costs that could be upwards of $150k.
Whether you’re housing an elderly relative, a recent grad, or out-of-town visitors, an accessory dwelling unit can be a real asset!
3. Upstairs Laundry Room: Time to stop lugging laundry up and down the stairs! An upstairs laundry room option is the perfect solution to get rid of smelly laundry baskets and hampers in your bedrooms. Being able to put your dirty clothes quickly in the washing machine is a HUGE plus, and besides, now there’s more room for storage in the basement. This additional room doesn’t need to be big and sometimes it can even be paired with a half bathroom.
Thanks for reading,
-The Team at McDonald Contracting | www.McDonaldContractingMA.com[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_pinterest][/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As residential contractors, we remodel everything from master bedrooms and bathrooms to garages and basements. Through it all, one of the most popular renovations we see is kitchen remodels because of its functionality and return on investment.
When remodeling your kitchen, there’s a lot of time and preparation needed before you can begin the process. We like to encourage our clients to first put together a collection of pictures and designs they like so we can get a sense of their style and vision. After this is decided, we move onto determining your budget so we can direct you in materials within your price-range for your cabinets, fixtures, appliances, flooring and counter-tops. Keep in mind that the average kitchen renovation can take about 4-6 weeks start to finish, while the average cost can range from $45k-100k and above.
Now that we have all of the background work done, let’s dive into the remodeling process:
Step 1: Planning and Permits: Being without a kitchen for 4-6 weeks can be difficult, which is why it’s crucial to plan ahead. Select a contractor that you feel will be easy to work and that has licenses, insurance and references. Sometimes permits can take up to a month to get approved, which is why planning (and patience) helps during this high-stress time.
Step 2: Demolition & Framing: Out with the old! It’s time to tear everything down to the studs. Hopefully there aren’t any surprises behind your walls like lead or asbestos, but if there are they can be taken care of in this stage. This demo step is messy, but it will only get better after this part in the process is complete. Once the framing of new walls is up, electrical and plumbing can be installed…. But be sure to get work inspected and approved before closing up the walls!
Step 3: Insulation: Now’s the time to insulate all exterior walls and around windows. Older homes are not properly insulated and it can make a huge difference once insulated. Your contractor should go over your insulation options such as fiberglass and spray foam.
Step 4: Board and Plaster: This is a straight-forward part of the job. At this stage, we make sure there are smooth finishes to prevent any imperfections during the painting process.
Step 5: Flooring and Carpentry: In with the new! Your work with a kitchen designer or your own personal taste is going to come to life in this step. Floors are installed along with cabinets, hardware and molding. There are endless options for cabinets and flooring and these materials would have been established based upon your budget, kitchen designer or personal taste in the preparation stage.
Step 6: Paint: You made it to the final step! Always prime plastered walls and add two coats of finish paint. We suggest a moisture resistant paint for kitchens and find that semi-gloss is most common for trim.
We hope you found these steps helpful and inspire you to move forward with your dream kitchen remodel. Updated kitchens can increase the value of your home while, a timeline and clear vision makes for a smooth and organized project!
Thanks for reading,
-The Team at McDonald Contracting | www.McDonaldContractingMA.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]