Tips Archives - Page 8 of 10 - McDonald Contracting

Blog, Tips

3 Kitchen Add-ons That Are Worth The Investment

23Aug2016

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It’s known as the heart of the home, so it’s no wonder that the kitchen is rated as one of the most important rooms in a house. A lot of time is spent in the kitchen, which is why it’s important to incorporate durable appliances and features that can keep up with your family’s everyday lifestyle. Whether it be newer appliances, cabinetry, countertops or flooring, we’re sharing 3 important investments that offer high returns.

Stainless Steel:
– Stainless steel is easy to clean and maintain
– It doesn’t absorb dirt, and can be wiped down with a damp cloth and sanitized easily. The surface can be protected with a cleaner to preserve it’s sleek and shiny surface and won’t fade or become discolored over time.
– Of course, it’s aesthetically pleasing and can complement almost any kitchen, home design and theme. The sleek, gleaming metallic finish can be balanced out with wood or plastic accents!

Additional Storage:
The more storage space you have in your kitchen, the more appealing it will be to future buyers, and well, yourself. Here a few suggestions we have on making use of your space and adding more storage:
– Islands are a great place to add additional countertop space and storage without losing any space.
– Try adding pull-out pantries in your cabinets for storing extra dry goods you can’t seem to “fit” in your regular closet pantry.
– Installing a pull-out cutting board can be incorporated with your cabinets and is one less thing you’ll have to wash in the dishwasher.
– Add a Crockery Drawer, a drawer that can store your most-used dishes!
– Installing a countertop that can double as a cutting board is also a great hack, and makes for one less kitchen item you’ll have to store.

Quartz Countertop:
Quartz is a manufactured product; known to be very durable and luxurious.

Why we love it:
– There is a wider range of colors you can choose from and it’s appearance is rich.
– The finish has a depth that can’t be produced with solid surface materials like Corian.
– Quartz has the same durability as concrete and granite, so it won’t chip or crack as easily.
– It can also withstand any spill or stain in the kitchen! Who doesn’t love a stain-free durable product?

Thanks for reading,
-The Team at McDonald Contracting | www.McDonaldContractingMA.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Blog, Tips

3 Ways To Add Value To Your Floor Plan

8Aug2016

[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]

Blog, Tips

Wood vs. Composite decks: Which is better for you?

19May2016

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][vc_column_text]As the summer approaches, our team will begin working on numerous deck projects. The process of designing & building a deck involves many decisions including design, location, size, and what materials will be used. During this process, we get a lot of questions about what materials to use and if composite or wood is the best option. To determine which type of deck will work best for your lifestyle and budget we’re breaking down the two main components of each: cost and upkeep.

Composite Deck:

composite deck

What’s in it: Composite boards consist of some type of plastic material, such as polyethylene and/or polyvinyl chloride, and wood particles.
Two options: Hollow and solid.
- Hollow boards are cheaper than solid boards however, they’re not as sturdy and can also hold water internally, resulting in warping and decomposition.
- Solid boards expand and contract more than hollow boards, but the big plus is, they’re stronger and tend to look more like real wood.
Pricing: In most cases, a composite deck will cost more than a wood deck but over time the price of a composite deck would be less than due to minimal upkeep.
Overview: Composite is more expensive than wood but provides little upkeep.

Wood Deck:

What’s in it: Most decks are made out of treated lumber with wood types ranging from pine to mahogany.
Pricing: Pricing can range drastically depending on the type of wood you decide to go with.
- Southern Pine, one of the most popular options, is sturdy but is also known to warp easily, requiring more maintenance.
- Cedar, a beautiful wood with an amazing smell, is more resistant to rot but breaks down when exposed to moist conditions.
- Mahogany, a higher grade wood, is very hard, extremely durable and attractive in appearance with few flaws. Ages extremely well with little to no maintenance. Check out the recent mahogany deck we just built to see how gorgeous this wood truly is.
Overview: If you love the look of natural wood then we suggest using a high quality wood, such as mahogany, this will ensure for a high-quality deck with less upkeep. Lower quality woods will require maintenance on a yearly basis.

We hope you found these comparisons helpful. At the end of the day it’s really up to the homeowner to decide which option is best, as both have pros and cons. We suggest to think about your long-term plan and how much up-keep you want in the future.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]Thanks – The McDonald Contracting Team

Check us out on Instagram for more tips and a behind the scenes look![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_facebook][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_pinterest][/vc_column][/vc_row]