Can I remodel in the winter?

Yes, but it requires some planning. It involves additional time. There are the holidays and deer hunting to consider. People are gone and companies  allow vacation time.

Winter weather- cold temperatures and snow removal slow down production. Extreme cold stops production. Some things simply can’t be completed in extremely cold temperatures. Not to mention the fact it’s just plain dangerous to work outside.

These things will affect your time schedule, like it or not, it is a reality. It may cost more to remodel in the winter as we need heat and the affected area may not be as energy efficient “in the process” as it will be in the end. If the furnace is down, the contractor may heat with portable propane heaters. We also have to pay someone to shovel snow or plow the driveway if you aren’t there to take care of it. (10/09)

What can I do to my house that qualifies for the Federal stimulus package tax credit of $1500?

There are very strict criteria and deadlines for remodeling related energy improvements and equipment, but actual rules are still a little fuzzy, so I would strongly advise you to talk to your tax accountant at tax time.

For houses it breaks down into 3 main areas: the building envelope, HVAC systems and renewable energy. For building envelope items, the credit available is 30% of the material only with a $1500 maximum for all improvements combined and it must be placed in service between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010.

HVAC systems have a credit available of 30% of the material and labor cost with a $1500 maximum for all improvements combined and it must be placed in service between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010.

Renewable energy items have an available credit of 30% of the total cost including labor with no maximum and it must be placed in service between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2016. (9/09)

What is a design/build remodeler?

Design/build is a service-oriented operating style that gives remodeling clients a one-stop shopping. Working with a design/build firm allows the client to work closely with the remodeling contractor to achieve a common goal-creating functional space while increasing the value of the home, all within the parameters of a pre-determined budget.

Many designers are qualified to design a great project and there are many remodelers that can build a great project. The secret is to be able to design AND build a great project within the client’s real-world budget.

Most substantial remodeling projects require a detailed set of plans. The plan (a) explain what you are getting in relation to your contract (b) are used to obtain permits and (c) tell carpenters and trade contractors just what is to be built. Design/build remodelers can provide “buildable” plans (plans that meet the local codes and solve the problem with in the budget) and construct the project.

Thus, a design/build remodeler is responsible for the project from inception through design and construction until completion.

I am thinking about buying a "fixer-upper". What do I need to keep in mind?

Fixer-uppers can range from houses with severe structural problems to merely "tired" 20-year old homes. The most important thing when deciding to invest in a fixer-upper is the type of work to be done.

Fixer-uppers with the most potential for significant profit are the homes that don’t need a lot of major work. Most fixer-uppers can be revitalized with new interior and exterior paint, new light fixtures, new floor covering, landscaping, etc.

Some of the fixer-upper projects that tend to be the most unprofitable include a new roof, foundation repairs, structural work, extensive remodeling or major renovations.

Don’t forget to have a home inspection done to try and protect yourself from an unexpected defect.

I want to do some work on my home--where do I start?

I suggest a family meeting. Ask yourselves the following questions. What do we want to accomplish with this remodeling project? Do we need more space? Do we need to accommodate changes in our growing or shrinking family? Do we need to make accommodations for someone in our family that has special physical needs?

How do we plan to use the room you are planning to remodel? Are we trying to make cosmetic changes or upgrade aging or broken parts of your home? How do we plan on staying in our home? What do we want to invest in this project?

Let family members dream a little-what would we like in our project if money were no object? What do we really dislike about our current home? Do any friends or relatives have something in their home that we would like to personalize and recreate for our home? Gather pictures of things you like.

Take pictures of homes you like. Tear out pictures from magazines.

Visit the Knutson Bros. II, LLC website to see “before “ and “after” pictures of recent projects (www.knutsonbros2.com) and then hire a professional to lead you through the process.

How do I prioritize my home remodeling projects?

If you are contemplating a large-scale remodel involving large areas of your house (or even a whole-house renovation), it may not be feasible to do it all at once. In that case, a design/buildremodeling contractor can help you work out a plan.

A comprehensive master plan reflects all of the ideas you have for your home, using the master plan, which incorporates your plans for your home and your future goals, your remodeler can help you make decisions about which areas of the home to address first.

Working from a master plan is beneficial because it ensures that work done now won’t interfere with work you will do later. Master planning can also help you in securing financing ahead of time, so there are no surprises when it comes time to actually do the work.

How long does a remodeling project take?

ROME wasn’t built in a day and neither will the addition to your home. Good planning, scheduling and communication with your contractor will help the process move along smoothly.

Good planning starts simply with you recognizing you have a “house” problem and calling a professional remodeler that offers a design/build service. 30-90 days is normal for the development of plans, acquiring zoning and building permits and arriving at a final building contract. 30-180 working days is normal for the house to be under construction.

Change orders or delayed selections will extend the projected time. Depending on how extensive the remodeling is in the existing house will determine how much disruption to your daily life will take place.

Ask for a written schedule of events before the projects starts. Things will vary, but at least you will have an idea about what is supposed to happen when. This makes it easier for you to have selections made, have materials on the job or be out of town at the appropriate time.

Verbal communication on a daily basis helps keep things moving. Some days will be worse than others, but remember, when it is finished, it will be worth it!!

What do you recommend I do to keep the mess from our remodeling project to a minimum?

Remodeling is dirty work no matter what anybody tells you. There are some things you can do to control the dust and debris from controlling you.

First rule of thumb is "Never give up". Isolate the area with plastic sheeting. Vacuum and sweep daily. Be sure you check your vacuum cleaner to be sure it can handle construction debris and drywall dust. You might consider using a shopvac.

Use an exhaust fan or a room air cleaner in the work area. Keep pets out of the construction area so they don’t track contaminants throughout the house.

Use a high-efficiency furnace filter and change it once a week during construction.

If possible, shut off the air ducts to the work area so that the contaminants are not drawn into the living area.

Cover all warm air ducts and cold air returns with cheese cloth to filter debris before it gets into the rooms.

Will I have to move out while the work is being done?

The ultimate answer to that question lies with your remodeler. He knows best what work needs to be done on your home and how that work might be done.

Some criteria remodelers use in order to recommend relocation include: scope of work (how much of the house is affected) type of work (work that causes potentially dangerous situations for non-construction personnel, or may be hazardous without proper equipment) the time of year (will you be without heat for a prolonged period in the winter) and the flexibility of the owner (will your schedule permit relocating).

If you do remain in the home while the work is being performed, be prepared for some new adventures in living! (It’s not unheard of to store microwaves or refrigerators in bedrooms. Many bathrooms also become temporary kitchenettes).

Ask you remodeler to help you set up areas in parts of the house you will live. Expect at the very least to move out of the area of the house where the work is being done.

How do I prepare my house for a room addition to be done this winter?

This is a good time for a serious house-cleaning project! Unfortunately your cherished possessions can get in the way of a remodeling project, so arrange to remove them. When you are packing, look beyond just the space being remodeled. Your remodeler may need access to the spaces that aren’t being changed, such as the basement, attic, or garage, as well as the driveway or the grounds.

Store your covered furniture in a warm, dry, heated area-remember; moisture can cause mold and mildew. Anticipate the rooms and areas your project will affect and take the necessary steps to remove, store or cover your things.

As you are packing smaller belongings in boxes, mark the boxes so you remember what is in them. Think about where you are going to store the boxes.

Keep access to the basement clear, including areas around the electrical service, water and waste lines and the wall that is adjacent to the addition. Keep the passageway to the attic clear - clean out the attic if necessary. If building materials are going to be stored in the garage, clear it out long before the day the materials are scheduled to arrive.

Don’t forget your yard- Anticipate the effect delivery trucks, heavy equipment and dumpsters will have on your grounds. Do fences have to come down or trees need to be trimmed or lawn furniture have to be moved?

I want to do some improvements on my home, but I am told my house is sub-standard by today’s zoning standards and I have to apply for a variance. What does that mean?

It means you may have a problem doing any kind of addition. Prior to the “Kenosha Ruling” (State of Wisconsin vs. Kenosha County Board of Adjustment) you could have applied for a variance for your project. Upon proving a hardship at a Board of Appeals hearing, you would have received a variance to the zoning standards. That approval would have allowed you to obtain a building permit in a non-conforming situation.

The Kenosha ruling said that a variance may not be granted unless the owner has “no reasonable use for the property”. The literal legal interpretation of this decision is that the property owner must prove he or she cannot use their property for anything. This pretty much means if you can picnic on your property, your have a “use” for it and therefore a variance cannot be granted.

This means your house can not be changed or altered for any reason outside the existing envelope of the home. The means you cannot build out on any side or up (for a second floor addition) if you are not in compliance with the current zoning rules. As a result of this decision, local governments have no choice but to deny almost all variance requests, including shoreland variances.

If you believe this could be a problem for you, please contact your State Representative or State Assemblyman.

I am doing some major renovation to my home and am concerned about my homeowner’s insurance policy being inadequate. What should I do?

It is essential to have the insurance value of the home adjusted to reflect the value of the home after the remodeling project is finished.

My advice is to review your homeowner’s policy with your agent and increase your coverage to include the remodeling before you begin the project. The agent will need detailed information about your project; usually a copy of the contract and/or the plans will be sufficient.

It is imperative the value is adjusted before you begin in the event of a loss during the construction process. If you were underinsured before you began the project and you suffer a loss during or after the remodeling, there will be a he gap in coverage and could cost thousands of dollars out of pocket to replace what was lost.

Why am I having trouble getting 3 contractors to give me a bid on a room addition I am planning to build?

As a contractor managing a family business started in 1955, the challenge remains the same. That is, to find the 60% of homeowners who want a good job at a fair price and in fact know the real value of the word “free”. These people look beyond the words for value, longevity and integrity.

The dilemma legitimate contractors face is that a lot of people have no regard for his time and expenses. Discerning homeowners know that a good contractor’s time is valuable to him and to his customers.

Forcing a legitimate businessman to waste his time giving comprehensive an estimate when you aren’t going to give him the work truly raises the cost of doing business for everyone. Seeking out 3 bids has long been the advice for a remodeling project, but today, one bid is enough.

Select a contractor as carefully as you would your doctor or lawyer. An established and qualified contractor has just as much integrity and value as these professionals.

Can we live in the house while we are remodeling?

It depends on your project type and your stamina for inconvenience. Young children and pets add more challenges to the mix. Attitude is everything, especially in remodeling.

I will say that no matter how positive your attitude, there will come a point in the project where you think you won’t be able to take one more minute of drywall dust or you think it will NEVER get finished. Then suddenly-it’s over. The project is complete and it exceeds your dreams and your life is back to normal.

If you are doing a first floor addition that can be shut off from the house for most of the time, staying in your house really isn’t a problem.

If you are doing a whole house remodel and every room is going to be torn up, you may want to consider living with your mother for a while.  It might be the lesser of 2 evils.

If you are adding a second floor addition, the weather challenges may predicate you move out during the work.

Have a serious conversation with your contractor about what the conditions could be during the project and make your decision based on your own personal situation.

Will our services have to be shut off during our remodeling project?

Yes and not always when you expect it. Initially, the plumbers need to shut your water system down when they start working on your system. Generally, they can re-work the system to keep some of the house working at all times.

The heating is the same way-the more complicated the project, the longer it will be down. In a long-term project, the contactor will bring in propane heaters if there is no heat in the winter. Everybody has to stay warm to work. The electricians are the hardest to predict. They shut off the areas they are working in and sometimes it stays off for a while.

Sometimes houses are wired weird and that particular circuit has an unrelated part of the house connected to it. That’s going to be off too. Sometimes they are working and the circuits are off. At the end of the day, they simply forget to turn them back on.

We always try to leave something ‘hot’ so we have power to run equipment. Safety is first and foremost for our crews and for you.

We try not to inconvenience you as much as possible, but sometimes it happens-We apologize in advance!

Do I have to change my homeowner’s insurance policy for my renovation to my home?

It depends on what type of renovations you are doing, so talk to your agent. If you are doing maintenance work like replacing the furnace, hot water heater, flooring, shingles or windows, you might not need to increase your policy.

If you are doing a major renovation like adding a family room or second floor or replacing your kitchen or bath, you want to look at your policy to make sure you have enough coverage. You want to increase your coverage before you start the project so you are covered as your project increases the value of your home as it gets completed.

All materials delivered to your home are your responsibility and theft of those materials are generally covered under your basic homeowners policy-check to be sure.

If you are excavating for an addition, you also want to carry a builder risk policy for the duration of the project, just like you would if you were building a new house.

Will I have to provide bathroom facilities during construction?

Yes, you will have to provide facilities. Designate which bath you would like the workers to use and keep it stocked with toilet paper and towels. You may want to cover the floor with a protective covering. If the plumbing is going to be shut down for an extended amount of time, the contractor will supply a port-a-potty for the site.

How messy will our house and yard be during our bedroom addition remodeling project?

Debris and dust are a fact of life in any remodeling project. We lay down flooring protection at the beginning of the job and divide the construction site from the rest of the house.

We ask that you remove all furniture, electronics and personal belongings form the area. Cover and tape what you can’t move. We allocate time of the end of every workday to clean up the big pieces and broom sweep the sawdust from the area. There is generally a dumpster on the job site for the duration of the construction for clean up purposes. We do a more substantial clean up each week.

If we need to relay floor protection during the project we do. Keep extra furnace filters on hand and change them. It will help keep the dust from being dispersed around the house.

Do I need to get 3 bids on my remodeling project?

Get 3 bids! - Everything you have ever read regarding selecting a contractor says to do so. I say "bah humbug!" Don't believe everything you read. The old saying "Three’s a crowd" applies here. Working with 3 contractors to arrive at an "apples to apples" comparison of projects' specifications and price is a waste of time and energy for everyone involved. AS a homeowner you will end up confused and frustrated because you will have plenty of information, but remembering who promised what will be a problem. If you are shopping for a remodeling project based on price alone, I believe it is a big mistake. Your home is your biggest financial investment and you want to entrust it’s care to someone reliable, dependable and stable. That usually means "cheapest" is not part of the equation. Remember, you always get what you pay for. I suggest interviewing a couple contractors. Choose one contractor you are comfortable with and work with them for the long haul.

Do I move or improve?

If you like where you live, stay put. That is the simplest answer I can give you. The house may not suit your lifestyle anymore, but that is no reason to move.

We can renovate your house to fulfill your current needs. It also makes good financial sense to stay put and remodel rather than move. Most of us, once we’ve settled into a neighborhood we like, enjoy the security that comes with familiar territory- and that’s something money can’t buy. How do you know what you’re going to get in a new community?

It’s tough to find the perfect “new” house. With your existing house, you can keep the things you love, and change the things you don’t and VOILA- you now have the perfect house right where you want to live

Will there be a lot of trash from my new deck and room addition project?

Oh yes! There will be more trash than you ever expected.

Usually a dumpster is placed on the property in a location closest to the area where the work is being done. It helps save time and therefore money just by saving 'steps' in the cleanup process. It will be emptied periodically and will remain on the site for the duration of the project.

In the beginning of a project, there is a lot of debris from the demolition-drywall or plaster, studs and headers, shingles, siding, old wiring, etc. that will end up in the dumpster. As the carpenters work through the rough-in stage of the addition and the deck, there will be a lot of cut off material and waste that needs to be disposed of –do not burn any treated lumber.

Many products come to the job site boxed, bagged or wrapped and we need a place to put it, so it doesn't blow around the neighborhood.

Resist the temptation to do a major house cleaning without asking your contractor first. We don't like delivering a dumpster on Friday, for Monday's start, only to find our dumpster filled to the top with old mattresses and 20 years of basement 'memorabilia'.

Will someone be working at my house everyday on my remodeling project?

You may not have someone physically at your house working everyday, but please don’t think the contractor has forgotten about you. Just because no one is at your house, doesn’t mean someone isn’t working on your project.

There is a lot of work being completed that happens away from the house and out of sight of the homeowner. Materials are being ordered, deliveries are being scheduled, ductwork is being fabricated in the shop, cabinets and countertops are being manufactured, and trim finished in the factory-somebody is working on your project somewhere.

Remodeling is a challenging experience, even under the best of circumstances and when you don’t see things changing every day at your house, it makes it more difficult, but hang in there. We aren’t ignoring you. We want to complete your project as fast as you do!

We are planning a major remodeling project and don’t know what to do with our pets.

This is always a challenge for both owners and contractors. Animals need to be kept away from the construction site. There are nails, staples, tempting sticks of wood, sawdust, holes in the floors, in other words, the site is a dangerous place for pets.

Many animals are 'gun shy' and a pneumatic nailer scares the daylights out of them.

If a neighbor or family member will pet sit while you are gone, taking them off-site is the best solution. Closing them up in an extra room that won’t be touched by the contractor is another option.

If they are kennel trained, use it. Don't expect the contractor to be your pet sitter. They are being paid to work, not hunt for your dog or cat that escapes when it sneaks through the open door.