Home Remodeling FAQ

Your Questions Answered.

If you are thinking of remodeling your house, many questions can come to mind. Here are some common questions that homeowners may be asking about home remodeling.

When are building permits required for remodeling?

Home remodeling could be as minor as changing your kitchen countertops or repainting your home exterior. Still, it could also be as significant as erecting a new structure or demolishing an existing one. Hence, it is not in all remodeling that you will need a building permit, and that it doesn’t require a permit for a particular project does not mean another project will not require a permit. It is logical to assume that if your project is a minor one, you don’t have to obtain a building permit, but if it is major, then a permit is required. While that is true to some extent, the magnitude of the project is not the major criterion for deciding whether a building permit is needed or not.

Any project that will affect public or personal safety always requires a permit. Constructions that will affect the sewer line and all plumbing works will also require permits. Electrical projects and projects involving natural gas, demolition, most exterior remodeling, and construction of deck above 6 feet will all require permits

Different municipalities and districts have different requirements. But in most cases, the following statewide remodeling work will require permits:

· Installation of fence

· Demolition of load-bearing fence

· Electrical wiring

· Construction of fireplace and chimney

· Construction of garage and driveway

· Installation of new exterior doors and windows

· All plumbing works

· Construction of swimming pool

· Installation if a water heater

· Power remodeling

· Pool remodeling

What Happens If You Get Caught Remodeling Without a Permit?

Truly many homeowners do not know when permits are required and what they can do without a permit. In such cases, they will depend on their building contractors to advise them. A reputable residential remodeling contractor will be truthful and inform you adequately, but some contractors may want to cut corners. Some homeowners intentionally neglect permits and look for contractors that will do unpermitted projects for them when they know that permits are required. Some owners will even do it themselves.

Well, you may feel that your remodeling project is minor work, and applying for a permit may be delaying your work. But in the actual sense, permit and inspection of building projects and remodeling are for safety and must be treated as essential. Even if your contractor offers to do the remodeling without a permit, you should understand that it is your responsibility to confirm if there is a need for a permit or not. You and your family will bear the risk of any unprofessional job done. You are also the one to face the major consequences of being caught remodeling without a permit. What are these consequences?

Firstly your project will be stopped immediately the city realizes you are doing a remodeling project that requires a permit without having one. Secondly, you will be fined. The fine depends on different cities, and it is usually calculated based on the number of days you have spent remodeling without a permit. Thirdly, you will be asked to apply for the license and obtain it properly. Also, your contractor may be queried, fined, or even has his license withdrawn for executing the project without first ensuring a permit is granted for it.

In the end, your project will be delayed more than it would have been if you had applied for the permit. You will also spend more money than you would have done if you had followed the proper protocol.

In a situation where you had completed the project before the city discovered that you don’t have the proper permit for it, you will be fined and mandated to obtain the permit.

Even if it were never discovered, you wouldn’t be able to include the cost of any additional project you carried out on your home without a permit in evaluating the house. Should you want to sell, use it as collateral for a loan, or claim an insurance company.

Remodeling a house where to start

Remodeling your kitchen, bathroom, or garage may be a simple task, but if you want to remodel your entire house, it is usually a big project, and it is normal to be confused about where to start. Of course, the home remodeling process will be different from that of a commercial remodeling or a mobile home remodeling. However, it would help if you considered your home remodeling ideas as any other projects. All projects should start from planning. Hence when remodeling a house, your planning should include the following:

Identify what needs remodeling in your home

· Choose your design

· Decide your budget

· Set a timeline

· Identify what you can do yourself and what you will give to a contractor.

Once that is set, the next thing is to take steps towards actualizing your dream.

· Apply and get necessary permits

· Seek contractors

· Get builder’s risk insurance

· Decide where to get necessary materials

If you chose to do some parts of the project yourself, you would need some basic tools like hand gloves, eye Goggles, hammer, tape rule, hacksaw, power drill, extension cord, chisel, knife, screwdriver, and silicone sealant.

The cost of these tools should be included in your budget, but if you feel you might not need most of them again, there are places you can rent them so you can reduce the cost.

Also, you may need to compare the price of the major materials you will need for the part you are doing yourself. Price comparison can be made online, but you may also visit brick and mortar shops to get quotations and then compare the prices before deciding where to buy your materials.

Once all these are done, then you can start your project.

When remodeling a bathroom, where to start

If you are not planning a whole house remodeling, the task may be easier. Of course, the bathroom is one of the most frequently remodeled parts of a house. Since you use your bathroom every day, it would be best to give it a good look. The first decision you need to make when remodeling a bathroom is the new design you want to give your bathroom. Do you already have the remodeling bathroom ideas and only require the remodeling services or you want experts to do the design for you? Are you planning a complete make-over, or a half bathroom remodeling? What will your half bath remodeling include? Will your project include shower remodeling, laundry room remodeling?

Then you should decide whether you are doing the remodeling yourself or you are employing the service of a bathroom remodelling company. Doing it yourself will save you money, but you must be sure you can do the job properly. Whether you are doing it yourself or giving it to a building contractor, you should decide your budget.

You also need to confirm if you will need a building permit or not for your bathroom remodeling ideas and project. If a permit is required, then you must start the process of obtaining it.

If you are doing the work yourself, you will need to buy tools like hand gloves, a hammer, tape rule, and other essential work tools. You can also rent the tools to save costs. Buying materials will also be your responsibility, and since you are not dealing with those materials regularly, you must compare prices from different suppliers. Once you have all your materials ready, you can begin work on your renovation. The following steps are essential.

· Identify features that will be changed

· Remove all the features marked for replacement

· Replace all plumbing features

· Renovate the floor

· Renovate the wall

· Install the bathroom cabinet

· Install the bathroom vanity

· Install all other features

While removing or installing features in your bathroom, be careful how you handle plumbing materials, as these are very important for you and the community. If you cannot handle a plumbing job, it would be better to hire professional service for renovation involving plumbing. You should also note that renovation involving plumbing usually requires a license. Getting a home remodeling contractor shouldn’t be a problem, you can easily Google “home remodeling contractors near me,” or “home remodeling companies near me.” You can also be specific and Google “ bathroom remodeling near me,” “Bathroom remodeling contractors near me,” or “bathroom remodeling Chicago.”

How much remodeling can be done with $100000?

Remember, you are remodeling an existing building, and remodeling usually aims to make the building even better. Hence, the remodeling cost will also depend on the initial standard of the house and your intended new standard. There are free online home remodelling software that can be used as remodelling calculators. However, you can still estimate what $100,000 can do in remodeling an average house.

Let’s divide our house remodeling project into remodeling bathroom, remodeling kitchen, bedroom and living area, basement and garage. These are the important part of the home that are frequently remodeled. Now let’s share our $100,000 equally among these five projects and see what it can do.

· How Much Bathroom remodeling can be done with $20,000

The average cost of remodeling a standard bathroom is between $15,000 and $25,000. That is when you are hiring the service of bathroom remodeling contractors or bathroom remodeling companies. If you want a budget bathroom remodelling and choose to do it yourself, then the bathroom remodeling cost will be less. Hence $20,000 is enough to do all essential residential bath remodeling.

· How Much Kitchen remodeling can be done with $20,000

Remodeling your kitchen will cost more than remodeling your bathroom, especially if you plan to change the kitchen countertops, the floor tiles, and some of the kitchen gadgets. The cost of remodeling a kitchen surely depends on many factors including your kitchen remodeling ideas, kitchen remodeling designing, whether you will need a house remodeling permit or not, whether you are doing it yourself or hiring kitchen remodeling contractors, and if you are including remodeling kitchen cabinets and gadgets . Therefore, you may be spending up to $60,000 for a standard kitchen. There are kitchen remodeling apps that can do kitchen remodeling cost estimates for you. You will need to input all necessary information into the kitchen remodeling app or state your kitchen remodeling budgets. However, with $20,000, you will be able to remodel the floor, the wall, and your countertop. An average kitchen with moderate remodeling usually costs between $15,000 to $40,000, with an average of $25,000. But note that this depends so much on the size of the kitchen.

To get kitchen remodeling companies you can Google “Home remodeling near me,’ or “Kitchen remodeling near me,” or “Kitchen Remodeling Austin TX.”

· How Much Living Room and Bedroom remodeling can be done with $20,000

Remodeling living room and bedroom will not cost as much as kitchen and bathroom remodeling except if you want to install new features. Living room and bedrooms are remodeling is common in American home remodeling; therefore it will not be difficult to get a remodeling contractor for your room remodeling. On average, each of the rooms remodeling may cost about $8,000. Hence with $20,000, you will perfectly remodel your bedroom and living room.

· How Much Basement remodeling can be done with $20,000

It depends on your basement remodeling ideas and what you want to turn your basement to. If you plan to change your basement to a living room or a home office, you may need to install a door and windows and install other features that will make it fit for its new purpose. This will increase the cost of remodeling the basement.. the average cost of remodeling a basement is between $10,000 and $18,000. Therefore, with $20,000, you will be able to do all the important basement remodeling.

· How Much Garage remodeling can be done with $20,000

This also depends on what you want to change about your garage. If you just want to remodel your garage, you may be spending around $10,000. But if you want to convert your garage to a living room or a bedroom with all essential features, then it may cost up to $70,000.