Permits

Renovating tends to be a poorly regulated industry. If you wish to build a NEW house, there are permits, home builder's warranty and regulations to follow. If you wish to renovate your existing kitchen, people seem to be far less likely to take out a permit.

Here's why: we think it will be too much of a hassle to be worth it. This way of thinking, although understandable, is missing some very key points. First, If I was house hunting, walked in to an old house, with a stunning new kitchen, I'd be very worried if I found out that it was renovated without permits. I spoke with someone earlier  today who had a very hard time selling his home, because he completed some renovations without permits, and the purchaser wanted EVERYTHING inspected and brought up to code. The $350 in permits would have saved him this entire problem.
Second, permitting a renovation means that you value your health and safety. If you rip out your drywall without knowing that it's full of aesbestos, you are putting your entire family's health at risk. Even the best electricians make mistakes. Without a mandatory inspection, some of these errors could be overlooked, which could cause blown fuses, electrical fires, etc.
Third, it's the law. If you're renovating, you should know whether a permit is required or not.

Although municipal inspections can add an increased level of hassle, it is an inconvenience that is completely worth it.

Do yourself, your family, and the resale value of your home a favor. Get a permit.

Attack of the wet Attic.

This is the time of year that I like for some reasons (hockey season starting) and dislike for others (rain).

Every time this year, when the rain starts, we get calls from home owners who found a leak in their roof. Most of the  time they don't find it until the water makes its way through the drywall ceiling and ruins the ceiling and often the floor underneath.

I have a suggestion that will save you time and money in the long run. It's quite simple:

1. Get a step ladder
2. Grab a flashlight
3. Climb up into the attic, and look for black spots on the plywood roof sheeting, or wet spots on the insulation.

If you see any problems, call a roofing company, restoration company or renovator. You obviously have a problem here.Your roof may only be 10 years old, but if it was a lower quality product, or was installed wrong, it could be failing.

Just like cleaning out your gutters, or pressure washing, a trip to the attic once or twice a year (especially in the fall) is definitely worth the effort!

Every Renovation Has a Story

Everyone who renovates has a reason for doing so. Some people need more space. Others are tired of an outdated house. For one of our clients, they wanted to return their home to it's "former glory". We received a call last year from a lady who was looking at a house that had some history for her family. She and her husband built the house in 1978. In the mid eighties, they ended up moving away, but she always dreamed of moving back.
When we received a call from her, it had been 25 years since she left, and she wanted it back. This is what it looked like:

The inside, although not HORRIBLE, had not really been updated in years. It needed a ton of work. We ended up designing an addition above the garage, and virtually re-built the home, aside from the original framing.

Here is what it looks like today:

 

It was really cool to be able to work on  such a cool project with such an important history to the owners.

I realize that not every renovation story is dramatic, but believe me, every renovation has an interesting an very unique story. It's what makes renovating so much fun.

Why the Design/Build Process?

As a homeowner, or business owner, when you're looking to start a renovation, it's hard to know where to start. Do you first find a contractor, then search for an architect/designer? Or do you work with a designer, then a contractor? In my opinion, the most efficient system is to find one company that does both.

In the industry, there are many examples of each kind of system. At Mountainside, we typically use the design/build system. We have trained designers on staff, who work directly with our project manager or lead carpenters to ensure the project runs smoothly, and problems that arise are dealt with head-on, and effectively. Why do we like this system?

1. Accountability. So many times, clients who hire separate designers and contractors complain that if (when) a problem arises, it becomes nothing but finger pointing. The designer doesn't need to take the blame, if he or she can blame the contractor. Contractors love blaming bad designers too.

2. Cost Effectiveness. I've been to so many meetings where homeowners want me to provide an estimate to complete their addition or renovation. They have the drawings in hand (that they have spent thousands of dollars on). When they start getting the pricing feedback, they are shocked. Many times, they've designed something that they can not possibly afford. With design/build, budget is as much of a design factor as the condition of the existing foundation of the house. You won't be paying to have a designer draw up a beautiful, but completely unattainable plan.


3. Streamlined Communication. Because our designers work with our construction team on a daily basis, we know how to read and understand the drawings, our carpenter can call the designer to site whenever needed, and we all know how to work well with each other. This saves time, and money.