A Home’s Bottom Line: Renovations That Pay Off The Most

Tri-County General Contracting knows that a home’s added resale value is a significant factor in the decision to renovate. Homeowners weigh the cost of the project with their family’s added benefit and comfort, along with whether they will recoup most or some of the cost if they decide to sell someday. As general contractors, we get asked a lot of questions about home renovations that pay off the most. While many factors play into deciding a home’s resale value, a handful of simple and complex improvement projects are well-known for being renovations that pay off the most.

While researching renovations that pay off the most, we came up with a list based on data from www.bankrate.com of typical renovations that recoup 70 percent or more of project costs by increasing resale value, including:

• Family Room Addition: An average 16-by-25 foot family room addition renovation costs $90,000, while its average resale value is $62,000. Cost recouped is approximately 7o percent.

• Basement Remodel: A 20-by-30 foot entertainment area in the basement, with a bar, sink, under-counter fridge and a small full bathroom. This renovations costs on average $71,000 and has an average resale value of almost $50,000. Cost recouped is approximately 70 percent

• Two-Story Wing Addition: A complex and expensive renovation that adds a family room on the ground floor and an extra bedroom with a full bathroom on the second floor. The new wing is typically 16-by-24 feet, and costs an average $176,000, and has an average resale value of $125,000, recouping a cost of 71 percent.

• Minor Kitchen Remodel: Spiffing up a 200-square-foot kitchen with new cabinets, new counter-tops and energy-efficient appliances. Not a completely new kitchen, but a new look to the old one. This renovation costs an average of $20,830, and has an average resale value of over $16,000, recouping just over 80 percent.

• Steel Entry Door Replacement: If you want a new steel front door, feel safe splurging for it because prospective home buyers want them, too. This simple renovation nearly pays for itself at resale. With an average cost of $1,400 and an average resale value of $1,280, this renovation recoups over 90 percent of project costs.

• Adding Fiberglass Attic Insulation: With lowered heating a cooling bills, this renovation pays for itself an then some. With an average cost of $1,340 and an average resale value of $1,440, sealing and insulating the attic to an R-3o insulation value can recoup 108 percent or more of project costs.

Have More Questions About Renovations That Pay Off The Most? Give Tom and Tri-County A Call Today At

610-329-2880

 

Don’t Let Summer Days Be Fun Outside But Miserable Inside, Consider Summer Remodeling Ideas 2017

We are all gearing up for a summer of sporting events, barbecues and sunshine. But as many of us are going to be out in the hot weather as much as possible, spending time indoors should not be something to dread. When the heat of long summer days gets into your home, it tends to stay there, making the inhabitants feel like they are living in a sauna and overloading your A/C bill. At that point, it’s a good idea to think about summer remodeling ideas 2017.

Here at Tri-County General Contracting, we understand the importance of summer-proofing a home, whether that be as simple as a different colored paint, or as complex as adding on a covered open-air patio to help cool the rest of the house. Tom Thornton and his team have 35 years of general contracting experience getting Delaware, Chester and Montgomery County homes ready for summer, and they’re ready to earn your business and help keep you and your family cool this summer. Have questions about which summer remodel is right for your home? Call Tom Thornton and Tri-County today at

610-329-2880

Here’s Our List Of Summer Remodeling Ideas 2017:

Summer-Proof Exterior Walls

When the sun shines on exterior walls during the day, heat will eventually make its way inside even with the most efficient insulation. This warmth can be felt after sundown when outside temperatures cool off yet stuffy, hot indoor air sticks around. Often it doesn’t take a remodel as serious as replacing insulation or entire walls. Consider painting areas that get regularly baked in sunlight with heat reflective colors, or use exterior blinds and shades to keep the sun off.

Remodel To Increase Air Circulation

Airflow is essential to maintaining a comfortable daytime temperature in any home. The more air able to pass through a home, the more comfortable the inhabitants will be. So think about ways to up your home’s ventilation. Would it be best to open up some walls? Maybe a few more windows on the shady wall of the house will do the trick? Often times a retractable skylight or clerestory windows installed near the highest ceiling will help a home shed rising warm air and prevent it from building up and engulfing a room.

Add On An Outdoor Kitchen Or Living Area

Summer remodeling does not just refer to inside a home. Why not take advantage of the great weather and build a comfortable place to eat, socialize and relax that is naturally cooled by the breeze? Outdoor areas are a great way to increase living space, while also increasing the value of a home. They can make your entire property look more inviting, comfortable and luxurious.

Build An Outdoor Bathroom

Outdoor bathrooms can be sanctuaries from the heat and commotion of summer. Surrounded by nature and lush greenery, an outdoor tub or shower can be perfect for those long hot summer days.

Put On A New Roof, Or Add Solar Reflective Coating

Intense summer sunshine hits the roof of your home more than anywhere else. It absorbs a great deal of heat and can leave those underneath cooking on a long, windless day. Replacing it with a new heat-reflective roof may be in order. If that is beyond your budget, though, you can improve your existing roof by adding a solar-reflective coating to the metal.

Repaint Interior Wall With Cool Colors

Even if a cool-colored room doesn’t affect the ambient temperature much, it can still make its inhabitants feel cooler, psychologists say. Blues, greens, purples and neutral tones can ease your state of mind when the yellow sun is shining bright outside.

 

 

 

 

Want To Have The Neighborhood Hangout Spot This Summer? Consider A Backyard Kitchen

Summer is right around the corner, and barbecue enthusiasts, great outdoors-loving chefs and dinner party hosts alike all know outdoor cookouts are the hallmark of warm, sunny weather. Sure, we can all set up a few plastic folding tables and lawn chairs in the backyard, fire up the hibachi and call it good. But for those wanting a more permanent outdoor cooking, dining and socializing area, think about a handsome, custom-crafted backyard kitchen from Tri-County General Contracting this summer.

Think About Kitchen Zones

Here at Tri-County, we understand that a really effective backyard kitchen integrates all the different kitchen functional zones, including cold areas (refrigeration), hot areas (stoves and grills), wet areas (bars and sinks) and dry areas (prep counter tops and storage). A well-crafted outdoor kitchen will incorporate all of these zones into its design, reducing clutter, wait times and the problem of having “too many cooks in the (outdoor) kitchen”.

When Designing A Backyard Kitchen, Some Things to Consider:

• Pick Space and Location: Since outdoor kitchens rarely, if ever, have real walls, they are essentially open to foot traffic from every angle. Locating a backyard kitchen far enough away from other backyard attractions like pools, lawn game courses, sitting areas, etc. will help prevent cooking and playing/relaxing activities from conflicting. Homeowners should also consider how many people will be using the kitchen, if there is sufficient counter space to accommodate multiple meal preparations at the same time. A serving counter is a good idea to keep cooks and diners from stepping on each others’ toes.

• Choose the Right Materials: Selecting low-maintenance materials and equipment made to withstand the elements is always a good idea. As a general rule, the easier an outdoor kitchen is to maintain and clean, the more often it will be used and enjoyed. Stainless steel is easy to clean, sanitary and corrosion-resistant, but can get dreadfully hot on long summer days. Counter tops, patios and decking should be resistant to grease stains and able to withstand cooking temperatures. Since natural stone used outdoors requires sealing on a regular basis, using cultured granite with UV stabilizers is a good idea. In places with significant freezing and thawing, avoid tile counter tops.
• Get The Grill You Need, Not The One You Want: Everyone wants the giant fancy stainless steel grill with a dozen different burners. Not everyone needs it. Consider what the typical use of your backyard kitchen will be, and choose an appropriate grill. After all, there’s no point splurging on a rotisserie grill to cook a whole goat if you are primarily going to be just serving up hot dogs and baked potatoes. With grills, keep it simple and easy to clean and you can’t go wrong.

• Never Skimp On Shelter: A few overcooked steaks won’t necessarily ruin a backyard cookout, but a sudden rain shower definitely could. Be sure to take elemental exposure seriously, and give adequate cover to guests, prep areas and cooking appliances. Also, be fire-safety smart; don’t put combustible awnings anywhere near open flames or heat sources. Rather, spring for an outdoor-rated range hood or permanent metal roof.

Need Advice on Backyard Kitchen Designs?

Give Tom and Tri-County A Call Today At

610-329-2880

From Bathroom Floors to Kitchen Counters, Tom and His Team Know Custom Tile

Tom Thornton and Tri-County General Contracting have been laying custom tile in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery Counties for three decades. The company has a long list of satisfied clients who appreciate their new tile installations – from purely functional to intricately ornate – every single day. The feedback we get from homeowners is always similar; dinner party guests cooing around the new tile kitchen sink back-splash, counter top or decorative tile floor. Sometimes the stories involve house guests showering in the extra bathroom and being moved by the tiled work of art above, beside or beneath them. As a company, we take pride in hearing these stories, and in knowing that we’ve helped so many homeowners’ custom tile visions become realities.

Custom Bathroom Tile | From Radiant-Heated Tile Floors to Decorative Tile Showers

Tile’s cleanliness, visual aesthetic and water resistance has always cemented its place in bathrooms. At Tri-County General Contracting, we are happy to offer our clients many choices when it comes to custom bathroom tile. For the most utilitarian bathrooms, we offer solid color tiles in a wide range of hues. And for those interested in more artsy tile, we can source decorative, intricate designs from industry-leading manufacturers. We are open to practically any artistic idea our clients can think of, from symbols to words to images fashioned out of tile. In the end, we want our clients to feel a great appreciation of the colors, textures and designs of tiled surfaces every time they walk into their bathroom.

Kitchen Tile | Counter Tops, Back Splashes, Trim and Floors

For those homeowners wary of the price tag of stone, custom tile kitchen counter tops bring the best of luxury, sanitation and visual appeal without breaking the bank. And for those of you out there tired of looking at the same boring off-white tile wall behind your kitchen sink, why not beautify your kitchen space with a intricate, decorative custom tile back splash? Rough, unpolished tile can lend a 3-D look to the space between cupboards and counter tops.

Rectangle to Square, Extra-Small to Jumbo

Tri-County will work with you and your budget to find the right size, shape and design for your next tile project. We routinely work with moderately sized 6” x 6” square solid color and decorative custom tile, as well as large 8” x 8” and extra-large 10” x 10” tile. We specialize in corner and border tile, too. For projects calling for extra-small or rectangular tile, we are adept at using 4” x 4” tile, 4” x 8” tile and practically any size in between. Tom and his team can cut tile while they work, ensuring that any custom tile job gets done exactly as our clients envision.

Have Tile-Related Questions?

Want To Know More About Tri-County’s Custom Tile Expertise?

Give Us A Call Today At 610-329-2880

What’s better than thinking of Spring 2017? Thinking about remodeling ideas for spring of course.

So what’s hot this year? We’ve got some home updating ideas.. Let’s get Started!

Kitchen Remodeling Ideas 2017

• Painted Kitchen Cabinets & Two Tone Kitchen Cabinets – In the last few years the painted cabinet market has become much more dominant than the wood tone products who lead the past decade. While the companies marketing them may be switching gears for more reasons than style; (it’s cheaper to provide a paint grade product – and you can make high margins on custom paint options). Many customer’s have found the styling more attractive in modern homes. While white is still a big go to, soft grey and off whites rule most of the market; with more robust colors coming more and more in fashion. Changing up the kitchen cabinets is always a top remodeling idea on home owners minds.
• Cabinet Accessories – It seems every few weeks new cabinet insert products come out. These days new kitchen cabinets loaded with accessories can even double the cost of a remodel. The quality and design of these kitchen add-ons are wide spread. We’ve seen way better products available separately online than what many cabinet makers use, so it makes sense to do some research.
• Colored Stainless Steel Appliances – Want the newest custom look in kitchens, how about a dark bronze colored stainless steel stove.
• Huge Tile! Extra Large Format Tile is making a huge entrance into the remodeling industry. Complex geometric patterns amoung other interesting updates can be had in single piece construction.
• Function over Form – While everyone wants to impress with beautiful style and design. Many homeowners are finding they can really up their main entryway’s usefulness while keeping their home attractive. High end mudrooms have been a large part of the upgrades we have seen in the past few years. Now home owners want to add the same functionality to the front of the home returning family traffic to there main home entries.
• Fireplaces and Fire Features – The wide screen TV has been sitting as the center piece in most American homes for just to long. Getting back to the roots of fire as a gathering place has seen a dramatic increase in both interior and exterior applications. Large format tile has also made the finishings on these attractions very easy to customize into a one of a kind piece of decor.
• Big Country – Farm inspired design has made the country kitchen get really wild in the past few years. The restoration industry and wood reclamation trades have made it easy to get high quality interesting antique wood at affordable prices. Incorporating oversized country style architecture into large modern homes really makes a home’s kitchen inviting. Open beam ceilings and rustic wood long tables are more and more common and the more dramatic elements are now available to most home owners.

Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling Ideas For 2017

• The Power of Copper – Metal finishes are still as trendy as ever, but copper will be the metal of choice for 2017 remodeling according to Pinterest. For bathroom fixtures and cabinet handles – or even the kitchen sink or counter tops – copper excels in that it is naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial. In fact, copper has been used for thousands of years around the world to sanitize water and surfaces where modern sanitation technologies are unavailable. In addition to its natural germ-killing power, copper also offers a semi-glossy but not intrusive ambiance in bathrooms and kitchens with neutral colors and textures.
• Radiant Heated Flooring – Though spring is just around the corner, many of us likely still have to contend with cold tile floors when using the bathroom during the evening or early morning. Radiant heated floors not only keep your toes warm and toasty when it’s still cold outside, but they can heat entire rooms using less energy than traditional heating methods.
• Paint It Navy Blue – The subtle, enticing look of navy blue is making a big comeback, and has found its place on kitchen cabinets, back-splashes and ceiling textures in the new year. Gone are the days of all-white kitchen and bathroom cabinetry. Perhaps most effective is opting for a dull, neutral color scheme on the bathroom or kitchen walls, and then painting cabinets navy blue to really make the color pop.
• Get Quiet – The sounds of slamming drawers and creaking hinges are so last year! With soft-close hinges and glides, you can achieve a new level of peace and serenity, even in small kitchen and bathroom spaces.
• Built-In Storage – Though the classic department store shelving unit serves its function just fine, building storage into the actual wall space of a kitchen or bathroom is ideal for 2017. Rather than a free-standing wine rack next to the stainless steel fridge, why not build the wine rack right into the wall? And for bathrooms where space is tight, taking out some of the old, clunky cabinetry and building shelves into the existing wall will open up a ton of space and reduce the cluttered feeling.
• Make a Few Cozy Nooks – Now more than ever we are always looking for quick, easy seating to accommodate family members while others are getting ready. A cozy nook or two abutting kitchen or bathroom spaces are perfect places to get off your feet for a second, check your phone or just take a moment of stillness in a hectic day. Building a nook in an unused corner of a room or beneath a large window can give your house much-needed seat space as an easier alternative to moving to the actual living room.

So no matter what new remodeling ideas you’re interested in. Make sure you give Tom Thornton at Tri-County a call.

Call Now! (610) 329-2880

Winter Is Here! All season’s are great for remodeling.

The winter days and nights are colder and homeowners get stuck inside thinking, why don’t I live in the tropics? Worry not, just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you have to sit around just waiting for the thaw. Here is a list of several 2017 Winter Home Remodeling Ideas that are sure to keep you and your loved ones cozy (and your heating bills at bay) for the colder months to come:

1. Nothing Says Cozy Like A New/Updated Fireplace

Adding a new fireplace to your living room, or remodeling an existing one, is probably the coziest thing you can do for your home this winter. This project will add a perfect holiday ambiance to your living space, and will give everyone an inviting spot for snuggling up when the fire is dying and the bricks are radiating warmth. And these days, thanks to direct venting, a complex and intimidating chimney system is not required to enjoy a fireplace in your home. Though full-scale stone hearth and mantel set-ups can cost as much as $30,000, gas-burning fireplaces with drywall surrounds are built for just a few thousand dollars.

2. Heat You Feet

For those who want warm toes more often than just in their armchair next to the new fireplace, remodeling their home with radiant floor heating systems might be what they’re after. These systems allow users to set the temperature of their hard surface flooring, ensuring their feet stay warm all season long. The floors are adjustable, able to become warmer in the morning and evenings when the outdoor temperatures fall, and to keep the floors at ambient temperature during the day. Remodelers can install them in essentially any room of the house, most popularly in kitchens and bathrooms. Heated floors take the idea of cozy to a luxurious level.

3. Caulking, Weather Stripping and Insulation

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home loses 5 to 30 percent of its energy to chilly drafts – breaches in the building’s thermal envelope. Remodelers stop this process by filling corners and gaps with fresh caulking, and by applying weather stripping on outside-facing doors and windows. Insulation inside walls can be a key factor, too, in a house’s energy efficiency. This simple renovation will not only keep your house warm, but it will also save you money on your winter heating bills in the long run.

4. New, Energy Efficient Doors and Windows

Leaky windows and drafty doors can make exterior-facing rooms colder, draftier and more uncomfortable during the winter. If you feel chilly drafts coming through your living room, dining room or bathroom, it might be a good time to replace those old inefficient windows and doors. Installing new energy-rated windows and doors can increase a home’s energy efficiency profile by 45 percent, also eventually paying for themselves in utility bill savings. Although wooden doors are beautiful, modern steel and fiberglass doors are much more energy efficient. Many people prefer fiberglass to steel because it resists wear and tear better. Fiberglass doors can also be painted and stained for a faux-wood appearance.

Have One Of These Ideas Caught Your Interest? Give Tom and Tri-County General Contracting a Call Today!

(610)329-2880