HOW TO SURVIVE A KITCHEN REMODEL PROJECT

One of the most rewarding home improvement projects you can do is a kitchen remodel. But it can also be an undertaking that’s extremely frustrating to endure.

Family life almost always focus on the kitchen. Living in a home without one will disrupt every aspect of life. Making any changes to what’s considered as the heart of a home needs a plan of how to endure the weeks and even up to several months of kitchen remodel ahead. The time allotted for this home renovation will depend on its scope. If it is a simple tear then it won’t last that long. But if it is a major redesign then you can expect for it to last for a few months.

A basic tear out will last between 4 to 6 weeks and you won’t have that much access to your kitchen. If it is going to be a significant kitchen renovation, you can expect to face a minimum of three months of disorder.

Tips To Survive A Kitchen Remodel

Set up a separate and temporary kitchen.

If possible, you should move your refrigerator to a different room in the house where you’ll have access to it. If not, you can get a small college fridge so you’ll have some place where you can keep your essentials. Another critical appliance that you should have is a spare microwave.

Find a place to eat.

Families usually eat their meals in the kitchen so you better think about how alternative living areas would serve at mealtimes. You can eat in your temporary kitchen, the place where you’ve set up your microwave and refrigerator.

Use disposable utensils and paper plates.

You will have to wash the dishes in your bathroom if you can’t access your kitchen. Instead of doing that, you can keep disposable paper plates and utensils. You should also consider keeping a sink hooked up on the main level during the whole process of upgrading your kitchen.

Consider the cost of eating out on your renovation budget.

Determine how much your family spends on eating out. Multiply the amount by the number of meals in a day and weeks the project would last so you will have a good idea of how fast this expense can increase. You should also take into account prepackaged meals, carryout, and family or friends who may invite you to eat at their home.

Prepare for dust and noise.

A kitchen remodel Myrtle Beach is a disruptive, messy, and expensive project. You should expect to see a mess every day. There are times when the mess is tolerable, but there are also instances when the dust and noise can make you lose your cool.

Consider your pets.

Your pets will also be affected once the project gets underway. You should consider having them kennelled or taken care of by a friend or relative.

Get designs plans in advance.

If your project involves moving walls, you need to talk to your architect before starting a project. Consider how the kitchen will work in a functional level. Take into account where your current kitchen appliances and items are placed and how they’ll fit in your new kitchen. A basic sketch could deal with flow issues that might come up in a kitchen. The design should consider the social as well as the storage needs. So be sure to hire skilled labor during the sketching stage so they could inform you about potential and costly pitfalls in the kitchen design.

Call Keystone General Contracting for your kitchen remodel project. Our team is ready to assist you.

Keystone General Contracting
Myrtle Beach, SC
(843) 465-0685
https://www.keystonegeneralcontracting.com

SECRETS ONLY GENERAL CONTRACTORS KNOW

In case you are a homeowner, it’s most likely that you have attempted to do DIY repairs to save some cash. In case you didn’t know the secrets that the professionals use, you’re most likely to run into budget and time bottlenecks that make the procedure a bit frustrating. General contractors may utilize a few of the following hacks to fix and maintain your house within the budget.

Installing Central Air

This isn’t rocket science, especially if you have a forced hot air system with room for more. General contractors Myrtle Beach say that installing a central air system might be more complicated for electric, forced water steam, or perhaps hot water baseboards.

In case you know where you wish to add your vents, you could also cut costs on your heating bill each month. You will also encounter less insulation issues by making sure that the vents are placed away from spots in your home that have a tendency to attract moisture like close to low windows, away from the pipes, or around the refrigerator.

Clearer Finish On The Walls

Lash and plaster can provide you with an expert finish on the walls and the ceilings. But, you must plan in advance if you would like to keep your plaster walls in good shape and within a budget, because they usually get more expensive as time passes by. Sheetrock is a good option especially if you want your upgrades to be geared towards saving energy including recessed or overhead lighting in an area.

Ensuring Proper Drainage

If grime, dirt, as well as moisture drain away from your house, you’ll get to save a lot of cash by stopping issues that require fixing. Older houses are more problematic in terms of the drainage and you might wish to use the professionalism of an expert to remove foundations with certain properties that have eroded or those with slopes that are steep.

If you can take care of this problem ahead of time, you’ll get to save on several costly repairs eventually that involves foundation, patio decks, housing column, as well as basement floors. The whole retaining walls may swell, sink, or even fall due to bad drainage.

Clearing The Landscape

Inspecting the root structure of the trees on the property is important in case you are moving into a new home, especially if it is in a rural area. Large trees that have not been landscaped properly may possess an aggressive root system that could upend the pipes or your home’s foundation. Roots could extend beyond what an ordinary person may think so do not underestimate the power of nature. Bad roots may also cause trees to fall and lead to severe damage during inclement weather.

Complete Routine Home Inspection

You must always know what is going on in your house by performing informal inspections each week or so. Here are a few indications that may signal a more serious issue. These include big differences in the temperature between different rooms, cracked paint, broken plaster, unexpectedly high utility bills, rumbling or scratching in ceiling or walls.

Call Keystone General Contracting if you are looking for a general contractor for your home improvement projects.

Keystone General Contracting
Myrtle Beach, SC
(843) 465-0685
https://www.keystonegeneralcontracting.com

HOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT OFFER TAX BENEFITS

For the purpose of tax benefits, a home improvement should include any kind of work that would significantly add to the value of your house, boosts its useful life, and adapts it to its new purposes.

These include new bathrooms, room additions, new roofs, plumbing upgrades, kitchen upgrades, driveway, walkways, wiring upgrades, landscaping, fencing, and decks.

In case you use your house as your personal residence, you won’t be able to deduct the cost of the home improvements. These costs are personal expenses that are non deductible.

But, this does not imply that home improvements don’t have a tax benefit. They could help lessen the amount of taxes that you need to pay once you sell your home at a profit. This is due to the fact that the cost of your home improvement are added to your home’s tax basis. It means how much you’ve invested in your house for tax purposes. If you have a greater basis then you will receive less profit once you sell your house.

The most common way for homeowners to increase their basis is to have home improvements. But, the basis of your home does not include improvement costs that are removed from the house at a later time. For instance, if you have installed a brand new chain link fence 15 years ago and have it changed with a redwood fence, how much the old fence costs is no longer a part of the basis of your home.

Even though you cannot deduct home improvements, it is still possible for them to depreciate. It means that you have to deduct the cost over the past years and that is between three to about 27.5 years. To qualify to depreciate the cost of your home improvement, you should use a part of your home other than as a personal residence.

Qualifying For The Home Office Deduction

One good way to depreciate home improvement costs is to come up with a business and use a part of the house as an office for your business. To be eligible for the home office deduction you should have a business that is legitimate and you must use a portion of your home to regularly and exclusively for the business.

In case you qualify for this particular deduction, you could deduct 100% of the home improvement costs you make just to your home office. Home improvements that benefit your whole house are depreciable based on the home office percentage.

Rent Out Part Of Your House

Another method of depreciating your home improvement Myrtle Beach costs is to rent out a part of your house. This lets you to depreciate the expense as the rental expense. The cost will then be deducted from the rental income that you get.

As with the deduction for the home office, home remodel that benefit just the portion of the house being rented could be depreciated in full. Improvements that benefit the whole house could be depreciated based on the percentage of the home’s rental use.

Learn more about home improvements by calling Keystone General Contracting.

Keystone General Contracting
Myrtle Beach, SC
(843) 465-0685
https://www.keystonegeneralcontracting.com

5 HOME REMODEL PROJECTS TO DO PRIOR TO COLD WEATHER ARRIVING

Although the temperatures don’t reflect it here in Myrtle Beach, winter is here, it’s time to complete a few household tasks that are best dealt with before the cold weather and the days grow short — most importantly closing up your residence and get the HVAC system working efficiently to keep those wintertime heating expenses as low as possible

Do not wait too long. When cold weather and short days are here, you will not wish to find cold air blowing in through your windows — or from your heating unit.

1: Get the heating system in order. A great place to start is your thermostat. Set it to “Heat,” and turn it up to about 5 degrees warmer than room temperature level. If the heat does not come on and remain on until the room reaches the set temperature, either the thermostat or the HVAC system has an issue.

Replace the thermostat’s batteries first, then try again. If you fear the thermostat might be defective, this is a good time to replace it with a new programmable model that can lower your energy costs. If you know that the thermostat is working, or changing it doesn’t do the job, call an heating and cooling  expert to check and service the heating system.

Make certain to change the air filters, which are normally situated in the units air handler which is usually located in the attic or in a closet or inside the return-air system. If you’re having a professional work on the system, they can to do this. Clean filters do not just mean cleaner air — they likewise help the system work more efficiently.

When checking on the flow of warmed air through the registers, ensure dampers or registers were not closed for the summer and that heated air can stream freely into rooms.

2: Prepare the fireplace. If your home has a wood-burning fireplace that you intend to utilize regularly, stock-up on fire wood and make sure the wood is secured from rain and pest free.

Next take a close look at the fireplace. Check of debris and bird nests by shinning a flashlight into the chimney from the inside of the fireplace. Then make sure the damper works, open it. Check the chimney walls. If they having a coating of creosote, a sap-like material that builds-up on surfaces, have the chimney cleaned by a professional chimney sweeper — creosote is highly combustible and can cause a chimney fire. While you are inspecting the chimney, check for any missing bricks, broken chimney flue tiles or crumbling mortar that needs to be fixed. Call Keystone General Contracting for repairs to the brick work or to install a new fireplace.

3: Safeguard water pipes. If you live where outside temperature levels can drop below freezing, secure water pipes that go across unheated spaces, such as an attic or crawlspace. To do this, you can buy affordable foam pipeline insulation sleeves at a home improvement center. These are sliced along their seams so you can merely push them onto pipes.

4: Stop drafts. Windows and doors must be weather-stripped to avoid drafts and energy loss. To weather-strip windows and doors, you have to keep them open for a while, so it’s best to do this work before the weather condition gets too cold. If a few of your windows and doors are not secured by weather-stripping, now is the time to seal them up. Purchase economical vinyl or foam weather-stripping and use it inning accordance with the label instructions.

Storm windows and doors can aid with lessening energy loss, too. If you have the kind of screen-and-storm doors that use interchangeable screen and glass panels, switch out screens for glass. Prior to installing the panels, check and tighten the clips that secure them. Also inspect and, if needed, adjust the cyclone door more detailed so that it pulls the cyclone door firmly shut without banging it.

5: Flush the water heater. When the weather gets cold, so does the water that travels through outdoor pipes to supply your hot water heater. As a result, the water heater needs to work longer to heat that very cold water. So water heater effectiveness is essential.

The very best route to keep a water heater working efficiently is to flush it once or twice a year. Mineral deposits build up over time and coat the bottom of the tank, minimizing the efficient transfer of heat from the burners at the base. Flushing out some of the water helps get rid of these deposits.

To flush a hot water heater, switch off the heat, either at the gas valve of a gas hot water heater or by shutting off an electrical hot water heater’s electrical power. Then shut off the valve at the cold-water inlet pipe, typically right above the hot water heater. Situate the faucet-like drain valve in the side of the water heater at its base, attach a garden pipe to it and run finish of the hose outdoors, terminating at a point that’s lower than the water heater. Switch on a close-by warm water faucet to allow air into the pipes system, and then open the water heater’s drain valve to flush sediment out through the hose pipe. Drain about 3 or 4 gallons of warm water up until it aims up being visibly clear, and then close the valve.

Reverse this process to refill and reheat the water heater. In other words, disconnect the tube, shut off the neighboring warm water faucet, switch on the water supply to the water heater and wait a few minutes for the water heater to refill. Then, for an electric water heater, turn the power back on, or for a gas water heater, switch on the gas and, unless it is a pilotless model, relight the pilot light.

Need help getting your home ready for winter? Call Keystone General Contracting today for a free consultation.

Keystone General Contracting LLC
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-465-0685
https://www.keystonegeneralcontracting.com
info@keystonegeneralcontracting.com

5 IMPROVEMENTS FOR YOUR NEXT BATHROOM REMODELING PROJECT

A bathroom remodel will boost the value of your home, update its style, and even makes it much better adapted to your needs. Renovations are the perfect time to introduce upgrades that will serve you as well as your family in the coming years. In case you are spending money for a bathroom remodel, you should consider at least one of these essential bathroom improvements.

The Toilet

When it comes to upgrading the toilet, you should consider getting the hidden tank toilet. It saves spaces, plus the low flow models can help save water whenever you flush. It is a good choice that can boost the value of your home following a bathroom remodel. They work well with different bathroom designs and they fit perfectly with contemporary and modern décors.

Tiles On Shower Floor

When you are taking on a bathroom remodel Myrtle Beach, you can choose from countless flooring, wall, as well as tile choices. The tiles on the shower floor is essential to the user’s safety. Small and textured shower tiles are highly recommended. You will also lessen the risk of slipping whenever the floor becomes wet and soapy with the help of texture and extra grouting. Many of today’s bathroom tiles are quite easy to clean and they are also resistant to stains, humidity, and mold.

Plumbing

You should also consider having a two inch plumbing. This may seem as if it is an invisible improvement but this change can make a huge difference in terms of your bathroom’s functionality. The regular bathroom plumbing is about 1.5 inches. This kind of plug is prone to clogging especially when several people are using the shower or bath. The price of installing a two inch drain is the same as installing a 1.5 inch one. However, the 0.5 inch difference will help improve the quality of your bathroom’s drainage.

Tub

When it comes to a home remodel, too many homeowners add a tub to their bathroom because they think that they should. However, a bathtub is not always required especially if you don’t take baths. Although the bathroom remodel can help you sell your house in the future, you must think about how you are going to use your bathroom in the coming years. In case you love baths, then you should go ahead and include a tub in your bathroom remodel. Of course, if you’ve got a huge bathroom, you can get a tub and a large shower without having problems with space. However, if you need to make a choice, always go with the option that is most functional.

Window In The Shower

Among the biggest enemies of any clean bathroom is humidity that is trapped due to insufficient or bad ventilation. Even though a bathroom fan can make a huge difference, natural ventilation will always be the best ventilation. By adding a window in the shower area, your bathroom will be less likely to have problems with mold and mildew. Don’t forget to discuss the type of window that is appropriate for the shower area with your contractor from Keystone General Contracting.

Call Keystone General Contracting if you need professional help in remodeling your bathroom.

Keystone General Contracting
Myrtle Beach, SC
(843) 465-0685
https://www.keystonegeneralcontracting.com

TOP 10 HOME RENOVATIONS WITH THE BEST ROI

In case you’re considering to sell your house, you may also be thinking about some home remodel. It seems sensible that changing outdated features, worn carpets, and dingy appliances should boost your home’s value. However, you still have other options. There are remodeling projects that have a poor return on investments, and there are others that will not impress potential buyers in case you sell your home eventually. But these don’t mean you should not make any changes. If you believe that you will be staying in your home for some time, then by all means proceed, and remodel your house so you can enjoy your property more. Otherwise, if you plan to renovate because you want to improve your home’s resale value, concentrate on the projects that provide the best ROI.

Insulation

Every year, Remodeling Magazine performs a cost versus value analysis to know which among the 29 projects provides the best ROI. One of the projects that topped the list in the previous years is attic insulation. It is a costly project that could be performed for no more than $1,500 and an estimated ROI of 108%. Additionally, it is a great investment whether or not you plan to sell. Anything that can reduce the cost of owning a home and makes your house more cost-effective is always a smart choice.

Garage Door

In terms of upscale renovations, Remodeling Magazine said that changing the garage door provides the best ROI. You can expect to regain as much as 85% of the project’s cost. Although a new garage door can assist in selling a house, homeowners have to be smart about what type of garage door should be installed.

Front Door

You should not stop working on the garage door. You can also make some changes to your front door. This project can help recoup nearly 91% of the cost if you opt for a steel entry door while a fiberglass door will give you an ROI of 78%.

Landscaping

According to the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Landscape Professionals performed a survey in 2016 to discover what outdoor projects provide homeowners with the best value. A complete landscape upgrade ranked first on the list with about 105% ROI.

Kitchen Remodel

The kitchen is known to be the heart of the home and given that, it requires some added attention if you want to sell it right away at the best price possible. That does not mean that you have to change everything. But you should consider updating finishes or refacing cabinets. A modest kitchen remodel will give you back 80% of its cost, as per the Remodeling Magazine. Meanwhile, a midrange kitchen renovation just has a 65% ROI.

Bathroom

Another great place for Myrtle Beach home renovation is the bathroom. One inexpensive method to significantly improve the appearance and ambiance of the room is to change the vanity, toilet, and lighting. Another major investment is adding a bathroom, but it doesn’t always have the very best return. The Remodeling and the National Association of Realtors reported that homeowners would get back a bit more than half of the cost. But, it could also play an essential role in selling your home, especially if there’s just one bathroom in the house. If you’ve got more than three bedrooms and you just have one bathroom, then you can expect not to have it easy when trying to sell your house.

Windows

Changing old windows will not just brighten up a room but also draw in resale prospects. Also, you don’t have to splurge. You will not be able to get your investment back if you install an expensive window. Installing a vinyl replacement window give you back 74% of your investment, just 1% more than the ROI you will get by installing a wood window.

More Space

Renovating a basement or any other space in your house can significantly improve your home’s value in certain areas. The value of upgrading a basement can offer an ROI of 69% while an attic upgrade offers 61%.

Appliances

Just like insulation, upgrading your water heaters, furnaces, and appliances offer several benefits. These could make the house more attractive and even lower the living costs. Some cities and states also offer tax incentives, among others, that could help in offsetting the cost of the project.

Interior Paint

Home buyers love to see airy spaces and clean lines. However, calculating the ROI of a new coat of paint can be quite difficult. If you are on a shoestring budget and you still want to improve the look of your house significantly, then you should consider giving it a fresh coat of paint.

Call Keystone General Contracting if you need the help in remodeling your home.

Keystone General Contracting
Myrtle Beach, SC
(843) 465-0685
https://www.keystonegeneralcontracting.com

HOW TO START A HOME REMODELING PROJECT

As a homeowner, you will eventually join the millions of people who have decided to give their abode a makeover. Perhaps when that time comes, you have realized that harvest gold and avocado green are no longer considered “trendy” for today’s modern kitchens. Or perhaps you want to add another bathroom to your home. Whatever your reasons are, it is important to know how to have a successful home remodel.

Some of the most common home remodeling projects include:

• Adding extra space
• Upgrading appliances, cabinets, counters, and fixtures
• Creating a customized floor plan
• Improving energy efficiency with the addition of new doors, windows, insulation, as well as climate control systems
• Boosting your home’s resale value

Getting Started With Home Remodel

The first thing you have to do is to know what you want to do with your home remodel. Create a list of what you want and what you need. There are several sources to look for design ideas for your desired home improvement project. Check out websites and magazines or collect photos of homes or renovation projects that you like. You need to have a clear vision of your desired project and make sure have it fully detailed on paper. This will help you be prepared to make decisions as you go through your project.

You also need to consider the traffic patterns, colors, furniture size, and lighting. You should also know how you plan to use the newly remodeled place. In case your decision to have your home renovated involves giving a person with limited mobility better access, then you should consider hiring a Myrtle Beach home remodel contractor.

You should also consider improving your home efficiency and work with a professional home remodeling contractor for green home renovation options. These can include adding insulation, upgrading your heating and cooling system, replacing doors and windows, and other renovation projects to make it more efficient, comfortable, and easier to maintain.

You also have to determine how much you need to for the project. This may include the landscaping, furnishings, and other expenses that you may incur.

DIY or Hire A Pro For Home Improvement

When you have come up with your list of priorities, you have to decide if you can take on the project yourself or if you should hire a professional home remodeling contractor. If you are handy around the house, a DIY project can be both cost-effective and rewarding. However, you need to know that over 30% of all the jobs home remodeling contractors take on come from homeowners who have had failed DIY projects.

Hiring a professional home remodel contractor from Keystone General Contracting is the best way to make sure that your project is successful. These experts are committed to maintaining the highest standards and integrity in the industry.

Call Keystone General Contracting if you are interested in having your home remodeled.

Keystone General Contracting
Myrtle Beach, SC
(843) 465-0685
https://www.keystonegeneralcontracting.com