SUNROOM ADDITION

5 Reasons To Add A Sunroom To Your Home

Are you thinking of adding more living space to your home? In case you are thinking of adding a new space your entire family could enjoy throughout the year, then a sunroom could very well be the best choice.

Constructing a sunroom lets you to make a versatile space without blowing your savings out of proportion. These five advantages of a sunroom could convince you to consult with a contractor and begin planning your new home improvement project.

Advantages of Having A Sunroom

Bring The Outside Inside Your Home

A sunroom is a very effective way to let natural light enter and brighten up your house. You could enjoy the great view without you being out of the house and with the outdoor elements. A sunroom is a great space for creating a garden inside your house. With a lot of sunlight, you could grow a wide range of indoor plants or start seedlings for your outdoor garden.

Increase The Value Of Your Home

Much like home improvements, adding a sunroom could boost the value of your home. Since it tends to cost much less than other home additions, it is much simpler to recoup most of the construction expenses when decide to sell your home. This will make sunrooms a smart financial investment.

Space For Everybody

When correctly heated and insulated, a sunroom is a place where everyone in your house could enjoy all throughout the year. This space could be used as a sitting, office, playroom, or for whatever purpose you would like to use it for. It is an excellent way of adding more living space that could be used for different purposes. If you are planning your project, be sure to talk to your general contractor about your general plans for the space. Your contractor could offer solutions or even suggest accessories like furniture.

Design Options

Sunrooms are never the same. If you work with a general contractor, they will most like recommend materials and designs that will complement the rest of your house. But, you will control the design as well as the features you wish to incorporate into the space. For the ceiling fans to the energy efficient windows, built in storage to flooring, you could customize the sunroom to make it truly unique.

Boost Curb Appeal

A sunroom Myrtle Beach could add more curb appeal to your house. In case you decide to sell your house, this curb appeal could lead to bring in more buyers that come to your door. With the space already built could be a powerful selling point for homebuyers who are interested in the property.

From extra space down to additional value, sunrooms are smart investments for homeowners. In case you are considering to add this to your house, talk to your local home improvement contractor. Soon after that, you will be able to get all the benefits of having a sunroom with your friends and loved ones.

Call Keystone General Contracting if you are thinking of adding a sunroom in your home.

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

KITCHEN REMODEL TRADE-OFFS YOU MUST KNOW

Who wouldn’t want to have an unlimited budget for a kitchen remodel? But, most homeowners don’t and there’s nothing wrong with that. Compromises are part of the whole process, even for a homeowner who has a bottomless budget and wide area to work on.

The question is, how can you choose between two different options with varying benefits and drawbacks? The most important tool to have when making tough decisions is having a clear picture of your kitchen remodel goals. To clearly define what’s important to you, here are a few trade-offs that you and your general contractor and kitchen designer will have to consider.

Kitchen Remodel Trade-Offs

Special Events Vs. Daily Use

This particular area of consideration has something to do with the number of people you want your kitchen to serve. From seats, dining table, to refrigerator storage, the number of people you would like to accommodate will have an effect on your design choices. You should not only consider how many people live in your house now but, if this will be your forever home, you should also consider how many people will live in it after 10 years. Additionally, how often do you receive visitors, host gatherings, and for how many people?

Cost Vs. Value

As you may have learned when you are considering a kitchen remodel Myrtle Beach, everything from appliances, to sinks, to cabinets come at different price points. So, how can you decide if it is worth to spend more for a high quality item and what it is best to choose the cheaper one? There are a few questions you need to ask.

Will this investment help improve your everyday life? Will the product deal with a pet peeve? Will buying this item make your house feel more like a home? Will the item help increase the value of your home?

In each one of these cases, you may choose that the feature’s cost for a brand new kitchen is worth it because of its offered value. You can get more clarity on what is worth the extra cash by framing your choices as value vs. cost, when it comes to your experiences in your kitchen as well as your home’s resale value.

Aesthetics Vs. Function

Generally, a kitchen design offers both function and beauty, however, when you only have limited funds, you may have to consider a trade off between aesthetics and functionality. In terms of function, it does not only mean the bells and whistles but also the layout of the kitchen and choosing if you would rather have two sinks instead of just one.

On the other hand, aesthetics are the costly yet beautiful finishes as well as personalized detailing that offer a high end look to the kitchen. In most cases, a budget could force you to make choices on the things that are important for you, the appearance or the functionality.

Patience Vs. Speed

Home improvement projects always take time and that is only part of the whole process. When the kitchen is demolished and the remodeling is ongoing, delays almost always pose difficulties especially if you are living in the house while the renovation is being done. If you are in that situation, you may be tempted to agree and say yes to everything just to get it done as soon as possible.

If you are making a huge financial investment that you have to live with for a long period of time, then you need to be patient. But if you are remodeling for a special event or maybe you are planning to sell your house and you would like quick facelift then speed would be a necessary evil.

Call Keystone General Contracting if you are thinking of remodeling your kitchen.

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

WHY WINTER IS THE BEST TIME FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

When is the perfect season to schedule home improvement projects? The correct answer may depend on the local weather and the project at hand. Still, several homeowners never think about the advantages of wintertime remodeling. Do you want to save time and cash or just get a remodeling project completed by spring? Take some time to learn why the cold winter season might be the perfect home renovation season for you.

Home Improvements During Winter

Aside from the season, you should also take into account the nature of the home improvement Myrtle Beach project on hand.

Outdoor work might depend on the temperature as well as other environmental factors. Naturally, the winter season differ by location. Additionally, there are a few outdoor construction tasks that are much simpler during the colder season. For example, summer humidity, spring showers, as well as fall storms could delay and threaten several projects. Plus, many contractors as well as suppliers consider this season as their off-peak, so you might find the resources more accessible.

Indoor jobs might not depend that much on the climate. But, you should still take into account other seasonal advantages that could assist you in getting your project finished cheaper and faster. Just like with outdoor projects, a few supplies as well as the labor may be cheaper. You might also discover that it is much easier to schedule your home remodel project during the winter.

Outdoor Home Remodeling Projects In The Winter

You may think twice at the thought of having outdoor work completed during winter. However, this could be a wonderful time to plan to make structural repairs to your home or a home addition. In case you would like to have a new deck, patio, or other outdoor living area during the spring, it’s a good idea to get your work finished in the winter. Additionally, it could take time get approvals and draw up plans during this time of the year. If you begin some home remodeling projects during this season, you will be all set to start work in the spring.

Home Additions

Room additions tend to mean structural alterations to the house which might need structural reinforcements. In most cases, general contractors find it hard to work with dry and frozen ground. Summer and spring weather can help make the air humid and the earth muddy. This implies that a moderate winter season can offer your general contractor with the best time to pour or fix foundations. Additionally, fairly dry winter conditions can provide workers a lot of time to get the frames for a brand new construction covered well before spring rainfalls hit. Dry weather means that your work could be completed much faster since the contracting firm will not call as many rainy days.

Attic Jobs

Although it is not technically outside, homeowners would rather not do an attic project during summer. In case you are planning to turn your unfinished attic into an additional living space, you may find it a lot easier to control the climate when they begin the job during drier and colder months.

Bathroom and Kitchen Remodeling

General contractors tend to get a lot of requests for kitchen remodel and bathroom remodel during summer. By scheduling your work in the cold winter season, you might have a much easier time moving to the top of the list. For different kinds of projects, you may need approval from the homeowners association, the city, and other relevant authorities. Among the simplest ways to obtain these approvals expedited is to submit them at a time when there’s a shorter queue of requests.

Call Keystone General Contracting if you are thinking of a home remodeling project during winter.

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

TIPS ON REMODELING A KITCHEN ON A BUDGET

Unlike remodeling other parts of the home, the budget needed by a kitchen remodel is by far the highest. However, this shouldn’t discourage you from giving your kitchen a makeover. It is still possible to remodel your kitchen even under a strict budget. It simply takes time and a lot of research to make it all possible. Here are a few tips to make your kitchen remodeling plans a reality without spending too much:

Always be keen on lowering costs

The primary goal of almost every homeowner when they remodel parts of their home is to minimize the cost. Although spending cash is inevitable, you can make the costs far less devastating for your bank account. If you don’t mind using cheaper appliances for your kitchen remodel Myrtle Beach, you may do so. There are a lot of bargain prices that you can hold of. However, it’s not as reliable as one would hope.

The best route to take is the realistic route. You might wish for cheaper prices but price tags aren’t always in your favor. The reality is that you will spend money. Now, the trick here is to spend that money wisely and realistically within your budget.

Refresh rather than replace

Your kitchen cabinet or counter might not be so bad that it needs replacement. Chances are, all you need is to refresh them so they would have the same feel the first day you got them. New cabinets can be quite expensive. And if you sum up all the costs, you could well finish an entire room addition just with the cost of your kitchen.

Try looking for different ideas that could give your cabinets a new look. A fresh coat of paint is your primary option.  You’ll be surprised to see that all it takes is a new color to brighten up your kitchen. If replacement are necessary, look into other materials such as MDF. If you have some spare time or have the skills to build your own, there are ready to assemble cabinets that look as good but aren’t as expensive.

Go DIY if you’re able

As stated above, you can go DIY and build a cabinet. However, as a precaution, don’t go down this route if you don’t have enough experience or if you aren’t too confident with your carpentry skills. If you’re confident that you have the skills to get the project done, DIY is the path to take. You will save yourself a ton of cash if you make your own furniture and cabinets. However, it will take time and skill. If you’re not sure where to begin, just a hire a professional.

Re-use old appliances

As tempting as it is to go shopping for new kitchen appliances, you shouldn’t head to your nearest Walmart just yet. If your trusty oven isn’t broken, have it checked and refreshed. Most often, your old appliance will last longer than you expect. You’ll save more money by using older appliances and you’ll have more leeway in your budget.

Don’t be too quick with a new kitchen layout

A major kitchen overhaul will set you back big time. Switching from one layout to another will drive up the costs significantly. If you want to lower your spending, go for the same layout instead. You’re better off spending your money on a home remodel than just on one part of your house.

Want to make your Kitchen look like new again? Call Keystone General Contracting for all your remodeling needs!

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

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