Home Remodeling Blog

Aging-In-Place Remodeling

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:24:00 -0600

Aging-In-Place Remodeling

If you are entering your Golden Years or thinking about retirement, before you consider downsizing, assisted living, or a retirement community, consider this:

You do not have to change for your home... your home can change for you.

Fisher Builders as a certified aging-in-place specialist is now offering an incredible variety of upgrades and modifications to your home that will allow you to live more comfortably in a setting that is as comfortable and accessible as it is stylish.

Consider this an opportunity for you to be "Aging-In-Place"... your place. We have done extensive research through dozens of quality distributors that specialize in home accessories that allow you to go about your daily activities with fewer hassles. Fisher Builders can customize or install:

Handles and grab bars
Elevated ADA toilets and toilet seats
Hand-held shower heads
Heated floors
Lower or higher counters
Slip-resistant surfaces
Extra lighting
Closet organizers
... and hundreds of other upgrades

You will be amazed at the gorgeous products that will accent your décor while simultaneously providing convenience. Fisher Builders can recommend modifications to your home that you might not even have considered. We will customize a plan to suit your needs and work within your budget.

Do you have to start over just because of some changes to your mobility? Should you give up your home or condo because of a few physical limitations? Absolutely not. Aging in place will empower you to stay where you want while enjoying the conveniences you need.

Ten Questions to Ask Your Prospective Remodeler

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:33:00 -0600

Insurance. Did they leave a copy of their insurance with you and did you call to verify that it's valid?
Warranty. Do they have a written one year warranty?
Payment. How much of a deposit or payment before the job is completed are they asking?
Proposal. Have they provided you a written proposal instead of an estimate? Does it outline exactly what work will be done and when it will be done?  Are all the bids based on the same specifications and materials?
Reference. Where they able to provide you references with customer comments?
Experience. Have you seen their work?
Price. Is the price to good to be true?
Credibility. Is the company have a good standing with the BBB?
Unexpected Costs. Will the contractor keep you up to date on the project?
Deliver. Do you feel confident that they will deliver?

Are Big Home Remodels Back?

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:53:00 -0500

Good news in the housing sector has been hard to find of late, but recent studies show that there may be light at the end of the tunnel. The seemingly endless tumble in pricing looks to have stabilized, and it appears that both investors and prospective new homeowners may be willing to dip a toe in these warming waters. For current homeowners prepping to sell, investing in future value, or simply increasing the livability of their home, the current climate presents a unique opportunity to go ahead with large-scale remodeling projects.

Desperate Contractors Keep Prices Down

With the home improvement business still sluggish, and new housing starts declining, home remodeling contractors are becoming increasingly desperate to secure jobs. To that end, they are cutting prices across the board, particularly on larger projects that have the potential to keep them occupied for the next few critical months. Second-story additions, bedroom additions, and large-scale kitchen remodels are particularly coveted, as they can provide ample work for contractors and their crews during lean times. As the pace of recovery continues to build, and contractors notice an up-tick in business, the opportunity to secure bargain pricing of this nature may soon disappear.

Credit Thaw Means Financing Is Finally Available

Lenders are finally actively searching again for qualified borrowers, leading to a thaw in the credit market. As this credit becomes available, borrowers are also discovering that financing costs are quite low, and as attractive as they are likely to be for quite some time. Interest rates have nowhere to go but up - now is the time to secure financing for those big-ticket remodels, as credit costs will never again be this cheap.

New Incentives to Remodel

Recent passage of the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act by the House is a big effort to inject life into the housing market. There are substantial incentives available to homeowners who make significant energy-savings improvements to their homes, and history shows that these programs are popular and quickly over-subscribed. The bill awaits passage by the Senate, but once that happens, the race will be on for homeowners to get those improvements made, and snap up those rebates.

Home Star Passage a Gift to Homeowners

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:31:00 -0500

In May of 2010, the House approved the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act, a landmark bill that offers financial incentives to homeowners who make residential energy efficiency improvements. Home Star is expected to offer three benefits to the broader economy: create construction jobs, energize the housing market, and deliver monetary savings from reduced energy consumption. Passage of the bill by the Senate is the final hurdle, and this is expected sometime this year.

What Home Star Means to You

Home Star presents a golden opportunity for homeowners to make energy efficiency improvements. The bill offers double savings - you save on the initial cost of the improvements, via rebates, and you save money on your energy bills on an ongoing, monthly basis. The program offers up to $3000 back for home improvements like insulation, windows & doors, water heaters, and the like, and up to $8000 back to those who conduct a comprehensive energy audit that results in significantly reduced consumption.

The total allocation for Home Star rebates is $6 billion, which seems like quite a bit... but if history is any guide, this money could disappear quickly. In 2009, one-time tax credits for the purchase of new vehicles were quickly exhausted; the program was temporarily extended, but many buyers who waited found themselves on the outside looking in. Industry analysts are urging those who are serious about making energy efficiency improvements to their home to take advantage of the program as soon as possible.

Find a Certified Home Star Contractor

One important note: in order to be eligible for the rebates, contractors performing the improvements must be certified by the program. Not all contractors will be certified, so homeowners will have to be careful to make sure that the contractor they select is eligible. State organizations will be put in place to grant certifications, and direct homeowners to eligible contractors.

Fisher Builders is an EPA-Certified Home Renovation Firm

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:14:00 -0500

Lead is an extremely hazardous material that can cause nerve disorders and hypertension in adults, and brain damage in children. Because of this, The Environmental Protection Agency has required that all home remodeling contractors be certified in the safe execution of remodeling work in homes and facilities where lead-based paint was used.

As a certified renovation firm, we follow all EPA guidelines regarding the prevention of lead contamination, including proper containment of the work area, minimization of dust, and thorough clean-up of the work area, particularly in homes and facilities built before 1978.

Being a certified home remodeling company also means our staff has been trained by an EPA-accredited provider in the safe remodeling of areas where lead-based paint was used. We will make certain that our work in pre-1978 homes is clean, thorough and safe.

If your home was built before 1978, and you are concerned about remodeling because of the risk of being exposed to lead, rest assured that Fisher Builders, as a certified renovation firm, will take every precaution to protect you and your loved-ones from harm.

Backyard Pergola in Mokena, Illinois

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:45:00 -0500

Backyard decks too exposed? Screened-in porches too confining? A backyard pergola is a wonderful option for enjoying the sunlight and outdoors while still staying cool and comfortable. A pergola's lattice design allows for both the passage of breezes and the providing of shade without entirely cutting off sunlight.

This backyard pergola in Mokena, Illinois, was built from rough-sawn cedar, giving it the rustic look of timber. The ceiling joists were positioned in such a way to block sunlight during the high-intensity hours of early afternoon. Another facet of the backyard pergola is the feeling of being in a room - a feature enhanced in this pergola by the owner's choice to have us install lighting and an overhead fan.

Whether in Mokena, or anywhere else in the Chicago area, we are thrilled to offer this unique and beautiful addition to our clients' homes.

Master Bathroom Remodel in Frankfort, IL

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:07:00 -0500

Home remodeling, whether in the bathroom bedroom or living room, is about personalizing living space for our clients, and we enjoy and appreciate this responsibility. For a recent master bathroom remodeling project in Frankfort, IL, the owner wanted a spacious shower, so we removed a whirlpool tub and fabricated a mud set shower base with custom tile and a recessed opening. These features gave the shower both a unique design and function ability. For this bathroom remodel, we also fabricated a corner seat and shelves. Finally, as an added touch of luxury, we installed heated floors for the comfort of the client's feet.

We used state-of-the-art Kohler plumbing for the fixtures and a tempered clear glass for the shower door. As always, we used cement board for the tile-work.

Whether in Frankfort, or anywhere else in the Chicagoland area, whether it is a bathroom remodel or an outdoor renovation, we take pride in helping our clients realize their dreams for a comfortable, unique living space - as unique as our clients themselves.

Outdoor Living Space Project ranked in HGTV's Top 5 Patios & Deck Designs

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 10:08:00 -0500

Fisher Builders outdoor living space remodeling included a kitchen, fireplace, built-in grill, stainless refrigerator, granite bar and an eating area. In addition, a cedar pergola with ceiling fans and outdoor lighting were added to the patio.

HGTV's Rate My Space is an interactive online service where home owners can upload photos and videos of their own home improvement projects and ideas. All home remodeling projects are rated and commented on by others.

Basement Remodeling Project in Frankfort: The Wine Cellar

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:16:00 -0500

If you are a lover of wine and have a basement, you have come to the right place. Wine aficionados know the proper storage of good wine makes them better and can even take marginal wines and make them good. A great way to ensure that your wine is stored properly is to have a wine cellar. If you have a basement that needs finishing or just want to take your basement out of the 70's with some basement remodeling, turning it into a functional wine cellar is a great option.

Is my basement still functional?

The short answer is yes. The wine cellar portion of your basement is around the edges of the room, allowing you to still use the basement for other purposes. Whether for storage, which we can build-out with other shelving units, or a place to disappear to with custom cabinets hiding a TV, the rest of the basement is still usable space. As you can see, the wine cellar basement build-out that was just completed is truly a place to entertain as well as store enough wine for quite a while.

The basement remodeling process?

For our build, we started with fairly typical "man-cave" style basement. This meant that aside from moving some furniture this was almost a pure build-out rather than remodel so there was very little demolition to do. We started by constructing the wine racks out of Cedar, using a jig to make sure the wine bottles were evenly spaced. While those were being built, tile was laid adding to both the form and function of the space. With a moisture barrier applied under the finished walls, the home owner can much better regulate the humidity of the space, making sure it is optimal for the wine corks. Walls were painted and to make this not only a wine cellar but to make the area wine consumption friendly, a basement bar area was constructed as well.