Tag: home additions

Top Trends in Home Improvement & Remodeling

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems

You can’t say we have returned to the times when housing was booming, but with 1,226,000 homes built in the last year, we’re not far from it. With Americans projected to collectively offload over $300 billion in home improvements over the next year the housing industry is currently looking pretty good.

So what are homeowners getting into this year as far as home improvements go? Here are a few favorite trends that tipped to being routinely installed this year.

Smart home technology is the latest in home improvement industry trends. The projection is that 33% of houses will get connected with at least one smart device, if they haven’t done so, with home security topping the list. The rise of voice activated technology is also leading the charge to make smarter homes more desirable.

Big homes are on the down swing as more people are choosing less square feet for their living space, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This new trend means a home modeler contractor needs to get more creative with their floor plans while still fitting in lots of storage space and energy efficient appliances. New construction homes of 2017 are smaller than those seen in the past.

Matte finishes are taking over from the more sparkly finishes such as chrome and sparkly granite. Black stainless steel is now the favorite finish of choice. Matte is big in the kitchen, but it’s also filtering down to smaller appliances and other areas of the house such as bathroom faucets.

Even toilets are getting the treatment these days. Why settle for the standard porcelain throne you have to clean yourself when you can get one of the newer models that clean themselves. Toto’s Neorest 750H toilet has “Actilight cleansing technology” which treats the bowl with a mist before each use with the aim of preventing sticking waste. There’s also a built-in UV light that supposedly accelerates decomposition of inorganic substances.

There’s a lot to get excited about in home improvement this year, so if your goal is to live cleaner and better, then this is the year to start your remodeling plans.

Learn more about Aspen Construction and the variety of home construction upgrades they provide including: new construction, home additions, bathroom remodeling, kitchen renovations, and finished basements at www.aspencoinc.com. To contact one of our home construction specialists call 517.404.2176 today.

Aspen Construction

Bathroom Remodeling, Construction, finished basement, home additions, home construction, home construction specialists, kitchen renovations, New Construction

Dreaming of New Construction

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems

It’s not enough to have a house these days. Homeowners must be able to turn a house into a home that reflects them. Your home speaks of who you are. In your home there are two major areas that stand out, areas people remember more than others they are the kitchen and bathroom.

When you are thinking about your new construction home it is important to not only think about the design of the home but also the design in these two spaces in particular. More than any other rooms in your home, your kitchen and bathroom areas need to offer be spaces that define you and your family.

Let’s begin with the kitchen. Why is the kitchen so important? Every home has a central spot where people gather for most it is the kitchen. With the kitchen being one of the most frequented spaces in the house it is important that it gets special attention in the construction of your new home.

It is one of the busiest places in the house and often full of people and activity. It doesn’t only serve to function as an area to prep, cook, and eat food. It actually services as an additional family room. Many families find that they spend most of their time hanging out in the kitchen. It is a central area for conversation and meeting up with one another between tasks. It is important that this space is easy to use and maintain. Continuous use of a kitchen space often makes it appear bland. Permanent stains on cabinets and flooring date the space. Therefore it is crucial to use materials in the space that are easily cleaned and simple to update as needed.

Next up is the bathroom. Why is the bathroom so important in new construction?

You can’t prepare for your day or relax after a long day without going into the bathroom. Imagine yourself soaking in the hot tub or taking a bath after a long day. This is only possible because you have a bathroom.

The bathroom is also used constantly with water touching every part. This makes it a habitat for mold, spirogyra or even bacteria which can affect the paint, silicone or tiles.

Although you can clean it up with bleach, in some cases, it is better to remodel the bathroom.

Have an idea of what to do. You need an architect or designer to help you. They have the skill and expertise to counsel you that you are doing the right thing.

I always advise my clients to let the plumbing stay in place. If you move it, you might spend more than what you may ever imagine which can run into thousands of dollars. You can change your toilet seat instead of replacing the position. If you don’t want tile, there are wood panels you can use.

If there are parts of your bathroom you want to keep hidden, use a mirror in an attractive frame.

Creating your dream house doesn’t have to be stressful especially if you’re modelling your kitchen or bathroom. just know what you want and follow these steps.

Aspen Construction

Bathroom Remodeling, Construction, finished basement, home additions, home construction, home construction specialists, kitchen renovations, New Construction

Should I Renovate My Current Home or Buy New Construction

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems

Ask any contractor that specializes in home construction what the most common question is that they are asked and I guarantee is will center around buying new construction or renovating a current space. The problem with this question is that both options make sense depending on several factors.

The first and most important factor is to determine if renovations are even an option. Is your home structurally sound? If the home was properly built and has been maintained you can almost guarantee that the primary structure of the home is solid. Thus meaning renovation would not only be possible but a solid option for homeowners that are overall pleased with their current home.

Contractors will inspect the homes foundation, outer walls, roofing, and support beams to ensure that your home can handle the renovation or addition you are proposing. More often than not if your home is in a desirable location and you are overall happy renovating will be a better choice than new construction. It allvieates the need to move and let’s face it hiring a professional contractor to knock a few walls down is less expensive and less time consuming than moving an entire household.

There are many things about a home that start to bother us over time and lead us to believe we would be better off starting from scratch by building a new construction home. The reality is that most often your wish list involves on a few minor changes, repairs, and upgrades that a professional can easily and inexpensively provide.

In certain situations new construction is the only way to go. If the home that you are currently in has a weak or failing structure that is in need of repair remodeling may not be cost effective. If the home is in a location that you don’t love it may be better to find a piece of property and start from scratch.

If the renovations that you are looking to accomplish involve a great deal of electrical or plumbing needing to be changed, new construction might be a cheaper option. In order to make a decision on whether you should look into building new construction or renovate your current home it is crucial that you take a look at all the pieces in the puzzle. There is not a one size fits all answer. While one family may decide that a new fresh space is exactly what they want while others may adore the idea of the convient option of upgrading the space they are in.

Aspen Construction

Bathroom Remodeling, Construction, finished basement, home additions, home construction, home construction specialists, kitchen renovations, New Construction

Work With The Best In Your New Construction Venture

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems

There are some rather interesting challenges that come with building a new home. New construction is a popular alternative when looking into customizing a home. Many homeowners choose to renovate their current homes to bring them up to par with the latest trends while others are ready to embark on the journey of construction a new home from the ground up.

When looking into building a new home the first step you need to do is find a construction company to work with that specializes in new construction. Locating a company that has industry experience, can take on a job of your magnitude, and have it completed in a timely fashion can be a process in itself. As soon as you start to contemplate building a new home it is important to start getting feelers out to find a new construction company to work with.

The entire new construction process will require a great amount of effort and attention to detail. This is why it is crucial, for the success of your home that you work with an experienced new construction contractor. A team that is one hundred percent focused on delivering the very best result and is committed to the project’s success is essential.

A solid plan with the ability to adjust combined with experienced and proven results is exactly what every new construction client should expect out of their contractor. Contractors that work in conjunction with you and not for you are the best at understanding exactly what you want and need out of your new home. Working in this manner will allow you to receive the best results at the best value from quality contractors that are invested in the end result.

Happy clients equate to a growing construction company. The best of the best in new construction will continue to deliver quality results that make home owners happy. A true professional will focus on the entire experience rather than just one aspect of the whole. Professionalism will be the norm with the contractor’s employees and referrals. It will be important for the team as a whole to surpass customer’s expectations. The difference between working with the best verse all the rest is the push to take your new home to the next level.

Delivering an overall experience in new construction is a gift that not all contractors possess. It is imperative to go with your instincts when hiring a professional to work within the joint effort of creating your new home. You will feel it inside of you when you have met a contractor that’s expectations mesh with your own.

Aspen Construction

Bathroom Remodeling, Construction, finished basement, home additions, home construction, home construction specialists, kitchen renovations, New Construction

Specializing In New Home Construction

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems

The real estate market right now is ever changing. Homes are hitting the market and buyers are scooping them up as fast as they are being listed. Knowing this is making many buyers become more and more interested in new construction. When looking into building a house it is important to work with a contractor that specializes in new home construction. In order to do this you may have to search a bit. Although you can rest assured that your home will be the highest quality and value on the market.

Having the right approach to hiring a top rated contractor can help. Contractors focused on new construction are committed to bringing quality craftsmanship to every build. The success of your new home and the overall experience is the best advertising a contractor can receive. For this and many other reasons there is incentive for contractors to bring their A game to your homes construction.

A contractor specializing in new construction is up on current and future trends within the housing market. They offer you a multitude of updated features and project details that will reflect this. The importance of technology within new construction can never be understated. It is crucial to the resale value of your home that important trends such as environmentally friendly lights, appliances and technology upgrades are incorporated into the homes design.

Working with a professional contractor from purchasing the land, designing the home, picking materials all the way to the finished home is important. Doing so will allow you a customized solution to your housing needs. Professional contractors help bring your goals to reality. The process of building a home along with professionals can not only allow your home to be built in a timely manner but also allows for a seamless process from start to finish.

Contractors building new construction homes are focused creating a home that has value to the owner and to the real estate market on a whole. Hiring a professional allows the dream to become a reality. Building a home has been synonymous with terms such as overwhelming, expensive, stressful, and more. This does not have to be the experience that you have. By hiring a contractor that specializes in building new homes you can rest assured that your project will be given the utmost attention. Details that can be lost in remodeling and room renovations are found in new construction.

Aspen Construction

Bathroom Remodeling, Construction, finished basement, home additions, home construction, home construction specialists, kitchen renovations, New Construction

Your Ultimate Planning Guide: Home Addition and Remodeling

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems

According to HomeAdvisor, the ever vocal and factual resource offering free pieces of advice, tools, and resources for home improvement, an average American homeowner will eventually have to choose between finding a lovely home or just making existing one. And, granted that adding a few more rooms of buildings is far much cheaper than buying a whole house, it might as well be ideal to go for home addition contractors. You will spend as little as $20,044, which as a great deal economically.

As much as home addition and remodeling is a sensible option, it’s important to consider one of the best, affordable new construction companies. With such a company, you will be confident that your project will end well, maybe beyond your expectations. Moreover, you are allowed to choose per your style and through completion.

Types of Additions

A home addition has many and different meanings out there, and that’s why you have to decide the best suitable one. Sure, you can tack on an extra room to your current apartment. You can create a new room without necessarily expanding the size of the entire structure. Each option comes with its merits and drawbacks, aside from their individual prices.

The various types of home additions

Being a cost-friendly way of getting your dream home, home additions are gaining acceptance amongst many homeowners. Unsurprisingly, the many forms of this undertaking bolster the way home addition is growing. Naturally, the most popular additions to an average house include:

Ground level additions
Second-floor additions
Detached additions

Additional room

Whether your sole reason for home addition is getting an extra family room, a new bedroom or just a room, try finding a New Construction Homes form for just that. And, what’s glamorous about it is, you can either build up or build out. It is a great investment and construction project as it involves coming up with a building structure.

Per square foot, the cost can range from $80 to $200, according to HomeAdvisor and that calls for the involving a reliable contractor. So, consider how you can use the ground floor so as to befit your efforts to build out. However, if you are to work on getting an additional room without altering the footprint of your home, better try building up.

Sunroom

If the conventional home addition ideas don’t appeal to you, give this budget-friendly alternative a shot. An average room can cost as little as $16,000, although a prefabricated one can be a little cheaper.

Detached addition

Under this option, one can expect them to vary, both in style and price with simple, ready-made ones costing from $15,000 up. With the addition of other aspects like electricity, heat and other features of a full guesthouse, the price expectedly rises.

Aspen Construction is an innovative building leader specializing in home additions, new construction, bathroom and kitchen remodeling. For all of your home improvement needs including electrical services contact us today at http://www.aspencoinc.com/.

Aspen Construction

Bathroom Remodeling, Buying New Construction, Custom Homes, home additions, kitchen remodeling, licensed contractor, New Construction, New Custom Home Construction, New Home Construction, Room Additions

Your Ultimate Planning Guide: Home Addition and Remodeling

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems

Types of Additions

The various types of home additions

Ground level additions
Second-floor additions
Detached additions

Additional room

Sunroom

Detached addition

Aspen Construction

What You Must Know Before Finishing a Basement

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems

Straight and clear, finished basements add valuable space to any home. They grant homeowners a chance to make the best use of an already-existing little room, like that dark, lifeless space instead of moving out. They are a great addition too. That is why more and more people are looking to try this investment out.

In 2016 alone, Google showed that over 95,000 people searched on information regarding the cost of finishing a basement, the different ideas, style, and techniques. It basically means that more people are actually venturing into the world of remodeling and renovating, eager to make the best use of that seemingly useless space. If you are one of them, better go through the following expert tips.

Keep it dry

Before starting the renovations, it’s important to check for the presence of any water issues. It is all about ensuring that space is dry with no moisture. Don’t forget to check the cracks and embark on fixing them.

Get any mandatory permits

Assuming that the surface is now dry and your plan is to start the finishing on the basement, first make sure that you are allowed by the authorities to do the renovations. It is important majorly because all the plumbing and electrical work will be inspected later.

Consider a suitable fastener

Normally, basement walls aren’t reliable when one attaches them a frame. Since they are mainly made of cement, stones, blocks or bricks, a nail as an anchor would not be a good idea either. A powder-actuated fastener or a shotgun fastener will certainly do the job.

A vapor barrier

Even when you have done your tests and ensured that the surface is dry, find a vapor barrier to keep the area dry throughout the renovations. Place it on the floor and wait for two days before commencing work.

Create an offset space

To be sure that moisture can’t be an issue at all, create a slight offset using furry strips. The strips will also level a curved wall and help design a flat wall for the frame.

Keep the area warm

Spray foam insulation is the best candidate here mainly because it controls the temperature inside while acting as another layer to keep the surface dry. Basically, it’s all about choosing an insulation that also acts as a barrier.

Invest on drop ceiling

Much like your finishing will need a stable ceiling, a drop or suspended ceiling is proving to be great during electrical and plumbing works. That’s why you must use removable tiles.

Recess lighting

For basements, recess lighting is proving to be possibly the best option. It’s easy to install and doesn’t take up a huge space.

At the baseboards, add some heat

The latest trend entails installing heating vents at floor level so that the floor remains warm too.

With all these tips in mind, it’s now safe to get down to business. Find a good company that specializes in new construction, renovations, and remodeling to aide you in making the best space possible.

Aspen Construction

What You Must Know Before Finishing a Basement

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems

Keep it dry

Get any mandatory permits

Consider a suitable fastener

A vapor barrier

Create an offset space

To be sure that moisture can’t be an issue at all, create a slight offset using furry strips. The strips will also level a curved wall and help design a flat wall for the frame.

Keep the area warm

Invest on drop ceiling

Much like your finishing will need a stable ceiling, a drop or suspended ceiling is proving to be great during electrical and plumbing works. That’s why you must use removable tiles.

Recess lighting

For basements, recess lighting is proving to be possibly the best option. It’s easy to install and doesn’t take up a huge space.

At the baseboards, add some heat

The latest trend entails installing heating vents at floor level so that the floor remains warm too.

Aspen Construction

New construction homes

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems

Buying new construction homes is a bit different from buying a previously-owned home. For one, because there is no previous homeowner, you don’t have to deal with a seller’s emotional tie to the property, which typically influences the negotiating process. Whether you’re designing and building a custom home or buying a home that’s built on spec in a new subdivision, you’ll only have to work with the builder.

Many homebuyers think that purchasing a brand-new home is smarter than purchasing a “used” home. A new home’s maintenance costs should be minimal; its construction materials, systems and appliances should be up-to-code and energy efficient; the floor plan and amenities should meet the needs of modern buyers; and the home should be move-in ready. A new construction home also has an emotional appeal for buyers who like the idea of living in a home that’s completely clean and potentially perfect.

When shopping for a new home, visions of gorgeous kitchens, sumptuous master baths and closet space galore may dance in your head, but you can’t forget the important step called financing. In many respects, financing a new home is much like getting a mortgage to purchase a resale home, but there’s an important difference. When buying resale, you shop around for rates and terms from banks, mortgage companies, brokers and online lenders. You can do the same when buying a new home, but there’s often an additional resource. Your builder may offer attractive financing packages, either directly through its own mortgage subsidiary or via an affiliate.

Things to consider while buying new construction homes:

When you are planning on buying a new construction home there are plenty of things that you might consider and few of them are listed below.

Weigh the advantages and disadvantages:

Living in a newly constructed home no doubt is incredible and nothing can beat that feeling of joy but before you start decorating and painting your house and fill it with all the glitter just check if it matches your lifestyle. Is it located in the center of the city or far from everyplace you have to be at on regular basis?

Research the neighborhood:

When buying a new Construction home always meet with an agent who knows the area well and is very well aware of the neighborhood, it is a matter of lifetime after all. Ask your agent to walk you down the area for you to get an idea of the place also drive around the neighborhood and check out the amenities and the quality of the homes.

Get an inspection and a home warranty:

Never forget a thorough inspection of the house you are going to purchase and if possible keep inspecting it during the construction phase also asking for a warranty is great, it’s like protecting yourself. Ask for a builder’s warranty for a period of time following move-in

Close the deal:

You are committing 30 years of your life to the process of homeownership. Learn as much as possible about the mortgage process by reading everything you can find.

Aspen Construction