Helpful Home Remodel Information

  • How to Easily Improve Your Home:

    Not all home improvement projects have to be massive undertakings. Homeowners can do several easy projects themselves to take their home from drab to fab. Here are a few of our favorites.

  • 1. Beautify the Entryway.

    The entryway makes the home's first impression on visitors, so make sure it makes a statement. Paint the door and exterior trim, and add a large plant to enhance curb appeal. Update house numbers and lighting fixtures for a fresh new look.

  • 2. Add Character to Rooms.

    This can be done by adding crown molding, picture molding, or baseboards to the walls. This is easier than it sounds; most home improvement stores will cut the pieces so homeowners don't have to worry about doing much more than the installation. Updating curtains and curtain rods will also give a room a whole new look.

  • 3. Give Cabinets a Facelift.

    A fresh coat of paint can go a long way in updating the kitchen to make cabinets look bright and new. New handles and knobs can be installed on drawers and cabinets for even more of a change.

  • 4. Update That Tiny Bathroom.

    Making the most out of small spaces like hallway bathrooms can be difficult, but a few quick updates can make a huge difference. A bold paint color will make the walls pop, and adding extra mirrors in unique designs will make a room seem larger. Unexpected design elements make a small room come to life.

  • 5. Add Wallpaper in Unexpected Places.

    Covering a door with wallpaper or wallpapering the inside of a closet can add a touch of beauty to an otherwise drab room. Guests will be pleasantly surprised when they go to hang their clothes.

    With creativity, any homeowner can update their space without spending a fortune.

  • How to Protect Floors From Cats and Dogs:

    Anyone who has owned a cat or dog knows it's impossible to keep floors completely clean and well-kept with furry friends running around the house. But, there are simple steps that homeowners can take to extend the life of their floors.

    • An organic fiber rug can be laid on hardwoods to protect them from cat and dog claws. Materials such as seagrass, mountain grass, and sisal are ideal for this and are easy on the animal's feet. Plus, they look very stylish in the home.
    • Carpet lovers should try wool carpet tiles, which can be replaced one at a time. They can also be pulled up and rinsed under cold water to maintain their new look. Even regular carpets can be an option for homeowners whose pets are well-behaved and always groomed with short nails, but it does require frequent vacuuming.
    • Vinyl is one of the most resilient and durable flooring materials. It is also effortless to wipe clean. Vinyl is cheap, but homeowners should avoid the cheapest options available to maximize longevity.
    • Linoleum has a bad rap, but today's options are sustainable, durable, and scratch-proof, so they hold up to wear and tear from critter claws. More stylish linoleum floor choices are available now than ever before.
    • Polyurethane finishes can cause cats and dogs to slip and slide, encouraging them to use their claws to gain traction. Oil finishes, however, offer a shiny look with minimal slickness. Waxing floors have the same effect.

    It's difficult to keep floors completely free from damage when pets are home, but there are easy ways to maximize the floor's life. Every cat or dog owner knows dirty floors are a small price to pay for the love of an animal.

  • When Is It Time to Update Your Bathroom?

    The bathroom is the most-visited and most-used room in the house — so why should it receive less design attention than the rest? Homeowners who want to invest in an easy update with a big impact should consider these reasons for a bathroom remodel.

  • 1. Comfort

    Bathrooms have come far from past years' cold, hard-to-clean tubs and purely-functional sinks. Now bathroom appliances are both functional and luxurious, with features like water pressure and temperature control; artful shower doors and curtains; beautiful floor and wall tiling, and stone options. Updating to heated floor tiles means no more chilly toes!

  • 2. Value

    Remodeling the bathroom has been shown to significantly increase an entire home's value, combining the short-term benefits of the upgrade with long-term benefits from a future sale. Remodeling the bathroom will make the room look better, function more efficiently, and bring in a quicker, more lucrative deal in the future. Getting rid of negative features like broken tiles, an ugly bathtub, or low water pressure can help dramatically increase the value of a home.

  • 3. Safety

    Safety should be a homeowner's number-one concern when considering whether or not their bathroom is up to date. Whether it's a wet floor, narrow doorway, or curb-less shower, older bathrooms often have many "invisible" dangers that aren't apparent until it's too late. Updating the bathroom to include modern safety features such as walk-in safety tubs, grab bars, and temperature control valves can grant homeowners peace of mind to know that family members are secure in a safe, updated bathroom.


    With a few updates, drab and out-of-style bathrooms can transform into beautiful feature rooms that are safe, efficient, and luxurious — an excellent investment for homeowners.

  • How Do I Winterize My Home?

    When you live up north, that biting winter cold tends to creep through your doors and windows. Westfield, MA, residents are no strangers to sub-zero temperatures. When the thermometer starts to plummet, there are a few simple things you can do to winterize your house. You can keep the house warmer and save on heating costs with a little elbow grease. It's a win-win.


    First off, a few basic cleaning tasks. Make sure your gutters are cleaned out lest snow and ice form dams that clog up your drainage all winter. Next, flush out your water heater. Sediment and other debris can build in the heater during the warm months. Flushing the unit will ensure it operates efficiently throughout the winter. On a similar note, replace the filters in your central heating vents — this will also ensure that your system works efficiently.


    Next up: insulation. Though it's not stylish, get insulation film for your windows. This film is inexpensive and can keep up to 70% of the heat from leaking out of your windows. Westfield, MA, locals may already know that weatherstripping also helps seal the cracks against Jack Frost. In addition, get some draft guards for your doors. These cheap cushions slide onto the door's bottom edge, insulating the gap while the door is closed.


    Now the obvious one: make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated. Most importantly, make sure that your attic's floor is padded with insulation. Heat rises, so containing it in your room goes a long way. In addition, consider getting a programmable thermostat. These automated devices can be set to lower the temperature when you're at work, then raise it shortly before you return.


    Westfield, MA, residents can keep the bone-chilling cold out of the house with a few gadgets and some work on the doors and windows.

  • Easy Cleaning Ideas That Will Transform Your Home

    Many people have a love-hate relationship with cleaning. They love it for the result, but they hate it because they don't know where to begin with the process. Here are the areas homeowners should focus on most with cleaning.

  • Outside

    Gutters should be secure, free of leaks, and free from debris. Any soil sloping toward the basement should be evened out to prevent foundation damage, which cracks in the concrete structure may indicate. Chimneys should be inspected and cleaned by a professional. Shrubs and trees should be cleared of winter damage.

  • Safety Features

    All smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should have their batteries tested and changed regularly. Homeowners should ensure all doors and windows open and close properly; those that don't could indicate a problem with the home's foundation.

  • Bedroom

    Flipping or rotating mattresses will help eliminate dust and allergens, as will washing pillows, bedding, and curtains. The homeowner should wash and dry bedding before storing it because moths and insects are attracted to natural body oils. Each bedroom should be dusted thoroughly, starting with the highest points and then vacuuming the floor.

  • Living Room

    Living areas can easily be updated with a coat of paint or a change in light fixtures. New pieces of art or furniture can be found at local thrift shops at a low cost. Adding two large mirrors on opposite walls will create the illusion of an entirely different room.

  • Floors

    Carpets should be cleaned thoroughly with a vacuum and shampooer or carpet steamer. Rugs should be shaken and laid to air out on an outdoor clothesline. All sidewalks, porches, and entryways should be regularly swept to keep dirt outside.


    These are just a few cleaning tips that will enhance your home.

  • Are Your Windows Storm-Ready?

    Harsh winds, snow, rain, sleet, and hail — don't you hate stormy weather? Well, how do you think your house feels?


    Our poor homes are battered by the elements year in and year out. Luckily, you can do a few things to stormproof your house. The first place to start is with your windows. Westfield, MA, homeowners can perform a few simple modifications to maintain their windows and keep raging storms outside where they belong.


    First, let's look at a few minor DIY weatherproofing improvements to your trim, frames, and sashes. You can seal your sash channels with some adhesive weatherstripping to insulate them from moisture and extreme temperatures. Foam weatherstripping is easy to install and usually available at a low cost at hardware stores. You can caulk up the thin channel where the window trim meets the wall, keeping that nasty weather from sneaking in through the cracks. Be sure to use waterproof, paintable caulk that you can color to match your walls. These cheap jobs will keep everything dry while saving you money on heating and cooling bills.


    To go the extra mile when storm-proofing the windows, Westfield, MA, homeowners might consider buying a weatherproof film that can be applied to windowpanes. This product can be stuck in place with double-sided tape and then zapped with a hair dryer so that it shrinks to fit the surface. This insulates the glass and prevents cracking. If you're willing to make more of an investment, you can even install wooden shutters over your windows to create a solid barrier against harsh winds, rain, and flying debris.


    We can't control the weather, but we can outfit our homes to withstand whatever Mother Nature has in store. With a few modifications to their windows, Westfield, MA, locals can strengthen their homes against the Northeast's brutal winters and stormy summers.

  • Things to Consider Before Remodeling Your Kitchen

    No offense to bedrooms and bathrooms, but your kitchen is your home's most practical and necessary room. Remodeling it can be a significant home improvement. Before diving into an extensive- or costly- remodeling project in Springfield, MA, homeowners should consider a few basic things.

  • Know What You Need

    If it's your first remodeling rodeo, it can easily get caught up in trendy features. But marble countertops and LED cabinet lighting aren't for everyone. Take some time to consider how you want to use your kitchen. Do you need a state-of-the-art laboratory for culinary experimentation, or do you need basic functionality? Think about what your current kitchen lacks and build a design scheme to make your culinary life easier.

  • Keep Your Current Layout

    Kitchens are more stuck in their ways than other rooms. Ovens, garbage disposals, and other big appliances prefer to stay put. When you plan a new kitchen, it's a good idea to keep your basic layout unless you're ready for a massive and stressful home improvement. In Springfield, MA, homeowners will want to design a space incorporating new features and appliances into their current plumbing and electrical schemes. You can still transform your space with an island, bar seating, innovative cabinet solutions, or sleek, creative redesigns. But messing with the basic skeleton is often backbreaking and expensive work.

  • Get the Pros Involved

    It feels good to wield the sledgehammer yourself, but hiring a contractor can save you much stress. The pros don't just have design and building experience — they can also recommend materials and brand names that suit your needs and know your local building and zoning codes inside and out. You might be able to handle smaller projects independently. Still, full-scale remodeling is full of stresses and demands that the untrained eye doesn't always notice. A contractor will foresee your needs and potential problems from the get-go, helping you navigate them easily.


    Kitchen remodeling is a fun home improvement. With these few basic concerns in mind, Springfield, MA, homeowners can start toying with their culinary feng shui.

  • Must-Have Accessories for Your Manly Basement

    You know what they say: a man needs a cave.


    Maybe they don't say that, but isn't it true? Man caves are all the rage these days. Decking out your basement with cool decor, comfortable furniture, entertainment, and gaming set-ups, and a minibar gives you a getaway that's just a flight of stairs away. It's a home improvement in Springfield, MA men — and their spouses — are sure to love. What does every man cave need? Let's take a look.


    First things first: beer and liquor. Building a well-stocked bar or minibar might transform your basement into the new local watering hole for you and your friends. Also, consider getting a kegerator - a fridge that houses a keg and dispenses all the craft or domestic beer you'll need for big hangouts. Not a bad invention, huh?


    Now let's talk decor. Your cave should reflect your interests. Many men opt for a themed room with decor centered around a lifelong interest — the outdoors, rock 'n' roll, old westerns, classic cars, or anything else. Of course, a non-themed, eclectic room can also be great. When it comes to man-cave home improvement, in Springfield, MA, men can use their interior decorator's eye to craft a comfortable, relaxing environment.


    The cave will be your home's center of entertainment and fun. This, too, will depend on your taste. Are you and your friends big table gamers? Insert pool, Ping-Pong, Foosball, or air hockey table here. Will your cave be the main spot to watch sporting events and movies or to play video games? Then you'll want a big, hi-def flat-screen TV and a state-of-the-art sound system. Add a felted poker table to the mix if you and your friends are high rollers.


    Man caves are made for relaxation. When considering this significant home improvement, Springfield, MA, guys can let their imaginations run free: wraparound leather couches, luxurious recliners, and theatre seating for the TV.


    Calling a man cave a simple home improvement would be an understatement. Springfield, MA, homeowners are just a few steps away from making their basements a personal paradise. Your wife might even enjoy it, too. That is if you allow her inside.

If you have more remodel questions call us at 413-485-7533.