Creating Garage Attic Living Space

By Mark J. Donovan

A garage attached to the main part of your home may lend itself nicely to finishing the garage attic. Frequently a garage has a large enough footprint to create some fantastic garage attic living space. For example garage attic living space can be used for such things as an in-law apartment, a recreation room, or a home office.

If you have a large garage attic space that you are contemplating finishing, there are a number of key items that you need to first consider. I have summarized those items below.

- Ingress/Egress – How will you access the garage attic living space, e.g. stairs or a door from the main home?
- How much standard headroom height will be able to be created and is it adequate for your needs and local building code requirements?
- Natural Light – Attics can be dark and hot places. Where will you add windows and/or skylights?
- Will plumbing be required and if so, how will tie into the main home?
- How will you cool or heat the garage attic space?
- Safety – Finishing garage attic space has specific fire and ventilation concerns that will necessitate using drywall in the garage first level, as well in the attic space. In addition you will need to include smoke and carbon monoxide sensors in your plans.

If you can properly address these concerns then finishing your garage addition attic space may be an excellent way to gain more living space within your home.

For more information on finishing attic space above a garage see my “Room Addition over Garage Bid Sheet”.

Formulating a Bathroom Remodeling Plan

Every Successful Bathroom Remodeling Project Starts with a Plan

By Mark J. Donovan

If you are considering remodeling a bathroom make sure you have a complete bathroom renovation plan in place before starting your demolition. Bathroom remodeling plans mean more than just a set of blueprints or sketches. A complete set of bathroom renovation plans includes a documented sequence of items and events that must happen to successfully complete the bathroom remodel.

When kicking off a bathroom remodeling project grab a pad of paper and pencil and write down all of the things you think you need to do to have a successful bathroom renovation project. Then put the pad of paper and pencil aside and come back to it the next day. I guarantee you that over the next day you’ll have several revelations on what else you want to include in your bathroom remodeling project and additional things that must be done in order to complete it.

To give you some ideas on what to include in your bathroom remodeling plans I have put together a brief list below.

• Operating budget (Cash or Financing Required)


• Sketch of bathroom remodeling plans


• List of new bathroom fixtures (Vanity, Sink, Tub/Shower, Toilet, Window Treatments, Towel and Toilet Paper Racks, Mirror, etc.)


• Visiting Plumbing Supply Stores for Selecting Fixtures and determining lead times


• Flooring and Wall Plans (e.g. Ceramic Tile)


• Architectural Blueprints (if needed)


• Permits for framing, electrical and/or plumbing modifications - (Check with local building inspector to see if required)


• Demolishing and Trash Removal (will a dumpster be required)


• Who will do the work (Is this a sweat equity project, contracted project, or some combination thereof)


• Desired Timeline
  
• Finding and interviewing bathroom remodeling contractor candidates

This list is not a comprehensive list, but is a good start to any bathroom remodeling plan. If you would like a more comprehensive set of questions to ask yourself and prospective bathroom remodeling contractors see my Bathroom Remodeling Bid Sheet. Besides a comprehensive questionnaire for contractors to respond to, it also includes tips and advice to the homeowner on how to interpret the contractor responses and what to watch out for in bathroom remodeling contractor bids. This information is extremely valuable in ensuring you hire the right bathroom remodeling contractor. Hiring the wrong one could cost you a fortune in time, money and frustration, not to mention legal battles.

In addition to the questionnaire, and tips and advice sections, a separate Excel Cost breakdown spreadsheet is provided to allow you to track your own bathroom remodeling costs.

So before you start your bathroom renovation project, develop a complete set of bathroom remodeling plans. You’ll save yourself a great deal of frustration and money, and more likely end up with the bathroom of your dreams.

Hiring Deck Installation Contractors

Deck Installation and What to Watch Out for When Hiring Deck Installation Contractors

By Mark J. Donovan

A deck is an extension of your home. It is your home’s outdoor living space and if constructed properly should last many years. Unfortunately, more often than you might imagine, deck construction is performed at a subpar level. In many cases decks are constructed so poorly that they would not meet local building codes if permits had actually been pulled in the first place. Poorly constructed decks also create major safety hazards for your family.

When warmer weather arrives, many folks contemplate installing a deck or evaluating their deck for replacement. Before you hire any old deck installation contractor however, make sure you’ve done your homework on them first. Check their references and make sure they have insurance. Also see how long they’ve been in business. You don’t want to hire the deck installation contractor that just picked up a hammer for the first time.

It is also important to have a good idea of what you are looking for in a new deck and what type of materials you want to use. Composite decking materials look fantastic and are low maintenance, but they cost a pretty penny. Pressure treated decking material is relatively inexpensive but it can warp, twist and fade out in just a couple of years.

To learn more about hiring a deck contractor and installing a deck see my “Deck Installation Bid Sheet”. I guarantee you that you’ll save money and get the deck you’re looking for by using this product.

Check the Shingles Before The Roofing Crew Shows Up

By Mark J. Donovan

A neighbor of mine had their roof re-shingled last week. They went with a large home improvement box store for having their roof re-shingled, so they thought all would go well. Unfortunately it did not. The shingles arrived on the jobsite a day before the roofers showed up, which was all well in good. The problem occurred the next day when the roofing crew began installing the new shingles. They were about halfway up the first roof slope with the new shingles when my neighbor stepped out to see how they were progressing. Much to her surprise, the shingles were not the same color she had ordered.

She called the home improvement center to let them know about the mess up, and their response was “So how do you like the color?” and “Can you live with them?”. The store manager also said that he would give her a $100 coupon to use in the store if she stuck with them. This said, she had a contract that specifically called out for a certain color of shingle, and her response was “are you kidding”.

After further phone calls and uncomfortable discussions, my neighbor decided to stick with the wrong color shingles, and the home improvement center has significantly increased the number of dollars associated with the coupon. Needless to say, neither is very happy.

This entire issue could have been avoided if my neighbor had checked the shingles before the roofing crew showed up. Now she has to permanently be reminded of the mistake every time she rolls into her driveway and sees her roof.

Some may ask why the homeowner needs to explicitly check the roofing supplies. And it is a valid question. Unfortunately my answer is disappointing. When it comes to home remodeling contractors it is wise to regularly check up on them. In their defense, sometimes the problems are not always their fault. Sometimes it’s the homeowner or poor communication between the two. In this particular situation it was the home improvement center that made the mistake. They were simply installing the shingles that had been delivered to the job site.

So before the roofers show up on your roof to install new shingles, make sure to check the roofing materials first. I would also suggest using my Asphalt Shingle Roofing Bid Sheet. This bid sheet helps prevent the type of situation my neighbor found herself in.

Truss Roof Framing versus Stick Framed Roofing

By Mark J. Donovan

When it comes to framing a roof you have two basic choices, framing with trusses or stick framing. Both offer advantages and disadvantages.

Truss Roof Framing

Truss roof framing offers several advantages. First it is significantly cheaper. Since roof trusses are fabricated at a manufacturing facility fewer carpenters are needed on the jobsite. In addition, assembling roof trusses on a home goes much quicker than stick building a roof. Also, roof trusses, for the same size roof, typically use less lumber material than stick built roofs. Finally, truss roof framing eliminates waste and mess on the job site, thus saving money on jobsite cleanup as well as in scrap material costs.

One downside of using roof trusses is that they are not conducive to creating useable attic space. Typically roof trusses have interior web members between their top and bottom chords which inhibits open attic space. Another issue with truss roof framing is that it does not necessarily work well for complicated roof lines that may include dormers and cathedral ceilings. Also, typically a crane is required to lift and position roof trusses into place.

Stick Frame Roofing

Stick framed roofing offers the advantage of constructing complex roof lines, such as roofs that include dormers and cathedral ceilings. In addition, stick framed roofs typically enable more open attic spaces.

The main downside associated with stick framed roofs is that they cost more to build. More skilled carpentry labor and time is required on the jobsite and typically there is more waste material.

John Deere Utility Trailer Review

By Mark J. Donovan

This past weekend I broke down and bought a John Deere Utility Trailer to complement my John Deere X304 tractor lawnmower that I had purchased last fall. I had been debating purchasing the utility trailer for months. However, this past weekend I finally broke down and purchased one. The tipping point for me was that I had to spread 5 yards of mulch, and when I pulled out my wheelbarrow and could not inflate the tubeless tire I said enough. I must have taken 2 or 3 different wheelbarrow tires down to the garage to have them pumped up over the past couple of years and I was fed up with it. I never remember having so many problems with wheelbarrow tires in decades ago. These new tubeless tires appear to be junk.

Anyways, I digress. After spending about an hour putting together the John Deere utility trailer I put it right to use. It holds 10 cubic feet and really helped to speed up the mulch spreading project. John Deere also sells a 17 cubic foot utility trailer, but I found the 10 cubic foot one to be more than adequate. What I really liked about my new utility trailer was the fact that it had an easy tipping mechanism to allow me to dump the mulch.

The only gripe I had with the utility trailer was that the tongue bent the back tractor hitch plate. With the X304 it has 4 will turning. Consequently you can make some really tight turns. Apparently the turns were a little too tight for the utility trailer. The utility trailer tongue pinched the sides of the tractor trailer hitch plate and caused some minor twists in the metal.

Other than that one problem, I am very happy with my new John Deere Utility Trailer purchase. I’ll just make sure I keep my turns a little wider going forward.

Installing a Basement Sump Pump

By Mark J. Donovan

If your basement has a regular water problem your only solution maybe to install a basement sump pump.

To install a basement sump pump properly it should be located in the lowest area of the basement. A hole should be punched through the basement floor and the sump pump mounted down into it. The installation of a sump pump can easily set you back over a $1000 if installed by a professional.

Besides the installation of the sump pump, a GFCI electrical outlet may need to be installed near it. In addition, if your basement requires the need for a sump pump you should also consider installing a portable backup generator. When sump pumps are needed the most, e.g. during heavy rain storms, the threat of a power outage is heighted. Heavy rain and winds, loss of electricity, and an inoperable sump pump due to the lack of a backup generator is a certifiable recipe for a flooded basement.

Brighten Up Your Stairway with Stair Lighting

Stair Lights Provide Unique Character and Functionality to Dark Stairwells

By Mark J. Donovan

Lighting is often an afterthought in many home improvement projects. However lighting plays an important role in setting the mood and ambiance in a room. Consequently lighting should be near the top of the list in any home improvement or remodeling project.

One type of lighting to consider when developing your lighting plans is stair lights. Stair lighting, which is normally located in the walls just adjacent to the stair treads, or integrated into the stair treads themselves, provides both functional and aesthetic purpose. Stair lighting is idea for stairways that have limited to no natural light. Stairs to a finished basement, for example, are a prime candidate for stair lighting. Likewise stairways to attics are also candidates.

Stair lights are typically recessed light fixtures that sit flush with the finished walls, and are located usually just a few inches above the level of the stair treads. In some cases they are installed adjacent to every stair tread and in other cases every other stair tread.

So if you have plans of finishing a basement or attic don’t forget the lighting and think about adding some stair lighting to provide some unique charm to your home improvement project.