Basement Remodeling Blogs

basement flooring and remodeling massachusetts

The Ultimate Guide to Basement Flooring Options

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One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning basement remodeling in Massachusetts isn’t how you intend to use the finished basement. It’s what flooring material you are going to install. 

Basements are notorious for being damp spaces because the original flooring is usually soil or concrete. Both materials are porous and can wick moisture from the earth into the basement, creating the risk of floods, mold mildew growth, and musty odors.  

You could stick with a concrete surface, but quality basement finishing usually includes a new flooring material to bring the new design together and prevent unnecessary moisture inside the room. Here, you can learn about the best flooring materials to consider for your basement remodeling project. 

Seven Best Flooring Materials for Basements

1. Tile

When you upgrade your basement with new flooring, you expect the finished product to last. Tile can help achieve that goal.

Porcelain and ceramic tile are incredibly durable and waterproof, which is perfect for damp basements. Since the material is non-porous, you can easily keep your new basement floors clean and dry. With its waterproof nature and mold and mildew resistance, there’s no need to worry about minor water intrusion ruining your floors. 

A possible downside of tile flooring is how it feels underfoot. Its strength, durability, and sleek surface make tile flooring cold and hard. However, area rugs and slippers can keep your feet warm and cozy.

2. Laminated Wood

If you love the look of hardwood floors but don’t want to worry about moisture inside your basement causing wood rot or warp to wood flooring, ask your remodeling company about laminated wood. Laminated wood offers great durability and protection against moisture, scratches, and dents. 

You can give your finished basement a lovely, elegant appearance with laminated wood flooring. Installing a moisture barrier under the material will increase its moisture resistance and possibly extend its lifespan. 

3. Luxury Vinyl

One of the top materials to include in basement remodeling in Massachusetts is luxury vinyl. It’s affordable, mold-resistant, waterproof, and sturdy.

It doesn’t matter if your finished basement will include a wet bar or a home office since vinyl’s versatility works well in almost any interior design. Luxury vinyl panels and planks come in many colors and patterns. You can even install luxury vinyl to replicate the look of natural stone, hardwood, and ceramic tile without the hefty price tag you expect for luxury flooring.

4. Epoxy

If you want to use your finished basement as a storage space or showcase its original concrete slab flooring, consider covering the floors with epoxy. Epoxy is a non-porous coating with resins and hardening agents.

With epoxy, you can have the color flooring you desire for your basement; the options are endless. The finished product will be a long-lasting, sleek surface that’s easy to clean and won’t hold stains.

5. Terrazzo

Terrazzo is a great flooring material for finished basements with a sophisticated, elegant aesthetic. The material consists of natural stone chips like granite or marble inside concrete. It has a smooth, polished surface that adds to this flooring material’s luxurious appeal. 

You can get terrazzo flooring as tiles, or an experienced remodeling company can make it on-site. Because of its composition, you can customize your terrazzo basement floors by mixing the raw materials with a colored additive like glass. 

6. Cork

Cork flooring is a great option for basements that feature home theaters, game rooms, extra living rooms, and other spaces that exude coziness. The material is sturdy, yet it’s also one of the softest flooring options to walk on, so wearing slippers isn’t necessary. 

Cork is also great for basements due to its water resistance and properties that prevent it from harboring bacteria. People often assume cork floors come in one shade of tan, but it’s a versatile and affordable material that comes in many colors. 

7. Carpet

You might not expect carpet to be an ideal flooring choice for basements. Still, it works well if you waterproof your basement correctly, and the risk of water intrusion is minimal. With extra protection like moisture-resistant underlayment and carpet tiles, you can take advantage of the many colors, textures, and thicknesses that carpeting has to offer.

Contact A.W. Puma Restoration & Remodeling for Basement Remodeling in Massachusetts

When you’re ready to get new flooring during basement remodeling in Massachusetts, contact our team at A.W. PUMA. Our skilled and well-trained home improvement crew can help you choose the best flooring materials to suit your home and lifestyle. Call (508) 300-9747 today to schedule a consultation with A.W. PUMA’s remodeling professionals.

Things to Consider when Expanding your Home – Home Additions Ideas

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Do you love your neighborhood, schools, and nearby stores? Do you hate the thought of leaving friends or changing schools? If your current home no longer meets the needs of a growing family, you may be considering expanding your home with an addition.  If your family is increasing because of an aging parent moving in or more children, you may desperately need more rooms or space for an expanding family’s activities.

Before you begin to plan an addition, you need to ask yourself some questions:

  1. Do you have enough space on your property to build out?
  2. Is your home structurally sound to build up?
  3. Will expanding your home be out of place in your neighborhood?
  4. Do you have a generous renovation budget or can you secure a home equity loan to cover the costs of an expansion?

Expanding your Home: to Build Up or Out?

Typical ground level additions include a “Florida” room or sunroom, a family room or living room, an additional or enlarged garage, or a “mother-in-law” suite with a private entrance. A popular renovation for a growing family is a kitchen expansion or a laundry room and/or mud room.

Second Floor Build Up

A craft room or hobby room, exercise room or a master suite are often requested additions for a second floor. A laundry room next to the bedrooms is a popular addition for the convenience of not needing to lug laundry up and down stairs. Other possibilities are an office expansion, sometimes with a private entrance, an over-garage addition, or an additional bedroom.

Going Up… to a Third Story

These additions can include a master suite, family room, storage and holiday rooms, as well as a study or exercise room.

Expanding your Home: Which is the Best Way to Go?

Whether you build up or out may depend on the size, shape, existing footprint of your home, and the available yard space. Think about future uses for your backyard. If you want to leave space for a pool, patio, entertainment area, or playground, you may not have the space available to build out. Are there options for building out at the side of your home or in the front?

Vertical Additions

If you build up, all or part of your home’s existing roof will be removed. You’ll need to plan to move into a hotel or stay with family for the rest of the renovation. Building up includes the addition of a staircase, which will take up space on the first floor, reducing the amount of available square footage there.

Horizontal Additions

Not as disruptive as a second or third floor addition, building out means sacrificing yard area in the back, side, or front of your home. A foundation must be poured and the walls will be framed. Plumbing and air ducts are added and a roof is installed over the new addition. The exterior siding or brick face, as well as the roof, will need to match the existing exterior.

The Cost Differences

Building out is significantly less expensive than building up. Depending on where you live in the US, building up can cost as much as 30% more than building out. 

The cost of building out can include additional plumbing work, landscaping, pouring a new foundation, and upgrading the HVAC system.

In addition to removing the existing roof and replacing it, the first floor may need to have additional support structures installed.  Costs can include the addition of a staircase, structural supports and footings, a structural engineer, adding an HVAC system on the new floor, the cost of staying at a hotel, storing personal items and possible repairs to the first floor.

Making the Decision

Your final decision will depend on the size of your property, your town’s zoning laws (or HOA requirements), the condition of your home, and your requirements and budget. Your first step is a consultation with a professional renovation construction company.  You can expect to answer a lot of questions and will be given information and advice on your options. A comprehensive estimate will follow when you decide on your specific plan for your home.

If you are thinking about an addition, call us at 508-918-0422 at A.W. Puma Remodeling and Restoration, or visit our contact page. We begin with a consultation to hear your vision. We will explain our process and answer all your questions. Together we will design and create a new living space that you and your family will love and enjoy for many years!

Six Reasons Why You Should Consider a Spring Remodeling Project

6 Reasons Why You Should Consider a Spring Remodeling Project

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If you are thinking of a spring remodeling for a room because you want to sell your home this summer, or you have waited through the long winter to start your dream project … spring is here and now may be the ideal time to begin. 

Here are six very good reasons why you should consider a spring remodeling project:

You’ll be among the first to remodel. 

The earlier you can get your project scheduled, the sooner your remodeler can get started. Home renovators get very busy during the summer months, so to avoid getting back-logged, be one of the first to be on the schedule for a spring start.

You’ll have better weather.

Spring temperatures and weather conditions mean fewer weather-related delays. Your contractor won’t have to deal with freezing winter or the scorching heat of the summer. Your project will be completed faster in spring than in any other season.

You’ll avoid disruption.

The winter and early spring holidays are over so a renovation project won’t get in the way of your family activities. Start in the spring and the work may be done in time for summer vacation and travel plans. You will want to entertain on your new deck or patio and proudly show off your newly remodeled kitchen to out-of-town guests.

You’ll have more time.

If your renovation project is complex, it may take months to be completed. If you start in the spring, you’ll have more time for the project to be finalized … into the summer and fall, if needed. 

You’ll benefit from spring remodeling sales.

Many showrooms have end-of-winter sales, offering discounts on items from the previous season. You can take advantage of lower prices on materials that may include plumbing fixtures, tile flooring, and lighting.

You’ll sell for more with your spring remodeling project.

If your objective is to sell your home at a higher price, consider that a newly renovated home will attract more potential buyers. Your home will stand out and you may sell quickly and at the price you want. 

Spring is a time for new beginnings. Nature is alive with new birth. A spring remodeling project may be the revitalization your home needs so you will love it even more than when you first moved in.  

If you are thinking about renovating your home this spring, call us at 508-918-0422 at A.W. Puma Remodeling and Restoration. We begin with a consultation to hear your vision. We will explain our process and answer all your questions. Together we will design and create a new living space that you and your family will love and enjoy for many years!

Converting your garage into a room

Garage Conversion Ideas

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If you need more living space and you think a garage makeover is the solution, here are 5 Questions you need to think about before you begin converting your garage:

1. When is converting your garage to a room a good option?

A garage remodel is the right option for you if:

  • The new living space allows for patio doors or an additional entrance where the overhead door used to be. If not, then the new wall will need to blend into the current home exterior. (You don’t want to create a room that looks like it used to be a garage.)
  • You have considered the cost of heating and cooling the new room. Your current HVAC system may support an additional room. If so, you can expand the ventilation to cover the renovation. If not, the system may need to be upgraded or an independent system can be purchased to provide temperature control in the new room.
  • Plumbing is accessible if you want to include a bathroom or kitchenette. If an in-law suite or en suite bedroom is your vision, you’ll need plumbing advice regarding adding plumbing lines to the project.
  • Parking and storage are available elsewhere. Eliminating a garage means you need another option for parking (and storage space for lawn mower, tools, and other house and garden equipment usually stored in the garage.)

2. Is a permit required for a garage conversion?

 

Check to determine if you will need building permits by contacting your city’s zoning department.  You may need to submit an architect’s plan when applying for a permit. Building codes may dictate the number of windows, exits, ceiling height, number of electrical outlets, and other factors. Your contractor can help you with these issues and whether you’ll need to apply for a variance. Permits range in cost, but often are between $1,000 and $1,500 – more if a variance is needed.

Some city ordinances or home owner associations require minimum covered parking which could prevent you from converting your garage.

3. What type of room can converting your garage become?

As long as you comply with building codes, you can create a living space that is a:

  • Playroom
  • Studio apartment or in-law suite
  • Bedroom
  • Art studio
  • Office
  • Family room
  • Man cave or She shed

Here are a few (43!) more ideas you can consider for converting your garage into an extra living space.

4. Does a garage conversion add value to the home?

A garage conversion can add value, providing that all permits and building codes have been secured and followed properly.  The value depends on the type of room and how seamless the conversion is. If the project eliminated necessary parking and storage, then the value of the home may be diminished.

5. What options do you have if a converting your garage is not in your budget?

The cost of a garage conversion varies on the size of the garage and the type of room being constructed.  A renovation expert can give you some ballpark figures after an initial consultation.  If it turns out, a garage makeover is not in the cards, you might consider a basement remodel or an attic conversion.

Contact A.W. Puma for a consultation to determine whether  converting your garage is the best way to accomplish your goals cost effectively while maintaining the value of your home.

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Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a Remodeling Contractor

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The most essential first step when beginning a home remodeling project is to select your contractor. Your goal is to choose a professional who is reliable, honest, and has a good reputation for quality work. You’ll want to get multiple estimates and check each contractor’s reviews, but there is more you can do to select the best contractor for you. Think of this step as the “interview” process.

Your job at this point is to ask a lot of questions.  Here are 13 of the most important:

1. How long have you been a remodeling contractor?

First and foremost, you want an experienced remodeling contractor. Those with years of experience have created processes and controls to ensure that their projects are completed on time and on budget. Experience helps to produce quality results that will meet your expectations.

2. Will I have a dedicated team working on my project?

Contractors often work several projects at a time. You want to know that the individuals on your job will be consistent from day to day. Ask: Will the same team be working on my project each day? Will you be the project manager? If not, who and what will he or she oversee each day? What is your process for qualifying the sub-contractors you work with? How often can I expect a progress report?

3. What remodeling contractor insurance do you carry?

Contractors should have workers’ compensation and liability insurance for the types of jobs they perform. Ask to see their Certificate of Insurance for peace of mind that the company and their employees are insured for the type of work you are hiring them for. In addition, ask if the sub-contractors they hire are insured under the contractor’s insurance.

4. What licenses and certification does your company and its employees have?

Cities, states, and sometimes counties have different contractors’ licensing requirements. You want to know that your contractor has obtained any required certifications for their field of expertise. (You don’t want to hire a carpenter whose license is in plumbing.) A business license is not sufficient. A license to operate a business doesn’t mean that the individual is a licensed or credentialed contractor.

5. Will the remodeling contractor obtain the necessary permits and arrange for the required inspections?

Some projects require permits and/or inspections, especially if your project changes the structure of the home. Your contractor should know what permits are needed and how to get them … and should be willing to obtain them for you. 

6. What is your timeline for starting and completing this project?

Ask, too, if there are any circumstances that might affect the schedule, such as other projects the company is working on now or prospective projects that may go to contract. Learn how changes to the timeline will be addressed.

7. How do you want to be paid? What is the payment schedule?

You should never be expected to pay for the entire project upfront and a reputable contractor will not ask you to. It is important to know exactly how much is due and when.

8. How will additional remodeling contractor charges be handled?

With today’s technology, contractors can provide very accurate pricing, but remodeling projects can be unpredictable at times. Once a project is underway, circumstances may arise that can change the initial estimate. Homeowners may decide to make changes that require a “change order.” It is important that your contractor agree not to exceed the agreed upon budget without getting approval.

9. What will a typical day on this project be like?

You need to know what to expect on construction days so you can prepare appropriately. At what time does the workday begin and end? What does the homeowner need to remove prior to the start of the project? Does the homeowner need to be home during the project? Should pets be removed from the home? What will the noise level be like? In addition, ask how tools and materials will be stored if the job spans several days? Ask if tools will be put away or if equipment needs to stay in place until the following day. At the end of the day, will trash be removed and disposed of? Will there be routine end-of-day clean up to ensure an uncluttered workspace?

10. What steps are taken to protect my property?

Although the question may seem disrespectful, it is important to know that your contractor is willing to take appropriate steps to protect your home. Ask about the use of tarps to cover large furniture and surfaces in the work area. Will the crew wear shoe coverings in the house? Will doors need to be kept open and will they be closed and locked when leaving the home?

11. Do you offer a warranty for your service or for the materials you will use?

Most remodeling contractors offer a guarantee on their work, and you’ll want to know what their warranty covers and for how long. The materials used may have a manufacturer’s warranty, so you should request a copy of this information before construction begins.

12. How will we communicate with each other during the project?

Who is the remodeling contractor person you should be contacting if you have a question or a change? When is the best time to contact this person and how – by phone, text, email? Ask in what general timeframe you can expect a response.

It is critical to establish good communication between contractor and homeowner. Prospective contractors will welcome your questions and should have a list of questions of their own to determine what you desire in your remodel and what your expectations are. You don’t want a contractor who agrees with everything you say.

You want an open dialogue which ensures a positive working relationship for this project and beyond.

How will we resolve any disagreements?

Mistakes and disagreements with remodeling contractors do sometimes occur, therefore, a remodeling contractor must have a process to handle this. As a result, you will hire a remodeler who guarantees their work and has a process in place to make sure you are 100% satisfied. 

Want to know what it is like to work with a reliable remodeling contractor? Check out our latest reviews on BuildZoom.

Basement Remodeling in Boston Massachusetts

Renovating Your Basement: 10 Details to Consider as you Plan Your Remodel

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Winter is traditionally the time when people begin to think about renovating their basement. Perhaps they see the need for an extra room for the teenagers in the family to gather or notice that around the holidays, there never seems to be enough space for the children to play.

Today, families are transforming basements into offices, guest bedrooms, and entertainment centers. According to research by Remodeling Magazine, a basement remodel is a good investment and homeowners can recoup 70% of the cost when it is time to sell. There are many reasons why it makes sense to turn a basement into living space and spring is a good time to begin a renovation of this type. However, there are many issues that need to be addressed before you can plan a basement remodel.

At A.W. Puma, we pride ourselves on managing the details. For a basement renovation, we ask even more questions of our clients and dig into those concerns that can stop a basement renovation in its tracks before the design is even started.

1. Town or City Requirements for Renovating Your Basement

There are building codes to follow that can dictate everything from the height of the ceilings to the width of hallways and the construction of stairs. They may not allow a full kitchen in your remodel or limit the types of appliances you can include. They will specify the required exits, including emergency exists in your finished basement.

2. Egress Requirements

Today it is required that basements have two means of egress (exit). Generally, one is the stairway from the main house down to the basement. The second is usually located in the basement via a walkout door or a special egress type window which must allow an adult to fit through the opening. Bulkheads do not count as a means of egress as they can be locked or blocked from the outside.

3. The Septic System Rating

In Massachusetts this is called a Title V. When your house was built or transferred from a former owner, the Title V is a test that determines the capacity of the septic system. The Title V may be rated for a capacity that would be exceeded if you add rooms to the home. In this case the homeowner may need to upgrade the existing septic system.

4. The Home’s Structure

Older homes are not the only ones that need upkeep and care. Some newer homes have structural issues that need to be addressed. A careful examination of every inch of the basement needs to be completed to see any signs of cracks in the walls and floors, sagging ceilings, plumbing or electrical problems.

5. Basement Moisture

A basement that is partially below ground will probably have moisture issues. As a result,. wetness seeps up from the ground and moves through porous concrete. A careful examination may uncover cracks or weak seals around windows or doors. Mild humidity to mold and mildew can mean a history of leaks. We will look at all these areas to determine what needs to be done prior to any remodeling.

6. Outside Drainage

Many leaks are caused by rain or runoff water that is directed toward the house foundation rather than away from it. Perhaps a French drain needs to be installed to redirect water that may be causing leaks in the basement.

7. Sump Pump Back Up for Renovating your Basement

We’ll discuss whether it makes sense to add a sump pump in the remodel plan for flood prevention in the event the main pump fails in a power outage.

8. Basement Ceiling Height

According to the International Residential Code, basement ceilings must be a minimum of 7 feet in height. Your town or city code may differ and require even more. While there are ways in which ceilings can be raised, it can be costly, especially if ducting needs to be rerouted, structural beams must be moved, or the existing floor needs to be removed and lowered.

9. Heating and Cooling Needs

How are you planning to heat and cool the basement? We’ll discuss your options and inspect your current system to determine the best way to use existing ductwork for your basement needs.

10. Renovating Your Basement in a Rental Space

If your basement remodel includes rentable living space there are additional building code requirements, including separate thermostats, electric panels, and water meters.

At A.W. Puma, we examine each of these areas and communicate our findings and recommendations to our clients, even before we begin the project. We determine which permits are needed and we pull all the paperwork and complete it all accurately and timely to ensure that we have no disruption to the project once it begins.

If you are thinking of a basement renovation this spring, let’s begin the discussion now, so we leave no issue unattended, ensuring a smooth and successful basement remodel that exceeds your expectations and vision. Contact us today or give us a call for a free estimate at 508-918-0422.