Blog | Finnteriors

June 29, 2018 by finnteriors

8 Ways to Save Money on Remodeling Your Home

If you’re on a limited budget, but still want to update the look and feel of your home, there are some ways that you can accomplish this. We’ve listed a few here.

The most popular rooms for remodeling are the kitchen and bathrooms. They can also cost more than other areas of the home. However, it’s important to remember that the return on investment is higher for remodeled kitchens and baths.

1. Wooden Pallets for Kitchens

If you’re looking for a rustic way to remodel your kitchen, wooden pallets are versatile and inexpensive. Using recycled pallets is also great for the environment because you’re reusing materials that would otherwise wind up in the trash dump.

DIY Motive

2. Plan and Organize

Proper planning and preparation will help reduce the costs associated with remodeling a kitchen. Having a detailed plan and following that plan will help control costs throughout the project. Working with a licensed and trusted contractor who will follow through with your wishes is also critical to having a successful project completed within budget.

Arcade Voice Home Improvement

3. Kitchen Remodeling Shortcuts

Kitchens are probably the most expensive rooms to remodel. There are ways that you can trim costs using these suggestions. For example, if you can’t afford granite countertops, there are many beautiful laminate choices available at a much lower cost.

Thistlewood Farms

4. Inexpensive Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

There are several ways to save money when remodeling a bathroom. Refurbishing fixtures rather than replacing them can save some quick cash. Buying second-hand items that are still in good shape or shopping at lower-cost outlets can help with your budget too.

The Bathroom Remodeling Contractors

5. Small Remodeling Projects

Sometimes you don’t have to remodel an entire room or replace everything to get a fresh new look. A fresh coat of paint or adding new baseboards or crown molding are couple ways to update your home.

Here are some more ideas that can work to refresh the look of your home without breaking the bank.

6. Easy Remodeling Projects

To reiterate, you don’t have to completely change everything to get a new look to your home. This post offers over 27 ways you can change some things without spending a ton, many of which you can complete yourself. For example, check out this tip on creating a faux thick baseboard.

7. Cheaper and Resilient Materials

Using vintage materials can cost less than brand-new. And they are hot right now! Beadboard and shiplap are some materials that are popular for wall coverings over more expensive tiles and other materials. Have you seen the faux wood flooring that’s becoming a hit? Practically maintenance-free compared to wood, and so much cheaper! Property Talk has some more tips for remodeling on a tight budget.

8. Hiring the Right Contractor

There are some remodeling projects you can accomplish yourself, if you’re handy and have the right tools. However, larger-scale projects require a professional contractor who has the knowledge, experience and resources to get the job done right.

Communication between you and the contractor is important to the project’s success. Ask questions and give them any critical information to help them during the process; e.g., your family’s schedule, pets in the home, etc.

Hire Finnteriors as Your Home Remodeling Contractor

Finnteriors has been in the home remodeling business for over 30 years. We can tackle one room or the whole house. We work around your budget so you needn’t worry about cost overruns.

In addition to remodeling, Finnteriors provides other professional services for your home, like painting, window replacements, and roofing repair and replacement. We also build and repair decks and patios to enhance the exterior of your home.

June 12, 2018 by finnteriors

Types of Interior and Exterior Construction Services

If you are a home or business owner, you will likely need a professional contractor to perform some types of interior or exterior repairs, renovations or remodeling services. There are various types of these construction services and all contractors may not perform all of them. We’re listing some of the more typical services here.

Interior Construction Services

Interior construction services can be defined as those within the interior confines of a building. They can include the following.

1. Bathroom Remodels

Bathroom remodels are a popular choice to improve the functionality and aesthetics of a home or business. Upgrading a bathroom with newer fixtures, colors, storage and other features can also be a great way to increase the value of your property as well.

2. Kitchen Remodels

Another great investment choice in your home is to have your kitchen remodeled. This can add more storage, make it more efficient and enjoyable and become the comfortable environment you want for you and your family and guests.

3. Basement Finishing

Why waste a great space by only using it for storage or laundry? Finishing your basement can add additional living space. You can gain additional bedrooms, family room, recreation room and more by getting your basement finished.

4. Interior Painting

A fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference in any room! Tired of the same old “beige” walls? There are so many colors out there to choose from, you can have just about any shade you’re looking for. A reliable professional painter will do the job cleanly and quickly to get your walls and ceilings looking almost new.

Exterior Construction Services

These are those repairs and installations that occur on the outside of your home or business. They can include the following.

1. Decks and Patios

Having a beautiful living area outside is a plus! Adding a deck or patio to your home will allow you to enjoy the outdoors in a relaxed environment. Many different styles and features are available to meet your design needs and desires. Existing decks and patios can be extended to allow for more space to enjoy.

2. Roofs

A leaky or damaged roof can cause a lot of residual problems to a home or business. Contractors will inspect the roof to determine if repairs are sufficient or if an entire roof replacement is necessary.

3. Exterior Painting

If the paint on the outside of a home or business is peeling or faded, the entire building looks shabby. Hiring a professional to repaint it will renew the look and curb appeal.

4. Replacement Windows

Replacing older and inefficient windows in your home or business is an investment that can reap many benefits. Newer windows will be energy efficient and easier to keep clean. They’ll also add a more positive look to the exterior of the building.

Choosing a Construction Services Contractor

If you determine you need a professional for either interior or exterior construction services to your home or commercial building you will need to choose the contractor. Here are a few things to consider.

They should be licensed, bonded and insured to perform the work in your area.
How long have they been in business?
Ask for references.
Check credible review sites.
Make sure they specialize in the work you need done.
Are they a local business? Local contractors tend to be more trusted, especially if they’ve been around for years doing work in the community.

Choose Finnteriors for Your Interior or Exterior Construction Needs

Finnteriors Construction Services has over 30 years of experience in the home remodeling and construction business. We have several local, national, and international accreditations, and are full members of the following prestigious organizations:

Home Builders Association
National Association of Home Builders
Building Owners and Managers Association International
Building Owners and Managers Association of
Louis
Crawford Contractor Connection
International Facility Management Association
Metropolitan Fire Marshals Association
Restoration Industry Association

Finnteriors is insured, licensed and bonded in all areas we service. Contact us today to find out how we can help you with any interior or exterior construction services project!

May 3, 2018 by finnteriors

What to Expect with a Kitchen Remodel Design Process

So you’re thinking about having your kitchen remodeled or renovated. Perhaps you want to extend the room to enlarge it, or you want to upgrade cabinets, appliances and such. Or maybe you want to do both!

Whether it’s a small remodel or extensive renovation, it’s likely that you and your family will need to make some adjustments in your everyday life during the process. There are some things you should consider before embarking on this exciting but a bit chaotic journey.

Set a Budget

Before you even think about remodeling, you need to determine how much you can afford to spend on the renovation. And remember, there are usually unexpected expenses, so you need to allow room in the budget for that. A good rule of thumb is to expect to spend an additional 20% of what you think it will cost.

And don’t forget the “hidden” costs of surviving during the renovation process. Eating meals out can cost a lot more than cooking them at home. You’ll be buying more convenient supplies as well, like paper plates and utensils, since washing dishes will be a hardship.

There Will Be Mess

There will be strange men—and maybe women—in your home for weeks. There’s no getting around the fact that contractors will be trudging through your house and making lots of noise. You can map out a path for the contractors to walk from the entrance of your home to the kitchen. Placing old rugs or drop cloths along that path can decrease the amount of tracked dirt and debris throughout.

Another suggestion is to move any breakable or valuable items in the kitchen and adjoining rooms to a safer area. Contractors moving equipment and supplies, and causing vibrations installing kitchen amenities could cause damage to these items.

Set Up a Temporary Kitchen

Unless you’re fortunate enough to have another functional kitchen in your home, or can stay at a hotel or elsewhere during the renovation, you’ll need to set up an alternate space, preferably with a working sink, if possible. This space could be the utility room, laundry room or basement. Although your bathrooms have sinks, they aren’t great alternative kitchens, simply because you’d be competing with so many other necessary activities.

Before the contractor starts replacing all the cabinets and countertops, you may want to set aside a couple cabinets to use in your alternate kitchen.

If you have an extra “beer box” refrigerator in your home, you can use it temporarily to keep perishable items for quick breakfasts, lunches and even dinners.

Find Alternatives to Meal Preparation

Your refrigerator, stove and dishwasher may be non-functional during the remodeling process so you’ll need to make other arrangements for meals. Although occasionally eating out is an option, it can be expensive if you do so for the entire duration.

Here are some creative ways you can avoid, or at least decrease the expense of restaurants:

You can cook a lot of foods on a barbecue grill; especially of the renovation is taking place during nice weather.
If you have a camping stove, you can cook some items on there as well. If you don’t own one, maybe you can borrow one or buy one secondhand.
Clip coupons for restaurants, so that if you do eat out, it won’t cost as much.
Use the kitchen of a friend, neighbor or family member. To pay them back, make a meal for them too!
If you will have the use of a freezer during remodeling, cook meals ahead of time and freeze. You can take them out to thaw and microwave.

Have Finnteriors Remodel Your Kitchen

Finnteriors has over 30 years of experience in the home remodeling and construction business. Contact us today to find out how we can help you get that kitchen remodel or renovation started!

April 17, 2018 by finnteriors

Adding a Room to Your Home

We posted a blog a few months ago on the Types of Home Additions and briefly described some of them, which included room additions. This blog goes into more detail on the types of room additions and reasons you may want to consider them.

When we refer to a room addition, it could mean any type of new room added into or onto the home interior. Types of room additions can include any of the following or a combination thereof:

Great room
Family room
Dining room
Breakfast nook
Additional bathrooms
Dormers
Laundry rooms
Mud room/utility room
Additional bedrooms
Home office
In-law suites
Playroom
Hobby room
…and more!

5 Great Reasons to Add a Room

There are many good reasons to consider adding a room extension to your home. Your family may have grown since you purchased the home and you need more space. Or your lifestyle has changed—maybe you’d like to entertain more. Or you need to bring an elderly relative in for caretaking.

Adding a room addition has many benefits, some of which are listed below.

1. Give one of your children their own bedroom

It’s fine to put your two sons or daughters in the same room when they are younger. In fact, they may even enjoy the company of their sibling and help them sleep easier. But as they grow into teenagers, they prefer more privacy. Adding a bedroom allows your children more space for their own activities. They can do their homework with less disruption, talk to their friends on the phone, have sleepovers, etc., without their little sis or bro eavesdropping.

2. Offers a special place for hobbies

If you or a family member has a hobby or interest that requires some space, it’s always nice to have a room designated for that activity so that it doesn’t disrupt other areas of the home. For example, if you enjoy making crafts, a room with storage cupboards to hold supplies and tools, a table large enough to make your creations, and proper lighting can be conducive to pursuing your hobby. Unlike when using other areas of the home to create the crafts, like the kitchen or dining room, you won’t need to start and stop because of the disruption to other daily activities.

3. Can be used as a home office

Whether you work outside the home or not, you probably need a place for your laptop, printer and other necessities you use for running a home or business. Even though laptops offer more mobility than the older desktop computers do, carting them from one room to another isn’t always ideal. It’s better to contain your electronics in a room where everything is located in one place. It also allows you some privacy and solitude to make calls or get that presentation done for work the next day.

4. Expand your living space

As your family grows, they take up more space. What used to seem cozy is now just simply crowded. Adding a room or more can go a long way in making it more comfortable. You can add a family room to house the TV, games and such. It will become the central location for family members and friends to congregate and have fun. Or how about a breakfast nook added to the kitchen that allows the whole family to gather for breakfast before school/work? Have you always wanted a separate dining room to accommodate larger groups for holidays or special dinners? All of these and more can be accomplished through a room addition.

5. Avoid the stress and expense of moving

Adding rooms to your existing home is a practical way to expand your living space without having to move to a larger home. If you love your current home, the neighborhood and schools, it’s an alternative to the stressful process of buying and selling. It can also save you money in the short term and possibly add value to your home when you do decide to sell.

Finnteriors Can Build Your Next Room Addition

Finnteriors has over 30 years of experience in the home remodeling and construction business. Contact us today to find out how we can help you get that room addition built!

March 29, 2018 by finnteriors

Deck or Patio—Which Is Right for You?

Spring is here, and although the weather has not yet reflected it, warm days are coming to St. Louis, guaranteed! Soon you’ll be looking to barbecue and entertain outdoors. Having a place to do that is something to consider now.

There are basically two types of outdoor venues for homes—decks and patios. Choosing which one is right for you and your lifestyle depends on a number of things, and there are pros and cons for each.

Differences between a Deck and Patio

Let’s first look at what differentiates a deck from a patio.

A deck is built above the ground. Although they can be placed close to the ground, they are not place directly on it, with a support system to hold it up. Decks are typically constructed of wood or vinyl. They can be built on the lower floor of a home, or added to an upper level. Some decks are actually on the rooftop. They usually have railings that enclose them and, if on upper levels, may have steps leading to the ground or lower level.

A patio, on the other hand, is built directly onto the ground. It can be attached to the home or located separately in the yard. Patio foundations can be constructed with concrete, stone, tile, pavers, brick or other materials. They typically don’t include railings, but may have covers to protect from sun and rain. Because the foundation is resistant to heat and fire, built-in barbecues and fire pits can be featured on the patios.

Choosing between a Deck or Patio

There are several factors to consider when deciding whether a deck or patio is right for you and your home. We’ve outlined some of them here.

Location

Where the outdoor space is built is a determining factor in your choice. If you want landscaping to surround your space, a patio would be a better option. Do you have uneven terrain? Decks would typically be the right choice for this situation, although a patio could be built with a retaining wall supporting it to make it level. But if you want the space on anything but the ground level, a deck is necessary.

Cost

Decks are typically more expensive to build than patios of the same size made with a concrete foundation. Of course, some of the newer materials that can be used for patios may jack up the cost, so that will need to be weighed.

Decks that are well built and maintained will retain more return on investment than do patios.

Purpose

Do you want your space surrounding a pool with built-in fireplaces, barbecues or the like? Will you be using it for entertaining large groups? Do you need overhead protection from the weather? All these would warrant a patio.

If your goal is to have a relaxing spot to read outdoors, if you want a great view or need the space built on a location that is above ground level or on a slope, a deck is your obvious choice.

Maintenance

Both decks and patios require varying degrees of maintenance depending on the building materials.

Wooden decks require periodic sealing, staining and even replacement of railings and floor planks as they age, whereas certain patios may require weeding between paving stones, filling in cracks and sealing, as in the case of concrete slabs.

Finnteriors Can Construct Both Decks and Patios

Regardless of your preferences and ultimate decision on whether you want a deck or patio, Finnteriors Construction Services can build it! We can also help you make the decision, based on a number of factors and our experience and knowledge.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you get that deck or patio construction started today so you don’t miss one beautiful day enjoying it!