The Everett Fall Home Show and Everett Gift & Food Show at Comcast Arena is coming soon – Sep 26, 27 & 28. Two shows – one admission price! The show is a fun place to gather information for future home improvement projects, as well as shop for the holidays. Click for show details and to download free tickets. It’s all happening at the same time and the same place!
Category Archives: Home Improvement
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Following is a comprehensive home maintenance checklist to help you prepare your home for fall and winter. Whether you live in a condo or single family residence, there are sure to be a few items that can use your attention. Taking time now to ensure your home is prepared for rain, wind, and colder temperatures will give you peace of mind, increase your homes efficiency, and could save you money on costly emergency repairs.
For more details and helpful hints click here to visit our blog post Prepare Your Home For Winter.
Fertilize and apply weed killer to lawn
Trim trees/bushes from sides of house and hanging over roof/gutter
Remove, drain and store hoses
Insulate outside faucets and close shut-off valves if available
Clean and store or cover outdoor furniture, BBQ and tools
Ensure winter tools are accessible and ready for use
Inspect drainage system around foundation of home
Inspect roof for signs of leaks or damaged shingles and flashing
Flush and inspect gutters, downspouts and storm drains; inspect regularly
Inspect crawl space and attic for rodents and adequate insulation
Have garage door and opener serviced
Replace worn thresholds and weather stripping around doors and windows, caulk as needed
Wash windows inside and out; remove screens and install storm windows
Wrap exposed water pipes in crawl space, basement or garage
Check for air leaks on exterior walls where pipes enter the house; caulk or add insulation as needed
Wrap water heater with insulated blanket
Have chimney cleaned and inspected
Clean dryer duct; clean vent after each use
Have heating system inspected and serviced
Replace furnace filters monthly, or as recommended
Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors monthly; replace batteries annually
Prepare emergency kit in the event of a power outage or emergency
Kitchen Remodel – before and after
Remodeling an outdated kitchen can be one of the most rewarding updates. We are excited to share pictures of our most recently completed kitchen remodeling project. This beautifully remodeled kitchen belongs to long-time customers, Jeff and Kristina. They did a wonderful job designing an open floor plan. You can see from the pictures how removing a few walls and adding a few feet to the kitchen completely transformed the room. What was once an area that was mostly closed off from the dining and living room became an open floor plan, inviting family and friends to mingle and share the open space.
The new cabinets, countertops, backsplash, appliances, plumbing and lighting fixtures, and paint colors compliment each other nicely. Clever placement of cabinetry added more storage capacity than the previous kitchen provided. Tying the three rooms together with beautifully finished wood floors adds an earthy and classic look to the overall space. Thank you, Jeff and Kristina, for allowing us the opportunity to assist on this fun and exciting project. It’s a beauty!
Kitchen – before remodel
Kitchen – after remodel (looking toward dining area)
Kitchen – after remodel (east wall)
Kitchen – after remodel (looking toward living area)
Exterior Home Repair & Painting
Exterior home repair and painting contractors are in high demand. If you need help this summer with your projects, you should contact your favorite contractor soon to secure space on their schedule. Many are already booked into fall.
We recently had the pleasure of helping one of our customers, Phyllis W. with her exterior painting and repair work (see pictures below). A new window was installed, concrete porch poured, and the entire home and garage exterior painted. It was a pleasure working with you Phyllis. Thank you for the nice review!
Phyllis Wilbourne
Dated: 2014-06-23
I found Cari at the Everett Home Show in February and engaged her services. She put me in contact with a couple of contractors. I chose one to do all I needed done (one was painting only). I was very pleased with the contractor and his crew and Cari’s follow-up throughout the entire project. Thanks, Cari. I’m handing out your card to friends to are DIYers. I hope they will contact you so they can enjoy some island time with me this year!
Exterior Painting Project (before) in Everett
Exterior Painting Project (after) in Everett
Kitchen and Bath Remodel – Arlington
Mr. and Mrs. Feris in their newly remodeled kitchen.
Kitchen and bath remodels can be tricky projects. Careful planning goes into place to ensure the job is completed as quickly as possible and with the least amount of disruption and mess. Our most recently completed remodeling project in Arlington included a kitchen remodel, two bathroom remodels, and new flooring throughout most of the house. The Feris family was wonderful to work with and they did a fabulous job with design input and material choices. Each room turned out absolutely lovely. Milt, his crew and Contractor Hotline sincerely thank the Feris family for the opportunity to be involved and hope you enjoy your newly remodeled home for many years to come.
Following are a couple before and after photos of the kitchen.
Kitchen Remodel (before)
Kitchen Remodel (After)
Kitchen Remodel 2 (Before)
Kitchen Remodel After (2)
Storage & Shelving Solutions
Maximize your pantry storage capacity
Maximize the storage capacity in the kitchen, pantry, bath, laundry room, or garage, anywhere you have a cabinet. Custom made glide-out shelving is designed to suit your unique storage needs and existing cabinet space.
Transform kitchen cabinets into useful storage with easy access, full visibility, and maximum use of space. No more getting down on your hands and knees to find items hiding in the back of deep cabinets. With the touch of a finger, glide-out shelves will bring those items to you for easy access. Storing small items such as spices or canned goods often result in wasted space in the upper portion of the cabinet. Multiple shelves or storage bins at varying heights accommodate those smaller items and allow use of the entire cabinet space.
Could you use more storage space in the bathroom? Plumbing beneath sinks in bathrooms and kitchens often creates a void of unusable space. Unique riser solutions allow more storage space around obstructing pipes, maximizing use and allowing easy access to all those under the sink supplies.
Is the garage or shop area outgrowing the existing storage space? Installing heavy-duty customized glide-out shelving or storage bins in your existing storage cabinet reduces clutter, helps keep things organized, and recaptures lost space.
Store the trash bin out of site
Reduce clutter, maximize storage space, and solve those hard to use spaces with a custom system designed especially for your specific home and storage needs. Custom cubbies, under-the-counter trash bins, tray bins for storing cookie sheets and cutting boards, and pull-down shelving for those high shelves – these are just a few of the unique ideas and solutions available.
Please contact us with questions or when you are ready to schedule a free design consultation.
Window & Door Replacement
Replacing older, inefficient windows and doors helps make your home more attractive, comfortable, reduces outside noise, and cuts down on heating and cooling costs. Replacing old windows, doors, and skylights with Energy Star certified products can reduce heating costs up to 15%.
There are many window and door materials and styles to choose from. Material choices include vinyl, fiberglass, wood, and wood clad. Styles can include picture windows, single and double hung windows, horizontal sliding windows, casement windows, awning windows, and specialty items, such as bay or garden windows. Door choices include French doors, sliding patio doors, and entry doors in a variety of colors, styles, and material choices. With so many options it can be difficult to decide. Our goal is to help make that decision a bit easier.
We are excited to welcome our most recent window and door specialists into our growing network of home improvement professionals. The owners, Grant and Randy, are actively involved on each project and guarantee complete customer satisfaction. They enjoy educating their customers and helping them decide on the best product. Budget, style of home, whether you are looking to change the size, shape, or location of windows to maximize natural lighting or coordinate with remodeling plans, are all important considerations. Avoid feeling pressured into purchasing a specific brand. Grant and Randy offer many of the leading brands including Comfort Design, Lindal, Marvin, Pella, Ply Gem, Marvin, and Simonton windows and sliding patio doors. You can also choose from Codel and Simpson French and entry doors.
If you would like to arrange for an in home appointment to learn about all the options available for you, please let us know.
How To Get The Most Value From Your Home Improvement Project
Kitchen Remodel, Bothell
We all want to get the biggest bang for our buck, especially when it comes to home improvement. While it might be tempting to hire the cheapest contractor you can find, that can and often does backfire. There are many other ways to cut project costs. Following are some useful tips that can help you save money without sacrificing reliability and quality of workmanship.
1. Shop carefully for materials. You can save a lot of money shopping sales and comparing materials at different suppliers. For example, if you’re installing hardwood floors, you may be able to save several thousand dollars on materials by choosing flooring that runs $10/square foot vs. $14 that is just as good.
Habitat for Humanity’s Home Improvement Outlet Stores can be a valuable resource. They are open to the public and offer deep discounts on a wide variety of home furnishings including appliances, doors, windows, flooring, countertops, plumbing fixtures, and much more. At the same time your purchases help finance low-income housing for qualified Habitat families. Two nearby locations:
The Habitat Store Snohomish County
2302 Broadway
Everett, WA 98201
The Habitat Stores King County
21 S. Nevada St.
Seattle, WA 98134
13500 Bel Red Rd.
Bellevue, WA 98005
Additional bargain shopping opportunities:
3223 6th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98134
1440 NW 52nd St
Seattle, WA 98107
2. Consider doing projects in the off season. Most contractors start getting busy in the spring and slow down during late fall and winter during the holidays and colder winter months. If you plan your project when their schedules are open you won’t be competing with other homeowners who may have bigger budgets or bigger jobs.
3. Consider doing your project in stages. If you’ve found a reliable contractor but his bid is too high and there’s no room for negotiation, consider doing the project in stages. A good contractor will recognize that gaining a customer for a smaller job with prospects for future work is worthwhile.
4. Talk to References. Before hiring any contractor, ask to speak with other homeowners who hired the contractor for a similar project. Ask them about their experience and where they felt they could have saved a few dollars.
5. Consider doing prep work yourself where you can. For example, if you plan to have the exterior of your house painted, you can save money by clearing the area around the house yourself and power washing just prior to when painting is scheduled to begin.
6. Reconsider your plans. Review the details of your project with your contractor and ask if there are any design elements in your home that can stay and be incorporated into the job rather than replaced. For example, perhaps you can save money (and not compromise too much on design) if you paint and reuse doors rather than purchase new ones.
Deck Maintenance & New Deck Construction
Deck maintenance or building a new deck goes hand in hand with spring. When summer arrives in Seattle we want to be ready to enjoy it to the fullest. What better place is there to entertain friends and family than outside on your deck?
Maintaining your deck is necessary to ensure it remains in good condition. If you have a wood deck, you will want to examine it for damage or wear from the past winter. Cycles of wetting and drying will cause it to expand and contract, leading to cracking and warping. Keep the deck clean of debris and mildew and replace rotting boards or loose nails as needed. Apply a coat of stain or sealer to stabilize moisture loss and help prevent decay.
If you are thinking of adding a new deck to your home, careful planning will help you enjoy your deck for years to come. Consider your outdoor lifestyle when deciding on how large your deck should be. Allowing for a useable dry space underneath may be a useful option. There are several building materials to consider, including redwood & cedar, treated wood, or engineered wood, such as TimberTech or Trex. Often decks are built using a combination of one or more of these materials. Please note: City and county building regulations require a permit for both new and reconstructed decks. Before construction begins, be sure to obtain a building permit. Permits are not required for general maintenance or minor repairs.
Another option is to install a durable yet attractive polyurethane waterproofing material over an existing deck or when building a new deck. There are many reasons to consider a waterproof deck, balcony, patio, roof, or stairway. Waterproofing will protect and beautify the surface, increase usability, and enhance resale value. If the surface is above a living area, or essentially functions as both a floor and a roof, it is critical the surface remains waterproof to avoid any damage to the occupied space below.
Flat rooftops can be beautifully transformed into useable outdoor living areas. The finished waterproof product is seamless with no gaps, overlaps, or ridges to threaten the integrity of the structure.
Consider waterproofing decks that extend from an upper level where there is a patio, walkway, or access into the home underneath. Waterproofing the upper deck creates a dry, usable space underneath for storage, outdoor seating, or simply dry cover to access the home during inclement weather.
Pacific Polymers polyurethane waterproof deck coatings can be applied over concrete, plywood, or metal. Properly applied and maintained, the polyurethane deck covering is skid-resistant, long-lasting, wear-resistant, fire-retardant, and easy to maintain. Special granules or aggregate provide a textured surface safely designed for foot traffic. Unlike paint or stain, polyurethane products resist damage and fading from harmful UV rays, moisture, and extreme heat or freezing temperatures. With proper cleaning and care your waterproof deck will continue to provide many years of satisfactory service.
Spring Exterior Home Maintenance
Start your spring exterior maintenance plan by grabbing a pen and paper and taking a walk around the full perimeter of your home. Compile a list of any necessary repairs you discover. Breaking these tasks down later into categories and prioritizing them will make the list more manageable.
Trim Trees & Bushes You need relatively clear access to your home’s exterior to complete most maintenance tasks. A good place to start is to trim back any trees and bushes from the side of the house and hanging over the roof, gutters, and power lines. Remember to give the same attention to any outbuildings, such as a detached garage or storage shed.
Power Wash Power wash the siding, porch, deck, patio, walkways, and driveway, wherever there are stubborn dirt stains, fungus, mold, or mildew. If you plan to use detergents or bleach solutions, be sure to use safe, biodegradable products recommended for the specific surfaces you are cleaning.
Chimney & Fireplace Inspect the chimney for any mortar or brick damage. Cracked or crumbling mortar should be removed and replaced, known as repointing. Examine the brick or stone for signs of peeling or flaking, known as spauling. Significantly damaged or missing stones should be replaced. Some minor masonry jobs can be done yourself. Thoroughly cleaning and then sealing the chimney’s entire exterior surface with a high quality brick and stone sealer will help reduce further damage. If you find significant mortar or brick damage it is generally best to consult with a professional.
Once the heating season has passed, have the chimney professionally inspected and cleaned, especially if you use a wood stove or fireplace regularly during winter. Doing this in spring or summer will avoid the fall rush and you may even get a break on the price.
Roof, Gutters & DownspoutsInspect the roof of your home and outbuildings for any signs of leaks or damage including buckling, curling, or missing shingles. Shingles and metal flashing around chimneys, vents, and in valleys should be firmly adhered. Consult with a roofing specialist if you suspect repairs are necessary. Gutters and downspouts should be flushed and inspected for any leaks. If you find leaks, thoroughly dry the area to be repaired and apply a quality, exterior caulk to seal any holes, joints, or gaps.
Siding, Doors & Windows Inspect for gaps where air and moisture can get inside. Remove old caulk and thoroughly clean areas in need of repair. Allow to dry completely and apply a quality, exterior grade caulk.
Foundation, Driveway, Walkway & Patio Inspect the concrete for cracks or pits. Minor defects can often be repaired on your own but larger jobs may require a professional. Keep in mind it can be difficult to match a patch to existing concrete. Carefully consider repairs in high visibility locations. If you notice significant cracks or damage to the foundation you should have it professionally inspected immediately.
Decks & Porches Examine decks and porches for any damage or rot. Replace any deck boards in poor condition and secure loose boards or railings. Apply stain or sealer to wood decks to prevent decay. Resurface waterproof decking as recommended by the manufacturer’s warranty.
Lawn Maintenance
Remove all fallen branches, leaves, and other debris from the lawn. De-thatch the lawn with a good raking prior to the first mowing. Mow lawn down to two inches, being careful not to ‘scalp’ the grass with the first mowing. Lightly apply a quality fertilizer that contains an effective weed killer.
