Category Archives: Home Improvement

Aging In Place, Safe Solutions for Senior Homeowners

For many senior homeowners, finding a home improvement contractor they can trust can be challenging.

America’s senior population is growing and many are living longer and more active lives. As a result, there is an increasing demand for reliable resources to help seniors connect with trustworthy home service professionals. Whether it is a small job such as installing stability bars in the bathroom or more extensive modifications, senior homeowners need a resource to locate contractors they can trust and who understand their specific needs.

To help meet the increasing needs of our senior population, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the American Association of Retired People (AARP) developed the Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) program. The program provides training for contractors to address the needs of home safety and independence for seniors. It teaches contractors Universal Design skills to make functional modifications that blend seamlessly with your current home design and décor.

Universal Design evolved from Accessible Design, which was first introduced to make public buildings and facilities more accessible for people with disabilities. Universal Design has broadened the approach by helping make personal residences more functional and user-friendly for everyone. Certified Aging in Place Specialists will work with you to assess both your current and potential future needs and help you make these important and life-enhancing modifications.

Safety is the primary reason for making home modifications for seniors. Planning ahead and making the appropriate improvements now can help prevent accidents in the future and ensure a more secure and accessible home.

Stability bars in the bathroom; improved lighting in hallways, work areas, and outdoors; and continuous handrails on each side of stairways are simple and relatively inexpensive updates. Specific needs can be met through more extensive modifications to the kitchen, bathroom, or other living spaces. Thoughtful planning and consideration can result in attractive modifications and increase resale value by appealing to a broader market.

It is never too soon to make improvements to increase your home’s safety and functionality. If you are planning a home remodel or even minor improvements, consider incorporating some well thought out modifications to help make your home safer and more functional. Some relatively minor adjustments can make a big difference for a lot of people. This may include friends or family members with disabilities, children, or even senior relatives that visit and may eventually move into the household. Many simple features will make your home more ‘visitable’ and the transition of merging households an easier process.

An alternative to modifying your existing home is to sell and purchase a home that is already more suitable for your needs. However, it is often less expensive to modify your existing home and save on real estate commissions, closing costs, moving costs, and decorating. Depending on your particular situation, a home equity loan or reverse mortgage may be an option to finance a more extensive remodel. Some long-term care or private insurance policies cover special equipment such as ramps and stability bars.

Consulting with a Certified Aging in Place Specialist is the first step in helping you determine your specific needs and the many options and related benefits available to you. We are pleased to be able to recommend professional contractors that are not only CAPS certified, but also part of our network of dependable, pre-screened home improvement professionals.

If you or a loved one are interested in consulting with a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, we can help you make that connection. We will be available for you throughout the entire process from the initial consultation appointment throughout completion of your project and beyond. To get started, simply call Cari at 425-775-9085 or submit a work request.

Everett Fall Home Show and Everett Gift & Food Show

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!

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:

Second Use

3223 6^th Ave S

Seattle, WA 98134

The RE Store

1440 NW 52^nd 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.