Is it Time to Consider an Extension or Remodel?

You may not be interested in moving, but your current house may need an upgrade

There are a lot of reasons for people not wanting to stay in the house you own now. You may love the neighborhood or the area is perfect for a growing family. You may be retiring and planning to move in the future, but you’ve outgrown your current home. Because our family lives, careers, and lifestyles change over time, the needs we have from our living spaces also change. 

Does your current house meet your needs for the way you live your life? Would you be more comfortable with more space or the existing areas redesigned to better suit your current lifestyle? Do you have enough room for the kinds of activities associated with entertaining, having overnight guests, working from home, having babies, small children, or teenagers? If the answer is no, but you are not inclined to move in the near future, we can create a new space, either by adding to your existing house (extension) or by changing and reconfiguring your existing space (remodeling). Here are some example of recent jobs we completed and how our customers have benefitted from this modification to their homes. 

We came into the house of this wonderful couple who have made the decision to stay in their current home for the rest of their lives. Their children were grown and it was just the two of them. Some might think this would be the time to downsize, but this couple realized that their family’s changing configuration meant their house needed more space for grandchildren and overnight guests. What had been a great house for raising a family was not going to meet their needs as their family and personal lifestyles were changing. 

Together we created a wonderful floor plan that gave them more living space, greater capacity for overnight guests, and open areas for better entertaining. We added a master bedroom and full bath on the first level, increasing the footprint of the home by about 1,000 square feet. This will make it easier for them to stay in the house as they age, without worrying about going up and down stairs. The upstairs remained in tact with bedrooms for their family to use when they came for visits. 

This project also included a redesign to open up the living room and kitchen area to make it more appealing for entertaining and added a fireplace to really enhance the area. The kitchen got an upgrade to make it modern and beautiful. We also added a patio for better use of the backyard. As you can see, the space is perfect for entertaining, having family visit, and single floor living. Our clients are very happy with the finished project and love their new home. Now staying in this house for the rest of their lives is going to be so much more enjoyable for them. 

Here is what the clients said once the job was complete:

“After seeing the outstanding work they did for one of our neighbors, we chose Rendon Remodeling to build a major addition to our home. Working from our proposal, they designed and built a new family room, master bedroom and master bathroom, added a patio, and remodeled and expanded our kitchen. From our initial contact with the company through completion of the project we were impressed with their professionalism and responsiveness. They provided expert guidance and advice in selecting building materials and they designed an addition that fit within our budget and exceeded our expectations. They completed all work on schedule and at the agreed upon price. Their workmanship was impeccable down to the smallest of details. It was a pleasure having them work with us. We highly recommend them to anyone seeking to remodel or add onto their house.”

Another project involved redesigning the space for a family with changing needs. This family had enough space before we started the project, but it was not able to be used for all of their interests. Because they had an existing basement that was not being adequately utilized, we were able to transform the entire area and meet everyone’s needs. 

The parents wanted a place for the kids to play, with a ping pong and foosball table. They also wanted an area for watching tv and movies. The mother of the house and her daughter love to do crafts and having their own space for that was a dream come true. The father of the house works from home a lot and there was no office space more suitable than the basement. In addition to all of these areas, they wanted a full bedroom/bath for guests to stay. Because they had enough space, this was the perfect place to put a guest bedroom and full bathroom. 

This project was a tremendous success with everyone in the family having space to participate in the activities they enjoy, while spending time together as a family. They are very happy with this finished project and now their home is perfectly suited to grow with them as their family and lifestyles continues to change and develop.   

Here is what the client said about our work:   

“Rendon Remodeling and Design did a complete basement overhaul at our house that included taking out the old ceiling and putting in a new one, installing recessed lighting, renovating a full bath and a half bath, installing cabinetry, replacing windows, and much more. This project could not have been done more smoothly, efficiently and professionally. I would highly recommend Rendon Remodeling and Design to anyone in need of a general contractor. They are outstanding.”

If you want to stay in your home but it is not completely meeting all of your needs, contact us for a consultation. Together we can come up with the perfect extension or remodeling design to suit your wants and needs. 

Use Your Basement for More than Just Storage

Transform the Space Under Your First Floor

Your basement doesn’t have to be just a dark dungeon where you store your Christmas decorations. Finishing your basement can actually give you more benefits than you may think. Not only can you add more living space and increase the market value of your home, it can also increase your home’s energy efficiency! The team Rendon Remodeling can work with you to create the perfect living space in that unfinished basement. Obstacles like low ceilings, water heaters and poor lighting are all issues that Rendon Remodeling were made to overcome.

Deciding how you will use your basement will determine how you approach the design. There is no right or wrong way to set up your space, but you do have to focus on what you want the most out of your basement. You may have your heart set on a home gym, guest bedroom and office. If your budget or space is tight, you’ll need to decide what your priorities are for the space.

Mega Media Rooms

A lot of homeowners choose to create a large multipurpose media area rather than chop up a basement into little rooms. Use these universal tips to get started:

1. Don't put viewing screens near a window.

 2. It isn't necessary to have high ceilings in a media room because you'll mostly be seated when you're there.

3. You can create platform seating to increase visibility just like in a movie theater, with the second row of seats raised up behind the first. Theater seating can get pricey, but the platform won't add much expense to the budget.

4. You'll want to insulate the walls of a media room, not just the exterior walls, to dampen sound.

Guest Suites

Building code standards consider a room to be a bedroom when it contains a finished closet, meaning the drywall, trim and doors are up. If you have a bedroom in the basement, you must have an egress window no more than 44 inches off the ground. You can create a step up or enlarge the window if necessary to meet code.

Try to place the bathroom adjacent to the bedroom with a direct entrance from inside. If you install a shower there needs to be enough ceiling clearance to lift your arms without hitting anything, and you need a fan to exhaust to the outside.

Personal Gyms

These spaces tend to trip up homeowners. You will need to be careful and measure all your exercise equipment to make sure you have the necessary space to work-out, especially if you have a basement with a lower ceiling. You will need to account for your own height on certain machines like pull-up machines or treadmills. Also you will need to check your exercise equipment to see if it is welded together or bolted together to make sure it will fit down any stairs or turns into the basement.

Home Offices

This should ideally be the same size as a bedroom, but keep in mind that if you add a closet, it actually is a bedroom according to code and will need an egress window. Because home offices don't have the same privacy needs as a bedroom, using a double set of French doors on basement offices can maximize light and keep a feeling of openness.

Bars and Wine Cellars

Keep in mind that installing a bar is the same as installing a new kitchen without appliances, so your expense will be comparable.

If you don't need the full bar, a less pricey alternative is to put in a horizontal bank of cabinets that you can use as a buffet and add a fridge. But if you pine for a classic basement bar or wine cellar, determine your maximum budget and work backward to determine what features you can and can't live without. The sky's the limit on bar budgets

The possibilities are truly limitless! Contact the team at Rendon Remodeling and let us work with you on creating the space of your dreams. Rendon Remodeling & Design, LLC can help you design a plan that works best for your family’s needs.