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| Remodeling |
Home Center Staff Designers are an easy, immediate and cost-effective way to learn about basic design ideas. You can check your local home center store to learn about classes they are offering or simply visit the store and discuss with staff designers what you’re planning to build. You will find that design skills among the staff varies widely, and be aware that the staff will recommend solutions using their store’s products.
Interior Designers and Home Decorators are specialists who offer advice on furniture, wall coverings, colors, styles and overall physical appearance of your project. While not essential to the process, home decorators and interior decorators can save you both time and money by helping you to narrow down your choices and utilizing professional discounts for materials such as furniture, home accessories, wallpaper or paint. Communicating your personal style and preferences are important when you meet with an interior designer or home decorator. Be prepared to show examples of styles you like that you’ve found in magazines or books. Based on your input, these professionals will develop ideas that will work for the space and help create a setting that represents your artistic sensibility. Keep in mind that while an interior designer may also do some interior space planning, most usually focus on interior decorating by selecting finishing touches such as picking carpets, drapes, paint colors, fabrics and furnishings. You may find that their duties could overlap or be interchangeable with those of both residential designers and interior decorators.
Draftspersons primarily prepare technical drawings of designs created by others, although some can assist with design. These days, most drafters work in Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) programs. You may already have a good idea of a floor plan you like; if that’s the case, it’s not uncommon to hire a draftsperson to draw the blueprints and have them checked by an engineer before speaking with general contractors to bid, apply for permits and build.
General Contractors coordinate and construct projects that typically involve three or more subcontractor trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, painting, roofing or electrical work. In Texas, no state license is required, but contractors must get permits at the local level. Separate boards license HVAC and plumbing trades. Those general contractors who specialize in production, concentrate on bidding and building from plans drawn by design specialists and do not offer much, if any, design or drawing services unless they advertise themselves as design/build contractors.
Design/Build Contractors offer both architectural and construction services. They can carry a job from inception to move-in, and some experts believe the results are more cost-effective and allow for more collaboration during the building process. Using this method, one firm is accountable for the entire project, which can result in a less expensive design that is practical to build and causes less confusion between design and construction specialists who may not see eye-to-eye. Due to these advantages, the design/build method has become increasingly popular.
As you speak with these various professionals in the home-building process, look for people whose experience, designs and ideas best reflect your taste and sensibilities. There should also be good communication flow and understanding of the project. After all, it’s about building your new home, one of the largest investments you’ll make in your lifetime and the center of your family’s life.
— Other Remodeling Resources
Here are other ways to look for remodeling pros in your area:
The Push For Greener Homes
San Antonians place a high premium on sustainability and conservation. Here are a few local and national programs and resources for homeowners interested in building and remodeling with green standards in mind:
Smart Energy deals with how you use energy in the home. Things such as gas water heaters vs. electric or gas furnace vs. heat pump are important in Smart Energy building. A Smart Energy builder uses a combination of gas and electric appliances to maximize the most economical utility package. Visit www.cpsenergy.com and search for smart energy homebuilders in Greater San Antonio that use CPS Energy’s energy-efficient combination of natural gas and electricity, which helps homeowners save up to 20 percent on their annual energy bills.
Interior Designers and Home Decorators are specialists who offer advice on furniture, wall coverings, colors, styles and overall physical appearance of your project. While not essential to the process, home decorators and interior decorators can save you both time and money by helping you to narrow down your choices and utilizing professional discounts for materials such as furniture, home accessories, wallpaper or paint. Communicating your personal style and preferences are important when you meet with an interior designer or home decorator. Be prepared to show examples of styles you like that you’ve found in magazines or books. Based on your input, these professionals will develop ideas that will work for the space and help create a setting that represents your artistic sensibility. Keep in mind that while an interior designer may also do some interior space planning, most usually focus on interior decorating by selecting finishing touches such as picking carpets, drapes, paint colors, fabrics and furnishings. You may find that their duties could overlap or be interchangeable with those of both residential designers and interior decorators.
Draftspersons primarily prepare technical drawings of designs created by others, although some can assist with design. These days, most drafters work in Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) programs. You may already have a good idea of a floor plan you like; if that’s the case, it’s not uncommon to hire a draftsperson to draw the blueprints and have them checked by an engineer before speaking with general contractors to bid, apply for permits and build.
General Contractors coordinate and construct projects that typically involve three or more subcontractor trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, painting, roofing or electrical work. In Texas, no state license is required, but contractors must get permits at the local level. Separate boards license HVAC and plumbing trades. Those general contractors who specialize in production, concentrate on bidding and building from plans drawn by design specialists and do not offer much, if any, design or drawing services unless they advertise themselves as design/build contractors.
Design/Build Contractors offer both architectural and construction services. They can carry a job from inception to move-in, and some experts believe the results are more cost-effective and allow for more collaboration during the building process. Using this method, one firm is accountable for the entire project, which can result in a less expensive design that is practical to build and causes less confusion between design and construction specialists who may not see eye-to-eye. Due to these advantages, the design/build method has become increasingly popular.
As you speak with these various professionals in the home-building process, look for people whose experience, designs and ideas best reflect your taste and sensibilities. There should also be good communication flow and understanding of the project. After all, it’s about building your new home, one of the largest investments you’ll make in your lifetime and the center of your family’s life.
— Other Remodeling Resources
Here are other ways to look for remodeling pros in your area:
- Job-site signs: Pay particular attention to homes with signs from their contracting company on their lawn. Is the site clean? Are tools and materials being handled in a responsible manner? Are there dust covers over the owner’s belongings to protect them?
- Check out your local media coverage: Look for articles about local remodelers. Also check out local home improvement columns in the newspaper, TV and radio talk shows in your area. They can be a great source for finding a qualified, reputable and personable contractor.
- Seminars: Attend local seminars on home improvement topics. Some firms host free seminars on how to choose a remodeler and other interesting remodeling topics. Check your local newspaper community news section for information.
- Home trade shows: In San Antonio, each year the Greater San Antonio Builders Association hosts the Builders Showcase Expo. Learn more about this by visiting the association’s website at www.sabuilders.com. You’ll find it a great place to gather information about companies and to make an initial contact with potential contractors. Later it is possible to meet with them at their place of business or in your home.
The Push For Greener Homes
San Antonians place a high premium on sustainability and conservation. Here are a few local and national programs and resources for homeowners interested in building and remodeling with green standards in mind:
Smart Energy deals with how you use energy in the home. Things such as gas water heaters vs. electric or gas furnace vs. heat pump are important in Smart Energy building. A Smart Energy builder uses a combination of gas and electric appliances to maximize the most economical utility package. Visit www.cpsenergy.com and search for smart energy homebuilders in Greater San Antonio that use CPS Energy’s energy-efficient combination of natural gas and electricity, which helps homeowners save up to 20 percent on their annual energy bills.
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