Helpful Hints

THINGS TO CONSIDER…

Kitchen

Have a message and bulletin board built in so it is part of the design, not an afterthought.
Wire during construction for phones, cable, computer, alarm and satellite.
Build in a storage area for garbage and recycling.
Put the dishwasher on the side you want to load/unload to.
Specialized cabinet interiors with projected usage in mind. Consider sliding pot drawers, knife racks, spice drawers, tray slots, garbage and recycling and pantry cabinets.
Installing a trash compactor cuts down on garbage.
Have a built in soap dispenser put through the counter or sink apron and pull down cabinet installed in the front of your sink to help alleviate clutter.
When determining your cabinet height (typical cabinets are 36"), consider what parts of the cabinet you can reach and also keep them in proportion to your room.
Make sure that adequate ventilation is provided for your stove.
Make accommodation for pet bowl placement. Consider a cut out in the base of a cabinet to keep the bowls out of the way.
Consider putting in under cabinet lighting to help with food preparation and other special task areas.
Consider different eat-in options, countertop and table if your kitchen has the space.

Kitchen Cabinets / Bathroom Vanity

If you're looking to replace your existing cabinets, there are three cabinetry lines on the market - stock, semi-custom, and custom.
Custom cabinetry occupies the high end of the market. Custom cabinets are fabricated to your exact Kitchen or bathroom dimensions. They offer special sizes, custom finishes, and cabinet accessories to meet your specific needs. If you have the budget and the time to wait, usually 10 weeks or longer, custom cabinetry is a one-of-a-kind option.
Semi-Custom cabinetry is built to order according to the style and finish you select. Although semi-custom cabinets are fabricated in the same 3-inch size increments as stock cabinets, they do offer more opportunity to customize the interior with such accessories as rollout shelves, cutlery dividers, and recycling enters. In addition, many of the semi-custom cabinetry lines are now offering special woodworking details (roping, pilasters, furniture bases, etc.), which were typically only offered in a custom cabinet. Because they are built to order, expect to wait at least 8 weeks for delivery of your cabinets.
Stock cabinets are the least expensive option. They come pre-assembled and offer limited options in style, finish, and accessories. Stock cabinets are fabricated in sizes of 3-inch increments (from 9" wide to 48" wide), which might mean you'll need large filler pieces if the cabinet sizes don't coordinate with your overall Kitchen plan. The advantage of stock cabinets is that there is less wait involved and they are less expensive. At home improvement centers, you can literally buy them off the shelves.

Master Bathroom

Consider putting a temperature controlling mixing valve on your shower and tub to avoid burns.
Make sure before you order a large tub or 1 piece shower that it will fit through your doors and up any stairs and turns on landings.
Consider putting in two sinks if you are sharing your bathroom.
Consider 2 shower heads with different controls if you have a large shower and like to share with a partner or young children.
Consider making your counter height higher than the standard 30-32" if a taller counter would be more comfortable.
Neutral color plumbing fixtures, white or off-white are recommended as colored fixtures quickly date a bathroom.
Plan for adequate storage space in your bath for towels, toiletries, medication and make-up.
Make sure that you have adequate electrical outlets placed where you need them for TV, telephone, shavers, curling iron and more.
Put in adjustable lighting for your make-up application and other hygiene tasks and dim lights for that relaxing bath.
Decide before you build where you will store soap, shampoo and other necessary items. Tile in shelves and soap dishes, build recessed areas or choose decorative items.
Make sure you have left enough wall space for a towel bar.
Make sure you have designed an out of the way place for the trash basket.
Get a shower curtain rod that screws into the wall rather than the tension bar type.
Glass doors for showers should open out for safety.
Non-slip tile should be used in the bottom of showers.
Consider wiring needs in your bathroom before you renovate so the wires can be easily hidden.

Bedroom

Make sure to consider functionality when planning lighting.
Put dimmers on your main lights to help with mood adjustment.
Wire your bedroom for all of its future uses: telephone, TV, cable, satellite, stereo, computer and alarm.
Consider carpeting at least part of your floor to keep it warm in the cooler months and also to eliminate noise downstairs.
Make sure that your closet space is designed to give you all the functionality that you need.
Consider putting a gas fireplace in a master bedroom. It enhances your property value and the enjoyment of the room.
Plan for a hidden place for your dirty clothes hamper.
Consider building in bookshelves if you have a lot of books, pictures and personal memorabilia.
If your bathroom is attached to your bedroom try and place the toilet where it is not in the direct line of sight of the bed.
When designing your bedroom make sure that all your furniture fits and that you have adequate room to walk around the bed, open drawers, sit at a dressing table etc.
If you share your bedroom and you and your partner have different sleeping or waking hours consider putting the entrances to the bathroom, closet and main sleeping room as far away from the bed as possible.

Living Room

When designing your family room make a list of the functionality of the room first to make sure that you are incorporating all of your needs into the design. Consider if you will be using the room mostly for entertaining or reading.
A fireplace in the room adds warmth and helps to make the living room a welcoming place for guests. It is the one room in a house that people expect a fireplace and it can impact resale if you don’t have one.
When designing the lighting of the room, make sure to allow for mood lighting. Put lights on dimmer switches and allow for switched floor or table lamps.
Lighting should also be designed keeping the natural light of the room in mind. Large windows will significantly increase the daylight to your room.
When designing the room carefully consider what your furniture placement will be. Make sure that there is enough uninterrupted wall space for all of your big furniture pieces and make sure that you have enough seating for everyone in your family to gather.
Consider putting decorative wood or stone flooring in this room.
Wire the room for stereo while you are renovating.
Make sure that there are ample electrical outlets where you need them.
Floor and crown moulding are appropriate in the living room and enhance the value of your home.
Consider installing display shelves for collectibles and other items that you would like to display.

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McNamara Construction Ltd.
4840 Pembroke Place
Richmond, B.C.
Canada V7E 4J9

Tel (604) 241-9131
Fax (604) 241-9151
info@mcnamara-construction.com

More Inside Tips...

Dining Room

Consider putting a fireplace in your dining room. Nothing makes a meal more festive than a roaring fire. This also adds to your resale value.
When designing your dining room, make sure there is adequate room for people to pull out their chairs and to walk behind other seated diners comfortably. Leave room for a sideboard and/or a china cabinet.
Consider putting built-ins in the dining room. It is a great way to store and show your china and crystal.
Make sure that your ceiling height is adequate for your proposed chandelier.
Make sure that there is adequate support in your ceiling to hang a heavy chandelier if this is in the plans.
If possible it is nice to have an alternative light source to the chandelier. Think about putting in sconces to enhance the warmth of your room.
All of your lighting in the dining room should be on dimmers to help create the proper mood.
Don’t forget to wire the dining room for stereo if desired. The dining room is a great place to add moulding or a chair rail. It enhances the beauty and definition of the room.
When designing your floor plan remember to put the dining room adjacent to the kitchen to allow easy access when serving and clearing.
The dining room is a great place for a wood or a stone floor. An area rug can be added for warmth and texture. It is also easier to remove and clean.

Interior Paint

Make sure the area to be painted is clean and does not have stains or dirt.

Make sure the painter patches and repairs any surface defects such as holes, cracks, divots or dents.
If a paint surface is thick, cracked or clipped, make sure your painter scrapes and removes the paint surface before painting.
Wallpaper must be removed first and the area should be clean of any chemical solutions before painting
Rough edges should be sanded to create a smooth even painting surface.
Clean all areas of dust and wood deposits (paying close attention to sills, trim edges and shelving) before painting.
Make sure all window and door hardware is removed prior to painting.
All new or exposed surfaces should be primed first.
All windows, door castings and baseboards should be taped prior to painting.
Make sure your painters secure all remaining furniture and ceiling fans with plastic coverings prior to painting.
The entire floor should be draped with heavy canvas drop cloth. Don't forget to cover the painter's walkways with a canvas drop cloth as well. This includes door entries, sidewalks, hallways, etc...
A clean and safe work site should always be maintained. Paint cans should be properly disposed of. Ladders should be folded and equipment should be stowed away.
Interior windows should be cleaned once the job has been completed.

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Outside Tips...

Decks

Decks are a welcome addition to any home. It is where your home and garden come together to create a unique living space.
Decks are great when there is no level surface in your yard and they allow for transition from one level to another.
Keep the deck in proportion. A deck should not be larger then the largest room in the house.
The addition of a deck to a home will dramatically change the way your home looks, therefore, you should make sure you check with local building codes before you finalize your design.
Most decks are built attached to the rear or side of the house, just off the kitchen or dining room.
A remote deck stands alone. Your placement choices with a remote deck are limitless.
Before you build, observe how much sun and shade your deck will receive in prospective areas. A deck situated on the north side of a home will get less light and will be exposed to wind. A deck situated on the south side of a home will get extreme summer heat.

Exterior Paint

Before an exterior paint job can begin, your painter must clean the surface of dirt, chalk, crystalline deposits under eaves, rain gutters, and stains.
Mildew spots need to be removed with a mildew solution prior to painting.
Broken shingles and shutters should be repaired prior to painting.
Surface defects should be repaired such as nails, cracks and uneven edges.
All peeling, blistering and clipping paint needs to be removed.
The painting surface needs to be sanded to a "feathered edge" or uniform smooth surface.
All exposed surfaces need to be primed.
Caulk or putty all needed areas including: nail holes, joins, bare edges on new hardboard, cracked hardboard, cracks between siding, etc.
Repair window sashes and loose glazing if necessary.
Drape all vegetation that could be exposed to paint splatter.
Cover painter walkways with a heavy canvas drop cloth.
Keep the work site clean.
Upon completion wash any paint splatter off exposed windows.