http://www.jdmooreconstruction.com/blog/rss/feedsWe at JD Moore Construction, LLC have built a reputation as Northern Virginia and the D.C. Metro Area's premier home improvement and renovation specialists.Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:24:52 -0700http://www.jdmooreconstruction.com/blog/post/kitchen-remodeling-tipshttp://www.jdmooreconstruction.com/blog/post/kitchen-remodeling-tipsRemodeling a kitchen takes a great deal of planning. You have to decide what you want to change, what can stay and what your budget is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are well worth once it is done. You get a beautiful kitchen set up just the way you want it and it is a great selling feature if you have plans on selling your home in the future. There are many things to consider when remodeling a kitchen; such as do you prefer cabinets or drawers, would you like a island or breakfast bar, do you want Granite, Formica or Silestone/Quartz countertops, do you need more storage, etc.? Whether you have a large kitchen or one with limited space, you should always try to make every inch count to maximize functionality. Once you have your kitchen space planned out the other challenge in remodeling your kitchen is to not only choose good materials and colors for it but also create a lively interior that incorporates appliances and cabinets with structural elements. Plan where you will be putting your fridge, oven and other kitchen appliances. Creating a lively interior can be a challenge, but a detailed plan can help provide order. There is an imaginary triangle that you should use when remodeling your kitchen which experts call the kitchen work triangle. This is an imaginary straight line from the center of your sink to the center of your fridge and your cook top. The triangle should be planned using equal distances between each of the three appliances to promote efficiency. For kitchens that are small, finding space for storage can be a major problem. One of the best ways to keep a smaller kitchen organized is to build a walk-in pantry instead of using cabinets. Removing items that you hardly use can also make space for the things you do need in your kitchen. Countertops can differ in heights and this allows for visual variety and helps to maximize productivity. Vary your cabinet door styles to make your space more interesting; after all, your kitchen does not have to be uniform. Use one style of door for your wall cabinets and another style for the island. Or choose different cabinet colors or decorative finishes to add some interest. For those who do find appliances to be eye soars, there are panels that you can install to hide these appliances so they blend in with the rest of the cabinetry. Just make sure the panels match your cabinets. For items that you can't really hide, like your stovetop, using a raised ledge or breakfast bar on your island or kitchen peninsula can help hide the stove. If you are going with double ovens installing one or both ovens into your island will help make sure that oven is out of view. An easy way to also help hide your appliances is to buy stainless steel. Stainless steel appliances reflect the color of their surroundings, and since the material is neutral these appliances are often much less noticeable. In addition, they add a higher end look to any kitchen. Get ideas by looking at pictures of other kitchen remodeling jobs. The Internet is a great place to do this. This will help you get inspiration of how you want your kitchen decorated and arranged. Looking at kitchen remodeling ideas will also keep you up to date on the latest trends in kitchen design. Write down your likes and dislikes or put tabs on magazines. It is not always a good idea to go with the latest trends and sometimes better to go with something more timeless if you plan on living with it for the next twenty years. Set aside an area in your home to make a temporary kitchenette. This could be a table with a microwave, hot plate, toaster oven, coffee pot etc. When you begin to remove and pack away the contents from your kitchen make sure to leave out the items you will need for your temporary kitchen such as a can opener, salt shaker, pepper and other items you may use on a regular basis. You may want to plan some dinners out so make a list of restaurants nearby. Tue, 11 Aug 2015 07:19:00 -0700http://www.jdmooreconstruction.com/blog/post/bathroom-remodeling-tipshttp://www.jdmooreconstruction.com/blog/post/bathroom-remodeling-tipsBathroom Remodeling Tips Determine your bathroom remodel needsBathrooms have gained an important status within the household, and instead of just being a functional room they are now as interesting and decorative as the other rooms within a household. To determine where to begin, answering some of the following questions may help. 1. Is it a powder room or a full bath?2. Or is it a main bathroom that's used by guests and family, or a private master bath?3. Do you feel that is dated and showing its age?4. Is your bathroom too small?5. Do you find the arrangement of your current bathroom inconvenient?5. Is the lighting inadequate?6. Does your bathroom lack adequate storage? The answers to these questions will greatly influence how minimal or extensive your bathroom remodeling will be, and give you some pointers for beginning your bathroom design. Begin developing your bathroom designEvaluate your space, do some research online and in magazines, to help you develop your new bathroom design. Think about which fixtures you will want, and what style pleases you. Do you want a vintage vanity or something more contemporary? This will lend more clues to your final design.Begin your bathroom remodeling plan by making a list of what currently does not please you about your bathroom as it is. Then make a list of features you would like to add and any changes you would like to make in its arrangement when you begin remodeling.Don’t forget other arrangements If you are going to be remodeling your only bathroom make plans to shower at other locations such as neighbors or your gym. Make space in your kitchen for your other daily routines such as brushing your teeth, shaving etc.. Also make sure to have a safe place for the contractor to store all materials and tools that are going to be used at your project. Establish a budgetRemodeling a bathroom will increase the dollar value of your home, and this is one home improvement that will be a good investment. Aside from the pleasure your new bath will give you, if in the future you sell your home, having remodeled your bathroom will both increase your home's value and its selling appeal.Always leave a little wiggle room in the budget for the unexpected. There are all sorts of budget-busting surprises lurking behind the walls and floors of homes (especially if it's an older residence). Last minute changes, known as change orders, cost time and bust budgets, too. You might elect to upgrade your choice of countertop halfway through the project. Though you can't predict the unknown, you can prepare for it financially. Typically you would want to add 10% to 15% cushion to your budget. If you are planning to add a large jetted tub to your bathroom, you may also want to consider adding a water heater dedicated to that tub. Large tubs can hold up to an average of 75 gallons or more of water. This can overextend your existing water heater and cause problems in the future.How Much Can You Afford? Direct from Nari.org This question alone is enough to strike fear into anyone's heart. The truth is not many people enjoy establishing a remodeling budget-and many just don't. Many homeowners prefer to call a remodeling contractor and expect him or her to create the budget for them, which is not the best way to begin. How do you start off right? You can begin by taking these four easy steps in the right direction: Step One: Decide how long you plan on staying in your home. The length of time you intend to stay in a home will affect how much money you should invest in it. If you are going to stay in the home for more than ten years, you should spend as much as you are able to create the home of your dreams. However, if you are planning on moving in the near future, you should take care not to over-build for your neighborhood. Look into the real estate comparisons for your area and keep your investment in line with the average home sales price. You don't want to invest thousands of dollars you won't be able to recoup at closing. Step Two: Make a list of all your debts. You should include any debts you pay on a monthly basis, such as mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and any other items with a fixed monthly payment. This list should not include payments for groceries, utilities, telephone services, or other general expenses. Call this list your monthly expenses. Step Three: Determine your total gross monthly income. Include all sources of income that you would list on a loan application. Step Four: Complete the following worksheet to determine how much you can afford to pay for your remodeling project on a monthly basis. These formulas are used when the remodeling project is going to be financed. Warning: Cash is not always the best option! Calculations 101Step 1 - DTILenders use a simple Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio to determine if a homeowner can afford the additional debt of a remodeling project.DTIEnter Your Total Monthly Expenses $Add the Estimated Monthly Payment for the RemodelingProject + $Total = $Divide the Total by Your Gross Monthly Income... $DTI % = Each lender will approve loans at a specific DTI percentage (most lenders will tell you what their set DTI ratio is, if you ask). For example, if the lender accepts DTI ratios of 45 percent and your DTI ratio is 30 percent, your loan would be approved. However, if your DTI ratio is 55 percent, you would need to find other financing options. Perhaps your lender offers debt consolidation loans that could reduce your DTI ratio, which brings us to the next step: Step 2 - The Maximum PaymentThe next step is to determine the maximum monthly payment you can afford for remodeling. Multiply your monthly gross income amount by the lender's maximum DTI allowance, and subtract your current total monthly expenses, excluding the estimated remodeling payment.Gross Monthly Income $Lender's DTI ratio xSubtotal = $Total Monthly Expenses - $Maximum Affordable Payment = $If the last line is negative, you will not be able to borrow from that lender. See step 3 for further options. STEP 3 - ConsolidationIf your DTI ratio was above the lender's accepted percentage, or if your maximum affordable payment was too low, you may want to consider a debt consolidation loan. This would incorporate your current debts into the home improvement loan. Not only does this allow you to roll your debts into what may be a tax deductible loan, it also provides one easy payment for your debts and lowers your DTI percentage. In addition, the interest rate on a debt consolidation loan may be lower, which will save you additional mTue, 11 Aug 2015 06:31:00 -0700http://www.jdmooreconstruction.com/blog/post/8-questions-you-should-ask-before-hiring-a-remodeling-contractorhttp://www.jdmooreconstruction.com/blog/post/8-questions-you-should-ask-before-hiring-a-remodeling-contractor1.Are you licensed? Most states require contractors, even sub-contractors to be licensed. Make sure your contractor is properly licensed. Anyone can say they are licensed. Make the contractor prove it by either showing you the license or giving you a copy of it. Remember to check the expiration date. Being licensed is the law. If a contractor cannot produce a valid license, DO NOT HIRE HIM! You can check the contractor’s current licensing status with your states Secretary of State. 2. Do you carry general liability insurance? Make sure your contractor carries general liability insurance. This type of insurance protects your property in case of damage caused by the contractor and/or his employees. The insurance company will pay for the cost of replacing, and/or repairing any damage that occurs. Anyone can say they are insured. Make the contractor prove it by having a certificate of insurance. 3. Do you carry workers’ compensation insurance? Make sure your contractor carries workers’ compensation insurance. It protects you from liability if a worker is injured while on your property.Be aware that if the contractor does not carry workers’ compensation coverage, you may be liable for any injuries suffered by the contractor, or any of his employees on your property.If the contractor is a one-man operation, he can be exempt from having to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If he is doing so legally, he can provide you with a copy of his Construction Industry Certificate of Exemption from Workers’ Compensation. This is very risky for you though. If he shows up with a helper and the helper gets hurt, with no workers’ compensation insurance, you may have to pay the medical bills. If the uninsured contractor is sloppy about verifying his sub-contractor’s workers’ compensation insurance and the sub-contractor gets hurt, again you may have to pay the medical bills. In short, it is much safer to deal with a fully insured contractor. 4. Will you pull all the required building permits? Make sure your contractor pulls all required permits. This is very important. When a contractor pulls the required building permits, you know things will be done to “code." Also, many homeowners insurance policies require pulling a permit on any major remodeling to keep your home properly covered. Not all contractors will do this. Many prefer not to pull permits because of the time involved and the “hassle” with the inspectors. Some contractors may ask you to get the permits. This could be a warning sign that they are not able to pull the permit because they are either unlicensed or the work is outside of their license. A reputable contractor will permit every job where a permit is required. 5. Do you guarantee your work? Your contractor should guarantee his work for at least one year from date of completion. They should also include any warranties from the material used if applicable. 6. Who will be in charge of the job? Make sure the contractor or his foreman is on the job whenever work is being performed-especially if sub-contractors will be used. The responsible party must be familiar with every aspect of your project. You cannot be worried about what is going on when you are not there. 7. Will you provide me with written references? A good contractor will be happy to provide you with references. You should look for a well-established contractor who can give you several customer references from the last 6 months to one year. Ask for the name of the contractor’s accountant or banker. You want to ensure the contractor is financially sound and will not be declaring bankruptcy in the middle of your project. 8. How do you handle “dirty work”? Construction is dusty and dirty! It gets everywhere, especially if any sanding is being done. Make sure the contractor will make an honest effort to keep the dust contained, or notify you when the heavy dust generating operations will take place so you can place sheets over furniture or move sensitive belongings. Make sure the contractor agrees to sweep up and place all construction debris in a predetermined place or refuse container at the end of every day.Tue, 11 Aug 2015 06:26:00 -0700