Is wood flooring better than engineered flooring?

// Filed in: Interiors
Suzy - Boston, MA: Each have their uses. No floor in contact with the ground should be natural wood. Even with a concrete slab as substrate, moisture presents great difficulties for natural wood. "Pergo" type floors are designed for basements or other applications where high moisture content is an element. Above grade rooms can utilize any type of flooring if properly installed. Go the manufacturer websites for installation instructions. If your contractor doesn't agree with the manufacturer, you probably have a labor problem.

Is a heated floor a good option for my bathroom?

// Filed in: Bathroom
Jeanie - Glencoe, IL: Anything the home owner wants to spend money on can be installed. I prefer items that are easy to service in future years. To me, burying electrical elements in the subfloor as an after market installation is not the best and most effective route. Surely if your home has radiant heat ( hot water radiators), heated floors should have been installed originally. A towel heating accessory is the most simple and effective way to heat a bath mat or towel for use before or during bath use.

What type of wood should I use for my deck project?

// Filed in: Exteriors
Jack - Lake Forest, IL: Cost is the biggest part of the decision, treated lumber is by far the winner. Yes, you must paint or apply solid stain to the surface every 5 or so years, depending on weather and sun exposure, but pressure treated wood will outlast any other material of equal price. Additionally, even if you use cedar or another exotic deck product for the surface, use pressure treated wood for the structural elements. Typically, pressure treated wood is southern yellow pine. This species is a very hard and strong wood even if actually a "soft wood". The contractor must select the wood carefully to avoid structural problems on elements that are radically cut ( stair stringers or posts).

How much will my kitchen project cost?

// Filed in: Kitchen
Randy - Elgin, IL: This is probably the most frequently asked question by home owners. When inquiring on the costs of a kitchen, bath, roof, deck, etc, a contractor with a quick answer is probably not the right guy to give the job to. Home owners first have to decide what the entire project entails. Not just new cabinets and floor tile ( or tub, vanity and toilet / or new shingles / or a gazebo with surrounding seating area) but an exact list of the type of cabinets, layout of cabinets and all necessary accessories. For an example let's use the roof project. What is the entire work order for the contractor to price out for the home owner?
The owner should develop a work order for the contractors to bid on. Email with your projects and I will help you write a work order to use for bids. Home owners can also go to a roofing supplier for this kind of help. However, many suppliers will not recommend contractors to home owners out of fear of problems. Compare the simplest job to a whole house. We need a blueprint before we can price out any renovations and /or repairs.

What is the best counter top material for my kitchen project?

// Filed in: Kitchen
Mary - Wilmette, IL: First, will the new kitchen have open space on the counter top? Will the counter be an open work area or a home for the many small kitchen appliances available today? For kitchens with limited work space, do not spend a great deal of money on the counter top. Laminate counters from professionals can be extremely attractive and cost effective. Besides, laminate can last a long time and are easy on maintenance. Solid surface materials - (Staron is one manufacturer I have successfully used) - are more expensive than laminates, but less expensive than natural stone. A good contractor has a relationship with fabricators of both types.
If the project allows for the open work spaces to be a center of attraction, natural stone is a great way to go. Some home owner's like manufactured products that cost the same as stone but offer a different appearance. Always use materials that grab your attention. My clients regularly remark on their counters years after the project is completed. [this might sound like your clients don’t like the work you’ve done or you were poor at helping them find the right materials, suggest emphasizing that they regret the fact that they didn’t make the right decision, not you