Remodeling Savey for St. Paul

Remodeling! The very word can conjure up scenes of delight or terror. Imagine your home transformed, your dream space achieved. But to reach that dream you may have to live in a construction zone for weeks or even months. You will meet an array of workers who will share your home, your private domain. In the process you will see your home, or at least a portion of it, de-constructed and then re-constructed before your eyes. You will be asked to make hundreds of decisions, approve drawings, make selections, and of course, write progress checks, Is it all worth it? More and more people are saying yes! The memory of the disruption, inevitable in remodeling, is tempered by the years of enjoyment and benefits that a well designed, finely constructed and well managed project provides.

Why do some people have positive remodeling experiences and others experience remodeling nightmares? I have been involved in the construction industry for over 30 years and as a design build remodeler for 25 of those years. I’d like to share the insights and knowledge I have learned, and continue to learn, like things to consider and mistakes to avoid when planning your remodeling project. For example:

What will it really cost?
How long will it really take?
Do I need a designer or architect?
How do I chose a contractor?
What benefits can I hope to achieve?
Does it make financial sense?
What have others achieved?

by Fred V. Peters of F+P Remodeling in St. Paul MN

Remodeling Savey

St. Paul Remodeling from a Pro's view.

First of all, let me say that I am not writing about repair and maintenance. Although repair and maintenance contractors are part of the remodeling industry, I am primarily concerned with more complex projects that require redesigning, refining and/or expanding existing space. In this type of remodeling I have come to understand, through much experience,
that every successful project requires three basic components:
1. A beautiful and functional design, tailored to your needs and tastes. A good designer will create spaces that are pleasing, convenient and efficient to live and work in; that delight the senses with their beauty and livability.
2. Fine craftsmanship - Quality workmanship, with attention to detail, by skilled trades people is essential.
3. Skillful management of the construction process. This is where a project can really fall apart. A well managed project can make your remodeling experience pleasant and worry free. A poorly managed project can be a nightmare of disorder, delays, inconvenience, miscommunication, cost overruns, etc...

You will notice I did not list “quality materials”. Quality (when referring to materials) is very subjective. There are degrees of quality that are perfectly acceptable to some but would not even be considered by others. While something of poor quality should never be used, there are many levels of quality that may be appropriate to any specific project. For example, in a kitchen there are many choices for counter tops including laminates, tile, wood, solid surfaces of natural stone or manufactured materials. To someone who wants natural stone, a laminate would not be an acceptable substitute. Does this mean laminates are not a quality product? No. There are good quality laminates, but they don’t provide the same benefits as natural stone. It depends what you prefer and what you are trying to achieve. I believe specifying the selection and quality of products is part of the designer’s job, in collaboration with the owners.

Once again, in summary, a successful remodeling project means a well designed, finely crafted, skillfully managed project.

Well Designed, Finely Crafted

The first element of a successful remodeling project is a beautiful and functional design, the second, fine craftsmanship. An innovative well tailored design will result in a space that delights the senses with its beauty and livability. You should expect nothing less from your designer or architect. Above all, this requires good communication between designer and client. When interviewing potential designers whether independent or part of a design-build firm, pay close attention to their communication skills. Ask to see examples of their work and to talk to references. Find out if their clients received all they had hoped for. Did the designer meet or exceed their expectations? It’s the designers role to draw out the clients needs, desires and tastes and then tailor the design to meet those requirements. You don’t have to know how to achieve the results you want. That’s why you hire a professional designer.

Once you have the design, the next step is to finely craft the components of that design. That’s where the build team comes in. A good reliable general contractor with an established track record is vital. He/she will have a team of well qualified trades people ready to craft your project. Once again seeing their projects and checking references is important. Further on, I will give a list of recommended questions to ask of references. Keep in mind that skilled and experienced crafts people demand higher wages than less skilled inexperienced labor. Therefore choosing a contractor or any other professional primarily on the basis of price is against your best interest. There’s an old saying, “It’s the cheap person that spends the most money”. That’s especially true of remodeling. More on that later.

To sum up, I can best say it this way: You can have the finest design, poorly crafted and you won’t be happy with the result, or you can have the finest craftsmanship but if it’s a poor design you won’t be happy. A well designed, finely crafted project will give you the results you desire.

Old and New: St. Paul Kitchens

We help Minnesota customers convert drab kitchens into dramatic spaces for entertaining or family living. One of the most charming aspects of Minnesota real estate are the vast array of great old houses. These house's have more than their share of character and charm, but can often lack sufficient kitchen space.
That is where F+P Remodeling by Design can help. We are passionate about creating amazing custom kitchen solutions for our St. Paul and Minneapolis clients.

St. Paul Kitchen Renovation- Call us today and let us help you build your dream. 612 889 2730