Home
About Us - Our Company Story
Testimonials
Portfolio of Remodeled Homes
Newsletter
Contact Us
Subscribe to our free newsletter of home remodeling ideas and examples. Call Gretchen at (253) 859-7978 or click here.

Experience SBI

Life Changes

Add work space in the kitchen

Is there more than one chef in the family? Do the kids like to help out in the kitchen?
Is the level of the counter or location of appliances bothering your back, or just inconvenient?
Growing families, living in a home they love, often decide on an addition or remodel rather than uprooting the family for a new residence. Consider:
Additions:
-Add a bathroom
-Add a bedroom
-Finish a basement
Kitchen:
-Bump-out to make more space
-Design more work spaces (vegetable sink or island)
-Design an area with a lower counter for little ones to reach
Bathroom:
-Add another sink in an existing bathroom
As we age our needs change. Consider the improvements that can prolong the number of years a house can serve its owners…
Kitchen:
-Higher counters to avoid stooping
-Install dish drawers
-Put the microwave in a cupboard at chest level
Bathroom:
-Raise the counter level
-Install a shower with a seat and a swinging door
-Install grab bars next to the toilet and in the bathtub

Remodeling
Success 101

Q: When is an architect my best option for a remodeling project?

A: Architects or architectural firms are, for the most part, set up to offer comprehensive design services for large or complex building projects. Relatively few architects (and even fewer certified by the American Institute of Architects, or AIA) specialize in single-family homes, much less remodeling projects. Those that focus on residential work, typically offer a high level of skill that is most appropriate for remodeling jobs that involve a variety of structural and mechanical systems requiring engineering.

The Design-Build Advantage

So, you want to remodel your home. You know the overall design and floor plan of your house as it now exists. You have some idea of the ideal living environment that you would like to have.

The question is, how do you get from here to there?

We've all seen remodeling jobs that look like mistakes. Every remodeling job -- whether it's an updated kitchen, a master suite or a major addition -- deserves the skilled eye of a design professional to enhance your ideas and smoothly integrate the new with the old.

You have options when it comes to 'design'. You could engage an architect or residential design professional, who are specially trained to handle large, complex jobs. An independent architect or designer, however, might lack a realistic grasp of construction costs -- especially for remodeling -- and create something beyond your budget.

At the other end of the spectrum, a remodeling contractor might offer himself as a design expert, based on several years of experience and perhaps some architectural background. While such a remodeler can do the construction work and is more likely than an architect to have a good handle on costs, he might lack the skills to help you clarify your ideas, solve complicated design problems, match or complement architectural styles, or add extra value beyond the basics.

Between these two extremes are Design-Build partners. They specialize in home remodeling, combining both outside architectural services and in-house construction skills as a more efficient and effective way to create great design within a budget.

They work very closely with a limited number of outside architects and designers. They can match the specifics of your project with the architect or designer they think best fits your needs. Working as a team, shepherding a remodeling project from initial design work through completion of construction, they share ideas, evaluate and consider realistic costs, and create a seamless process for the homeowner.

By engaging this type of relationship, you will benefit from professional skills and experience in both realms. Most often, a project manager will guide you through the process and be your single or primary point of contact throughout the job. Along the way, you'll meet with design professionals, product selection specialists and key members of the building team -- all of whom work together to ensure that what's drawn in the plans can be built on the ground without sacrificing design quality or outstripping the budget.

The integration of work makes Sound Builders an attractive option for remodeling projects of any size and scope. The choice often results in a more satisfying experience by offering a seamless, budget-conscious process while ensuring professional, value-added design.

Warm regards,

Jay DePhelps
Sound Builders Inc.
(206) 246-7100

info@soundbuilders.com

c. 2008 All rights reserved.

Click here to subscribe to this newsletter.
Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter.

Sound Builders Inc. 23528 110th Place SE, Kent, WA 98031

To see newsletter archives, click here.


Home | About Us | Testimonials | Portfolio | Newsletter | Contact Us

Copyright © 2002 Sound Builders Incorporated. All Rights Reserved
1- 30th St. NW • Auburn, WA 98001
Tel (206) 246-7100 and (253) 859-7978

Email gretchen@soundbuilders.com