Sound Builders is pleased to introduce our new company newsletter! The newsletter will be distributed once a month via email to our many friends. These include our past, present, and future clients, neighborhood business friends, trade contractors, suppliers, and anyone interested and engaged in the remodeling process. The newsletter is educational and is designed to reduce the mysteries of the process of remodeling. We'll give you an insider's look at remodeling best practices, as well as keep you informed of upcoming events in our area.

If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe, simply give us a call at (253) 859-7978. We welcome you and appreciate your feedback!

Remodeling
Success 101

Q: What is "solid surface" material for countertops?

A: Solid surface refers to a relatively new breed of countertop and surfacing finishes that offer a denser, thicker, and color-through material option to ceramic tile, laminate, and stone (such as granite). Made from a combination of real and synthetic minerals and high-strength polymers, these surfaces appear and act like genuine stone, but can also be formulated and installed in a wider range of styles and colors -- including combinations -- to suit any decor. Their formulations are also impact, scratch, and burn-resistant, and protect against microbial growth to maintain a clean and healthy surface.

If you read home improvement books and magazines, you are familiar with the 'do-it-yourself' concept. Homeowners are advised -- on the basis of a single article -- to take on any task, regardless of the scope and complexity of the project, rather than hire a professional. The premise of do-it-yourself (or DIY) reasoning has almost universal appeal, namely, that homeowners will save a load of money by not using a contractor.

In fact, the do-it-yourself approach makes some measure of sense. However, the books and magazine articles promoting DIY as a cost-saving alternative often fail to make a true financial comparison between that option and the cost of a professional contractor. The authors of such articles conveniently forget to factor in the cost of a homeowner's time to manage and/or do the work, as well as the consequent loss of time spent with family, in leisure activities, or even at work, as they promote a do-it-yourself project.

Certainly, there are some home improvement or maintenance projects that are appropriate for a homeowner with some level of skill and knowledge. Examples of such projects include replacing a light fixture or door knob, repainting a bedroom, or even swapping out a toilet or faucet, among other tasks.

But when it comes to significant residential remodeling work, whether redoing a kitchen or adding a room or deck, very few homeowners have the requisite skills and time. Furthermore, the average amateur has no clout with specialty trade contractors and materials suppliers and cannot therefore negotiate the best pricing and scheduling.

This is not to say that homeowners have no role in the remodeling process. For instance, it is up to the homeowner to establish a budget for the project based on what they can afford to spend, to evaluate and select the best contractor for the job, to educate themselves about the type of project they want and how it gets built, to ask questions and demand satisfactory answers throughout the project, and to make sure expectations for quality, cost, and time are communicated and met.